We're Rock Stars!!

Okay, so we had heard from others that in this part of the world the people sometimes get excited to see an American and may ask to take your picture. Today we set off with our group of 25 people (10 adopting families) and 2 guides for Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City followed by the Great Wall. Whew I am exhausted just typing that. Anyway, we were walking through Tiananmen Square and as a large group got quite a few stares. As we walked further a few people came up and asked for an occasional picture of someone in our group. No big deal. Towards the back of the Square we all got together for a large group photo. As we got done, Steve was approached by a group of guys who wanted their picture with him. Next a group of girls approached me. The rest of our group patiently waited as another and then another person came asking for our picture. We at one point had like 10 people getting in the same picture. We were cracking up. Our guide finally escorted us out like a star avoiding the paparazzi. It was quite the spectacle.




We took plenty of pictues at the Forbidden City but you really can't do it justice. Construction started in 1406 and it was home to 24 different emperors through 500 years. It is called the Forbidden City because everyone was forbidden from entrance except the emperor and those he invited. You could have easily spent a full day there. It was clear that the Chinese show great respect for their culture and are VERY proud to show you and tell you about it. As well, we greatly enjoyed learning about it.



We also stopped by the 2008 Olympic Bird Nest (not bird cage as I have repeatedly tried to call it) We attempted to get a good picture but what you get a better picture of is all the smog.



Equally interesting to our sightseeing was driving through the streets. It is an interesting culmination of technology with more cars and the simple life with plenty of bikes. I am not that sure that our bus driver didn't take out a bike or two. We saw plenty of people riding with their dogs in baskets on the back of their bike and lots of street vendors selling oddities like birds.
Our last stop was at the Great Wall which is about 30+ minutes from Downtown. Again, difficult to capture on film. It measures over 5000 km long from east to west. Construction was started in the 7th century BC. I can't help but wonder how different this place would be if Jesus had been born here. The Wall was designed to keep the northerners out. Elaborate watch towers are integrated into the wall. Steve and I ventured out with the group and were with our new friend Tricia who was compelled to go as far as her father had gone up the wall on an earlier trip. That didn't sound too bad at first until the rest of our group of 25 slowly peeled off. We stuck it out with her and went as far as we were allowed to go as the park was closing. Thank goodness. We counted the actualy stairs coming back and went over 1800 steps each way! My legs were like noodles. Steve said he was disappointed we couldn't go further. I'll remind him of that in the morning.





I understand that the Chinese have high regard for their authority and for their culture and totally respect that. I couldn't help but wonder today as we saw these marvels of engineering and perseverance what China would be like if they had that same regard when it came to taking care of the less fortunate.
Steve asked me what I was feeling today about everything and my answer is that I feel privledged. It is a great privledge for this very proud country to let us come and visit and to allow us to adopt one of their children. We got word today that Liam has stayed in foster care and did not have to return to the orphanage as many of the children do once it is learned they will be adopted. Our guide was wonderful and discussed with us what to expect and how to handle the many upsets we are sure to experience. We leave for the airport at 6am tomorrow (Sunday) to fly to Changsha where we will get a new guide for the week. We are told that she knows the dialect they speak in Loudi where Liam is from and will be able to teach us some words. They have assured us that as hard as it is for us to learn Chinese, it has proven to be easy for the little ones to pick up English. Time will tell. Good night for now.
Love,
Paige and Steve
P.S. Thanks for the comments. They are really helping to lift us up.