I ate the last mango in Paris….

….and took the last plane out of Saigon, I took the first fast boat to China and Jimmy theres still so much to be done. Well, technically it would have been the last peach in Guangzhou and took the last plane out of Hong Kong, we took the first connecting flight to Raleigh, and we will be so glad to be home! I think Jimmy Buffett and Steve Goodman would be proud!

This morning came way too early on the 17th floor!  I, unlike everyone else, decided to stay up and watch a movie last night (Tower Heist, verdict – 2.5 out of 5 stars), so the 5:45 alarm came as quite a surprise!

This morning at 7:45 we met Leigh downstairs for our visit to the US Consulate for Declan’s paperwork and swearing in ceremony. We were one of the first ones in this morning so we had to wait until our 8:30 appointment at which time we were joined with some of the other families from our hotel who are traveling as a group. It did make it a little nicer to have adults to talk with and we even met a couple from Asheville, NC. Its such as small World, Asheville, Charlotte and Raleigh were represented at our hotel alone, and who only knows who else could be here in process! After we met with the Consulate official and had one of the clerks review all of our paperwork (through the plate glass window much like the late night gas stations in the United States!), we were done with our paperwork and on our way out of the building. It was interesting to see the line of people outside cued up to apply for US Visa applications. They are wanting to visit the United States and we are wanting to get home to the United States. I wonder which one of us wants it worse?

Since this was our only official function of the day we decided to head back to Shamian Island for some shopping and lunch. For one we can never get enough of walking through the little shops of the island that have been supported for so long by adoptive parents….Jennifer's, Andy’s, Sherry’s, Michael’s, Jenny’s, Master Wang’s….all of them within just a few blocks. The shops are hurting with the renovation of the White Swan Hotel and the decrease in the number of families traveling to China for adoption, but they are still just as friendly and willing to wheel and deal! Its so much fun and we buy way too much, but its worth it.  Tell anyone you know who is traveling to Guangzhou to visit these shops as they are great treasures and fun to experience! Aside from shopping, we also indulged in some Starbucks when we first made it to the island. Even the kids enjoyed one of the new coffee free drinks, and by the looks of it the little coffee chain from Seattle instantly hooked another one!  After a final lunch at Lucy’s we were headed back the hotel via cab (very economical), and setting up for the afternoon and evening.

After the island we once again decided against putting the kids down for a nap.  It worked so well last night, why tempt fate! We lounged a little bit once we got back the room and then Savannah and I went downstairs to see off one of her friends from the previous day. We then proceeded to play outside on the playground until dinner. Both on the playground and at dinner we noticed many new families arriving. Dinner tonight had roast duck (head on!) and many new items that were a treat. Afterwards we rushed the kids off to bed, except for Savannah who had a special engagement tonight.

Tonight was the second of two Skype calls between Savannah and her classroom back at Thales Academy in Apex, North Carolina. Mrs. Gainer once again had the kids gather around and ask Savannah questions about her trip, China, and what she was learning. Savannah did a great job and told her class all about her time here in China and that she would share lots of items when she gets back on Monday!

Tomorrow is a free day for the Kennedy’s as our guide will go to the consulate and pick up our paperwork (the sealed envelope for US Immigration) and then will meet us for transport to Hong Kong at 4:00 pm. It should take about 4 hours by van to get to the airport, then we will have some time to get settled in before the flight.

Our flight will leave Hong Kong at 1:00 am, at which time I am sure we will loading sleeping children into their seats. We arrive in Vancouver, British Columbia where we have a on the plane layover of little less than 2 hours, at which time we depart for JFK in New York.  The final leg of our flight has us on American flight 4404 taking off from JFK at 12:55 pm and arriving at RDU at 2:35 pm. I am sure we will be a little wiped out, but happy to be home none the less!

So tonight we fall asleep in mainland China for the last time. I will comment more on the overall trip tomorrow night as we sit in the airport waiting for the flight, but I think we can all say that we are ready to be heading home. With that, we bid you adieu from the China Hotel in downtown Guanzhou, China.

So till next time….

Michael (In the immortal words of John Dever....I'm leaving on a jet plane, dont know when Ill be back again), Ann Marie (Do you think we have time to hit the show warehouse before we leave?), Savannah (So when are we coming back for a little sister?), Aiden (Do I really have to share my room with Declan?), and Declan (If I continue to grunt maybe I will get my way!) Kennedy