What A Long Strange Trip It's Been, pt. 14
2006-03-17, 16:23

Into the Swan

It was getting dark by the time we finally reached the White Swan. It wasn't unbearably hot out, but the cool of the inside was still welcome. We could tell right away that our stay at the Swan was going to be a nice one. The main walkways were dotted with artwork and sculpture. Huge chunks of jade were transformed into war galleys, dragons, gardens, and all else. In the center of the main hall was a two-story tall waterfall. And outside, we knew that there was a very nice pool waiting for us the next day.

The room we got was simple but comfortable. It was strange being in a room that looked so much like the ones we saw in the National Geographic special. I think it was even the same picture on the wall near the door. We had a view overlooking the Pearl River, and the city was still lit up for visitors. Party boats and ferries shone in neon on the water. A bridge upriver a ways could barely be made out through the persistent haze in the air. The baby seemed to enjoy the view as much as we did.

We were hungry, however, as it was well into the evening, and we went with the quick and easy option of going with the restaurant that focused on 'American' style foods. Mainly I was just dying for a soda with actual ice in it, as we were told that ice was mainly okay in Guangzhou as most restaurants used filtered water. I really missed ice. The french fries that came with my club sandwich (which for some reason involved cabbage and egg, but it was still good) were a nice little distraction, as well. We were by no means done with Asian cuisine, though.

After dinner, we settled into our room to get situated and get the baby to bed. She had trouble falling asleep that first night, as I recall. I think another sudden change in location wasn't doing it for her. Can't blame her, having to move twice inside a week, with another long move to come in another. Considering the radical life change she was going through, she was holding up wonderfully.

The next morning brought us to our complimentary breakfast in the main buffet area (there's two). It was mainly American foods, or what I'd associate as such. Common fruits, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, etc. To be honest, I can't recall if there were any genuine Asian items available. Laurana picked this morning to acquiesce to trying a high chair again (we'd been taking turns holding her during meals to this point), this time with measured success. I think she realized that there was more freedom in getting one's own seat.

And there were plenty of high chairs to be had; since the White Swan was the hotel closest to the American consulate in China, it was the main depot for outgoing adoptive families (thus the nickname, the White Swan Express). I hear that the consulate will be moving in the next year or two, which is seriously going to kill the White Swan's business. All around the breakfast area were Chinese girls and their adopting parents. I think we/they made up about 90 percent of the attendance there. It was actually odd to see anyone sitting in there that didn't have a baby. The room had a nice view of the river, so we got to watch barges and boats go by as we ate.

Our first full day involved getting our Very Important Paperwork done. This is the point where, if you haven't brought the right documentation with you from the get go, you're pretty much screwed. Fortunately for us (or for anyone else in the group) that wasn't a problem. It took about a half hour to go through, slowly and meticulously to make sure to get everything right. Richard, who was running the fill-out-forms show, knew exactly what we needed for every step, including jargon that was pleasing to the consulate folk and that wouldn't have known about using without them. But hey, that's what they were there for. And thank goodness for that. I wouldn't have wanted to deal with that on our own.

-- End Transmission --