Testing, Testing.....1.2.3.

Asher is such a charmer.  He knows just when to smile for the camera and makes silly faces and poses!

The area we are staying in is still decorated for Chinese New Year because it turns out that the holiday didn't actually end until several days after we got to town.

Yesterday and today were days when we didn't have anything official planned.  We found some things to do to keep us busy though.  You know, like chasing our runaway boy who decided he wanted KFC when he saw it near our hotel and so he made a break for it when we let go his hand inside the Starbucks next door! 

Yes, you read that right!  There is a Starbucks across from our hotel.  And yes, we have a boy on our hands that is very used to getting whatever he wants.  Whenever he wants it.  Hence the nick name, L'il Emperor!

So, our morning was exciting.  So was our afternoon.  Come to think of it, our evening was lacking either!

Our day was pretty much a repetitive exercise of Asher testing the boundaries and us trying to find a middle ground right now.  There are many things our children do not get away with.  But, this is a bit different and I know most International adoption parents feel the same way.  There is only so much you can do when you are in a China.  And you don't speak the language.  And you don't even know what your child is say.  To you or anyone else, for that matter!

This is Asher with our guide, Leo.  Asher loves Leo and calls him GeGe {pronounced guh-guh} and it means big brother!  I hope he realizes that Leo is not really his big brother.  I doubt it.  He thinks we live in the hotel and doesn't understand the concept that we are just staying here and have a home somewhere else.

He loves Leo most because he knows that Leo knows what he's saying.  I'm happy that he has a Leo to help him, but things will be much different once we are home.  Without Leo. 

Which brings me to the point about dealing with his behavior here.  You have to deal with the language barrier.  Leo is not with us 24/7.  He is with us when we go out....usually.  So the rest of the time, we are on our own.  Asher talks 90 words a minute.....all in Chinese.  We don't understand a word he says.  So, we have to let him get away with things we normally wouldn't.  For one reason because we don't want to frustrate him to the point that he gives up on us. 

In addition, we have something else going against us.  Leo pointed it out when we were at a shopping center.  Asher kept asking for things.  We kept saying no, because quite frankly, they were things he did not need.  Leo said, he could now see the difference in Chinese parents and American parents.  Really?  What was it?  He said, Chinese parents would give their child anything he asked for! 

Well now.  Doesn't that explain a lot!

Today wasn't much better.  Asher has to be held by the hand at all times out in public.  About the only time he seemed out of his element and clingy was when we took him to a play area at a nearby mall. I figured he'd run off and we would have a hard time even getting him to leave.  That was far from reality.  He stayed near me, wouldn't do much of anything as far as playing and was ready to leave within 10 minutes of getting there.  Go figure? 

In our quest to find the mall with the play area inside, look what we found.

A beautiful cathedral build in the 1917 and home to the Bishop of the Catholic diocese in Tianjin. It was damaged and closed during the Cultural Revolution, but restored in the 1980s.  From what I understand, The Catholic churches in China are under the watchful eye of the state and are not loyal to The Pope.   Actually, they aren't allowed to be loyal to The Pope and any Catholic Church in China that is, operates underground. 

Just a little bit of China triva for you.

Well, my guy is up from his royal nap, so I better get on the job!