Train Travel to Luoyang: Fast, Faster, Fastest

Boarding the "fastest" train

Today is the day that we are able to visit Vivian's orphanage.  We must travel to Luoyang to apply for her Chinese passport and then will drive across the city to see where she spent three and a half years.  Our guide doesn't think I should take her in...we'll see. I think she should go in and then see that she is leaving with us, but the guide doesn't seem keen on that.

First action item, complete the adoption.  Yesterday we signed a "24-hour" agreement, which basically allows you to take them overnight while the papers are processed.  The adoption was "official" yesterday, but today we go to sign additional documents and pick up the official adoption decree (which is needed to secure the passport).

Our guide is so sweet and just the type of person we like...tells you just what you need to know (no more, no less), doesn't smother you, but also knows just the right amount of helpfulness without being bossy.  As we drove through the city this morning, she described what the mass transit is like here.

They have a new subway in the city, which is a very proud feature at this time.  She then proceeded to tell us about the trains, which was a little humorous.  It went a little something like, "We have a train system that goes throughout the city. it is very nice and really connects, making shorter time to commute...but we aren't taking that train, because we have a fast train. it cuts the time in half and is very nice. it's so wonderful to have that type of train system here....but we aren't taking that train, because we have an even faster train...it gets you to the next city in 28 minutes"  We thought we were taking the "fast" train, but alas, we were to be on the "fastest" train...who knew there were three types to choose from?  I think fastest is best.

Getting comfy on the train...note: that was NOT our Coke...was left behind by someone else and she was a little miffed that she couldn't have it

Well, the train was fun and fast!  Over 180 mph and a very nice, new station with lots of looky-lou's who haven't seen many Westerner's before, especially ones with fluent English-speaking, Chinese little girls.  I really like train travel...much smoother and stress-free than the van rides here.  Lydia is very nervous riding in them (as am I!)  Each time we covertly search for the seat-belts (as to not be offensive to the guy's driving skills), but nearly every time come up empty-handed...either the buckle is broken, or in other cases, is no where to be found!  It makes to feel a little bit naked as you come within inches of other cars and motorbikes through huge busy intersections.

Sitting behind the distracted van driver

Our van driver in Luoyang was a hoot!  At one point, we were strategically making a left hand turn through a busy intersection, when his phone rang.  He picked it up "Hao" and started blabbing away, loudly. Then another ring came located somewhere from around the floorboard area.  He told the first person to hold on, and then proceeded to search the floor for the other phone.  He found it, wrestled around with the cords for about 20 seconds while it rang and rang.  He answered "Hao"....then more loud, blah, blah and he alternated between the two phones, and then began his turn, which narrowly missed a city bus.

He seemed to have more electronics and navigation systems than the FAA! 

Three things ran through my mind at that precise moment...one, "wow, he's popular"; two, "holy cow, shouldn't he have a free hand for turning the wheel, maybe he's using his knees, I can't see from back here"; and three, "where is the cameraman, because this is hysterical!" It was so ridiculous and funny that I started laughing and could not stop...I was crying back there!  Especially when our guide (who was a stranger to this man) at one point asked, "do you want me to answer that for you?" (when he was searching for the second phone and tangled up in cords).  I found myself in the middle of one of those fits of silent laughter where you end up needing to excuse yourself and leave the room, which I couldn't do.  So, I just pretended that I was experiencing some seriously touching emotional moment and dabbed my eyes while gazing at Vivian.  Maybe I fooled him?    



On the train tonight back to Luoyang, she was the most animated we've seen her, playing imitative verbal games with me and actually talked to us!  She even waved her tiny little hand at Jason from across the aisle and said "Ni Hao Baba" (Hello Daddy).  It was so sweet.  She's starting to warm up :)  She let me know what kind of food and drink she wanted by pointing to things (requesting) and would also point out things to me in the train or station and comment on them.  So sweet!  I even got a belly laugh from tickling her and her calling out "Mama" to have me pick her up. So much different from the serious stares that we got yesterday.  She's starting to show her personality....yay!

Feeding herself and her little friends' photos with pretend food

She was so sweet this morning, playing with her dolls.  She pretended to feed them and then looked through her picture books, found a picture of her friends in the orphanage and pretended to feed them in the photo.  It was so precious and also sad....she misses her friends.