In Nanjing, my brother’s family met up with “Michael,” a Chinese exchange student who had spent the lastyear with them. Anna just loved him as you can see from this reunion photo left.
Below, they have had Chinese meals and enjoyed local delicacies such as the green bean-looking dish in the middle of the table. It is from a plant native to Nanjing. It has no comparable English name. They loved it.
My brother writes:
we visited the ancient Imperial testing site where 20,000 applicants took a nine day test to qualify for a “government” job. Anna and Judith are stepping over the Dragon threshold, which the applicants did in ancient times for good luck on tests.
In a visit to a local market, Anna discovers Sponge Bob among the toys offered:
And she discovered that the Chinese have adopted Halloween. I guess if you make enough holiday nick knacks for Americans you finally take on some form of the holiday for which they are making them. I hope they don’t think a tree ornament consisting of green frogs dancing in red shoes represents Christmas – or does it?
Of course they found a genuine Irish Pub that had excellent fish and chips and Guinness! Of course it was expensive. Below, my step-nephew “cleanses the palate” with San Miguel. As my brother has reported, they will make up for this expensive exploit in the Pub by eating in the food court of a local mall that includes Subway and McDonalds.
At 1:30 AM EDT tomorrow, the family meet Grace and she will spend her first day with them. Will SamHenry be up in the night looking for the first pictures? You betcha!
And a preview of Grace – taken a year ago. She was found on a road side where she had been abandoned. She has mild cerebral palsy but could not walk or talk. Well, take a look at her now. And what a personality that comes shining through. It is an unlisted video so you need this link to see it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn5-NyPcY6Y&feature=youtube_gdata_player
DarcsFalcon
November 1, 2011
Oh Sam, happy day! Congratulations on the newest member of your family! I can imagine lots of care packages from Auntie Sam are in the works!
My best to your brother and his wife as well.
samhenry
November 1, 2011
Thank you kind bird for sharing in the excitement. You are a good friend and for that I have always been grateful. With thanks and hugs and cookies SH
James Crawford
November 3, 2011
Congradualations and kudos to your brother for adopting an abandoned and difficult to place child. I have no doubt that she will be a blessing upon them.
samhenry
November 6, 2011
Thank you so much JC for your remarks. My brother is such a good guy and he and his wife are very in to helping others.
James Crawford
November 6, 2011
Reminds me of a bumper sticker for a dog adoption agency. It has a big paw print with the words “who rescued who?”
roblorinov
November 5, 2011
LOL she’s so cute!! Love is amazing!! When a person knows they are loved and wanted it truly is a REAL miracle!! Blessings to you and your family SH.
samhenry
November 6, 2011
Thank you RL – she will come to know she is loved in time. Right now she keeps saying all over China in Chinese “I don’t want to go to America. I want my foster mother.” It has not made my brother and his wife popular there. He keeps having his guide explain loudly that Grace has been legally adopted.
blackwatertown
November 8, 2011
Wonderful when someone special meet some other special people. Sometimes life is just brilliant. Best of luck to all involved.
samhenry
November 8, 2011
Thanks dear Roo.