Safari park day

Today we decided to venture to the safari park here in Guangzhou. I have heard a lot about it, all positive and highly recommended. We looked for a taxi outside our hotel, trying to find one without a TV playing in the back seat as Miss Mia has the tendency towards carsickness. Luckily, we found one with a broken TV and were on our way only to find out that we had a special singing driver! He sang to us most of the way to the park. Mostly in Chinese, although he did do a rendition of Barney "I love you, you love me". That was a bit odd.
The safari park was all that others have said. Absolutely amazing. It is the best "zoo" experience I have ever had. Mia loved the monkeys, quickly repeating that English word over and over. Monkeys hanging and playing from trees. They looked so happy. I liked the kangaroos, especially the one mama who carried her baby head first in her pouch so that the tail and hind legs were the part sticking out. Every once in while it would kick it's legs but never did end up righting itself while we were there. The other really fun part was riding the train through the safari wilderness. It was nothing like we've ever experienced.
Mia did exceptionally well at the park. No tantrums over food. Only one minor meltdown when she was told she couldn't climb up on a fence after watching another boy do it. She seems to be understanding more English and continues to talk to us in Chinese as if we understand everything.
We clearly are very under dressed when compared to the locals here. It was 90 degrees today and most had on long sleeves and long pants. Ok, maybe it was 88. We, on the other hand, are sporting our summer dresses. Even Mia will not put on her sweater anymore which I diligently carry around. We get lots of stares, which I know is not only because I am Caucasian walking around with three gorgeous Chinese girls. It is because of the lack of clothing on their bodies!
Mia continues to love her bath play, much to my relief after coming back from the safari park. Sunday at the safari park proved to be very, very busy! And Mia is not a huge fan of purell. This could be a bit of a problem for me, given my love of the stuff, especially when in public places. She has been watching the rest of us slathering in it, but has yet to put her hands out. She doesn't mind the germ x wipes I had brought, but I am down to the last few of those.
Our time in China is passing so quickly. It is hard to believe we will head home in 5 days. Mia's medical examination went well, including the TB test which is required for all children over age 2. She protested briefly, and then seemed happy that the nurse offered candy. I am not sure it would have gone as well if she offered her a banana after the injection. The test proved to be negative and we now have all of the necessary papers to give to the adoption unit here in Guangzhou. Tomorrow we will head to the US consulate for the final processing of the
US phase of the adoption so that she will automatically become a US citizen when we touch down in Chicago.
When we began this process back in April it was hard to picture this day, at the safari park, bring stared at for our under dressing, as I walked around with the three most goregous little girls in the world.