She spent quite a bit of time on her hair today! Interesting do! I claim NO CREDIT for her hair in the pics today. She continues to eat and drink well. She is picking out her own snacks when we go to the market. According to the scale, she has gained two pounds since Sunday afternoon. I do not think it will take long for her to fill out!
We went to Walmart again to get the mic and a suitcase. It turns out a third suitcase will not solve my luggage weight issues. No matter how many suitcases we have to check, the total weight can only be 88 pounds. This may sound like a lot but with stuff for two people for two weeks, it is not. But I did buy a new carry on because the I will put the heavier stuff in it for the trip to Guanzhou. On the way to Hong Kong and home, I will check the new bag.
After Walmart we went to a huge bookstore. You have to put your bags etc in a locker before you go in the store. I have noticed lockers a quite a few stores and wondered what they were for. Our guide said that is so people do not steal anything in the store. Lan Lan picked out a pop music CD and our guide helped me pick out a CD set with traditional Chinese music. Lan Lan also picked out a few books to take home. She is reading one of them right now. The guide is impressed with her reading ability and keeps saying how smart she is. She keeps telling me how important it is to keep her Mandarin. We will look into lessons once we are settled. There were a lot of people in the bookstore reading. I asked our guide if there are a lot of people in China that can not read and she said not as many as before because now they have 9 years of compulsory education that became free 2-3 years ago.
On our way into Walmart the guide told us to wait a minute for her. She walked over to an entrance to an underground tunnel and gave a man some money. She came back and she said she always gives him money when she sees him because he can not work and one day she saw his daughter come and get him. She said she feels bad for him. She said he is the only one she gives to. On the way out of Walkmart I gave her a little money and asked her if she could give it to him. We walked by him after she gave him the money and I saw why she felt so bad for him. His face was totally disfigured like he had been badly burned or worse. Very very sad. I wish I had given more......
We did walk to the market again today. I did see some interesting things but am trying to respect people and not take too many pictures. It was very warm here today and we were over dressed so Lan Lan did not want to stay out to long. I would have loved to walk around more but am sure we will be able to in Guanzhou. My cough is still hanging in there but I think the smokers convention is over. They are starting to decorate the hotel for Christmas. I will post pictures of it tomorrow. Our guide said not many people celebrate Christmas except the businessmen so they can make money...
Tomorrow we have to wait in the hotel while our guide goes to get Lan Lan's passport. Then we have to have our bags all packed by 2pm, and checkout of the hotel by 2:30pm. The flight to Guanzhou is about 1.5 hours. Lan Lan keeps saying no to airplane but keep us in your prayers that it goes well. It will be a good test for the long flight home.
We have been able to skype with Nate, Alex, my mom and sister Heidi. I am hoping Nick and Ron get on skype soon! Ron has been pretty busy with work, the long drive and Manon. I did get to talk to them tonight on the phone. Once we are in Guanzhou i can buy cheap phone cards so I can call more often.
We are both tired of being stuck in the hotel, sick of being over dressed and ready to move on!!!! Guanzhou here we come!!!!
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