The Consulate Visit and Good Buys

Sheila and Chaeli are tucked fast asleep and I thought I would take this time to briefly reflect upon the experience here in Guangzhou one last time.

Today we had our consulate visit. This is pretty much a formality for people adopting and returning to the US. For the event Sheila and I dressed ourselves up in traditional Chinese formal attire with Chaeli to commemorate the event. Sheila was a little self conscious with the high slit up the side of her dress but none of the men seem to mind, including myself. Our guide was saying that she was hearing the local Chinese women say what a beautiful woman Sheila was as we past them by. I would have to agree with that as well.

When we crammed ourselves into a van to go to the consulate, I was expecting something totally different than an office on the 4th floor of a downtown high-rise. Somehow images of a walled compound with Marines stationed at every entrance was my thought. Not a Marine to be seen as even the security guards were locals. Perhaps the cold war is over now?

They escorted us in and sat us down in what looked like a dept of motorized vehicles waiting room and a nice woman came out and made us recite a simple oath. She explained to us that our children could be considered dual citizens (somewhat) but recommended they always travel with a US passport in the event of any trouble, so the US gov could intervene and help out. She also informed us that once we touch down on US soil, our daughter will immediately become an US citizen. I guess as American’s we don’t really consider the privileges of citizenship since we take it for granted everyday but somehow with her saying this it hit our emotional button as Sheila and I began to swell tears around our eyes. God Bless America!

Sheila and I have enjoyed our stay here very much as we have experienced the very best that China has to offer. The accommodations have been superb, the food excellent and the service has been the best I have ever experienced. And can they do laundry here or what? I don’t think Guangzhou is the real example of what China is, as one of my friends emailed me and said that I would need to travel with him so I could discover the true China. However, for me it has been enough to take in a culture that is evolving faster than our own and see the beauty of its people.

I thought I would share with you one of the consequences of China’s rapid development … pollution. What you are seeing in this picture is not fog but smog. It lingers everywhere. Growing up in LA wasn’t nearly as bad.

One of the things I will miss the most about China is the inexpensive services. Sheila and I had massages done for a total of 70 minutes each and only ended up spending around $20.00 US. And this might be higher than the average. They kneed you like a loaf of bread and hit every spot, but once they are done you feel so good. First they soak your feet in hot water with some type of Chinese herb, give you green tea to drink and then bring in hot towels and wrap your legs in them. And then some hot 19 year old beauty comes in and rubs your body down with scented oil…snicker snicker…actually Sheila didn’t leave the room once through the whole process.

We have managed to stuff our luggage full of Chinese trinkets, silks and nick-knacks and maybe spent pennies compared in the US but what we take home with us is even greater than the Good Buys we haggled with the local merchants for. My black eye pearls will always be a reminder to me of all the asian pearls still left behind.

Love Dan.