Good Day All,
As Milestone Days go, U.S. Consulate Day is one of our favorites. On a trip like this, it can be a bit anxious, trusting that you’ve brought all of your paper and that it’s all in order. And for almost 2 weeks, nearly all you’ve seen and read (and heard spoken) is in a language you don’t understand. But, all of that melts away when you’re making the walk from the Medical Clinic Building, coming out the door, turning left and walking up the half-block it takes to get there. Once you get to the final corner, just before you cross the street, you see it. At the far side of the large front courtyard – OUR Flag. The Flag of the United States of America.
All at once, you’re feeling a strange combination of pride, relief and patriotism (and likely many other emotions, too). The safety and security of U.S. soil in a foreign land. On this day, however, your feelings are tempered a bit by the fact that the flag flies at half-staff, in mourning, in honor of GHWB (41). Everyone who makes this walk at this point in their adoption journeys has their own unique experiences, but mine has always been one of indescribable pride and gratitude.
Pride for certain, but also profound gratitude for the sacrifices of every US Service Member, Veteran or Active Duty, that has ever served in any capacity to see to it that the flag we saw today can be raised safely over our great country, and over every place around the world where America is officially represented. This trip, it’s even more special knowing that we’re in the company of one Colonel Meg Carey, USAF, Retired, and Uncle Curtis Carey. She, Curtis and their family made a voluntary, lifelong commitment to serve in our Air Force around the world, wherever they were needed. She worked her butt off to forge a tremendously successful and highly distinguished career. The USA: “The Home of the Free, because of the Brave”. The Lockhead EIGHT thank you.
THAT’s what I felt when I made the Consulate Walk today for the last time as a proud adoptive Father, shepherding our six children, through the crowd gathered outside the gates, through the security checkpoint, around the courtyard, and up the steps to the Second Floor.
This is our final Adoption, and Zachary completes our family, form A to Z. But the SIX times we made these walks were six of the most memorable days of our trips. There are usually always crowds outside the Consulate, as Chinese nationals gather to do whatever business they need to with our Consulate. (On one or two of our previous trips, the crowds had been demonstrating and protesting – loudly in one case, and it can be intimidating for the children.)
Today’s crowd was small and subdued, no troubles at all. But every face has a story, and the thread that runs through the majority of the stories is a desire to get to the USA: to find a better life, to visit family, to travel just to visit our country, or even to do business there. It’s very comforting to know that we’ll be able to get back on our flights in a few more days, and make our way HOME to OUR COUNTRY. And to raise our newly adopted sons and daughters as proud citizens of the United States of America.
Oh yeah…back to Zachary… How does this relate to him. It’s very simple. One of our jobs as parents is to instill in our children, now Zachary included, a sense of citizenship and pride in our nation and what it has accomplished in just 242 years, and gratitude for the sacrifices that earned that greatness. Simple, right?
Back to our story…
Since NO photos are allowed inside, we could only get an exterior shot. We were able to rush our way in front of the consulate to get this. In hindsight, we naybe should have taken another angle, to at least get the sign in the background into the shot. You can barely see the Great Seal over K’s right shoulder. Maybe next time!!! (Very Funny, Dad!!)
Another enjoyable thing about the Consulate is the waiting – no, seriously. It actually forces you to slow down and strike up actual meaningful conversations with the parents and families who you would usually just say a quick passing “Hi” to at the breakfast buffet, in between appointments in the lobby or in an elevator. Every Family has a story and it’s fun to learn about other families’ stories while we wait. It’s also fun to see how the adoptive parents deck their children out in Red/White/Blue: Shirts, dresses, Hair Ribbons, etc.
After we returned from the Consulate, we had a free day. We had an early appointment and got #3 in the processing conga line, so we were done fairly quickly.
We regrouped at the Hotel for a few moments, then we were off again. We wandered over to the park just a short walk up the street a few blocks behind the hotel. The Park surrounds the Guangzhou Uprising Monument. We’ve been there many times since it’s close to the Hotel. But this morning, the Park was crazy busy with Hacky-Sack, what looked like a Photo Club around the Lotus Pond, several Senior Citizen Song Groups accompanied by small bands of various native instruments, and even a group of Dancers…mostly women, but joined today by a rather energetic chap. The singing was so loud that we hear it emanating from the Park even before we got to the Gate.
Just inside the gate, there used to be a Roller Skating Rink. In all of the times we’d passed that rink, we NEVER saw anyone actually roller skating! We always heard lots of “roller rink music”, but never skaters. I guess that’s why they are tearing it down! The site was now under construction, if you didn’t know it had been a roller rink, you’d never have known it was ever there.
And No, that’s not a humongous, oversized “you-know-what” leaf.
(Apologies to the top of Dylan’s Head!)
It was quite warm and humid, especially for this time of the year, but we made it around the lake. We stopped for a cold drink at a small shop near the front gate on the way out. There we met a very friendly local Gentleman who insisted on taking our photograph. So, we engaged in another “Translation App Conversation” where he (referring back to my notes above) insisted that he loved America and that he thought it was a Great Countyt, too! He was so kind and generous, he actually insisted on buying each of us a cold yogurt from the shop where we met him. We all now appear in many of his iPhone Photos, too. I’m sure he’s showed many of his friends, as well!
And even the bikes are equipped to keep the Pizza HOT!
As we were enjoying an afternoon post-park snack we made some new friends. Leo and his father, Martin approached our family to extend their friendship. Leo was on his 2-hour Lunch Break at school, and he frequently has lunch with his dad when Martin’s schedule allows. Martin is a teacher here in GZ and lives very near the Garden Hotel. He has been encouraging Leo, who is sometimes very shy, to be more outgoing and try to make new friends. The kids enjoyed learning about Leo and his school and I enjoyed speaking with Martin about his work as a teacher in adult education. Martin volunteered his time to perhaps show us around the area. Our schedule is tight presently, so we won’t have a chance to take him up. Maybe we might be able to keep in touch via WeChat.
Speaking of McD’s… we also had a take-out dinner from there, too. We were just too tired and they were just too close – across the street.
Only one more full day in Guangzhou until we head back to Hong Kong…
If you’ve read this far, you might be interested in the posts from the other 5 Consulate Days, some of which might sound similar…
Ashley’s Consulate Day, not much detail, as we had other more pressing concerns…
I will say, after re-reading all of these previous posts, it seems that this year I’ve gotten to be more sentimental about Consulate Day.
I think it may be because it will be our last official visit for Adoption business.
As a friend of mine used to say, “My eyeballs are watering”. Thanks so much for the tribute: Fly, Fight, Win!! We are so honored to be part of this trip. Getting to know each of the personalities has been so much fun. We’re going to have Lockhead withdrawals in 3 days.