(Click image to see slideshow / pictures. Note: there maybe several pages of pics)
December 21st is our final full day in Guangzhou, so the three of us decided to stick around Shamian Island and take some last pictures of the sites and hit any remaining shops that we had not visited yet.
First things first...we made our regular trip to the beautiful and abundant breakfast buffet in the White Swan Hotel. This was one of Sean's favorites!!
Next, we wrapped Caroline up because it was a little chilly so early in the morning and we headed out to walk around Shamian Island one last time before we leave tomorrow. We came across two groups of people doing their regular morning exercises in two different parks. In one park it was a group of men and women stretching and in another park, there was a group of women performing dances as part of their exercise routine. They had music and props such as hats and scarves that they spun as they danced. It is amazing how they all gather so early in the morning to exercise together. There is a little coffee shop called Blenz that overlooks one of the parks. Caroline, Sean and I stopped at the coffee shop and had a cup of delicious coffee on the patio while listening to the festive music and watching the beautiful ladies dance.
There are many life-size bronze statues throughout the park areas on Shamian Island, but the one in our pictures really demonstrates how pervasive the adoptive community is on Shamian Island. The statue depicts a Caucasian couple - the man with a video camera and the woman with their Chinese baby in a stroller. I can not tell you how many of these "threesomes" that you see as you walk around the Island. We laughed when we saw the statue and Sean and Caroline posed next to it as we found ourselves looking very similar to the statue family!
In the afternoon, we took a 30 minute bus ride to the US Consulate where we would take an oath as adoptive parents and Caroline would receive her Visa allowing her into the US and granting her citizenship upon our arrival in Los Angeles. Unfortunately, no cameras or video cameras are allowed in the US Consulate so we do not have any pictures of this momentous event. This is the event that we have been waiting for as it signifies the end of the very lengthy adoption process...although not the end of the journey!! I have posted some pictures of Caroline getting dressed for her big day at the Consulate. She wore a beautiful pale green dress hand smocked by my Mom...Caroline's Gailie!! I have to mention that the dress would not have been possible without the help of sweet Grace Terhune!!
Once we arrived at the US Consulate, we went through security and then waited with about 60 or so other adoptive families with whom we would take the oath in the reception area. Before the oath, we had to present copies of our passports and photo page for each of us at the interview window so that the Consular staff could verify our faces and Caroline's face with our passports. Then the Consular Officer, a very nice pregnant American lady, said a few words about Adoption and then administered the oath. Honestly, there was not anything emotional or touching in the words at all...but it was so emotional for me as I looked at Sean holding Caroline.
Wow! What a truly amazing and wonderful experience the adoption of Caroline has been.
We thank God everyday for blessing us with the gift of this precious little girl!
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