Wednesday

Christmas Tree in lobby

Fun at the park

Look Mama, we're flying

being silly

Peace

Children's Hospital

Wednesday

Yan Lin took us to the People’s park.  It is part traditional park and part children’s amusement park with rides.  Because the holiday was over and everyone was back at school and work, the rides were all sitting idle.  Each ride is privately owned and on days like this, you can bargain for a better price.  All three kids rode the carousal twice.  I noticed a small girl I would guess to be 2-3 riding all by herself.  The next ride was too fast for Jing Yi, although she wanted to go.  I noticed the owner left the gate to the ride open while it was running.  When asked about safety issues Yan Lin said the safety of the child is the sole responsibility of the parent.  Then I remembered, no lawyers=no law suits.  I think I am glad we have more restrictive safety measures in place for the times when my child may get outside my line of vision for a moment. 

It was cold, probably high 30’s with wind.  We went a dumpling restaurant for lunch.  Everyone in the family loves dumplings.  There was a spicy sauce with fresh garlic for dipping.  We went back to Wal-Mart and there were far fewer crowds this time.  Jing Yi got a new pair of shoes which appear to be at least 2 sizes larger than what she had.  She was delighted and wore them in the store, security tag and all.  The clerk had to cut the tag off at the checkout.

We did go by the Children’s Hospital where Jing Yi had 2 surgeries.  The first was to repair her lip when she was 9 months old and the second to repair her palate when she was 18 months old.  Both surgeries required an 18 day stay in the hospital.  The orphanage would have provided an Auntie with her 24 hours a day to provide personal care.  I told our guide that an 18 day stay in the hospital in America was very uncommon that even serious heart surgery patients are released in a week typically.

We swam again in the afternoon and relaxed in our room.  Tomorrow we will tour the orphanage and meet Jing Yi’s foster mom.