Home Stretch

Wednesday Morning - China Time. Zoe's bronchitis is improving slowly, but her breathing is still raspy. Monday she had her medical check for the visa process, and the doctor at the clinic changed her medication from the ones the hotel clinic gave us. It's tough when you can't ask the doctor a direct question, but we'll have her home soon.

Ms. Liang, our guide here, helped us with all the paperwork needed by the Consulate, walked us through the medical exam, and got our papers delivered to the consulate. She also took us to see a couple of the local sights.

Cindy Huang, our friend from Berkeley, got into town Monday night. Cindy is an anthropologist who will be in China for the next year doing research. She's also does photo essays of families adopting from China. Zoe seemed a little put off at first by Cindy's enormous camera, but she's adapting quickly.

Cindy took us to a local Haolin Buddhist Temple, which is very beautiful. (Video posts will have to wait until we're home!), through a local Jade marketplace, and down a major shopping street. The real Guangzhou at last. And, oh yes, street food! Food vendors were set up all up and down an arcade with all sorts of delicious things to eat. We skipped the "cocoon bugs" though. Cindy also took us to a local artist to have a stone "chop" made of Zoe's Chinese name: Feng Lu Yao. We'll go back this morning to pick it up.

Finally, this afternoon, we go to the consulate for her visa and the "swearing in" ceremony. We head home early tomorrow morning. Busy day ahead!