On to the next leg of the journey!

Well folks.  We made it to Taiyuan.  It has been quite a day.  After navigating the train stations and train, meeting our new guide, getting checked into our new hotel and then being on our own to try to find some dinner, I felt overwhelmed in a way that I hadn't experienced yet.  Taiyuan is definitely different that Beijing.  If we thought that we were a bit of a novelty there well, I think it is safe to bet that people around these parts do not see very many Americans.  Some people do double takes when they see us, some try to be subtle about checking us out, some have craned their necks so far we were afraid they might wreck their bikes and some just openly stared or pointed.  By the time we were about half way through the crazy Walmart, I was ready to get back to our hotel and hide for awhile. (More on that later)  Marcus, for some reason thought that it was kinda fun.  I am thankful that we can balance each other like that.  He felt more stretched in our time in Beijing than I did but had a great attitude about it all today when I struggled a lot more.  I hope that after some rest tonight, I will be ready to tackle it all again tomorrow.  Especially since tomorrow is Gotcha Day!!!!

Here are some pics of the day-

Walking into the train station

These were some humorous signs in the bathroom at the train station.  Still a little confused.

Trying to get some coffee at the station.  My caramel macchiato was sorely lacking much if any espresso.  It was more like hot caramel milk.  ;)

The landscape coming into Taiyuan.

Lobby of our hotel

Our room

View from our window on the 19th floor

These are in the closet in our room.  I am wondering if I should be worried. ;)

We tried a couple of restaurants but the menus were not in english and they didn't have pictures so we gave up and headed to Walmart.  

You all think Walmart in the US is crazy?  Walmart in China takes it to a whole new level.  

Our first international Walmart haul.  

So that was our day.  From some reason the transition from Beijing to Taiyuan was more emotionally exhausting for me than climbing the Great Wall China was physically.  I think our time here in public is going to be more of a challenge than it was in Beijing.  We have yet to see another 'American' looking person.  I imagine we are going to stand out even more once we are an American couple carrying around a Chinese child.  Fewer people here seem to have any familiarity with English either so communication is much harder.  

I am hoping that after a good nights sleep I will be in a better mental space.  Especially since they delivered this to our room:

:)

We have a free morning tomorrow and then we will be going to the Civil Affairs office at 2:00 tomorrow afternoon (that is 1 am for you guys back home) to hold our little girl for the first time.  You better believe that I am not letting go once I've got her.  ;)  Please be praying for us.  Tomorrow is such a big day for all of us.  I am praying that she is not too scared.  That she will somehow know that we are her family and that she is safe.  That she will warm up to us.  That she is healthy.  That we can figure each other out fairly quickly and find a good rhythm together.  So many things.  

I just can't believe that the time has finally come!