Goodbye Guangzhou

We're on the move again. I'm writing this aboard the train from Guangzhou to Hong Kong. Abigail was excited to ride the train and now she has been talking non-stop. I think the Chinese woman across from us thought that Abigail was trying to make conversation with her because she was responding back for a while, but it was obvious that she just wanted to read. She had her book in her hand and earphones in her ears. I think she finally figured out that this conversation had no end and lapsed into silence. Abigail's side of the conversation continued on unabated for a while before I got out my keyboard and began to type. Now she points out whenever I type her name.

Our swearing in ceremony was a little anti-climactic. We and 52 other families piled into a fifth floor room at the US Consulate, turned in some paperwork, raised our right hand, said yes, received a brown envelope, and were done. A bunch of people cheered. I had a little trouble hearing what was going on because the room was so noisy. If we were to eliminate the waiting around, the actual process took perhaps five minutes. Of all the states represented there, Michigan had the most families, with four families.

We now have her passport back with an immigrant visa and all the paperwork to hand off to the US Immigration people when we land in Detroit on Saturday.

Abigail has enjoyed the other kids from our travel group. She and two-year-old Simon, who calls her his big sister, were chasing each other around the lobby of the US Consulate building while we were waiting for the rest of our group to arrive. They are always happy to see each other. The cool thing is, they live only about ten miles from us so they will be able to see each other again in the States.

Waiting at the Guangzhou Train Station