Greetings from Kunming

We are in Kunming now. Our flight through Beijing was seamless.The international terminal in Beijing was impressive. An architectural marvel. Extremely clean and efficient. All the airpprts are very quiet and there is traditional chinese instrumental music playing in the background. As soon as we went outside though the air quality was noticeably unhealthy. People commented about that to me before travelling and it really is noticeably different than in the states.I imagine over the next week we will experience a lot of interesting cultural differences. In fact this already started. We have noticed that it is typical for Chinese people to cut in front of you in line. This happened to us twice in the airport. Then while on board the flight from Beijing to Kunming I walked to the back of the plane to use the restroom. I was at the end of the line when 2 different people put their hand on my shoulder and turned me to the side and stepped in front of me I finally decided I could wait until we landed.

When we arrived in Kunming and debaorded the plane the air was noticeably fresher here and it was a joy to walk into bagggae claim and hear our names being shouted across the hall by our local escort and coordinator Xiulan(pronounced shoe-lon). We retrieved our bags and were escorted to our hotel. It was easy. The city is large with 1.8 million residents and quite westernized.It was a livevly Saturday night in the city with lots of young people on electric scooters. All of whom were helmetless. Xiulan referred to them as electronic donkeys. Very dangerous but very convenient.

The hotel is actually four star and is far nicer than we anticipated. The room is decorated very traditionally with asian flair. Very expensive furnishings linens and draperies. But the beds leave nuch to be desired, very hard. We think its box spring only. Nevertheless we slept. Of course we are still up very early.
As I guessed we will meet Kate later this morning instead of tomorrow. We are nervous. Especially me. Xiulan who is very nice but very straight forward and very much business said "tomorrow we examine the baby, you know we must see the baby first before finalizing.You never know with these adoptions". These were not exactly reassuring words for me to hear, especially when sleep deprived.

The whole thing is a little nerve- wracking. Xiulan explained that she will examine the baby herself to make sure there is nothing funny. Whatever this means? Despite her very frank and a tad bit gruff nature (she was described by people to us as a bulldozer and the desription is fitting) you definitley know that Xiulan is in your corner. And you do NOT want to mess with her. So the plan is to meet Xiulan in the lobby at 9:30 this morning to go and pick up Kate.

There are two other American families adopting and staying in the hotel as well, we will meet them this morning and travel all together to the adoption office in Kunming to meet the babies.

So more to follow!