Adoption Completed!

It's official! We have a new daughter now named Casi Ruth Ting B. Gerald and I chose the middle names and gave her the choice of two names for first place. She pondered this for a week and decided on Casi.

The morning began with the delicious breakfast buffet at our hotel. At 9:15 we promptly left for our 9:30 appointment at the Shanxi Provincial Social Welfare building. At 9:20 Madame Notary (almost = to US Judge) called my guide to order, "Call the swi Director and let him know I cannot be there until 10:30." My guide said she replied the only way she could, "Yes, Madame notary!" I suggested her hair appointment was running late. So we sat in the lobby of the SPSW. If you've been there before you know how stark it is in this basketball court sized room---one couch, two chairs and the bored two guys handling the sign-in table next to the industrial, long, plastic strips covering the door opening.

10:40 Signing of the papers began. Customary, serious questions were asked: Why are you adopting this child? How did you learn of this child? Would you say that the info on the social welfare forms was accurate and complete? (No, but say Yes!) What will do for her medical need? How will you raise her? Take more pictures. Sign more papers. Put red thumb print here, here, and here. Think, Why do you guys still not have any wet wipes or towels to offer? Take more pictures. Casi is asked to sign and stamp with red-inked thumb. Whisper, Don't you wipe that on your shirt. Sit while everyone excepts you enjoys laughing at the latest gossip or jokes about having no wet wipes. Cringe when your newest child says loudly Can we go now? Relax when you remember that only you and guide can understand her. Hand camera over to newest child and let her fill the card with lopsided photos.

12:00 Walk out of the building with a new daughter :-)

Today is Casi's day, so she chose Pizza Hut for lunch. Not bad, in fact wonderful pizza, well after I chunked off the pineapple. Then off for Casi to buy treasures at WalMart.

Sadly, I must say that the Taiyuan WalMart is not the same as it was two years ago. In fact, they are almost Americanized. I wanted a shirt in a different size than we found for Casi, so we looked around for an Associate. We found three, deep in conversation, so they didn't notice us motioning for help. When my guide asked where other sizes were, one associate retorted "If it's not hanging over there we must not have anymore!" And the lines were long and not all registers were in use.

Yet, it still has uniqueness probably not seen in US. There were crowds of people, young and old, reading quietly in the book department. Some even napped while balancing an open book on their lap. Durian fruit is there and you'll find huge bins of dry small, young peas (think dried LaSeur Peas.)

All in all, it was a good day. I know because I asked Casi and she said it was!