3-27 More of our first day together
More updates from 3-27 ( I wrote this at 6 a.m. on 3-28)
Wow, this kid is amazing. We played some more this evening and then decided we needed some fresh air. We figured it would tire the girls out and we didn't want to be couped up in the hotel all night. So, we ventured out on our own. Jenny, our Holt escort,has been great. Whenever we need something, we have callled her. Unlike Beijing, where they are used to Westerners andmore people speak English, in Urumqi very few understand us (even the hotel staff) and we are definately one of few westerners in the city. We got lots of stares before we had XiaoTing and more now !! However, we decided to be brave and go for awalk without Jenny. We walked the same way as yesterday so we kind of knew where we were going.
A little about the city. Urumqi is in the very Northern province of Xinjing province. It is the largest province in China,but has the smallest population at only about 2 million total. Urumqi is the biggest city. It is smack in the middle of mountains. We can look in all directions and see them. We hope to venture out and see them in the next few days.The city is kind of dirty and industrial looking. Our hotel is in the busier downtown area, where there are more modern buildings next to ones that don't look so good. When you walk around, there are street vendors selling goods (but theydo not bug you like in Beijing), including food and toys and other items. There are lots of shoe shiners - you could get your shoes shined every few feet if you wanted to !!
Anyway, we ventured out and got quite a few looks. Most people were smiling and looking at XiaoTing (she is darned cute) and then looking at us (like, what is she doing with them??). We went to a fast food place for a bite to eat and Steve had adventures in ordering. He had to point at what he wanted, but the drinks were not what he wanted. He wanted cold water and ended up getting steaming hot water and steaming hot milk. I think that in some places you can't get cold water because it is not good for you to drink. Even his soda had no ice. Anyway, XiaoTing proceeded to grab some french fries and one of Sarah's chicken nuggets and dig in. She likes both with barbeque sauce instead of ketchup. XiaoTing and I also split a dishwith rice and grilled chicken with sauce. She loved that as well and we had fun blowing off the food to cool it down. She was very good about sharing with Mama and JieJie. When we got back to the hotel it was about 8:30. I decided to try to give XiaoTing a bath. It said in her paperworkthat she only took baths once a week at the orphanage and did NOT like them. But she was dressed in many layers ofclothes (that is what they do in China) and she was all sweaty, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I started filling the tub and brought her in and motioned to the water and then motioned to take off her clothes. Guess what, she took them right off and when I pointed to the water, she stepped right in. We scrubbed up with no problem - as was the case all day she was smiling and having fun. We even played a bit of basketball (gotta get her started early) with a tub toy we had (hoop that sticks to the wall and nerf ball).
Then she hopped out and we dried off and right into her new footie pj's. She looked sooooo cute. Then it was time to brush teeth (no problem there) and off to bed. She had a bit of a struggle falling asleep, so she played in bed for a bit and then she and Sarah went to sleep. The orphanage staff told us to wake her up at least once during the night around midnight for potty. While I hated doing it, I set the alarm and got her up. When I say NeoNeo (bathroom) she kept saying no, but I got her in there and she did go, as usually with a smile. Then back to bed.
Sarah has been a great big sister so far. She is patient and seems to enjoy her. We told her when she needed a break to let us know. So, at one point she was looking tired and I asked if she wanted to get on the computer for a bit. She did and Steve and I played with XiaoTing. Of course, she had to see what big sis was up to at one point, so she sat her butt right in the chair with Sarah. Sarah was very patient, held her hand away until it was time to click the mouse and then let her do the clicking. Very nice.
Today we go shopping (there is no WalMart here, though there are lots in other cities in China and they are very popular), so Jenny is going to try to find us a store that is similiar. I only brought a few outfits for XiaoTing as I did not know what size, so we need to get a few more. We did teach her how to say "shopping" in English, so she is alreadyoff to a good start. We will also take our laundry to a small place close to the hotel. The laundry in the hotel is way too expensive ($5 for one shirt !!).
All our paperwork for this province is done - we have to stay here until Saturday while we wait for her Chinese passport. So more time for family bonding.
Wow, this kid is amazing. We played some more this evening and then decided we needed some fresh air. We figured it would tire the girls out and we didn't want to be couped up in the hotel all night. So, we ventured out on our own. Jenny, our Holt escort,has been great. Whenever we need something, we have callled her. Unlike Beijing, where they are used to Westerners andmore people speak English, in Urumqi very few understand us (even the hotel staff) and we are definately one of few westerners in the city. We got lots of stares before we had XiaoTing and more now !! However, we decided to be brave and go for awalk without Jenny. We walked the same way as yesterday so we kind of knew where we were going.
A little about the city. Urumqi is in the very Northern province of Xinjing province. It is the largest province in China,but has the smallest population at only about 2 million total. Urumqi is the biggest city. It is smack in the middle of mountains. We can look in all directions and see them. We hope to venture out and see them in the next few days.The city is kind of dirty and industrial looking. Our hotel is in the busier downtown area, where there are more modern buildings next to ones that don't look so good. When you walk around, there are street vendors selling goods (but theydo not bug you like in Beijing), including food and toys and other items. There are lots of shoe shiners - you could get your shoes shined every few feet if you wanted to !!
Anyway, we ventured out and got quite a few looks. Most people were smiling and looking at XiaoTing (she is darned cute) and then looking at us (like, what is she doing with them??). We went to a fast food place for a bite to eat and Steve had adventures in ordering. He had to point at what he wanted, but the drinks were not what he wanted. He wanted cold water and ended up getting steaming hot water and steaming hot milk. I think that in some places you can't get cold water because it is not good for you to drink. Even his soda had no ice. Anyway, XiaoTing proceeded to grab some french fries and one of Sarah's chicken nuggets and dig in. She likes both with barbeque sauce instead of ketchup. XiaoTing and I also split a dishwith rice and grilled chicken with sauce. She loved that as well and we had fun blowing off the food to cool it down. She was very good about sharing with Mama and JieJie. When we got back to the hotel it was about 8:30. I decided to try to give XiaoTing a bath. It said in her paperworkthat she only took baths once a week at the orphanage and did NOT like them. But she was dressed in many layers ofclothes (that is what they do in China) and she was all sweaty, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I started filling the tub and brought her in and motioned to the water and then motioned to take off her clothes. Guess what, she took them right off and when I pointed to the water, she stepped right in. We scrubbed up with no problem - as was the case all day she was smiling and having fun. We even played a bit of basketball (gotta get her started early) with a tub toy we had (hoop that sticks to the wall and nerf ball).
Then she hopped out and we dried off and right into her new footie pj's. She looked sooooo cute. Then it was time to brush teeth (no problem there) and off to bed. She had a bit of a struggle falling asleep, so she played in bed for a bit and then she and Sarah went to sleep. The orphanage staff told us to wake her up at least once during the night around midnight for potty. While I hated doing it, I set the alarm and got her up. When I say NeoNeo (bathroom) she kept saying no, but I got her in there and she did go, as usually with a smile. Then back to bed.
Sarah has been a great big sister so far. She is patient and seems to enjoy her. We told her when she needed a break to let us know. So, at one point she was looking tired and I asked if she wanted to get on the computer for a bit. She did and Steve and I played with XiaoTing. Of course, she had to see what big sis was up to at one point, so she sat her butt right in the chair with Sarah. Sarah was very patient, held her hand away until it was time to click the mouse and then let her do the clicking. Very nice.
Today we go shopping (there is no WalMart here, though there are lots in other cities in China and they are very popular), so Jenny is going to try to find us a store that is similiar. I only brought a few outfits for XiaoTing as I did not know what size, so we need to get a few more. We did teach her how to say "shopping" in English, so she is alreadyoff to a good start. We will also take our laundry to a small place close to the hotel. The laundry in the hotel is way too expensive ($5 for one shirt !!).
All our paperwork for this province is done - we have to stay here until Saturday while we wait for her Chinese passport. So more time for family bonding.
posted by Journey for Xiao @ 9:22 PM
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