Zhengzhou

We left early for Beijing and it was snowing! It may snow once a year in ATL so it was really exciting to see snow in China. Traveling through the airport with nine families is quite a production! Luckily George Michael helped us all get checked in and through security. Security in China is very different than in USA it seems. For one, you do not have to take off your shoes in China (or S.Korea). Also they really get their hands in your pants and everwhere else on the pat down.  I prefer the scanner any day. The Beijing airport also did not allow any liquids in carry on luggage and when we checked our luggage they had lots of questions about shampoo, applesauce, and a fan. I am pretty sure those are not odd things to find in luggage. Ok maybe the desk fan was a little odd.

My first thought about Zhengzhou was that is was less polluted and less crowded compared to Beijing. The flight was like a roller coaster and I was concentrating on not throwing up. The bathrooms only had the squatty potty unless you used the handicapped bathroom. Let's just say there was a line for that stall. Also, just in case you are planning to traveling to China soon, please note that most public bathrooms do not have any toilet paper. Or soap. You learn quickly to bring tissue and hand sanitizer with you whenever you leave the hotel.

 Our guides Yi Sha (her Chinese name) and Vivian (not her Chinese name) greeted us at the airport led us to our bus. We drove about 30 minutes to the hotel and they went over the schedule for the day. Going to the bank to exchange money and going to Wal-mart to get formula or any last minute supplies for the babies. On the ride to the hotel I was still feeling sick from the plane ride and I knew what was going to happen, I just didn't know when.  That old familiar feeling. Motion sickness. Despite my Motion Eaze, ginger, and dramamine concoction. As soon as we got the hotel I threw my passport to someone to check me in and ran for the bathroom. It was being cleaned and thus I couldn't go in. A lady told me to go up to the third floor. I ran up the stairs and barely made it. Not only did I get sick but got a bloody nose, too. I got my room key and laid down for a couple hours. I gave some money to another family to exchange it for me. By the time everyone was back and it was time to go to Wal-Mart I felt fine. It was about a 15 minute walk but it you also have to dodge people on electric bikes. They will mow you down.

 chicken feet



crock pots full of food at Wal-Mart



 

dried fish, chicken, and I don't know what else

The families got formula and snacks for their children. I was overwhelmed. I didn't have a grasp on the money yet. There were whole fish on ice every where. You have to bring your own bags in Wal-Mart and grocery stores in China so we were all loaded down carrying stuff on the walk back to the hotel.

Everything is an adventure. It's all new and exciting, foreign and a little intimidating. The entire trip thus far is really about tomorrow when the families will meet their children. They have loved them from afar, spent countless hours staring at their photos. They are more than ready. I can't wait.