The highs and lows on the way to Guangzhou

For months before we left we had been dreaming about Guangzhou.  Why?  Because it's a tropical climate and it's the last stop on this journey here in China.  Yesterday we finally got to Guangzhou.  Arriving here it lived up to it's hype.  It was warm and pretty and our hotel room is HUGE but before that - we weren't feeling the love.

In order to be cautious and helpful we arrived at the airport in Nanchang WAY in advance - like we still had nearly two hours when we got to our gate.  The girls were nervous and restless and then the flight got delayed more than an hour. We were hungry, exhausted, bored, and all a little on edge.  Mike and I were particularly all of those things and we were feeling so down.  We were severely homesick - tired of being so far from home in such a foreign place.  We had been exactly two weeks in China and we were feeling it.

Eventually the plane docked and we boarded.  And then when it finally left the ground we all felt our spirits lift.  Esther and Pearl took the flight instructions very seriously and listened very intently.  Esther was so excited to see the ground down below us and to fly through the clouds.  Pearl was an old pro and didn't even feel the need to look our the window much.  But all in all it was a good flight.

Barf bag in hand.

Thank goodness for Rock, Paper, Scissors.

We had our medical appointments this morning and they went well.  The girls were impressed by all of the Chinese people who were there getting the same medical check-ups in hopes of being granted visas to the US.  They felt pretty special that they've got a free pass to this fabled place.

Everyone is much happier here.  Esther told our guide that she loves us very much and is excited to go to the US with us.  Last night she even gave us both a kiss all on her own.  Pearl is as sweet as ever and seems excited to go out and do some shopping.  They are both so cute.  We will be here about a week before we take the high speed train to Hong Kong to fly back home.  We can't wait.  We miss the boys so much.