Scenes and thoughts before leaving

My first strawberry milkshake.

Our apartment complex

Our Muslim dinner: delicious! It was muslim because there was no pork.

Yup, I love being a Sprick!

Simon gets a ride.

Chinese split pants

Riding the merry-go-round

Simon LOVED riding in this car. He talked about it the entire way home.

Noodles for lunch. Stir-fried pork in one dish, and mushrooms and squirrel in the other. Yes, everyone tried the squirrel.

So, we leave Changsha in a couple of hours. It is bittersweet. We are ready to move on, to complete our paperwork and return home, yet this has been a great place to be. We love meandering on the sidewalks, we love the Reigers, we love the sights and sounds (the smells are something else), we love the province of Simon's birth. We aren't sure how much he'll remember, but we plan to share with him how much we enjoyed coming to his birthplace to get him. We'll show him pictures, we'll tell him how much his birth mom must have loved him to place him a spot where he could be found rather than letting him die.

We've had some rather interesting experiences here and just wanted to share some fun things that have happened to us. This is in NO WAY to say that Chinese or Americans are good/bad, right/wrong. . . just different from each other. It has been a hoot.

There are eggs in the grocery store on the shelves dated 10-1-08. They've been on the shelves since 10-1-08--no refrigeration. Just make sure you cook them fully.

No semi-trucks in town. They deliver outside of the city and small trucks bring everything in.

You pay more association fee if you live in a higher floor: you use the elevator more.

Many retired people exercise in the morning by doing Tai Chi, dancing, sword work, etc. in the parks. Beautiful.

Cheap cab rides! The most we've paid is 13 yen, or less than two dollars. Also, you ride in the front with the driver.

Cheap and very very very tasty food!

Squatty Potties.

People cut in the line at the grocery store and don't pay any attention if you ask them, tell them, order them, to move. I learned to stand very close to the person in front of me and block off intruders with by butt--my dutch butt actually came in handy.

Openly staring at folks is o.k., particularly if those folks are blond Americans with a Chinese son. It is also o.k. to ask their guide what they are doing with the child.

McDonald's has peach, pineapple, and banana pies: deep fried.

Buy your bag at the grocery stores. Cuts down on liter.

You can spit, whenever and wherever you want.

Poverty is very visible.

We had such a great night last night with the Reigers. They took us to a Muslim restaurant with ice cream for dessert at McDonald's afterwards: our first visit. The meal was so delicious. It is great to hear about how God is using them here in Changsha. They and all of ICC are such a light in a place that so desperately needs the Lord. We thank them for their hospitality. On to Guangshou!