Pictures are coming, really! Our internet is too slow to download them so as soon as I get a chance to borrow some high-speed access (ie, when may I come over, Mom?), I'll share some shots of the orphanage (great for insight into Josie's behavior) as well as some homecoming picts.
But here are some humorous China moments:
*A saleslady in Guangzhou asked a group in her way if she could "pass away". She meant pass through but the rude English-speaking man informed her she could pass away any moment and it would be fine with him. We did take the time to explain she'd just asked permission to die and which word to use next time. This was the same lady in whose store Chris had passed 20 minutes during a Josie nap time. Every time she asked if he "liked", he's say "maybe" totally frustrating her. (You have to remember a customer is stalked with great determination since commission is involved.) She remembered him and called us by name every time we went by (which was often since it was on the way to Lucy's-the American food restaurant).
*The Nanjing orphanage girls started out growling at each other if the other came too close to the food supply those first days. Their "sharing" consisted of taking pretend crumbs of food and offering it to one another (and it was pretend eaten!). By the last day together, Abby had a hamburger and was freely offering Josie bites. They had figured out the food was in good supply.
*At Lucy's the first time, Josie had some ketchup on her face and grunted for a napkin. When I realized we didn't have any and communicated that, she pretend picked one up, dabbed the corners of her mouth and then set it down on the table before giving us a sparkling grin. I wasn't expecting pretend play and was delighted.
*Rylan, another Nanjing child, was a hoot. He has a hilarious sideways glance that always left a grin on my face. We explained to his parents that in India, marriages are arranged and we often tell Chloe this. So I suggested an early arrangement between Rylan and Josie. We took their picture in front of a carved jade castle (future home). But they act more like siblings. In fact, when they were told no for rocking a stroller, Rylan immediately pointed to Josie and raised his eyebrows in an innocent/wrongly accused expression. This family lives only one state away so we hope to see them again. (SIL Linda-they are from your home town!) The dads were watching the kids while moms were in a meeting. Rylan dropped a cheerio and when dad picked it up to throw it away he melted to the floor in typical Nanjing orphanage fashion and began to howl. Chris quickly grabbed the bag to show him there were more, but unfortunately, grabbed it from Josie who then also melted to the floor in pathetic wailing. The dads just looked at one another. There is no going back once the melt has begun. (P.S. this is the reaction T-Rex gets evey time Josie sees him; he sulks to his kennel each time.)
*Small world: There was a couple in our group which had grown up in Chris' home town and 12 miles from my maternal home town. In a bus once, I asked the American couple behind me where they were from and they were from the same state. We were the third couple they had met from our state! On finding day, friends from our group chatted with a couple from another agency who was also receiving a daughter from Nanjing. Turns out that couple had once lived where they lived and they'd gone to the same church.
Homecoming
