Day 12- March 5, 2004

The last full day in China - we can hardly believe it. The time has gone so fast, and we have done so much, seen so much. The big event, bringing home Zhen, is about to draw to a close. We are a strange combination of happy, exhilarated, weary and tired.

We decided to sleep in a little (Zhen too), so we went off on our own to get some breakfast. Around the corner we found a modern looking fast food place. We went in, perused the menu on the wall, and our eyes glazed over. There were just a few pictures, so we stood for a while trying to see what others were ordering. Andy went up to the counter to see what he could do, and as soon as he arrived, they handed him a menu with pictures for each item. I wonder how they knew? We noticed that there was no rice on the morning menu, just lots of noodles, dumplings, fried dough sticks, and patties of some undetermined substance. We chose a noodle dish, lots of veggies, and a drink that tasted like coconut. We took it back to the room and began to pack. Our bus leaves at 1:30, for the 5:30 flight.

Packing was easier than it was preparing for the trip. Just throw everything in, wherever. The extra suitcase was great - it held all of Andy's gifts. Our own suitcases had extra room because we had eaten all of the food, used Zhen's supplies, and left some items to be donated to orphanages. Andy headed off to buy a few more gifts, including some packs of tea that I had found in the grocery store. We finished off the last of our "in the room" food for lunch.

Quite a glitch appeared around noon. This was the usual checkout time, but we did not leave until 1:30, and had arranged that we could check out later. However, no one thought to tell the electronic door keys. We all went out around noon for a last walk around, and could not get back into the room. There was a mass of people at the counter trying to check out (and some were locked out as we were). We were afraid that we could not do our final packing and catch the bus on time. However, a clerk finally understood our problem, and re-keyed our electronic key (without having to go up to the room, as they had done before when the key wouldn't work). We made the bus on time.

We said our goodbyes to the hotel, and to Beijing. We arrived at the airport in good time, and said goodbye to Cherry. Suddenly, we were on our own, without a guide! By this time, we were all confident enough to find our own way. We had an unexpectedly easy exit through customs. We had been told that if we were taking anything out of the country that we had not declared coming in, we were liable for export duties. We did not have any opportunity to declare anything coming in, because we had avoided going through customs at all. However, we were only asked if we had anything to declare other than minor gifts, and we were ushered right through. We quickly found the stand where they put plastic security straps around the luggage, then headed off to wait for our flight.

The long flight to Vancouver was uneventful. All the babies were good - hardly any crying at all. We entertained Zhen with magazines - she really enjoys looking at the pictures, particularly of faces. The other passengers enjoyed her because of her ready smile. They passed her around, each person playing with her for a while. Fortunately it was soon the usual bedtime for the babies, and they slept most of the way to Vancouver. Meals and snacks were served, and we were amused that the meal from the Chinese caterer said "Welcome You To Travel By Our Plane"

When we entered the plane, I had asked the flight attendant if there were any extra seats, so I could move later, and we could put Zhen down to sleep in my seat. She said that they were fully booked, but she would watch for any "no shows". Sure enough, she came back to say that there was one extra, and she would put my coat on it to claim it for me. I spent most of the flight there. The sleeping pills did not work, but I dozed a little, always keeping an eye out to see if Andy needed help. I went back several times to get hot water, and to mix more formula for Zhen, and to dispose of the disposables when needed. It was difficult to sleep (although Andy manages it well). There always seemed to be someone standing in the aisle having a loud conversation in Chinese, or someone walking up and down the aisle whistling (even though the lights were down, TV screen off, and many were wrapped in blankets obviously trying to sleep). Oh well, I still had a good novel to read, and I knew Doris would let me sleep for a week when I got back.

We arrived in Vancouver on time, and suddenly, it was the next day, but it wasn't! Very strange to cross the date line. We made our way through customs, and to Immigration. There were a lot of people in the waiting room, but the officials had been forewarned (many thanks to Linda, our tour head, who arranged so many things during the trip). We were ushered right up to the windows, paperwork done and stamped quickly by a really pleasant official, and suddenly, Zhen was a Canadian! A very emotional moment for all the parents, the culmination of a two-year odyssey, and the beginning of a new life for everyone. Andy and I were just glowing, and proud to have Zhen with us. We wished that Julie could have been there with us to share this moment.

While we waited in Vancouver we had something to eat, and I phoned Doris to let her know that we were safely back in Canada. We then panicked, because we had forgotten to claim our stroller (it was at a "Special Services" baggage window) when we claimed our luggage to go through customs. It was only a cheepo ($14.95 at Walmart), but I decided I had enough time to waste, and tried to retrieve it. To get back to the baggage claim area from the waiting area was impossible, since it was for incoming passengers only. A helpful assistant at the Information Booth told me to go right up to the exit gate of the baggage area, and pick up the phone to try to get an Air Canada rep to help. I marched past the waiting crowds, past the velvet ropes, down the corridor, with all the "waiters" looking at me as if I were jumping the line. I picked up the phone - busy signal. I waited a few minutes, still busy. This went on for 15 minutes. I went back to the Info booth to see if there was another way (we had a plane to catch soon). No, just keep trying. Back to the phone, this time I got through! A few minutes later, a service person came out of the door and handed me the stroller. I found Andy again, and we made the flight, with time to spare. Off on the final leg home!!