July 12

After breakfast, the first thing I did today was hop on the bus and we went to a temple. It was very neat. I got a bracelet there. We also ate lunch there and they don't believe in eating meat so we had a meat free lunch. Then after the temple we went to walk along the river, which was cool. We went to the hotel for a bit then we went shopping for about an hour. A nanny from the orphanage who was with us when we toured invited us to eat with them, so we did that. That was fun. Then we came back to the hotel. I am wiped out from this fun day!

July 11

Today I went to a market to buy some fruit for the orphanage. After we bought the fruit, we went to the orphanage. We bought apples, grapes and watermelon for the kids. We saw some nannies, and I saw one nanny who took care of me when I lived there! I also met the nanny who took me to my mom and dad. We met Director Zhang. She was really sweet. Then we met some of the children. We toured the buildings and it was such a nice place. Then we went to go see some foster homes. They were different and neat to see. We went back to the orphanage for awhile then went to lunch with everyone. The Director gave us a present from Hunan, and then we went back to the hotel for dinner.

At 7:00 we met with our guide. I really like him, he is so nice. The Director of the orphanage met us and took us to Yandi Square. That was a really awesome place. I had tons of fun there. My mom bought me a wishing card to hang on the tower and on it I wrote, "I hope my mom gets lots better." After we were done we went to McDonalds.

I had a really fun day! I was so excited to go to the orphanage and meet everyone.

July 10

Today we went to all of the places where we were found. I was found by a market. I thought it was very neat that we got to go to these places. After that we went to the old orphanage. It was good to see where I lived and what it was like, but no one lives there now so it's hard to picture what it was like when I lived there. Then we went to lunch. After lunch we headed to the hotel to take our showers. Mom went first and when she came out of the bathroom, Drew and I were both asleep and it was only 6:30. After she couldn't get us to wake up for dinner, she just decided to go to bed! This was a fun day.

July 9 update

Last night I got to the hotel late. I was very tired at the time. The plane rides were tiring me. I didn't feel all that great. I was very excited that we got to China safely. Then after we got to the airport after our last flight, we took a bus to our hotel. When I look at the buildings, I think they are very cool. China is a cool place to be. All of the buildings are very tall. At the hotel, we are staying on the 30th floor.

China is a very busy place. There is a lot of honking to tell people to move.The bus ride was very bumpy. I am excited to see and learn more about China!

Only two days until we leave for China!

When I woke up this morning, I said to my mom "It is only two more days until we go to China! I am so excited that we get to go!"

I am most excited to see where I was born. I was born in a city called Zhuzhou. I want to see the orphanage and what the city looks like. This is my first time back since I was adopted. I am so excited to see the kids at the orphanage and where they live.

The thing that I am not looking forward to is that mom told me that the toilets can be different than they are here. Hope they aren't yucky!

Mom asked me what I think Zhuzhou will look like. I think it is a big city, there is a lot of traffic, and a lot of people. It will be very different from where we live.

It takes a really long time to fly to China. Since I was so little when I came home when I was adopted, my mom said that I slept the whole way, but I don't remember that.

I can't wait to go for the first time. I am so excited!

~Abby