Our journey home

We have started our journey home today (Wednesday).  We spent the morning repacking our suitcases which took a little creativity since our bags are a little fuller than when we arrived!  In the afternoon, we walked to a grocery store in a shopping mall just on the other side of the river.  We wanted to buy Ashlynn more of the same formula she had while in the orphanage as she still doesn't care for what we brought from home.  It took some time to navigate the store but we found what we hope is close enough.  Of course, it was raining again so we were a bit wet but we made it back to the island for a late lunch.

Two vans met us and three other families at the hotel to drive us about three hours to Hong Kong.  The drivers and the vans came from Hong Kong which meant the driver was on the right side of the car.  Since Hong Kong was formerly a British colony, cars drive on the left side of the road and the driver is on the right side of the car.  That was just the first unique part of this ride.  Our driver drove like it was an emergency.  We drove fast, weaving in between traffic and driving on the shoulder when traffic wasn't moving fast enough.  And to make us feel even safer, he was often on one of his two cell phones or pushing button on his GPS.  What a ride!  We had to stop to go through customs at the border of China and Hong Kong.  We were all glad to get some fresh air as everyone was feeling a little car sick.  Once we were into Hong Kong, the driving seem to improve or everyone was finally moving fast enough for our driver.  We were very relieved when we pull in front of our airport hotel in Hong Kong.  Ashlynn did quite well on the ride.  She slept on our laps for the first half of the trip which was probably good because we were holding on to her so tightly.  She then entertained us with her newest trick--she likes to clap her hands and make a noise that sounds something like "yeah".

It was about 8:30 pm when we got into our hotel room, enough time to feed Ashlynn a late supper and get ready for bed.  And now that we are outside of China, we have access to our blog again.  A big thank you to our dear friend Dawn for posting for us each day! 

Tomorrow we board our plane for home.  While we are so ready to be home and with our boys again, we realize what a transition this will be for Ashlynn.  Just nine days ago they put her into the arms of strangers.  And now we are taking her away from all the sights, sounds, and smells she has known her short life.  We hope she has gained enough trust in us in the last week that she'll let us help her adjust to her new home and her new family. 

Over lunch yesterday, we were discussing what a trip this has been.  We feel fortunate that for the most part everything has gone smoothly.  While it was hard to leave the boys, we are so glad we both made the trip to experience China and our first days with Ashlynn together.  The world seems just a bit smaller now.  Despite the culture differences that can seem hard to understand at times, it is clear that people are all more similar than different.  Most want the same things from life--a family to love and a safe place to call home.  Thankfully, we have both!