This is our last blog from Changsha. We've been here 5 days and it's been wonderful. We have mixed emotions about leaving, the main one is our concern for Sha as this is the only place she has ever known but then we are excited to know we are getting closer to bringing her home. Plus Guangzhou, where we fly to today, has a lot more to do for kids, Changsha does not.
Yesterday was another great day but it came with a lot more emotions involved. We went and visited on of ICC's orphanages that was basically for children who are not adoptable. Either they aged out or were severely special needs. The main reason for the visit was to thank a woman who was the first person who cared for Sha when she was first abandoned. I have attached a picture of her. She was very grateful to Paul and I and just kept thanking us for giving her this chance. Sha Sha also was able to see a few of her friends she knew when ICC did camping day trips. This visit was truly a life changing event, there are just so many children who need 24 care that are not getting it. They are certainly not neglected but it was very difficult to see the setting they were in. Clare, Lis and the staff at ICC who all volunteer their time are just amazing, they need so many more Clare's.
After the visit we went and had a "hot pot" lunch which is basically a gigantic bowl of soup. We ordered a non spicy one and a very spicy one for our spicy girl, the LOVES spicy. We later found out she order a frog soup hot pot. When I say frog it had ALL parts of the frog in it..yuk. Sha loved it and wanted us to try it. I seriously didn't think I could do it but she offered me a kiss on the cheek if I tried..well can't say no to that. Clare took a picture of me eating it..wasn't chicken that's all I have to say. After that I finally found my Starbucks, thought I died and went to heaven, I have dreamed of this. Clare convinced us to try a green tea latte which I did....why not sure when all I dreamed about was a cinnamon dulce latte skinny-ha. We did take a picture great photo of her outside of SB though.
After that we went back and had dinner at Clare and Lis, for Thanksgiving. We were nervous about this because Sha was going to see her best friends Don Jia for the last time. We were afraid it would set her back a bit and unfortunately I think it has. This morning she was somewhat back to day one with us, still sweet but a little distant from us. I felt so bad because she picked out an outfit that I knew she didn't like but she was telling me "yes". To me it looked babyish but she kept saying yes. I should have gone with my motherly instincts and known she didn't like it but she is too shy to say no. She later told our waitress Zoe that she didn't like it. Zoe got her translator again and all 5 of us were able to chat at the restaurant and were able to tell us it's ok if she doesn't like it, she doesn't have to say she does. When we got back to the room we made a "yes and no" pile,she did good with that and did put a few pieces in the no pile. She also told the waitress to tell us she is not a baby, ha. I'm sure we are babying her a bit but at least she felt comfortable enough to tell us that.
We ended last night with a ride on this huge ferris wheel and after she was able to ride these little cars in the park, she loved it. We are hopeful once we are in Guangzhou she will bet closer with us again, there is a zoo we are going to take her to. She is such a smart, sweet child who we just want to make feel safe and happy.
That's all for now, will write from Guangzhou.
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