Free Day

So today is finally a free day and we have time to just relax and go at our own pace. Today we walked around again since we had free time and Malia loves to be outdoors. I really wish the rain/drizzle would stop so we could go to the playground or walk by the river. We found a really neat art shop. They have hand painted pictures and really cool ones that are painted on leaves or feathers. They even gave me and mom a free necklace for buying there. Malia is trying to go down for a nap now so I finally had time to post. She is doing so amazingly well that I am in shock. I can't believe that we have been together less than 2 days and she totally knows if I am not around. If she ever is scared or nervous so looks around for me. We were at the Matell playroom at the hotel earlier today and all of the other parents couldn't believe how well she was doing.

So we were wondering if she spoke Mandarin or Cantonese. According to our guide and the book of questions that were answered they say Cantonese. Me and my parents however think she speaks Russian. If there is something she doesn't want she says something that sounds like "nih" or no in Russian. It is funny but I wish I knew a little more of what she is trying to say. We are doing really well with hand motions and she even seems to be understanding some of what we say. In the playroom you take off your shoes and when it was time to leave I said to go get our shoes and she ran over to her shoes, picked them up, and sat down to get them on. I am just so amazed by her and can't wait for everyone to meet her.

Thanks again for the comments back. I am sharing them with my parents and it helps us feel connected. Mom is also loving that the kids back home like the stories that she is here.

The pictures are of playing with another Guangzhou girl in the playroom, goofing around with grandpa, coloring with grandma, and eating noddles in the hotel room for lunch. Can you tell she likes them?