Last tango in Wuhan

Today is the last day in Wuhan. It has been very nice being here and I have really felt like we are "really" in China. I may have said this before, but when we were in Beijing it really hadn't sunk in yet that we were half-way around the world from home. I think it was because there was so much sight-seeing and so little interaction with the everyday people as opposed to the hotel staff and tour guides so used to dealing with Westerners. Here we have really been on our own much of the time to fend for ourselves outside of the hotel. Fortunately, most of the shopkeepers have calculators to add up totals, so they can just show you. Most of us have become fairly quick with the yuan to dollar conversions in our heads so that we can calculate whether or not we want to buy something. The cost of most things is in the low to reasonable range, with some distinct exceptions. There are many clothing stores that sell Western atheletic apparrel, and it seems to be the same price as home. A double cheesburger meal at McDonalds, however, is only about 16 yuan, or ~$2.50. That's some of the more expensive food around outside of the hotel. Restaurants are dirt cheap, and the local beers are very good, and very inexpensive, but you definitely have to ask to have it cold. Most everything is warm here unless you either pick it out of a cooler or you ask for it specifically cold. Even table water is served freshly steamed (sometimes to make it potable, and sometimes just to make it hot).
Michele's trip to Qichun yesterday was definitely one to remember for all of the parents fortunate enough to make the journey. Everyone was able to get a good feeling for the very rural surroundings that the children were born into, and they had a fantastic meal with the orphanage director and staff. The food was phenomenal and so was the beer I am told, which was all that they had to offer for drink, so even Michele had a swig or two. The director was very apologetic about the meal, concerned that it was not up to restaurant standards and everyone was agast because it was some of the best tasting food they had so far. We have some fairly sound evidence that the Megan (Xiaoxiang) was the director's pet, as he had a special smile and gleam about him whenever he was asked a question about her. He was, as you might remember from the photos, also the one carrying Megan when she arrived on Gotcha Day! Megan's foster sister, Claire, had the same caregiver while in Qichun, so they are very fond of each other and definitely recognize each other when they are together. Fortunayely, she will be living in New Hampshire, so we will likely see much more of her in the future. Gotta go. Megan just woke up from a cat nap. Mommy is a little under the weather today, so she is resting. (must have been the beer!)