We got up early this morning, packed our luggage and headed to Dalian, a four hour ride. We got about 20 minutes down the road and I just about had a heart attach. I had forgotten to get our money out of the safe in our room. The driver did the quickest u-turn I’ve ever seen. Maggie , our guide, made furious phone calls to the hotel and we were assured all was well. We would be back at the hotel in a few minutes to collect our money. Whew!
We were back on the road again but now we were running late. We needed to get to the police station to apply for Daniel’s Chinese passport by 1 p.m. Our driver is amazing; in fact, I’m impressed with most of the drivers in China. They don’t obey many rules of the road, but they can squeeze a van into a parking space the size of a Mini! I’m often amazed by the tight spots they are able to wiggle in and out of. Anyway, I digress. We arrived in Dalian and headed to the police station. First was the line for the photo. Wow! It was wrapped around the building. Fortunately, Mrs. Pan had connections. We were directed to the front of the line. Now let me tell you getting there was not easy. I had to wedge my body between people, pushing my way through the crowd trying to push Daniel through the crowd also. We did finally make it to the front of the line. It’s a good thing I don’t understand Mandarin because I’m quite sure many of those folks in the line were cursing at us, and for good reason. I’d be upset too in their circumstances.
After the passport photo we waited, and waited…I guess it was harder to cut in the second line. We were finally ushered into a small glass office where an officer asked a couple of questions. First he questioned me as my passport says I was born in Papua New Guinea, which threw him I guess. Then he asked if I had any children of “my own”. That question grates at my nerves but I decided this wasn’t the time or place for a lesson in appropriate adoption lingo. Please never ask an adoptive parent if they have children of their own. YES, my children ARE MY OWN. Anyway, I answered appropriately. "No I don’t have any biological children." The final question was “why do you want to adopt a Chinese boy?” Of course I was able to easily answer this question. I want to love him, be his mom and teach him, watch him grow. I want my daughter to have a brother. I could have gone on but kept it short. He said “ok” everything is good. We thanked him and headed to our hotel.
Tonight we took the kids to the pool. It was clearly Daniel’s first swim. When he saw the pool he immediately removed his swim trunks and wanted to get into the pool in his skivvies. Obviously that wasn’t going to work. I helped him get the swim trunks back on, but not without much protest from him. Once we got him in the pool he forgot all else and just had a blast. It was a great bonding time, him being just afraid enough to have to depend on us to keep him safe. He and John played and played, loving every minute.
We are now trying to settle in for the night. It has been a little rough tonight. I guess we got him a little too wound up at the pool.
That’s the scoop from
China today.
Tomorrow we are going to the Zoo with the promise of seeing pandas.
Cosette is beside herself!
No pictures today. Sorry.
Tonya (for J, C & D)
3 comments:
Yea! you got the police station overwith. I think that is the worst. Amazing how many people can squeeze together! What a exciting and tiring day! We're so excited for you all. The Zoo sounds fun! Pam (Dalian Group)
So glad to hear that all is going well and that Daniel is adjusting. I had to laugh about him demanding to be taken to his new Mama's house! I know it seems like a long time to him . What a precious boy he is.
Oh Tonya, you made my heart break about the money in the safe. My absolute worst nightmare! I am so glad it was safe and you were able to return so quickly.
I cannot imagine why you were distracted!!
If you want to say no to Daniel, say Boo, which is no. You can also tell him, halla, halla, ok, ok.
Kwi, Kwi, hurry, hurry
Here are some others a friend sent -
Schway is water. “Bing shway” is ice water.
“knee” – which is You (ni).
Bu yao !! (Boo Yow!!) means I don’t want it! Yes, bu is negative. Don’t want. Can’t go. Don’t do it. Don’t talk. Just DON’T!!!! BOO!!! LOL!
The form for POSITIVE sounds very much like SURE in English. But, with a more pronounced SH and a softer “R”. If you want to ask him if he wants something or does not want something, say this: “Sure Boo Sure”
Ni Yao for potty (pee)“KNEE YOW!”
Hao means good. It sounds like How. How is good and Boo How is bad or icky. If you want to ask if something is good or bad, say “How Boo How?”
If you want to tell him to be a good kid, say “Be a how bow bow” (bow like bending at the waist – not like a present topping)
“Bie hao bao bao.”
If you want him to stop acting crazy … say “GUI DIEN!!!!” (gw-eye dee-en)
That one hasn't worked for me. She thinks I am saying something about biting.
If you want him to WALK, tell her to “Zo. Qing.” (walk please) (“zoh ching”)
“Please give me” is Qing ge wo. Which sounds like this: “Ching Gay Wah”
Come to Mommy is “Dao MaMa Lai” (“Dow Mama lie”)
Here I come! Or, I’m coming!! Is Lai la. It sounds exactly like the woman’s name Lila (“Lie Luh”). You yell it out. Like “I’m coming!!’ “Lai la!”
Don’t forget “Wo ai ni” (I love you” (“woa eye knee”)
And, You are a good kid!! “NI Hao bao bao!!” (sounds like “Knee how bow bow” – like bending at the waist)
If you want to comfort her when she is crying, say very softly. “Ha la – ha la” (it sounds like “hall uh – hall uh”) It is a VERY comforting word, sort of like saying “There. There.” You can say “Hall uh hall uh” as any times as you like. But, a minimum of two times. It sounds like a [person from the deep south saying holler.
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