Let's Do Lunch

Eric:

Anyone hungry? Read this post and you won't be any longer. Today we went to the local restaurant for lunch.
Well, I went there for lunch, the rest of the gang came to watch. Don't know the name of the place but it's right
across the street from the White Swan. Regardless, they have numerous tanks of all sorts of goodies (alive goodies)
up front when you walk in....All kinds of fish (flounder, grouper), lobsters, snakes, clams, silkworms, eels, shrimp, etc.
We got seated and the tea service began. They had a teapot going on the table and the waitress made each
of us our own from a 'tea list'. It's easy to order food, there are pictures of most of the dishes. So, what did I get?
I stared off with 'Fish bowels in black pepper sauce served on a hot iron plate'. Yes, you read that correctly, I said Fish BOWELS....It was very good. I was a clean plater...The sauce was the best part, you could have put fish guts in it and it and it would have been good..Oh wait, they did. LOL.
Well I just couldn't order one entree. Next up, Fried Turtle served in it's own shell. It was sauteed with cilantro, red and yellow pepper, garlic, ginger and onion. It was good, but a lot of work. Not as much meat on the turtle...legs? as I thought.
I rounded the dinner off with an order of Baby Pigeon. Think teriaki chicken wings served with a head on it. Besides the fish bowels, my second favorite dish. I was stuffed. Wonder what I'll get for dinner.

Joann:
THought you would all want to be aware, there is a declining supply of Jade in China as we speak. Have hired two coolies to get bags to airport. Speaking of airport, although we are having a wonderful time, we are anxious to get back to USA.

Bob:
There is a increase supply of US dollars in China to correspond to decreasing amounts of jade. My teeth are turning black from all the tea. The temperature was 101 degrees yesterday, get me out of here. I had a Chinese nightmare last night. It's time to come home.The city of Chongqing was flooded severly a few days after we left.

Max:
I love the pudding in China, I love the rice and bananas. I loved the swimming pool. Okay, he really didn't say those things....

Mary Claire:
Ready to get back to Tiffin so my son will stop eating pudding at every meal. In love more every minute. Missing Corinny.

Max see's the Doctor!!!

HI Guys!Missing you a lot!!! Really ready to get home now... Mollie I cannot WAIT for dinner Sunday!
Blog:Good morning from China (where else would we be...)Glad yesterday is over...it was medical check day. I HATE that particular appointment! Max did NOT like seeing doctors, he got upset the minute he saw a white coat. They do height, weight (27 pounds!!) head circ. etc. and then the do a physical exam. This particular doctor pushed and pushed on Max's left foot. Then he got another doctor to see it. Then they made him cry. All to tell us that we are going to need to have it worked on at home! Like DUH! I was frustrated and had tears in my eyes the whole time. Max got over it immediately. He certainly doesn't hold a grudge!. In the afternoon yesterday it was off to the red couch pictures. These are a time honored tradition for people adopting from China. He sat on the couch like a little soldier. He never moved, just watched the other kids around him. (most of whom were screaming!) We had dinner last night with another couple from the group. She cried whenever they put her down . She has not eaten one solid piece of food since they got her and has been to the doctor everyday. Mom tried to help last night. She is acting like I sort of expected Max to. It turns out that the people at the orphanage held her all of the time. And there is our Max...passed from person to place all the time here! Eric has not had any strange food in days. Today he is going to rest for lunch with beetles and worms etc. we will see what he eats!Internet is so slow...ttyllove MCvvvvv

Finally - Word from China (again)

Sorry for being so quiet! Actually I have continued to blog each day but Mollie just told me our emails are not coming thru. Hopefully this one works! How is Tiffin? We re on the countdown to coming home. I really think this time alone with Max is a blessing. I never thought I would sy that! Of course we miss the Shoo very much, but we have had the opportunity to really bond and get to know Max. He will absolutely LOVE the other kids in his life when we get home. He is very outgoing and naturally gravitates toward other children. He was snuggling in bed with us this morning and I told him that next Sunday he will be snuggling with us and his big sister!
The White Swan rocks. Eric says it is like being in Vegas and coming home to the casino you are staying at. You just feel comfortable. Mom is able and VERY willing to go out shopping on her own. It is very safe and people with babies are everywhere! We are happy with the food here...too happy as a matter of fact! Last night we had cocktails in our room and then went to a Japanese steakhouse. They are so kid friendly here...Max had a rice omelet with papaya and a deep fried scampi..that was the kids menu! He LOVED it. Actually, he ate great yesterday. He loves banannas and will eat anything that you mix them with. It is hotter here than even in Chongqing...and it was HOT there! It is not the temp so much (about 90-94) , it is the humidity. You feel like you are walking in quicksand the minute you step outside. Eric and dad sweat thru their shirts immediately. Eric and the Zhonger have really started bonding. It is awesome to watch. They are already further along that he was with Corinne for like 2 months! I had to leave for 2 hours yesterday to do more paperwork and they had a great time together. We are not really bonded with this group. It is not like last time. I think it is because we were not in the provience together. Gettin your babies together is a extremely bonding experience. This group all went our separate ways and now have come back together. They babies are beautiful though. It is so fun to see all of them. Many have special needs of some sort . In fact, 8 babies out of our 9 are classified specail needs. One little girl doesn't have a hand, another repaired clef lip/palet etc. It really hit home with us that this "lslow down" had really been good for the babies that might have otherwise not have ben adopted thru the "normal" process. It really warms your heart. We found out that when we got Corinne in 2005 adoptions over here were at their peak of 8000 adoptions/year. Last year it dipped to a new low of only 2800 adoptions/year. CRAZY numbers!
EWric ran around the Island yesterday..it is just over a mile around and he ran it 3 times. Impressive because he did it in the afternoon heat! He was soaked!

(The fact that it ended so abruptly with no sign off means they were cut off - so this is Meg signing off for them).

Love,

Mary Claire, Eric and Max!