WARNING: Jill and Doug foolishly gave the keys to the blog to me, Graham, - their semi-captive, completely unprofessional photo/sherpa/in-law who is honored to be accompanying them on this journey. The following words may or may not actually be approved. I promise you nothing except this: if you read enough of these posts, you will eventually see some pictures of cute little children.
Our story begins with a trip to the airport on a typically grey Seattle day. You've probably been to Seatac airport before so I'll spare you the boring parts and go with just the essentials:
Color of the Day: Red (we're going to China, right?)
Mishaps: Jill had to check her carry on because it weighed too much
TSA Cavity Searches: 0
Mood: Determined
Airline: Hainan
Destination: Beijing, China
I know you want me to get to all of the stuff about how we're traveling in China where none of us speaks the language and they have squatting toilets (without complementary toilet paper), but first I will take a moment to marvel at the glorious Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Quietest. Airplane. Ever.
We made it to Beijing after an uneventful 12-hour flight where we were met by our guide, Leena, and our driver, "Mr. Liao." Stepping out of the airport we expected to be greeted by a wholly foreign world of people we couldn't understand, signs we couldn't read, and food we may not recognize. But we weren't. Instead, we saw California with Chinese road signs (most of which also had English). Traffic is bad, the roads are full of expensive cars (mostly Audis), the trees are short, and there is a thin veil of smog in the air at all times.
After our flight and 2-hour slog through traffic to the hotel, we were all wiped out. Jill went to bed and Doug and I hit the hotel buffet - which was serving German sausage and mashed potatoes - before turning in ourselves.
Day 2: The Great Wall and Tianamen Square
The next day we headed out with our guide to do some sight-seeing. It was a 2-hour drive to the section of the Great Wall we visited and much of it was through the countryside. While the city of Beijing can appear very affluent and Western, the countryside sits in deep contrast - filled with farmers and villagers who are just scraping by.
It is a surreal experience to leave home in the US one day and the next be hiking along the Great Wall of China. The section of the wall we visited was only accessible via chairlift and runs along the spine of a local mountain range. Doug was a bit nervous about the chair ride up, but we all enjoyed the novel way they've built for getting back down: a metal bobsled track. Each of us piloted a one-man sled with a long handle brake as the only controls. It would have been more fun if people didn't go slow and stop along the way, but I did manage to get out of control and rear-end Doug once so I can't complain too much.
After yet another 2-hour drive (it takes 2 hours to drive anywhere around Beijing) we arrived at Tianamen Square. It was...well...a giant square. We didn't have much time to spend so we mostly just walked around and took a few pictures. At this point our appetite for tourism was giving way to our appetite for Starbucks - which was a bit of a hike from out hotel but we did it because, as you know, Jill needs Starbucks to survive.
Speaking of Jill, the gravity of what we are here to do has been weighing on her. The fact that we're about to take two boys from everything and everyone they know and put them into an entirely new situation (albeit a better one) is difficult. And, in general, she's nervous about the unknowns that lay ahead in the coming days.
Jill skipped dinner again so Doug and I had a romantic dinner at the hotel restaurant eating Beijing (Peking) Duck and sipping wine and fancy tea. We were pretty much the only people in there so it was a bit nerve-wracking to try and use chop-sticks while the hotel staff watched our every move.
Day 3: Bullet Train!
The third day of our big Chinese adoption adventure started early, checking out of the hotel and going to the train station to catch the bullet train South to Jinan. We met up with a French-Canadian couple who we will be sharing a guide and driver with in Jinan. This is their first adoption so Jill and Doug spent some time giving them pro-tips while we waited for the train.
Oh, the bullet train. Best mode of transport ever. Super Quiet, stable, and fast. I wish we had these things in the US. I would pick it over flying any day. Really an amazing way to travel. Would recommend again.
We arrived in Jinan and met our new guide, Missy, without incident. Really we have been so blessed to have uneventful travel thus far. But now this story is about to get more interesting:
In three hours, Missy and the orphanage directors would be coming to Jill and Doug's hotel room with their little boy! But more on that (and hopefully pictures and videos) in the next post...
Our story begins with a trip to the airport on a typically grey Seattle day. You've probably been to Seatac airport before so I'll spare you the boring parts and go with just the essentials:
Color of the Day: Red (we're going to China, right?)
Mishaps: Jill had to check her carry on because it weighed too much
TSA Cavity Searches: 0
Mood: Determined
Airline: Hainan
Destination: Beijing, China
I know you want me to get to all of the stuff about how we're traveling in China where none of us speaks the language and they have squatting toilets (without complementary toilet paper), but first I will take a moment to marvel at the glorious Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Quietest. Airplane. Ever.
We made it to Beijing after an uneventful 12-hour flight where we were met by our guide, Leena, and our driver, "Mr. Liao." Stepping out of the airport we expected to be greeted by a wholly foreign world of people we couldn't understand, signs we couldn't read, and food we may not recognize. But we weren't. Instead, we saw California with Chinese road signs (most of which also had English). Traffic is bad, the roads are full of expensive cars (mostly Audis), the trees are short, and there is a thin veil of smog in the air at all times.
After our flight and 2-hour slog through traffic to the hotel, we were all wiped out. Jill went to bed and Doug and I hit the hotel buffet - which was serving German sausage and mashed potatoes - before turning in ourselves.
Day 2: The Great Wall and Tianamen Square
The next day we headed out with our guide to do some sight-seeing. It was a 2-hour drive to the section of the Great Wall we visited and much of it was through the countryside. While the city of Beijing can appear very affluent and Western, the countryside sits in deep contrast - filled with farmers and villagers who are just scraping by.
It is a surreal experience to leave home in the US one day and the next be hiking along the Great Wall of China. The section of the wall we visited was only accessible via chairlift and runs along the spine of a local mountain range. Doug was a bit nervous about the chair ride up, but we all enjoyed the novel way they've built for getting back down: a metal bobsled track. Each of us piloted a one-man sled with a long handle brake as the only controls. It would have been more fun if people didn't go slow and stop along the way, but I did manage to get out of control and rear-end Doug once so I can't complain too much.
After yet another 2-hour drive (it takes 2 hours to drive anywhere around Beijing) we arrived at Tianamen Square. It was...well...a giant square. We didn't have much time to spend so we mostly just walked around and took a few pictures. At this point our appetite for tourism was giving way to our appetite for Starbucks - which was a bit of a hike from out hotel but we did it because, as you know, Jill needs Starbucks to survive.
Speaking of Jill, the gravity of what we are here to do has been weighing on her. The fact that we're about to take two boys from everything and everyone they know and put them into an entirely new situation (albeit a better one) is difficult. And, in general, she's nervous about the unknowns that lay ahead in the coming days.
Jill skipped dinner again so Doug and I had a romantic dinner at the hotel restaurant eating Beijing (Peking) Duck and sipping wine and fancy tea. We were pretty much the only people in there so it was a bit nerve-wracking to try and use chop-sticks while the hotel staff watched our every move.
Day 3: Bullet Train!
The third day of our big Chinese adoption adventure started early, checking out of the hotel and going to the train station to catch the bullet train South to Jinan. We met up with a French-Canadian couple who we will be sharing a guide and driver with in Jinan. This is their first adoption so Jill and Doug spent some time giving them pro-tips while we waited for the train.
Oh, the bullet train. Best mode of transport ever. Super Quiet, stable, and fast. I wish we had these things in the US. I would pick it over flying any day. Really an amazing way to travel. Would recommend again.
We arrived in Jinan and met our new guide, Missy, without incident. Really we have been so blessed to have uneventful travel thus far. But now this story is about to get more interesting:
In three hours, Missy and the orphanage directors would be coming to Jill and Doug's hotel room with their little boy! But more on that (and hopefully pictures and videos) in the next post...
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