Day 12 Update from Jeff

Our trip is winding down and we are mostly killing time. Today was our consulate appointment where we go and stand holding our right hand up and "swear or affirm" that everything we've done so far is true. That only takes about 19 seconds, but that's like the crowning jewel in this whole process. We got his visa to come home so that means it's over. We just have to come home now.

We ate our super breakfast buffet a little late this morning but we had a window seat for Ty to see the boats passing by. We thought he would like the congee here, but no. He's getting to be more comfortable in his surroundings and with us so he's becoming a little more picky at the table. Tater tots and scrambled eggs and drinkable yogurt always are on his good list.

We went shopping after breakfast. The area around the Swan is changing due to fewer families being here at one time. The Swan used to be full of families, now it's more business people. The shops outside who catered to those adopting families are having a hard time, and some are already gone. One store is going out of business next week, so we shopped there first.

Since Lucy's was right next door and it was lunch time, we stopped for lunch. Tried congee again for Ty, no deal. He knew they have good fries and he held out. Grandpa joined the locals in a game of hackeysack-type kicking thing that had a feather on it. Somewhere between hackeysack and badminton with no rackets. After lunch we took a walk along the river, then Ty took a short nap before we needed to leave.

Our consulate appointment was for 4pm so we were loaded on the bus by 3. This was the first bus ride since being in Xi'an, and he was ready to go. We got to ride through the amazing and wild and crowded city of Guangzhou.

We got back and started wandering around looking for somewhere to eat dinner and ended up again at Lucy's. I tried their Mexican fare, not so good. We had a nice time sitting outside among palm trees dressed up in Christmas lights. The weather here is perfect now. After dinner we walked down a few streets and ran into a park full of people exercising. People of all ages using the playground equipment working out. The equipment wasn't just for kids either, and it looked like the equipment was well used, but not in bad shape. Many people, kids, dogs, and some kind of boot-camp going on all in the dark. "Everything at Once" should be China's motto.

I (tiffany) forgot to post this yesterday... this is Jeff's favorite Minced Pork dish at Lucy's

Lucy's for dinner

Ty ready to eat

Time to play

Time to go