they arrived!

update this morning from sonya:
{i don't think they can see comments...but i can try to copy and email them to her. or you can email them to me and i can forward them on: courtneycassada@gmail.com}

Our hotel has an amazing international breakfast included with our
room.  And you who know us, know that Kevin and I love food.  Today I
enjoyed a delicious breakfast of fish, soup and dumplings and of
course, tea.  The emotions continue to be high.  At breakfast I just
became overwhelmed with emotion and began to cry.  No clear reason in
my mind of why except it is just a lot to process all at once and the
joy of finally being here is like a flood welling up in my soul.

We walked to Forbidden Ciyt this morning with our guide, Peter.  Who
by the way is just fabulous!  We began in Tian'anmen Square.  It is so
incredible to stand in a place that I have seen so many times in books
and television.  Our guide has a much different view on what happened
there in 1989, but he also wonders abooutthe real truth of the event
and believes it will come to be known in the next 20 years.  Very
interesting to hear the veiw of a man living in Beijing during that
time period and to contrast that with the most common American view.

It is hot and humid but there have also been many times when a
pleasant breeze will pass through cooling us.  The culture here is
very close for personal space and pushing is not seen as rude.  Kevin
and I are really enjoying getting in there and just also pushing our
way through.  Kevin is like a giant among men here.  When people try
to push him to get by they just bounce off of him.  His height has
proved very valuable for picture taking in large crowds as he can see
over everyone else's heads.

From Tian'anmen Square we croseed under the road to the first gate of
Forbidden City.  We enjoyed a whole morning and into the afternoon
touring the Forbidden city with Peter.  Absolutely breathtaking.

I felt many time that I was walking in a dream.  It is great to
explore with Peter as he provides insight that we would never
understand viewing these sights on our own and knows all the local
ways to avoid the biggest crowds.  The Buddhist feng sheu philosophy
is seen throughout the city - ying and yang, odd and even, male and
female, compassion and power - all must be in balance.

Peter told us that usually adoptive families are exhausted at the end
of this tour and ready to rest.  We were ready to go.  So we climbed a
large hill at a park, Jingshan Park or Coal Hill, for some
breathtaking views of the city even with all the smog.  A large
Buddhist shrine sits at the top.  Many people climb to worship the
statue and pay honor to a statue of metla who will give them nothing
of eternal value in return.  My hear broke for the children already
placing their hopes in dust.  A great reminder of how all humanity is
searching for God and the ways we can get of course.

From the park we rode the public bus back to near our hotel where we
said goodbye to Peter and headed ou on our own.  First stop - lunch at
McDonald's.  We had a delicious spicy chicken sandwich, with a mix of
white and dark meat in a freshly breading with a mixed sesame bun.
The fried do not leave that horrible after taste like the ones in the
states and there was no Mcstomach ache afterwards.  WE shopped for
socks for Kevin.  It was difficult to find a pair his size but we did
have success after much looking.  We really enjoy going into different
stores and interating with the shopowners.  We took a break at a
drinnk stand that had table to sit and we could watch the crowds
passby.  On our way back to the hotel we stopped at a tea house where
we learned about tea and sat for a long time with the staff practicing
Chinese and English while drinking delicious tea.  My highlight was
trying to teach all of them how to say the word "umbrella".  We were
exhausted and decided to get some soup from the grocery store for
dinner and just crash.  Time to rest up for another day of adventure.
So thankful to be here!!

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