We left the Hotel for the airport promptly at 4:30, allowing 3 hours lead time before scheduled flight departure at 7:30. Maggie, our guide assisted us through check-in and Security (as close as she could without going through herself). Tyler was holding up as best we could expect in the terminal – he was exhausted and was practically falling off my shoulders when we (Kyle, Tyler and I) took our last stroll of the neighborhood. We found our gate, after bypassing a restaurant, and were about to make a dinner out of snacks. Ashley and I found a menu for the restaurant that we skipped and found out that they actually had some stuff we could stomach. The two magic items: Fried Rice & Dumplings! The kids have become Dumpling addicts and load up on Fried Rice at every opportunity. So we circled back, lugging all of carry-on backpacks. (The people we passed twice already must have been thinking “Why can’t that family ever make a decision and stick with it? A good question…).
We even found some bland steamed rice for Mom (NOT a Chinese food fan, to say the least). 5 Chinese children, but she cannot even stand the smell of Dumplings. Thanks for “Taking one for the Team”, Mom! The chicken dumplings lasted only about 5 minutes longer than the fried rice, and the vegetable dumplings didn’t quite get finished (a bit of an odd taste, according to the kids.) But our meal was infinitely better than Snacks for Dinner. Then it was back to the Gate, and time to board. We got to our seats no problem. It was about then that things started going sideways.
It was a full flight, and we sat 47 ABC, 48 AB and 49 AB. 47 started out with Ashley, Tyler and Mom (aisle). Kyle and Ryan were in 48, with Dylan and me in 49. Tyler was EXHAUSTED, and it was his first flight ever, so he didn’t know up from down. He was crying, squirming, and calling out in his blend of Mandarin and his dialect. He started calling for me, so in desperation, Lisa and I switched seats moments before take-off. Then things got really bad. Crying ratcheted up to full-throated screams, as I tried to comfor him. Even just wearing a seat belt set him off – also not having line of sight to Lisa stressed him out more. Three flight attendants also tried to speak to him to calm him down as we rolled through our final taxi turn toward the runway. The Captain made his final announcement before take-off and the seating was set in stone (until 10,000 feet). During take-off roll, the sensations of acceleration rattled Tyler even more, as if that was even possible. The looks and stares from EVERYONE in our area of the plane burned through us. We had become “THAT Family”. C’mon admit it, everyone’s been there, on one side or the other, so you know what it’s like. It was the flight from hell. At least for the first 20 minutes, and the last 15 minutes. In between, it was just bearable…
Lisa and I switched seat at 10,001 feet, and she was able to manage him much better that I. She used my iPhone Sketch app, where he could make colored shapes with his finger. I was surprised that he could occupy himself for so long (it was a 2.5 hour flight) but thankfully the phone had a full charge! He carried on a bit during landing but less than during take-off.
We rolled to a stop, and deplaned to the Tarmac (which was a treat for the kids), boarded our shuttle bus for the LONG trip to the Terminal. The long trip was due to the major construction project of a new terminal, which we had to completely circumnavigate. We collected the luggage quickly and found Ms. Kelly in the arrival hall. It was hellos and hugs all around as she had been our guide just last year with Ryan’s trip. She told us she even kept some of the pictures she took last year on her cell phone! That made us feel great, and helped to take the edge off the horrible plane ride. We had survived and we were back on familiar ground, with an old friend to help us along during our stay in Guangzhou. Things were looking up. At least until we got to the hotel…
Ahh, the Hotel… And we thought the FLIGHT was bad.
Our agency had made our arrangements at the Garden Hotel, also our Home Base with Ryan’s trip. Last year we were able to get a three bedroom apartment for our stay, but this year we were told that apartments were restricted to long-term rentals (which ruled us out). Not to worry though since we (I.e. Our agency) had arranged 2 rooms with 2 double beds located close enough to allow us to move back & forth easily. Plenty of sleeping room for all, and close proximity. Except that’s not exactly how it went down.
Lisa and Kelly went to check in while I held Tyler who’d fallen asleep during the van ride. As I walked T around to keep him asleep, I could not hear; but I could see them at the desk. It was clear even from a distance that things were not going according to plan. Arms were waving, and there was a lot of scurrying behind the desk. Lisa and Kelly went round and round, as whatever plans we had thought were made disintegrated into so much shrapnel. It was not good. I was trying to hold onto Tyler but was losing my grip as my strength was sagging. A long 45 minutes later, they salvaged the best deal that they could and we wearily made our way to 2 rooms located on OPPOSITE ends of the same floor. When we arrived, the expected double beds in each room turned out to be twin beds. Lisa, Tyler and Ashley made the best of things and the Boys and I had 2 rollaway beds delivered, late. The last time I remember seeing on my phone as I plugged it in to charge for the night: 1:22 AM. We’d deal with the mess in the morning.
We woke up this morning (Saturday), made our way down to the buffet breakfast (a very good buffet with lots of choices for the kids) and chowed down. Official adoption business for the day consisted of Physical Exams for the adoptees. Kelly’s group picked up 2 other families bringing the total to 4 (which Kelly can manage standing on her head – she’s a true Pro). We took a large bus to the Clinic and we went up to the 5th floor to get things started.
Measurements were taken, reactions and reflexes checked, and eyes, ears and noses explored. Things were moving along fine until Ashley (yes, ASHLEY) noticed as she looked over my shoulder at Tyler’s paperwork that he was identified as “Female”. We flagged Kelly down, showed her and she smiled/smirked. She raced off to the desk to rectify the error and in true Kelly form, she returned a few moments later with the fix! Mei Wen ti. (No Problem!)
We were with Tyler has he made his rounds to each department on the floor. In one of the rooms, he even chatted up the doctor, who smiled and laughed a bit at the exchange. Of course we didn’t understand the words, but it was amusing nevertheless. Final stop was the TB Test – mandatory per the US Consulate requirements. In he went, and the door closed behind him. A few moments later he emerged, very proud of himself, showing Mom his band aid: “Look at me.” As quickly as it started, it was over. (Lisa and I still remember the Clinic Day and examinations for Ashley. She had been very sick from birth and had not had any vaccinations. To compensate, and for her to be allowed to enter the US, she was given EIGHT (yes EIGHT!!!) shots in the stretch of about 45 minutes. 2 shots in each extremity!). Luckily, Tyler is good to go with no shots today.
Last stop on the official trip back today was to the AEON supermarket (more of a department / grocery store) around the corner from the Hotel. Lisa was able to find a new pair of sneakers and a bunch of T-shirts for Tyler. We picked up a small Duplo / Lego set for Tyler, and loaded up on water & other essentials (I.e. Junk food!!).
Luckily, Kelly was able to sort things out with our rooms and she got us situated with 2 rooms directly across the hall from each other – MUCH BETTER. She told me to go to the front desk at 3PM to swap keys for the new room. Simple, right? I was down at the desk for 45 minutes. At first I was told that the new room is ready now, Then it wasn’t available at all…but the could find another “better room” on a different floor. Ummm…No. All I wanted was the room that Kelly said would be ours. Just as with Lisa last night, there was much scurrying be hind the desk and no less than six front desk staff cycled through my case The Manager arrived and said something about an upgrade to a suite on an executive floor? Once he realized that we were a family of 7 with 5 children, he ignored that offer said nothing more about any upgrade, and he prepared my new keys for the room across the hall – the same room that we were promised and that started the whole whirlwind in the first place. (I was tempted to ask if he knew “Who was on First?”)
We are now settled into our 2 almost adjoining rooms. The laundry man arrived on queue at 5 PM to take our laundry – we needed that! We got back home from Dinner a while ago. It was a really enjoyable meal at Oggi – an Italian restaurant (rather a restaurant serving Italian food…) around the corner from the hotel. It is a favorite of adoptive families and mentioned frequently as a place to get good, reasonably priced American-style food. Oddly enough, it was our first trip there. We had a good meal, and the kids all ate pretty much everything, which is a rare occurrence for us recently, with Tyler. After a desert of ice cream, and a quick stop at Starbucks, we were back in our rooms. Showers, teeth brushing and bed. Kids are asleep, I am wrapping up now and looking forward to our next few days in Guangzhou.
More soon…
Wow!! I am exhausted just reading what you went through. You are all such troopers, and Tyler is a blessed young man!!