Michael's Hometown

We're making the most of our time in Guangzhou.

We've stopped by One Link Plaza--an eight-story discount toy (and other stuff) mall--and I can tell Baba is trying to decide whether there's room in the luggage for another visit before we leave.

Michael has been very patient while Baba does his shopping. Every now and then he gets to pick out something himself.

I'm getting tired of shopping, but not of photographing the things I'd like to bring home.

Last night we took a walk from the toy mall to Shamian Island. It was hot, humid, but terrific. We looked at the Pearl River.

We had dinner at Lucy's with two other families with our agency.

I decided that the panorama setting on our new camera is the only feature I really like about it.

Then this morning we woke up and headed to Foshan City, home of Bruce Lee and--up until last Monday--our little Michael. Our agency helped us hire a driver and Ensign (whose name I may be spelling wrong) from our agency came along to help translate and give us insight into the area. We like all the agency reps here, but we were really happy when he told us he'd be joining us today.

On the hour-plus drive, we got to see industry...

 ...a beautiful mausoleum, I guess it would be called (in China people must be cremated; there are too many people for cemeteries)...

...the new high-speed bullet train...

...and our first glimpse of Foshan.

Michael seemed to like the air conditioned van...

...and the box of Cheerios I threw in my bag on the way out the door.

We had debated whether to visit Michael's orphanage. This wasn't an option for us when we traveled to Louis because of the H1N1 flu concerns. But we also hadn't had any interest because Louis was in foster care. This time we were curious but worried about how Michael would handle a visit. We talked to our social worker and she agreed it could be confusing for him, but said if we had a chance to visit, we should go. She suggested keeping him outside and having one of us go into the orphanage.

A week ago when we met Michael, I couldn't imagine a day when we'd be able to pull this off. But Michael has settled in well, and he is as comfortable with Baba as with Mama--maybe even leaning a little more towards Baba at times. And I was the one who was more interested in seeing Michael's home for this significant part of his young life. So off we went.

Some of what we learned and saw I think we'll keep to share with Michael himself. Then one day he can share it however he'd like. But a few things I think are kind of fun to share here.

The nannies showed me Michael's crib, where his friend Maia was sleeping today. Then they showed me his favorite ride-on toy, a Pleasant Goat ride. I told them he has been asking for Pleasant Goat toys in shops around Guangzhou, and they laughed.

When I got outside, Michael seemed unaffected by the visit. He was playing with one of Baba's pens.


I sent John in to take a peek and leave a donation in the donation box, and Michael and I looked around the neighborhood just a little. (He had already gone exploring with John.) The neighborhood was the opposite of what we had imagined. It was quiet and peaceful. The orphanage is on a dead-end street. I took a few photos while we waited.

When John came back out, we took pictures with two of the ladies from the orphanage--and the kind security guard is standing behind us.

I don't know what I expected to think or feel after the visit to Michael's former home, but all I feel tonight is a tremendous amount of gratitude. We can never repay them for all they gave to our son and to our family.

We had hoped to find time to visit a Bruce Lee museum, but something told us this guy needed a briefer excursion.

We had seen a park on our way into Foshan, and Ensign suggested perhaps we would like to go there instead. Michael knew we had made the right call when he saw the Pleasant Goat-themed gift shop (though we didn't buy anything).

 Instead we walked around, soaking up some culture and enjoying the free park.

Well, I'm actually not sure how much Michael enjoyed it. He was hot, couldn't decide whether he wanted to ride in or out of the stroller, and wanted to carry a water bottle, but also wanted to drop it on the ground every few steps. So you'll have to ask him whether he enjoyed it.

 But John and I loved it.

 And Ensign, who lives in Guangzhou, had been to Foshan, but had never stopped at the park.

 It was worth a stop.

Now, if you are expecting me to tell you when it was built or why or how...

...you're going to be disappointed.

We encouraged Ensign to make up a few facts for us--since he didn't know anything about the park--but he was reluctant to do so.

Ensign is otherwise a terrific guy.

But we are at the point where we are just so happy to be somewhere different, somewhere beautiful, and somewhere with an interesting connection to our younger son that we just walked and enjoyed the view.

Yesterday we couldn't wait to leave. Today we are eager to leave, but we can also see an end in sight. And we're going to soak up what we can in these last few days.

 Today that meant paying a visit to a new city.

.

We marveled at the beauty--and the size--of the structure. It was built by the Chinese government--that much we know.

Just when we thought we had seen it all, we turned a corner and discovered something else.

There were interesting pieces of artwork just waiting to be discovered.

And every few steps there seemed to be another view to take in.

One day we'll be able to share these with Michael.

Actually, I shared them with John today and I'm not sure he had noticed them while we were there. He and Ensign were apparently having some great conversations while I tried to see just how large our memory card is.

Turns out, it's pretty big.

We were hoping Michael might want to do some walking, but his preference is still to be carried, either in our arms or in the stroller.

Ensign helped John carry the stroller over the thresholds, explaining that it is Chinese tradition to build them so you have to step over a piece of wood or stone to get into the house. The theory is that it keeps the bad things out.

Our park visit was an unexpected surprise to a day we had discussed for months.

And somehow I have a feeling these photos will work their way into a photo book for Michael. After all, he wouldn't remember today even if he hadn't spent a good part of it trying to figure out how to get us to let him hold the water bottle.

And when he asks how we got him to look at Ensign for this photo, we'll tell him that he borrowed the water bottle from you--and yes, you weren't happy. But you looked at the camera.

One day maybe we'll return to Foshan. Maybe we'll even take that high-speed bullet train. If we do, we'll have to come back to this park--whose name I do not even know.

If we come while the boys are still young, we'll have to take a closer look at the rides that didn't interest Michael today.

And we'll reminisce about our day together in Foshan...

...how the drive was almost as much fun as visiting each site...

...the numerous times we got lost trying to find each destination....

...how twice as many Cheerios hit the van floor as made it to Michael's stomach...

...and how amazing it was to think that the little boy goofing off with his Baba had just met him one week earlier.

We didn't need to spend our morning on the road to realize the difference a week makes...

...but we are so, so glad we got to experience a little of Michael's past--so we can share it with him as we build his future together.