Goodbye Beijing...Hello Hefei!

Wow, I have to tell you we left Beijing with a BANG! I guess there always has to be some part of your trip that is most memorable and we sure did experience that this morning at the Beijing airport. I have never seen anything like this in my life and will definitely never never ever complain of a U.S. airport again! It was literally mass chaos from the time we got to the airport at 6:30 this morning until we finally boarded our plane at 8:05AM. In any U.S. airport, half of the people that we were in line with this morning would have been taken to the ground by security and handcuffed, but not here I guess. I have never witnessed such chaos, pushing, shoving, and yelling. In fact, our guide Grace, has also never seen anything like this at the Beijing airport in all four years of her touring experience. As of yesterday, without our knowledge, China just instituted the "No liquids" in carry-on baggage rule to get ready for the Olympics, a rule that the U.S. has had in place for a long time and it literally caused total chaos and pandomonium at the airport as thousands of people missed their flights. In China, there is no concept of a line and there is no word for "Excuse me"--you simply just push and shove your way through until you get where you want to go and you don't care who is in your way. Shon and I have a new appreciation for living in the good ole' USA!

I am happy to announce that we did, however, safely arrive in our daughter's city, Hefei, located in the Anhui province of China. Hefei is pronounced like "Huh fay" and Anhui is pronounced like "Ahn wee." Hefei has a population of 4.7 million people, of which half are living in very poor agricultural areas. The majority of the population in Hefei are Han Chinese.

We are staying at the Holiday Inn in Hefei and it is a beautiful hotel with a small shopping center across the street. When we opened the door of our hotel room, we were surprised to see a crib and a stroller all ready for Jaida. After checking in and going to the grocery store to get some bottled water, we have had a relaxing day of getting the room ready for a toddler and for getting Jaida's backpack ready that we will take with us tomorrow when we meet her at the Civil Affairs Office. Of course, we have to take toys and treats with us to bribe her with so she will want to come to us! :)

Wow, in less than 18 hours, we will be a family of 6! We just can't wait to show her to you all! Thank you so much for your continued prayers of safety, good health, and easy transitions! We can truly feel you praying for us and have thus far been safe and have felt great! We will talk with you all tomorrow and will post pictures of our little Na!