China - Day Thirteen - Consulate Appointment, Shamian Island and Liwan Plaza

Don't know where I'm going and I'm scared!

Today's appointment at the United States Consulate in Guangzhou is the appointment date that we based all of our travel dates/plans around.  Our  "CA" (consulate appointment) was set for 9/10/13 at 10:00 a.m.  All necessary paperwork was to be placed inside a clear large envelope and our passports as well as Lucy's passport were the only things permitted into the Consulate.  (no watches, cell phones, cameras, etc!)  The place where Lucy had her medical exam is directly across the street from the consulate.  Lily went into the medical bureau and picked up Lucy's necessary medical paperwork from Saturday's exam and then we all walked across the street to the embassy.  There were lines and lines of Chinese people waiting to get in to apply for visas to the United States.  Adoptive families are escorted to a place to show our passports to a guard and then they check a list that has that day's appointments.  They checked the list three times and couldn't find our names?!  The names were in all different crazy fonts and sizes (copy and pastes from difft. e-mails??).  Looking a fourth time at the bottom of the one page in teeny tiny font was my name and on the following page was Merle's.  Phew!
We then were scanned through security and proceeded to the second floor where several other adoptive families were also waiting.  A gentleman behind a windowed booth (much like a bank teller) announced a warm welcome to all of us adoptive families over a speaker and also asked us all to stand and raise our right  right hands to take an oath.  After the oath we were individually called up as families.  Handing our paperwork through a small hole in the protective glass it was reviewed and stamped.  It will remain at the embassy until tomorrow mid afternoon when each adopted child's visa will be printed and ready for pick-up!
(thus our needing to stay in country until early Thursday morning)

Outside the United States Consulate in Guangzhou

The whole process probably took about an hour.  From the consulate we had planned to go to the well known "Shamian Island".  (about 20 minutes via van ride)  Shamian Island means "sandy surface" in Chinese.  It is known for it's beauty and tranquility.  We enjoyed watching many older Chinese men and women playing what we might call "hacky sack" in groups of four!  We also observed some older people doing a yoga or fitness program together and still others were together to enjoy singing as a group!  There are also several tourist type shops, where I might have picked up a pair (or two) of "squeaky shoes" for the littles :)

Another extremely hot and humid day we found ourselves inside a Starbucks to cool off with an ice cold frappucino.  

So hot and sweaty!

Dressed in my patriotic attire for consulate day and sporting
my "smirk"!

A restaurant on the island called "Lucy's"

I absolutely loved all the adorable statues that were all over the island.  Lucy doesn't much care for being taken out of the stroller and being asked to pose for a picture.  She's not sure "what's happening" and she is fearful. Poor baby girl.

After visiting the island for a few hours we made a stop at the Liwan Plaza.  This particular plaza has several floors of  jewelry, pearls and jade!

Lily and I looking at the beautiful pearls

It was now mid-day and we were hot and tired, so it was time to head back to the hotel.  We rested briefly before getting our act together to go back out via foot to find supper and some bottled beverages to bring back and put in our hotel fridge (finding COLD drinks is not common unless you stop at a convenience store).  However, the heat and humidity is making us want to drink COLD beverages!

The view from above :)