June 12, 2009 Meeting Day

We were all up early- very excited to meet Yihui at our 2pm appointment.  After breakfast, we walked to Wangfujing street shopping (a street with no cars so pedestrians can walk easily).  Beijing has changed a lot.  Many upscale Western shops and plenty of shoppers in them.  We went to a tea shop and bought some nice green tea leaves.  Nothing is cheap in Beijing we learned.  In fact we heard it is the 5^th most expensive city in the world right now to live in.  Except for the tea we did only looking.  We then explored the “food court” of the open mall.  Many little side walk eating places with meat on a stick and interesting other food items.  Zoe kept asking every 5 minutes- when do we get Yihui!

At noon we caught a quick lunch and got ready to travel to the BCWI.  It is about 45 minutes from downtown in an area where you can see them tearing down the Hutong’s of the past & building high rise apartments.  Because of H1N1 we were not even allowed past the BCWI front gate.  We were not allowed to take any pictures of the gate or outside building. Instead, they brought Yihui to the guard gate to meet us.  Once again, we got our temperatures taken.  It was very emotional for Yihui.  She could not stop crying.  Although she told Helen our guide that she wants a family, it was very sad to leave her friends still there and the only place she knows.  Helen is amazing- extremely good with these older children.  She understands what they need emotionally yet she understands they need to bond to their families.  Zoe was a great little sister.  She tried to comfort Yihui and make her feel better.  

We delivered the picture and note from the families that asked us to.  I was handed a copy of the finding ad for Yihui.  Liza- the note from Joy was so helpful.  Yihui was so excited to know Joy lives near her & that she would see her soon.  Helen asked them to bring Yihui’s school books for me and a CD of pictures.  Hopefully we will get these things on Monday when we go to Civil affairs for the paper work..  I was told they will do a CD for about $100 of all the pictures.  I did receive back our 2 disposable cameras and it was evident Yihui got our package of the doll, pictures yet maybe not the note we sent.  All were in her little back pack she left with.  

Yihui felt very sick in the ride back to the hotel and cried most of the way.  As I learned from Brenda & her daughter Jillian, when they left their foster families, they were taken in a van (with no warning or explanation) and had no idea where they were going and they all cried.  I am sure this experience felt just like that.  Helen helped her in the room, showing her where things were, what her new things were, and she stayed for 2 hours helping her adjust.  Within 2 hours, she was laughing and playing beautifully with Zoe.  Yihui is taller than Zoe but VERY thin.  Many of the size 10 clothes are big on her.  Some work but we will have to go shopping soon to get more.  It did not take long for Yihui to figure out her DS lite and start playing on it!  I think it is her favorite thing right now.  

After Helen left the girls played, then we went to dinner.  Yihui told us she prefers vegetables and didn’t like meat.  She also loves dumplings and noodles.  So we got a recommendation for a dumpling house and took the 15 minute walk to it.  Yihui obviously was feeling much better.  I think she ate about 12 dumplings!  I didn’t think there was a child that could eat more dumplings than Zoe!  

Then the girls took a bath and went to bed at 9pm.  Bob & I are tired and jet lagged but Zoe seems fine.  They got up at 1:30 am and got dressed.  I had to insist they go back to bed.  Of course- I am up for good now.  

All and all- everything has been great.  Yihui already is picking up some English words and she is outgoing and sweet.  Zoe and Yihui are already bonding well and giggling.  They seem to always understand each other despite the language barrier.  Yihui is great with Bob and me too.  She wants to be part of the family.