Marjorie-Xian, the ancient city

Our days have been so packed full of activities that is it is difficult to keep track of what happened when.   I will try to recall as best as I can.   I will begin with our train ride to Xian yesterday morning.  It was cramped (4 people in a room the size of a hotel bathroom), it was smelly (I think someone urinated in it before we got there), it was uncomfortable (imagine sleeping on a wooden board), and it was a blast!  Yes, I said it was a blast.  Watching the lights of cities streak by and seeing the Chinese countryside from a train window cannot be replicated anywhere.   You get to see the rural China as seen by the locals.

     Once we arrived in Xian, we immediatly got off the train and walked through the very crowded train station to our bus. The stares we received from the locals made us feel quite uncomfortable.  I do not think they have ever seen interactial adoptive families before.  The staring at times got to be quite uncomforable and was down right invasive since we were constantly having our photos taken.  I mentioned in a previous post that the parents attended a citizen panel discussion.  At this panel discussion we discovered most Chinese people do not know that foriegners are adopting Chinese children.  There has not been anything in the Chinese media about it.  They were not only surprised by this phenomenon, but they could not understand why we would want to adopt a child, especially if we already have children.  They have been so indoctrinated with the idea of a one child family that they do not see any value in having more.  Through much discussion and answering of questions I think they finally understood that we truly love these children and consider them our own.

     Once in Xian we had a little down time, but soon the pace picked up again since we visited an art museum/studio.  There the children were able to practice calligraphy with an art professor from a nearby university.

Then were taken to the Wild Goose Pagoda.  There just happen to be a shopping center next to it and of course Malissa and I had to get some ice cream!  Doesn't matter where you go ice cream seems to follow us.  :)

In the 100 degree temperature we then climbed the ancient Xian wall that surrounds the city and flew kites.  There was not much wind so the girls did more running than standing in order to get their kites in the air.

Then today we ventured out to the Terra Cota Warriors.  What a sight!  There were 3 excavation sites and all three are active archelogical sites.  The story behind them is in 1974 a peasant farmer with a few other villagers were digging for a well.  When they got down about 3 meters they found a head looking up at them.  At first they were frightened but soon realized this was a valuable finding.  They reported it to the local authorities.  The farmer who was digging is now famous.  We even got to meet the farmer who is now an elderly man.  It is said if you shake his hand or get his signature you will have good fortune.  We got his signature so we are hoping much good fortune comes our way.

Also today we were able to visit a local school.  The poor students were out of school, but had to come back to meet us.  They did not seem too upset, though.  It was special because our girls and boy introduced themselves in Chinese, then the students introduced themselves to us in English.  Then each group sang a song to the other group.  

We ended the visit by giving them gifts that we brought from home.  Malissa passed out gem stones from Michigan to the students.  Each gem stone was put into a small envelope that was decorated by my 4th grade class.  You can see the boy in the foreground holding the manilla envelope.  

I think I have caught you up on all the activities from the last few days.  We are off to dinner now and exploring of the city of Xian with another family.  Tomorrow we will take a flight to Chengdu-the home of the Chinese Panda Preserve!   Until tomorrow...