It is Saturday here in Guangzhou. I missed my flight out last night by the skin of my teeth. Most maddening part is that I knew hours prior it would happen due to my lack of assertiveness, yes, I know uncharacteristic of me but never again. I literally watched several fellow passengers on my flight run with me and get on the LAX flight out b/c they had a boarding pass that our guide would not get for me in Kunming.
At any rate, I tried my best knowing as the minutes ticked by on the actual plane that my chances were slim to none. But this crazy feeling is compounded by all things Chinese that drive me up the wall...lying being the fore runner. We sat in Kunming airport waiting for our departure. At the gate no plane was there for us and when I asked the gate agent if there was a delay he smiles and says "no, delay." What? Really, do I have stupid written on my forehead? We should have been boarding 10 minutes ago and there is no plane to even board but no delays? This flat out lying kills me!! Just like being told we couldn't leave early in Kunming b/c of Ian's passport not being ready - although I know for a fact it was ready by 11 or noon at the latest. This whole idea of "no worries, chill out" reminds me of Jamiaca. Now add on the lying and it is literally like communist island style - instead of smiling and saying "no worries, mon" it is "no worries" followed by a huge lie. After about a week of being hoodwinked over and over it starts to grate on you!!
But then there are moments of shining goodness in this whole adoption piece. Today, at Ian's medical we literally got the VIP treatment. Families scattered all over this clinic waiting, waiting and waiting. Not us, our guide, same one for the third time here, just grabbed our paper work, opened doors and they let us right in. In front of all the others just waiting. At one point I did feel a little shame when there were about 6 families waiting for one area. No nurse in sight so our guide went to get the nurse and took Ian right in...no waiting. Oh well, screw it. For all the little annoyances like dealing with cultural differences one thing is for sure this go around - Ian's process has gone really smoothly. And most of all we can thank our agency, their connections and organization for all this.
This final stop has us in a hotel the likes of which Benj will probably never see again for a long, long time. To call it five star is underselling it. It is swanky, upscale, posh, you name it!! And this is the part that always hits me - I forget it until I'm living it either in Moscow or Guangzhou - all these little orphans, smallest of the small in every meaning are suddenly whisked from god forsaken places into these shiny hotels. Attending buffet breakfasts with omelet chefs, food from several continents and more than they can ever consume. They are being cuddled in the arms of these larger than life families. Every cry or whimper, every tear and booger is wiped away. Some of the kids look pale beyond words. Some still look shell shocked. Many are quickly learning to start accepting this new lifestyle, food and offerings of being doted on. And within days these little people who just a week before were experiencing things we can't fathom are suddenly learning family and love in the back drop of a five star hotel. I always wonder what the staff at these hotels must think of these little people being taken into a new world? Do the bus boys and cleaning staff understand what is happening? Surely they do here b/c there are so many other American families adopting. Do they know how different life will soon be for these little people? I think so. The best part of it lately is the fact that so many disabled and special needs children are the ones now being treated like royalty. What must the staff think when they see children who in their eyes are second class citizens being offered five star service? I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering this bc it is such a stark contrast.
Ian update - he zoomed through the physical today. It is sort of a check list joke to have it done. He did have blood drawn for a TB test, that's not a joke. Hopefully he comes back negative b/c we've never gone through this part as he is older than two at adoption time. But the rest of the physical was fine. The doctor asked about his leg the scar is really crazy. And we asked about the dark round scars all over - still being told it is reaction to bug bites being itched too much... not sure. He has a cough like mine and we're worried it might be something worse down the road. For now we're trying to let him get some good naps and food down the hatch. He did great on his first flight last night sitting by Bill for over three hours b/c of all the delays. He's waking up now from a little morning nap after all the medical stuff...
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