Just some advance warning, I will likely do this in 2 posts - words then pictures.
I'm coming to you from Kowloon, Hong Kong - more on that later...
As of our last post, (I hope...) we were about to get cleaned up to head for for Kyle's Swearing-In Ceremony.
We loaded the Bus for one last-time all together as a travel group under Cathy's leadership. I don't think that the significance of this was lost on anyone. Since our first day in Bejing, we had essentially done almost everything as a group. And here we were, all together for the last time, only two-weeks later, but changed forever.
The trip cross town to the American consulate was a sight for the eyes - apartment high-rise after apartment high-rise, office building after office building. There was so much new construction (due largely I suppose to the rise of private property rights) it looked like a crane farm - they were everywhere! We got to the American consulate offices (on the 5th Floor of an office tower) right on time and rendezvoused (?) with 2 other travel groups of about the same size. We all marched up the escalators to the offices - and I can't really describe the feeling I think we all had seeing the Stars & Stripes for the first time in weeks!!! It was a slice of home - and just at the right time. I had a bit of a lump in my throat as we recited the oath which basically made our son an American. The actual words - essentially that Lisa and I had told the truth on all of our documents - were much less important than the symbolism. It was a small act but, still a very big deal.
Afterward is when Cathy reminded us that this was our last ride, and she thanked us and said we were the best group she'd ever had in all of her years...OK maybe she didn't say that part. Anyway she gave us her heartfelt thanks for all that we'd done with and for here. We didn't lose anyone - and didn't leave anyone behind anywhere!! (Thanks also to Reagan for spotting Mark & Frederica running for the bus as it pulled away - it was close but they made it.) Seriously, Thanks to Cathy our whole experience went better than most had expected. The trips and tours were very informative, and without her help in the restaurants, we'd still be waiting for our meals!! For most of our group meals, she worked much harder that the restaurant wait staff - translating, pushing, and fighting for us while making it all look easy!
After we got back, we met up with several other families (thanks to Rick for organizing this) and had a really enjoyable meal at the hotel's Italian Restaurant. We'd been there for a number of days but didn't even know there was an Italian Restaurant - we all wished we'd found it earlier. And no mice!!!
We toasted our success, enjoyed our dinners, and wished each other safe travels for the last time. (I don't have my cheat sheet with me so I'll have to post the names of the families that we dined with because it was really special.) With the exception of Rob & Shelly, we would not be seeing these families again.
We woke up REALLY early yesterday (Friday) morning for our ride to the airport which was peaceful - if you don't count almost rear ending a car that got in front of our bus on the highway and essentially stopped!!! Big wake-up call - no contact, though (and it was not our driver's fault)! We rode with several other families that also had early morning flights (most left 8AM - 8:30AM). Once again, Cathy came through with Breakfast
Boxes for the ride!
We met up with our luggage and said the rest of our good byes to everyone at the Guangzhou airport. We flew on the same flight to Hong Kong as Frederica and Mark, who were connecting back through to Chicago, then on to Atlanta. Most everyone else was connecting from Guangzhou to Tokyo then stateside. Kyle was sad to say goodbye to Sophia, but we had to - and we made our way to the taxis.
After a 45 minute taxi ride to the Marco... Polo...Marco...Polo... (some jokes just don't translate that well in writing) Hotel from the airport, we couldn't even check in because we'd gotten there so early! Lisa was starting to fell quite sick and Kyle had the sniffles as well, so we found some lunch in the shopping mall attached to the Hotel. Despite her deteriorating health, Lisa also managed to find a TCBY for some desert. News Flash - Kyle likes TCBY!! After lunch, Lisa and "Special K" crashed.
I, on the other hand, ventured out to see if I could find a cheap stroller on the streets, perhaps in a shop or street market- there are lots of these. One would think, that in a city the size of Hong Kong, a cheap stroller would be a gimme. I would venture that I walked 3 miles, all the way up Nathan Road, over to Temple and Shanghai streets, and through at least 4 street markets. I assure you that you can find almost ANYTHING on the streets of Hong Kong (I was stopped by so many guys trying to fit me for suits that I lost count...) , except, that is, a stroller.
I sulked back to the room and woke Lisa and Kyle. We walked for a while up to Kowloon Park, and then searched for dinner. We found the place that USED TO be the home of a California Pizza Kitchen, and then finally settled for a nice meal at the Hard Rock Cafe a few blocks up Canton Road from the hotel. The meal was fine and staff friendly. We ate, and then we crashed...So ended Friday night in HK. I forgot to mention that we had to go back to the Toys-R-U to buy a stroller, some "Biter Biscuits" for the boy (these are like GOLD - I'm glad Lisa found them...) and some food.
More soon...
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