Adam did a "TDY" or temporary tour of duty in Guangzhou for two weeks. The kids and I joined him for the first week, as the kids were off school. We felt very blessed, as the Department provided housing for us which was fantastic! It was a spacious three bedroom apartment and we had access to a breakfast buffet for a nominal price. The complex we stayed in is where all the consulate families there stay, so it gave us a feel for what a post in Guangzhou would be like. It was in a fantastic location, close to downtown, a beautiful city park, and the consulate. We had fun exploring the city--Guangzhou is very nice. Behind us is Canton Tower, a recognizable Guangzhou landmark. When it was first completed in 2009 it was the tallest tower in the world but was passed by the Shanghai Tower. Now it's the second tallest tower and fifth tallest free standing structure in the world. We went to the top one of the nights we were there.
The Guangzhou Circle was interesting to see. According to Wikipedia it is the world's largest trading center for raw plastic material. When China started becoming the world's factory, Guangzhou was a manufacturing hub so has done very well financially.
Emmy loves to take super flattering .5 pictures...
The downtown is beautiful at night with the buildings all lit up.
A gorgeous city park was about a five minute walk from our place.
Emmy, Liv, Eve and I went to Chimelong Safari Park one day. Part of it is a normal zoo and part of it is set up like a safari that you drive through on a train or in your personal car. It makes me want to do a real African safari!
We loved seeing the white tiger. They did a show where they'd climb up poles or jump in the water. We got a kick out of the music they chose--"Joy to the World!"
Usually I never pay for extra things like feeding the giraffes but it was so cheap I couldn't resist!
Koalas are my new favorite. They are so cute!
I love that every zoo in China (that I've been to) has pandas.
All in all we had a great trip to Guangzhou! We loved getting to go to the in person branch there. It is held in a hotel. One funny thing is that the floor above where church is held is a gym. Sometimes when weights are dropped pieces of the chandelier fall out, making church a little treacherous. The week we were there they were excited that the hotel had put nets around the chandeliers to prevent falling glass pieces. Kind of funny. The members there were so sweet and welcoming. It felt so good to be with them.
The week after Guangzhou Mini turned 17!! What the what???
Emmy had a couple of basketball tournaments, one here in Wuhan and one in Tianjin, which the team flew to and was gone for a couple days. She did so well, improving so quickly and becoming one of the starters. The Tianjin tournament was broadcast so we could cheer her on from home.
On MLK Jr Day Adam was off and the girls had school so he and I explored a new place. It seems like an amusement park type thing where you can camp and hike. We hiked to the Lucking Love Terrace. Such a Chinese name!! It was nice to get an aerial view of the surrounding area. It was cloudy but would be fun to go on a clear day and really see the surrounding area--it's usually smoggy or foggy here, plus really flat, so it's hard to conceptualize our surroundings.
We've all gotten pretty adept at chopsticks. One night Mini and Eve were even eating cookie dough with chopsticks :)
Good signs: Forbidden to fight. If you lose will be hospitalized. If you win you will go to jail.
"Lightyourlife PUBERTY on spring/winter something different Energy"
"Be careful when ouching your head"
"Mom said Alcohol is your enemy. Jesus said love your enemy. Welcome."
And other good China moments:
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And just because she's so adorable here's one of Bella
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