Well 2 months home, almost three with Emma and things are pretty much standard family things. She has fit in remarkably well in the family and at school. Went on a field trip with her school class last week and well there are two boys who follow her around like puppy dogs and it was quite funny. They would even come over to me and raise their eyebrows and look over at her. I just shook my head. Things I will worry about in another 3 years or so, but for now just funny.
Had alot of emails from folks traveling soon to China asking about Guangzhou. Well we loved it, but alot of questions have been about Shamain Island and why I seem to not like it. I have even had some folks get nasty with me via email about how great it is. You know I do have my own opinion and to me the Island while ok is not any place we would choose to stay even if it was not under construction as is now. It really strikes me as a nife safe haven for westerners(which is what it's original intention was.) Our family really enjoyed where we stayed and prefer that kind of experience, to each his own really.
Anyway things are good at home. Emma had her first trip to Deanna's mothers and father and loved the mountains but was a little in awe about it all. She has fallen in love with her Papa, especially since he gave her a dollar to sit in his lap. But after that she was all about him and really was before. He is the only person she will literally hang on, kiss their cheek and follow everywhere. It tickles him to death as well. I do have pics from the trip and will get some up as I get a chance.
3 comments:
Morning Gene - interesting the response you are getting about the Island! We love it there - but will conceed that it's a mess! I don't know that we 'regret' not staying on the island this time - but - still, argue about it? Seems silly to the Aus-man here. In 10 years or so we'll be going back with the girls for a 'homeland' visit - and we'll probably stay on the island then (they ought to be done with the work by then!) - but mostly because of just exactly what how you described it - we'll be looking for that 'safe haven for westerners'! Still - we haven't had a bad experience anyplace we stayed in China - the whole country seems fantastic to us!
Glad things are going so well for you guys - but somehow bro - I'm just not surprised by that! Ya'll were in the game from the get go!
hugs - aus and co.
Hi Aus,
Caught up on you blog as well and sounds like things are going well. Yeah some folks seemed really combative over the island and what it means. Point I was making is not necessarily so for us and as I explained and from what you got to know me, my wife and I tend to be a little more adventurous so did not really care for the island. I am sure it is beautiful place when not torn up, will it be the same here on out, I gotta wonder now that the consulate is no longer there. Will be interesting to see if there is a large shift in the businesses or not. Anyway Take it easy friend, nice to stay in touch!
gene
Hey Gene
I can see how people might be defensive about the island. It's where many of us made memories together and I think a lot of us would have felt differently if we had seen it in it's current state on our first trip. It's like an old friend during a time when life was so stressful. To call it a haven is accurate, at least for me, in that it was one of the few places where you could listen to the birds, in the trees, in cages hanging outside windows, and just stroll along under the gorgeous trees through lush victorian gardens.
Now, it's a mess, like that old friend is sick, and that can make people protective. They don't want to see things change. They want that island to always be there for them when they return so they can show their little one where they walked together and played.
That said, I am so glad we stayed at the Garden, and that we made all the new memories we did with Matt and Holly. It was such an amazing trip, I would do it all over again exactly the same, only, we would do more. So much more. Only next time, we're going to spend some time on Hainan at the beach like Rebecca suggested.
Do you chat much with Rebecca? If you do, give her my email teresaa40@yahoo.com, I'd love to give her an update and see how she's doing.
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