Day 17: LAST post from China!! Packing, Red Couch, Lucy's!!!

Whew!!! What a JOURNEY it has been!!!

This will be our last update from China. Our guide is picking us up tomorrow morning at 5:30 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. departure to Shanghai. We depart Shanghai at 4:10 p.m. and arrive in Chicago at 5:00 p.m. and depart Chicago at 7:40 p.m. We have a very tight layover in Chicago to pass thru Customs & Immigration before making our connection to Evansville and (HOPEFULLY!!!!) arriving at 8:45 p.m.

Today has been a very laid back day as we prepare for tomorrow's journey back home. We started the day with our last White Swan breakfast, walking/shopping the island with our buddies (the Teagues - we're gonna miss you guys!!), packing, napping (BenBen) and drinking (Greg)....so sad.

A few random bullet points on our journey:

• Skype has been wonderful!!! Can't imagine not seeing and speaking with our kiddos at least every other day. We miss them soooo much and BenBen knows them already!! -- and "go go" too (aka, Chezzy).
• VPN is crucial for Facebook and Blogger. Glad we had in advance!!! Loved reading everyone's comments!!! Thank you to all who followed our journey!!!
• Meeting other Americans and their new children in Guangzhou has been priceless....and a real lifesaver. We have met some truly wonderful people and look forward to continuing our friendship back in the States.
• We ate wayyyyy too much!!!! It's difficult to fill up on Chinese food!!!....and it's sooooo good!! I'm a master at chopsticks now!....LOVE Chinese beer (although I learned that Tsingtao is actually brewed in Germany!). I believe we'll be able to buy it in Evansville. :)
• The Great Wall is amazing. Beautiful....absolutely breathtaking. Wish we could have spent several days there or more. It's that freakin' awesome!
• We missed the opportunity to visit a province (since BenBen was from Beijing) and only experienced "big city" China. Perhaps another visit someday to experience rural China is in our future...? hmmm.....
• We found the Hutongs, back alleys and "real life" China to be extremely interesting and educational. Life is so different here. Our Guangzhou guide, John, is 25 and has never left China. It was so enlightening to hear his thoughts on America (where everyone is "rich") vs. life in China.  
• There is very little religion in China....even Buddhism. Except holidays, Chinese "worship" from home. On holidays they may journey to a temple.
• Chinese women value light skin....every cosmetic counter (Clinique, namebrands...) sells "lightening creams"....every cosmetic has sunscreen + lightening additive.
• A good business for a Chinese local to start: Gotcha Day photography and videography!! Greg took some amazing photos and our guide took video....but other families weren't as fortunate. Such treasured moments.
• The White Swan does NOT have electrical outlets in the bathroom, clocks, strollers to rent/borrow or any food you can afford (other than the breakfast included with the room)...and never enough towels. The pool is wonderful and a great meeting place for families. Great hotel service! 
• The adoption medical office is also moving off the Shamian Island and relocating near the US Consulate. I doubt Shamian Island will be a destination for adoptive families in the future. 
• Jordon's truly is the ONLY store on the island that doesn't pester you when shopping!! It's annoying....but in a friendly kind of way. 
• LOTS of tourist traps....Beijing and Guangzhou -- tea shops, jade factories, souvenir shops in general. Shop with Ann @ Red Thread while in Guangzhou, if you can!!! Everything is marked up 70% or more!
• A lot of Chinese adoptive children return to China on "heritage tours" with their parents. A LOT of them are staying at the White Swan. Very interesting to see them with their families of 10-20 years.
• Chinese men (in general!) are rude. Very pushy and inconsiderate of women....except John, our guide! They're always spitting, hacking and coughing. 
• Chinese women (in general!) are NOT afraid to stare (closely and for LONG periods of time) and instruct you on parenting skills - in Chinese - as they chase you down the street (while you're pushing your screaming child in a stroller).  
• Younger Chinese are much nicer and most know some English....they all seem to think BenBen is extremely handsome!  
• Dogs are almost never on leashes....even in the bigger cities.
• We haven't seen a single family home (free standing) in China...only highrises with clothes hanging on the balconies....in a typhoon or sun. 
• The squatty potty - I could do an entire post on this....for another day, perhaps.

BenBen has come a looonnnng way in the 17 days we've had him! A few tidbits:

• He now cries when "Baba" leaves his sight. He has definitely bonded with both parents...although he still prefers his "Mama" (which is great, until he wants to be carried!).
• He's learning more English every day but it's still frustrating for us/him when he cries and we can't console him.
• He says up, down, please, thank you, eat, drink, more, finished, mama, baba, Sam (or ge ge "big brother"), Ellie, Jack, ball, shoes, panda, diaper, and fishies (in the White Swan lobby pond), ohhh (with a look of surprise and rounded mouth), hold on, buckle and sit down - regularly.
• He knows "nighty night" (but doesn't use it much - doesn't like the thought of actually going to sleep - but great once he gets there!) and "potty"...but is still in diapers.
• He likes to count to ten with us when he walks up and down stairs....he's almost got 'em all! 
• He's learning his colors (he knew "lellow" yesterday)...but, Greg said it was a "Fredbird" - (inside joke for Waltsan!).
• He does tell us after he poops and always holds his nose, waves his hand and says, "shuuuuuueeeee" as we change him!!
• He still does not like messes but he's getting much better!
• He's also learning to share, a little....yesterday he shared his treasured "chocolate filled teddy grahams" with Daniel (another FTIA lil guy), major progress!!!
• He loves to throw things away, line up all of our shoes and get his hands into anything he's not supposed to!
• He also knows to whine (incessantly) for anything he wants or doesn't even know he wants. It's sooooo annoying...we're trying so hard not to give in and it is getting better. BUT, in the meantime, food usually does the trick!
• He loves when I gel his hair (sorry G'pa!) -- and then he wants to comb it. Soooo cute.
• He knows how to "give love" and will hug you or give a big open mouth kiss.
• He knows how to high five, ching ching (aka "fist pump") and blow kisses.
• He also says, "awwwwww" every time we show him his picture on the digital camera!!! Cracks us up!
• We're trying to teach him NOT to give the thumbs up on every photo - so if you see a picture with his arms very straight - to his sides - that Greg telling him to put his arms down!
• He LOVES to nap and requires a LOT of sleep...and still no blanket or pillow. Crossroads (preschool) may need to extend the 2 hr napping period for BenBen!!!
• Ben has yet to eat a vegetable or a fruit (other than banana) since we've been here. Hmmmm.......
• He has the sweetest belly laugh and mischievous smile ever.
• We have not called him Xigang or GangGang since about day 4. It's Ben or BenBen....and he definitely knows his name.
• He loves his Ge Ge (big brother) Sam and BenBen thinks he's much bigger and capable than his 2 1/2 years of age. We think he's going to play football - go GSS Rams!
• We think he likes us and can't imagine our lives without him!!
• He's funny, loving and a typical 2 1/2 year old. Fun times ahead!!!! 

Through 4 adoption journeys, I can honestly say from the deepest depth of my heart, you parent the child you're meant to parent. BenBen's a Schultz, without a doubt. As I was laying in bed one morning, next to him (well, actually he was lying sideways!) and I was looking at him in sheer amazement (sucking his thumb, bottom in the air, looking so adorable) I was NOT thinking (as most people do -- "an orphan no more").......I was thinking.....we found you....

BenBen was always meant to be ours - he was never an orphan. He was always in our hearts...and others cared for him (very lovingly!) until we could get here!!!....Never an orphan. Always loved. Always cared for. Always in our hearts. Can't wait for everyone to meet him!!! He's a VERY special little guy. What a tremendous miracle we have witnessed with his tearful, frightful, screaming, initial meeting to his loving attachment to our little family....and daily increasing trust. He is changing all of our lives. How lucky we are to have him...to love him, forever.

Sam has been great!!! Yes, we actually do have another child on this trip!! He has adjusted so well to everything and has truly been wonderful with BenBen. Sam has enjoyed the trip....and Guangzhou a LOT more than Beijing. The pool, friends (Carson and Spencer) and a more "Westernized" environment (where everyone is not gawking at him) have been lifesavers. Sam is missing his friends though and definitely his "room"....(that's what he'll say if you ask him!). I guess he's wanting his private space back and display all the souvenirs he's purchased....including a Chess set today. We're such suckers!

It's getting late and we're back from our last dinner in China at Lucy's with our friends from FTIA and the Harrell's (our friends we met in Beijing!). 16 of us on the outdoor porch...having a few beers and rehashing our journeys. It has truly been a remarkable experience. Each of us with very different circumstances and "challenges" but all with a common thread - unconditional love for our child and faith...it is a faithful journey. This evening was a wonderful evening to end our journey.

I'm down in the lobby finishing this last post (our internet package in the room expired today!). Sam and Ben are hopefully sleeping and I'm heading upstairs for our final packing weigh-in. 

Our Red Couch photos were great and I can't wait for Greg to share them with you all on Shutterfly....may be after our trip home though. The kiddos looked sooooooo cute in their traditional Chinese clothing and all posed so perfectly (4 in all). Ben did great and even posed a few shots without the famous thumbs up! :) He's such a poser!!!

Well, this is our final farewell post from China. It has gone by quickly but also seems like forever!!! We're all ready for home and can't wait to unite our family. I've been missing a piece of my heart on this journey....I'm not myself without all my kids in tow. I've missed them terribly. Please pray for safe travels home.

Thanks to everyone who has helped us along in this journey -- FTIA (Betty rocks!!!!), our guides (especially Shirley and John) and most of all our families, friends and co-workers at home. We couldn't have done this without all of your love and support. 
Blessings and see you all soon!!!!