Gottcha Day

April 19 Today was the official "Gottcha Day" at the Civil Affairs office.  Helen has been given to us for a 24 hour bonding time.  So, during our bonding time today, we sat at the bank for a very long time in order to convert money.  Then we counted out the money for notaries, passports and orphanage donation and put them into envelopes to be given tomorrow.  We then prepared our six gifts of hand lotions and Aldi's fine European chocolate.  With all the adoption work done for the day, we Skyped the family to check in on Sharon's wedding.  While in the middle of the call, the hotel decided our AC was broken and we would have to change rooms.  After the move, we headed off to the pool.   Now are going to head out in search of some noodles.  Molli will be attending her Logic class in Hudson in four hours thanks to Skype.  Just got back from our noodles, steamed broccoli and pumpkin sticks.  Less than $7.00 for the three of us.  Cara and Johnie:  It is a new orphanage director.  The new director seems very nice.  One big change here is nobody smokes while doing business anymore.  I was asking our guide about it today and she said the big cities have banned smoking in public places and for the most  part fewer people smoke.  I never see anyone smoking on the streets anymore.   Oh, tonight we had to cross the circle to get to dinner.  Molli's , Helen's and my lives all flashed before me several times.  On the cross after dinner, I asked a lady with a bike to be our shield and she agreed to the task.  Where our hotel is there are no traffic lights because it is a traffic circle.  Helen also wiped out on the hotel floor today because the Chinese have to keep everything so polished.  It is too slippery with her crutches.  I told her in American we do not have high gloss floors – EVERYWHERE!