We arrived back in China early yesterday morning after a six hour train ride from Hong Kong, and the past two days have been spent going all over CZ. Though I’ve been here many times, I think I’m seeing more of the city than I ever have. Also, a lot has changed in the past four years. There are now 2 McD’s, a Walmart and I don’t know how many KFC’s, as well as new hotels all over the place.
The city is much dirtier than it used to be due to all of the new construction going on. It seems that everywhere we go, something has either been razed or something is going up. Even in the square where there used to be roller skating, kite flying and dancing, there are tents for construction workers to live in.
Last night, after a long day, we went to McDonald’s to eat. It used to be a large, jam-packed place where it was nearly impossible to find a seat, with people crowding the counter. On this Sunday night, around 7 PM, the back section had been closed off, and the rest of the restaurant was mostly empty, and only one register was open.
JP and I both have commented that there are more cars in the city. Used to be, whenever there was an accident, people would crowd around and watch the drivers yell at each other. Yesterday and today, I’ve seen at least 3 accidents, and not a crowd to be seen. It seems that road accidents have become common place in CZ.
The apartment we’ll be staying in for the next three months is on the other side of the mountain that the orphanage is on. After checking out the apartment, and seeing what needed to be done to it before moving in, we crossed the top of the mountain (it’s only a big hill) and stopped in at the old orphanage. My mother-in-law said, “There’s no more children here because the foreigners have adopted them all.” I told them, “No, they’re living in that building there,” pointing to the very nice looking new orphanage building. My wife then asked the gate-keeper what had happened to the children. When the gate-keeper confirmed what I’d just said, my wife proclaimed, “You’re right! How’d you know?” I just pointed to my big fat head, and said, “Congming! (Smart!)” (I’ll be visiting the new orphanage after we settle in at the new apartment, hopefully by the end of the week.)
Having 3 boys in China definitely invites stares and comments, but the boys haven’t complained about it. They’re a little bored because we are staying in a very small apartment (all five of us sleep in one room, with grandma sleeping in the living room), and they are being dragged all over the place and don’t have any time to play and run around. But they’re behaving for the most part. I think tomorrow I may need to take them someplace where they can run and get some energy out.
EC and EJ woke up before 5 this morning, which woke Mommy and Daddy. I decided to be nice and let Mommy get some more sleep, so I took the two boys to the living room, and told grandma to go to our room to sleep. Instead, she got up and made some noodles for our breakfast, then went back to sleep. The boys and I played video games until everyone else woke up.
I’m sure we’ll have an early night tonight.
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