Traditional Chinese home, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City

Aug. 20, 2010


Our tour guide, George, kept us very busy today. We started out in a rickshaw, riding through Beijing neighborhoods. We were able to go into the home of a family and see what a traditional home looks like, which was fascinating. The family did a lot of calligraphy and drawings just as a hobby, but we were able to buy a fan that a man had recently hand drawn.  From there we went to Tienanmen Square. From Tiananmen Square we walked to the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was HUGE and so beautiful. Most of the buildings were built in the early 1400s.We were able to hear lots of historical facts from our guide. 

We toured with another family from New York who is here to adopt their little girl. They have been great company for us. We are getting ready to eat dinner with another couple who is adopting a little boy. They did not tour with us today because they were able to go to the foster home of the child they are adopting! We just briefly spoke with them, but they also told us they got to meet their little boy today (which is very unusual - usually this does not occur until their "Gotcha Day"). We are so excited to hear more details at dinner about their little boy and the experiences of today. 

While today has been amazing and wonderful, we are still anxious to get to Madison's province and hold her in our arms. We have one more day of touring here in Beijing, then we have a day of traveling to her province. The following day will be our "Gotcha Day" - when we get her.

Please feel free to leave your comments - we are going to use this as a journal for Madison so your comments would always be welcome. 

--Karen Nixon