Excerpts From My China Journal - Nov. 12, 2014

The last couple of days have been rough.  I've struggled with depression and homesickness a lot.  The lack of English conversation, constant Chinese TV, HORRIBLE food, Yang's temper and tantrums, endless boredom...  I've actually broken down in tears both days.  :o(  This has been the hardest adoption trip I've had, emotionally.  Yeah, Nik's adoption was incredibly STRESSFUL, but it was mostly the agency's fight, not mine.  Here, I feel so isolated, and that, coupled with the other stuff, has been tough.  

The view from our apartment.  Day in, day out...

Today we had the girls' medical exams, and of course, HuiYang had a meltdown.  The guide got to witness this one.  The child was hitting and kicking both Helen (the guide) AND the doctor!!  To be honest, the best part was when they took her in for the blood draw and no one else was allowed inside.  They came out and physically carried her in (the first people to do so in China - everyone else always tries to talk her down).  We heard her screaming bloody murder behind the closed door then very shortly after, she came out as calm and meek as a lamb, and cuddled up to me.  LOL  THAT showed her!!  ;o)

Another crazy taxi day - the taxi on the way to the medical dropped us off 1/4 mile away and left us to find it, in the rain, with Yang whining the whole way.  FINALLY found it - good thing we planned our arrival 1/2 hour ahead of time - it took that long to find our way!!  For the taxi ride home, Helen flagged a taxi - showed our address, but the driver didn't know where our apartment was.  Flagged another driver.  Also didn't know where.  A third thought he might, so we took him.  He dropped us off in the general vicinity and we eventually found our way home.  What is it with Guangzhou taxi drivers?!  They are the WORST!!

Typical street view from the taxi.  I've never seen so many skyscrapers in all of my life as I did in every city in China.

Nine more days to go...  Please God, help me make it.  :o(