Leaving Lanzhou City, Gansu

We woke up early, got ready, and had breakfast in the hotel. Our guide came to pick us up and drove us an hour away to see where Kaitlyn was abandoned. It's a small part of town next to a huge oil refinery. It seems like a very, very poor community. I didn't get emotional about it until I sat here to write this journal entry. It's heartbreaking to think she was just left in a box or bag on the street in front of a store when she was only a few days old. I'm so thankful she was found rather quickly. Our guide made many stops to talk to the locals to try and find the man that discovered her... but with no luck. He has been great and really bent over backwards for us this morning!

Interesting facts we've learned: Men can beat women without getting arrested, there is no drinking age in China (beer is sold in vending machines like coke), marijuana is legal and grows in public, the average income in Lanzhou is about $350/month, the death penality is immediate (no waiting around in jail for years), Military people cannot have any religious beliefs or they get discharged, kids go to school in the morning - come home to eat a hot lunch - take a nap, and go back to school until about 4pm. Kaitlyn has some BIG adjustments with school once she gets home!! The tooth fairy doesn't come in China. Instead, if the tooth came from the top row, you throw it on the roof. If it came from the bottom row, you throw it in the ditch! Weird, huh??


We're packing getting ready to drive an hour to the airport and fly to Guangzhou at 2:00 pm. Kaitlyn has never been on a plane before and she is EXTREMELY excited! She sees us packing and jumps right in hastily putting things in suitcases, backpacks and dragging them to the door!

15 hours later... now we are here in Guangzhou! Yeah!!!!!!! Civilization!! Praise God!! Our hotel is absolutely beautiful! Wow! I heard there is a Starbucks around here somewhere and I cannot wait for a good cup of coffee!!! I have been drinking Lanzhou coffee and it just isn't the same. The flight was good. Kaitlyn did really well for her first flight. We thought she would scream, but she did pretty good. Her ears hurt both times we decended and we gave her more gum to chew. I think we'll give her a little benadryl (sp?) for the long flight home! LOL!! We had a lay over in some other providence between Gansu and Guangzhou (I have no idea!) - hense, the late post... Sorry Drea!! It is currently 11:45 pm and everyone just settled into bed. Tomorrow is paperwork day!

Oh, Savannah - yes, we kept the tooth! Nicole, you're too sweet to have got Kaitlyn a gift! Don't worry, I didn't tell her! Yes, they gave her something on a cotton ball to numb her gums... thank goodness!! Tiffany, I miss you guys tons too!!!! Colleen - love getting your posts!! Denise - I miss you and it was good to hear from you!!! Mom and Dad, I know you probably cannot post comments, but you can email me - the internet is WAY FASTER here!! Everyone - I treasure your comments and I cannot tell you how much they mean to us! It is like waking up Christmas morning everyday to read them!! Bye for now, I'm off to sleep in a king size, much softer bed :) Love you all!!