Chinese Culture Lessons...we're taking a full load!

I have several posts tonight because honestly, I don't want to forget anything from today and I hope you'll enjoy reading about such a full, rich day!

After church this morning (see next post) we were taken to a real Chinese antique market. Our Chinese family has contacts there and so we came traipsing in...the whole gaggle of girls...and looked over many treasures.

I came away with an incredible find...a painted bowl...the first price? 1000 yuan...with the right contacts to bargain for you...it was mine for 200 yuan...about 30 dollars...look for it in my home soon!

Then the girls found some jade bracelets they fancied...the first price...high...our contact had sauntered away so our 16 year old companion assisted us....I countered again...and was told flatly...NO. Enter the contact, also known as our "personal Chinese antique shopper"...he gets into a royal shouting match with the vendor and we end up walking out...

Daddy's funny comment whispered in my ear during the heat of verbal exchange: "Prepare to Kung Fu."

Then we went to Walmart...too funny...totally Chinese...though I'm guessing Walmart (where I'm often pleased to shop back home) can save a truckload of cash on shipping ....as most of their products are made here ...

Then, of course, we followed up with lunch at KFC! (No eye rolls please! We've eaten more unknown food items in the past week than ever in our lives...we're not wimps...but the kids needed a break!)

During the KFC experience we once again had to use the restrooms....squatty pottys, of course. The only reason I'm mentioning this unsavory topic once again is that I had an incredible awareness of irony while crouched down in the loo...here I am in China...practicing my balance and what do I hear??? strains of Luther Vandross tickle my ears...."On the wings of love only the two of us together flying high...." I guess you had to be there....

Tonight we were guests, invited to a 1st birthday celebration of a daughter. It was a feast held at a major restaurant and many family and friends were invited. When we sat at the table we were entertained with a powerpoint slideshow of pictures of this girl's first year. All professionally done pictures in various locations.

A HUGE amount of money must have been spent on this party. Guests did not bring gifts...but money in red envelopes for the child. It was explained to us that depending upon your relationship to the child you might give anywhere from 100 yuan per attendee upwards to 1000 yuan per person!

The dinner was extravagant and we had numerous "way outside the lines" food experiences tonight. These girls amaze me...for the most part...they try anything!

One of the things we were served during the dessert course was a platter of "shark shaped" treats...(please see picture to understand.) The girls at first thought they were penguins and determined them to be so cute that they wanted to take them home as toys. Particularly Busy Bee...she was collecting them in her hands when I wasn't looking. One by one she dropped them under our chair (she was sitting on my lap.) A little later on, someone said..."ah the girls really liked the (shark shaped thingies....obviously my Mandarin is really coming along! :) )" This led to a second Funny Daddy comment...."oh no...there's a school of them swimming around here at Mom's feet..." how I love that man...he so often makes me laugh!

Another common misconception that exists about modern China is that ALL baby girls are undesirable to Chinese families due to "one family, one child." This is NOT the case in the cities. We see daily countless girls who are absolutely treasured and spoiled rotten by their adoring families. This baby girl tonight was honored by her family like royalty!! As these attitudes become more prevalent...it can only be good news for the baby girls of China. The struggle will continue in the countryside for baby girls and the preference for boys under the constraints of "one family, one child" and of course as multiple children are born with unintended pregnancies...there will be children in need of families.

From what we witnessed tonight, the tide is turning. We are hearing stories from the average Chinese that more Chinese families are adopting the children in the orphanages...these are people with NO political agenda propelling such theories into the International Adoptive community...so, I am inclined to give them much credence. Ultimately...I pray that it will mean less children in orphanages in this developing country.

That's all for now...it's our last night without him...tomorrow night our family with officially never be the same...