A Day at the Park

Today we visited a local park here in Nanchang.  It was a beautiful day for the park.  The rain was gone and it was a nice sunny day.  It was actually a little cooler  than the past few days. The weather here is similar to home, hot and humid.  I guess that is one thing that will not be an adjustment for Addie.  It was a very large park and there was lots to do and see.  The park was pretty busy with people doing various things.  We saw people practicing Tai Chi, ballroom dancing, and some type of martial arts.  

They had a small obstacle course/playground that Lyndsay and Landon loved.  I think their favorite was the zip line.  Addie smiled and laughed as she watched them play.  I'm sure she will be joining them on the playground at home soon. 

As we were walking through the park the kids got attention from lots of people.  As they were playing several people were taking their photograph.  At home that would worry me, but here they are so curious and many have never seen blonde hair and fair skin.  

We also get some attention because Addie doesn't look like us.  Many are curious as to why she looks different.  Our guide usually explains she is ours and we adopted her.  Today Ann had someone ask for her picture for the first time.  We were walking through the park and a couple of women wanted a picture with her.

After the park we visited a few porcelain shops.  This area is know for its porcelain.  We learned a little about the differences and the quality of porcelain.  Addie was given a porcelain tea set from her orphanage and a large cup at the civil affairs office.  We picked up a couple of things for us today.  We wanted to have something that was original to her area.  
Addie fell asleep at the end of the shopping and we had our first melt down.  She woke up on our way to the hotel.  We got back and had a little lunch, then Ann was going to put her down for a nap.  I took Lyndsay and Landon for a walk.  We went next door and had ice cream and wandered around.  We came back an hour and a half later and Ann said she had cried the entire time.  She has fussed and cried some, but usually just to get attention(not that she is lacking for any) or to get what she wants and usually with no tears.  Today we saw her first tears.  We're not really sure what the problem was, maybe she was just really tired.  She also seems to be teething so that could be part of it.  She is asleep now, so hopefully we will be good tomorrow.
While here in Jiangxi we have mostly eaten at the hotel, a couple of times we had pizza or McDonald's.  Mostly because it has been easier to just eat here after going wherever.  The food at the hotel is pretty good.  It is a mix of western and Asian.  I never thought I would have noodles or pork dumplings for breakfast and a few things I'm not really sure what they were. We have been wanting to get out and try some local food so tonight our guide took us to a local restaurant.  I'm always a little unsure when you walk in and can pick out your dinner from an aquarium.  They had turtles, eels, stingray, a couple of dozen fish and various animals.  They didn't have menus, they had dishes prepared and you chose what you wanted.  I wish I had gotten a picture of it, it would make more sense to see it.  We went with sweet and sour pork, rice, fried noodles, shrimp, bean sprouts, and fried eggplant(not breaded like we at home).  The meal was so good.  Our guide said Jiangxi is known for being hot, they have hot weather and hot food.  The noodles and shrimp were pretty spicy. The rest was a bit milder.  The eggplant was great, not what I'm used to, but it was delicious.  We finished with this coconut milk cream puff. 

I think we all had a lot of fun today, but we are all ready for bed.  After a bath Addie fell asleep quickly.  Our guide will pick up Addie's passport in the morning.  We then travel to Guangzhou tomorrow(Friday) at about 5pm, about 4am at home.  This is our last stop and where Addie will become a citizen of the U.S.A.  The flight is only an hour and a half so hopefully Addie will do well.  Saturday will be a visit to the medical clinic for Addie.  I'm not sure what all they will do, but I'm not really looking forward to that.  It's a little sad to leave her province, but we look forward to Guangzhou.  Thanks to all who continue to pray for us.