November 26, 2011
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Greetings from Jinan!
Ni Hao! As Kenn noted, Grandma and I arrived safely despite United's attempt to sweat us to death. Luckily we had originally had a huge layover in Beijing and still had enough time to get through the international arrival line, baggage claim, customs and re-check-in and make our flight to Jinan, even with a 3 1/2 delay (all spent sitting in a hot, stuffy plane while they ran diagnostics, took us out to the runway and brought us back again). But no matter, we are here.
I will say, the flight to Jinan on Shandong Airlines was very nice! They had a video of "seat yoga" which was very peaceful even if some of the moves were a tad complicated to do in an airplane seat.
I am having plenty of opportunity to practice my Chinese as even in the hotel, we've only found one person who speaks English (and he is a student from Pakistan). Our hotel is in walking distance to Baotu Springs which is one of the well known Jinan attractions. It's very pretty - a nice park with springs and ponds and willow trees and pagodas. Sadly, for people who lack a sense of direction, it's also a very nice place to get lost. There is only one entrance/exit so when I say "lost" I really mean we could not find our way out. I finally had to ask someone but I think I said something like, "Excuse me, can you help us? We want to go outside." I'm sure that sounded silly since we were already outside but they understood. Phew.
There were two wedding receptions at the hotel today. When the newlyweds arrived they were greeted with firecrackers and little cannons that shot confetti into the air. We were just heading out when they were arriving so we got to watch. Very cute.
Across the street from the hotel is a big square which is part of a large shopping district. They have some interesting sites and lots of vendors selling little things such as balloons and kites and toys for kids. They also sell these water shooting sticks which the kids are all sticking in the fountains and spraying in the air. The shopping district also has a small market area with lots of food on a stick type vendors - fruit covered with candied sugar and different meats and fish.
We will meet YiLin tomorrow (Sunday) morning. They are bringing him here to the hotel. I think there is another family from our agency arriving tonight. We did meet another family adopting from Jinan on the Beijing to Jinan flight but they are with a different agency and in a different hotel.
Hm.... Grandma appears to be under the covers. She claims she's "making energy for the next few days." And adds, "The plane ride was the pits. Everything hurts. My toe's even hurts." She's hanging in there though. It's only 7:00 PM. She needs to drink more coffee
This is a small canal near our hotel. I hate to say it, but it's really not as picturesque as this photo makes it look. Most of Jinan seems to be under construction and there's holes and cranes everywhere.
Some vendors across the street from our hotel. Just outside of Quancheng Square.
A little area on the square where you can buy food to feed the birds. Lots of kids with their parents and Grandparents.
Gotta love a giant tea pot.
Shaeleigh and Chancie - thought you guys might like to eat one of these for lunch!
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