Pearl Market, Shamian Island, & Consulate Appointment

Yesterday was more shopping. Crazy shopping! We didn't have all that much time, the salespeople wouldn't leave you alone, and you were supposed to bargain. This is my nightmare shopping scenario :) But I did just go with it and have fun, and I think we got some really neat things to take home to remember Leah's homeland. We started by going to the pearl market, which was massive. Seven floors of jewelry shops! Thankfully our guide took us straight to one, and we all got to choose a strand of pearls to make into bracelets or necklaces.

Bags of pearls:

I did not get any pictures on Shamian Island at all -- it really was just crazy trying to get all the shopping done! We bought lots of things, like chopsticks and a traditional Chinese dress for Leah.

This morning we had our appointment at the US consulate. When we entered the consulate, there were huge lines of people waiting to get in, I assume for a visa to go to the US. Fortunately, we got to go right in and on up to the office for adoptions. We were in a group of families from our agency. Once we were all there, the parents had to stand up, raise their right hands, and take an oath. We all did it together, and it was hysterical because we could hardly understand what the guy was saying for us to repeat. It wasn't a language thing, it was just that the sound system wasn't great and he was speaking to us on a microphone through a glass window. We got most of it, but there was one phrase in particular that we all just mumbled back at him! Then we all went up to a window individually to give them a bunch of paperwork. Tomorrow, we should have Leah's visa! She is not officially a US citizen until we land on US soil, which for us will be at the Seattle airport.

Before going inside:

All done!

Lost a shoe, again (we brought ones that were too big!):