Last day and reflections on China!

Today is our last day in China!  After 13 days, we decided to brave the city and ride the subway. Plus we were out of diapers and we needed snacks for the plane. So we took the Metro, and headed out to the nearest grocery store called Taste.  Sloan loved the ride!  She started squirming in Josh's arms and I knew she wanted to hold the bar like we all were.  Sure enough Josh lifted her up so she could hold the bar too and then she stopped squirming and was content! 

This mall was the most upscale we had seen with six stories.  Because I was carrying the groceries in my backpack, I decided to carry it China style- in the front!  As we were walking through the mall, I kept telling the boys, "Look at me!  I'm trendy!"  It is pretty efficient though!  You can access your stuff so easily!  Kale and I laughed over how people would react if we did this in the U.S.!  I challenged him to try it the first day of middle school!  We decided to eat lunch at McDonald's. Kale was impressed with the greaseless nuggets and made a comment that they eat healthy here even at McDonalds. 

Kale and I were talking about the trends of China we've seen while here: middle aged men with their shirts rolled up to their chests and their bellies hanging out, teenagers with skinny jeans and loafers, women in short dresses, women carrying umbrellas to protect them from the sun, people carrying their backpacks in the front, and mostly men smoking cigarettes everywhere.  Other interesting things about their culture include:  not being able to drink the water, using the squatty potty, the food vendors in the street, the crazy crowded driving with horns honking constantly, the healthy fruits and veggies, and the delicious food! Something that amazes me about China is that we've been to three of the largest cities in China with massive amounts of people everywhere and they all seem to live in harmony with one another. For example, I never saw any offensive gestures on the road, and I never saw any dirty looks if we accidentally bumped into someone. The two American teachers we met in Jinan said they'd feel safer raising kids in China vs the U.S.  It's illegal to own a gun in China, and the crime for mugging people is very harsh. It was all so interesting to live in another culture for two weeks, but we are ready to come home!  

After the mall, we took a group picture with all of the families because many of them were leaving today. One of the families from Racine came up to me and said, "I know you've waited a long time for her, but she is the perfect fit for your family - so active and full of energy!"  

Then we went to play at the hotel park. We found a basketball court and paid $25 yuan (divide by 6 for $) to use the basketball for an hour.  Sloan wanted in on the action and ran around the court chasing the ball and crying because she couldn't have it!  The boys gave it to her a few times and Josh lifted her up for a shot!  

After hoops, we grabbed some supper. Sloan got a hold of a sugar packet and put her thumb and forefinger on it like she had observed how to tear it. Then when that didn't work, she tried to bite it!  She is VERY observant!  

Then we hit the pool and Sloan let us take her in this time. She let us all hold her and when the boys had a breath holding contest she made the hand gesture to come here. 

We head out tomorrow at 5:50 a.m for the longest travel day ever:  a three hour flight back to Beijing and then a 13 hour flight home to Chicago!