Shamian Island and Consulate Appointment

Tuesday morning we got up And went by taxi to the Pearl Market. It's basically a big mall full of jewelry stores. I bought myself a pearl necklace full of irregular pearls (I just like them!) and Ella a nice necklace for when she's older. Next we went by taxi to Shamian Island. It's a small island that was colonized by Europeans at one point in history. I should know more. But two things are important about Shamian Island. Lucy's is an American restaurant on the island. It was so good. We all had fish and chips and iced tea. Emphasis on the iced. 

The other important thing (to me) about the island was this one particular statue. Some adoptive parent at some point started putting their child in the space in line and now it's a tradition. Ella got a kick out of it. 

Today (Wednesday) was our Consulate Appointment. I had to wake Ella up as she for once slept through me getting ready (she's still not feeling super great). We went to the beautiful Consulate that is in a newer part of Guangzhou city. There is a huge line outside of Chinese citizens waiting to get in, but because we had American passports we just zipped right past. (First we stopped for a picture outside - no cameras inside!)

Maw-Maw came but Paw-Paw stayed back. 

Once we got through we took a number and waited. Then we as a group swore an oath that everything in our child's visa application and documents was true. Individually they looked through some papers and then we were done! We should get the kid's visas tomorrow, then we are free to leave the country. Adopted kids are unique travelers in that they only have permission to enter the US. Once we do and go through immigration at the airport, Ella will be an American citizen and her Chinese passport will be null and void. 

Tonight we have a group dinner at a local restaurant and then tomorrow we will spend some time preparing to go home! We are very, very ready.