We love Emma!

Not sure if we've mentioned how great our guide, Emma, is, but she rocks!  She went back to the police station this morning, and after several hours spent there, she has Malia's passport!  So thankful that our prayers have been answered and that we are leaving for Guangzhou with her passport.  How do you thank someone for that?!  We wish she could come with us, to Guangzhou.  Kelly, our next guide, will have a lot to live up to! 

Today, Friday, we have laid low in the hotel room.  Joe and Malia had noodles from a cup, for lunch, and I had instant oatmeal.  Thank goodness for the hotpot!  At breakfast this morning, I nearly cried, knowing that I wouldn't have to endure one more morning of the breakfast buffet here!  Pretty sure, any buffet after this will be better.  It was the same every day, except there were no chicken feet the last couple days.  Today, I couldn't even stand to have one more drink of warm Tang.  We also thankful for instant coffee in the room (hotpot comes in handy again).  Our Korean coffee that Wendell and Amy gave us ran out days ago, but we found a Chinese version at the supermarket, which is ok.  Better than an instant at home-maybe it's the cream and sugar that's already added! 

Last night, we took Emma to dinner, as a thank you.  It was quite a trip, trying to find the same restaurant that we went to in Shanghai, here in Hangzhou.  At one point, we stopped to ask directions, 2 people standing on the street corner, pointed in 2 opposite directions.  SO funny!  The other funny part is, because it was rush hour, there were no taxis to be found, so we just asked a person that was dropping a friend off.  Apparently, this is common in China.  When in Rome.....  Drivers will take people, as a taxi would, to make some extra money-even though both parties don't even know each other.  It worked!  We gave him a little extra than the price he quoted because it was so hard to find.  We had to pull a couple u-turns.  China driving has no rules.  I think that's the only rule-there are no rules! 

Our flight is at 7pm, for Guangzhou.  We get there around 9pm or so.  I think we'll be tired tonight!  Tomorrow, we will get a visa photo for Malia, get her tb test done, along with her medical exam.  Our day will start at 9:30am. 

We Skyped the boys this morning.  It was good to see them.  They have been doing good.  Grandma has had to help with some school projects and Nolan has tried out for band!  Oh boy!  Not sure how I feel about that.  He likes the trombone. 

Until tomorrow.... (Saturday).....

Lindsey