Last day in Chengdu

About a year ago, a group of nurses from the Second Women's and Children's Hospital in Chengdu came to visit and learn at Cincinnati Childrens Hospital. I spent time with them at the hospital and made some great friendships. We connected on Facebook after they left, they kept inviting me to visit their city, and little did I know my son was there!! When I found out where Jay lived, I immediately contacted them. On Wednesday night the nurses who visited along with their director of nursing hosted me, Audrey, Sam, and my parents to an authentic Chengdu show and meal. They are so hospitable. They rode a taxi over to our hotel to pick us up, we walked Jinli Street which is an old stone street with shops and tea houses and ended up at a beautiful restaurant. We had a beautiful private room and before eating we watched a performance with dancers, aerobatics, and the Chengdu famous mask changing performance. Then we tried many different Chengdu specialities. It was an amazing night to experience the culture and foods of Chengdu.

Every day is getting a little easier. I think we are leaning more Chinese from Jay than him learning English from us. Just so I don't forget them all - Here are the phrases we've learned...sorry for any true Chinese speaker, these may be way off, but it's what it sounds like to me :)

Shia-shia: Thank you
Tszoma: Let's go!
Te meow meow: I want to eat noodles
Neow Neow: Go potty
Hollah: That's enough/All done
Woo-la: I'll do it by myself!

We've been able to mimic to each other and figure out most things. Last night though Haijun (pronounced Hi June... therefore June Bug) had a major meltdown. It was the first real crying fit because I didn't understand him. I called my friend Rebekah from Hope Station and she video chatted him and said she thinks he's asking for a drink of water. I tried giving him a bottle of water and he threw it at me. We went down to the lobby to ask the front desk to help interpret. The woman there said - Oh I know! And, she handed him a bottle of water which he threw at her. She kept talking with him and pretty soon there was a crowd of about 3 women around him trying to figure it out. Then one excitedly realized what he was saying - He wanted to GO IN WATER! Not drink water. He'd probably never swam until a few days ago and had no idea what the word for swimming was!

Today, we met Rebekah and Erin from Hope Station by their apartment so they could play with Jay one last time before we head to Guangzhou tomorrow. They are amazing women from America who moved to Chengdu to provide orphan care in the orphanages. They've been working weekly with Jay for the past couple of years. So, they're very happy for him, but will miss him! I promised to keep in touch so that he always knows them.

Rebekah and Erin are the ones helping with the donation you all contributed to. We haven't been able to purchase anything yet. It's actually more complicated then it seems like it would be. They were explaining to me that in China there is a culture where one person gives something to someone and then the other person gives something back. So, providing the orphanage a large purchase wouldn't happily be accepted because they'd be wary about what we wanted in return. Rebekah and Erin are working to provide this donation in a way that will benefit the children and will be accepted by the orphanage. I'll be sure to let you know when this happens.

We spent the morning at a park by their apartment. As Sam was swinging, Jay started to walk in front of him and almost got hit, so Rebekah grabbed him and Jay said (in Chinese): Geez! You just scared me to death! I think he's hilarious now, I can't wait until I understand what he's saying. We had a wonderful Chengdu meal near the park and then took pictures and he gave lots of hugs and kisses and we headed back to the hotel. We learned a funny Chinese word - the way that we say "Cheese" when someone takes a picture. In China, they say "Eggplant!"

Then we had to finish up paperwork at the Civil Affairs Office and Notary Office. Audrey and Sam stayed with Grandma and Grandpa at the pool and went to get ice cream to give them a little break from all these appointments. It was nice to get some one on one time with Jay. He's really bonded and always wants to be snuggled or held. But in the van ride, he started asking for his Jia Jia (big sister) and Gu Gu (big brother). We stopped at an old Chinese shopping alley and he picked out toys to give to them when we returned. But, he's still a 5 year old boy... He picked out small toys for them and then a big toy and a Starbucks drink for himself!

We pushed ourselves to stay up until 9:30 tonight so that Sam could call into his class at Morning Meeting time. We were able to Skype and they could see each other. They could hear us but we couldn't hear them. So Sam's teacher Mrs Feldkamp got a white board and wrote questions to him from his classmates. He also got to find out who his 2nd grade teacher will be - Mrs Schulte - Audrey's 2nd grade teacher who we loved! And, Mrs Feldkamp and Schulte were both wearing the Jay's Friends fundraiser shirts! Then Audrey's teacher and class came in the room to say HI to her from across the world. The kids showed Jay sleeping to their classmates and loved seeing everyone - We have such an amazing school!

That's all for now - Time to go to sleep and tomorrow we fly to Guangzhou. Please send prayers/positive thoughts/good juju to us to get through this first flight with this fiesty man!