We had the hotel Americanized Chinese breakfast buffet. We both enjoyed eggs, rice, noodles, fruit, and some unidentifiable items. We met in the lobby with our group at 9 and headed out in our own bus. We had no idea how much walking was going to happen. NO idea.
First we went to see the Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City. We wanted history of China. The city was huge with decor of red and gold. I believe everything was designed with the belief that it creates longevity and wealth and unity. This includes the colors, the height, the length of stairs.
The buildings were amazing and the architect indescribable. But you can only appreciate them for so long. We saw the first one and went "aww". After we saw what felt like the five billionth one...I was picturing myself falling over a cliff. With being hungry and jetlag, you are making up other reasons why they are called forbidden.
Long story short.. Makes me happy to believe in Jesus. I don't have have my yin and yang right, I don't have to have a certain amount of stairs, I don't have to burn incense, and I don't have to touch gold bumps on the wall for good luck.
I don't... Because I have Jesus.
We rented rickshaws to go to the old Beijing city and also ate authentic Chinese food for lunch. Afterwards we were to get on the same rickshaw and return to our bus. Well... That worked well. Not. Our main guide had left and most of the group but G and I, and Kathy and her son's rickshaw never came back. Our temporary guide tryed to get us a ride, but to no avail. I was NOT pleased to be separated from our group at all. Victor decided we needed to walk back which was fine, I'm not afraid to walk. But he barely would keep in sight and we were walking fast, but you can't run over cars. Pthhh. I was happy to see our group.
I love being in China and being surrounded with the natives. I wished I could have sat down and just watched people.
The fashions.. Love the high heel shoes, the dresses, the colors
The selfie sticks...Apparently they are all that... Everywhere.
The children.. are gorgeous (our guide informed us that they think our white babies are cuter. Lol) (nope, they are wrong)
The smiles. They are universal. Accepted everywhere.
There are a few things in America that we take for granted.
I'm not a quitter. So even after I smelled the smell, I didn't back away. The gorgeous women going into the bathroom didn't show any expressions on their faces of the million rotten pigs smell. Nope. They just calmly picked a stall and went in.
So did I.
I may have seen the grossest thing ever. Squatty potty aren't terrible as of themselves but wow. They don't flush any paper. The trash was overflowing to point of not seeing the trash can and you can only imagine what the trash looked like. Then cover the entire floor with pee.
Bless America. Amen.
We visited the Summer Palace in the afternoon. Again beautiful...
So very tired... Some slept on the bus on the drives, but I was being a "foreigner" taking pictures and talking to our new friends. Our group is all so different, but yet... We have a bond. Adoption and Jesus. One of my favorite moments are our shared meals, we bow our heads together and hold hands around the table and thank our Lord for the food, for our group, and mostly for our children. I know that God has hand picked, not only our children, but every family to be here at this time. They are becoming our people. Our supporters. Our listeners. Our answers. Our friends.
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