DAY 1

First stop: Guangzhou, China. Our good friend Molly met us at the airport after 3 very easy flights (although long!) to get here. Clara was a great traveler with our only challenge being fitting us both in the tiny airplane bathroom at the same time.

Walking into the White Swan hotel felt like seeing an old friend and after enjoying their famous breakfast buffet, we set out for a walk around. It was reassuring to see many of our favorite shops and restaurants still here, but sadly, many have also closed. The increased length of time for Chinese adoptions means families trickle into the city at much lower numbers, affecting the economy for shop owners and other businesses that catered to new parents from all over the world.

Clara is using her Mandarin and has been able to impress many Chinese with her fast growing Chinese vocabulary. It’s obvious we’re an adoptive family and I’m conscientious of what they think as we walk by. When Clara greets them, tells them her name and age -- all in Mandarin, they grin and laugh, nodding at us with approval – understanding that we value Clara’s heritage. This means more than I can say to Pete and I.

Tonight we’ll be Molly’s guest for a dinner cruise on the Pearl River. When we traveled here in 2004, we met Molly when she worked in one of the local shops and she’d practice her English with us. She now works for our adoption agency and is beloved by the numerous families she’s helped.

We’re all looking forward to a good nights sleep, happy and relaxed to finally be here.