In Guangzhou

We've been offline for several days due to technical difficulties and busyness, but with some help from a travel buddy (thanks Mike!) and a more leisurely schedule, we're back. Today is Sunday in Guangzhou and we will be here until Wednesday, when we leave to spend the night in Hong Kong, then home at last on Thursday.

We lost several good posts about our days in Taiyuan, but maybe we'll have time to tell our stories later :) Just a couple of things:

Taiyuan is one of the most polluted cities in the world, as Shanxi province is widely accepted to be the most polluted province in China. Every day we were there, there was a gray haze over everything. We finally found the park we were looking for, and it was a neat place. There was a lake and a little amusement park inside, and lots of walking trails. Many people stopped to take pictures of the funny-looking family with so many kids. On our way back to the hotel, we were stopped by a group of teenaged girls with cell phone cameras. They were squealing and laughing as each of them took turns taking their pictures with us. Then, one of them scooped Eli up in her arms and just swung him around and around right there on the sidewalk. It was funny. Teenagers are teenagers everywhere, I guess.

On our last day there, we visited Jinci Temple, one of the oldest and most important cultural sites in China. Despite its modern history as the coal mining industrial center of China, Shanxi province is the birthplace of Chinese civilization, with a history that goes back 5,000 years.

At last it was time to leave Taiyuan and head to Guangzhou to meet up with our group. I was concerned about how Lilli would do on the flight, but as long as she had her little biscuits in each hand, she was great. She is really doing well with us so far. We are able to communicate more with her, and she has learned a couple of signs, like thank you and want.

Every day she opens up to us more, and her referral paperwork was right: she does have a ready smile and she is, so far, very patient and gentle. We are enjoying getting to know her, and the boys especially are in heaven when she smiles at them.

We will try to post some pictures if we can figure it out!