Off to Hong Kong: making a run for the border

03.07.10

In order to live here, we have to have a visa in our passports. Since we’re in transition, we all needed to exit China and reenter.

For us, the easiest way to exit China is to take the 5 hour bus to Wuhan and then the 12 hour night train to Shenzhen where we walk through customs and land in Hong Kong.

But I just didn’t have it in me.

I don’t know if it’s because Hubs got home three days ago. Maybe I’m still recovering from two weeks of single parenting. Mostly, I think it’s that we have a wee one in diapers who needs hot bottles. I’ve done the 5 hour bus and the 12 hour train in this situation. It wasn’t easy, but we managed. Now, throw a toddler into the mix and I found myself begging Hubs to see if we could fly.

Thank goodness tickets to Guangzhou were on sale. From Guangzhou, we still have to take a 2 hour train into Hong Kong, but at least we can reach our destination 10 hours later instead of 24.

Hubs and Sianna in the airport waiting for our flight.

Schäfer enjoys a snack while we wait for the plane.

This trip was very special for Schäfer because he got to use his Thomas the Train suitcase. We save this suitcase for airplanes only. For Schäfer, it makes traveling on a plane all the more special.

We do allow Schäfer to watch the iPod when we travel. After the adoption travel in January, he had watched so much Thomas the Tank Engine he was speaking to his trains with a British accent. This trip, I tried to pack lots of activities: stickers, books, play dough, stamps, crayons, etc. so that he could have some options besides just watching tv.

Sianna slept the entire way to Guangzhou.

When Schäfer gets tired, he hops on the back of the suitcase.

Can we talk about growth? First of all, the red pants are his Lightening McQueen pajamas that he refuses to take off. The yellow thermals are still necessary in Yichang. It was so cold this morning. The blue pants still have plenty of room in the waist, but they are part of his ever growing collection of pants-that-are-too-short.

Once on the train, I said, “No activity or tv until after you rest time.” I totally regretted those words for the next two hours.

It was one of those situations were Schäfer was so stimulated and excited to be on the train that there was no way he could take a nap. Plus, the train was pretty crowded so Schäfer couldn’t stretch out. Unfortunately, in his overly tired mood, he was also “expressing himself” so I didn’t feel like I could say, “OK, you can watch Thomas now.” That would only affirm his behavior.

Next time, I’ll consider the travel surroundings before setting the rules.

We arrived in Hong Kong tired, but thankful. While waiting in the subway, I lost it and just started crying. I think I was tired. I know I had a headache. I think it was about all this transition. I think I was hot since I was still in my Hubei layers. It all just came down at that moment, standing on the platform, waiting on the subway. I did feel better after a good cry. Thankyousomuch.

That evening, we went to Outback for supper. We haven’t eaten at Outback in 6 six years. While our food was delicious, I will say that when we got the bill we realized that it will probably be another six years before we eat there again!

Schäfer loves lemonade.

“Papa, can I have the baby back ribs? I’ll gum em’. ”

Hubs and Schäfer shared the Outback Burger. It’s hard to know if we should share something with Schäfer or order something off the kids menu for him. Sometimes he eats a ton and other times he plays.

Truth: I never make salad in China. I really have no patience for bleach cleaning the raw vegetables and waiting for them to dry. So, whenever I eat out at a western restaurant, I always want to eat a salad. Tonight, I had the Queensland salad. Yum.

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