Medical clinic followed by a trip to the city zoo

We went back to the clinic to have Bella's TB test completed. It was fine and although the clinic was very busy again, our visit didn't take but 15 minutes. After leaving there Lily took us to the city zoo, helped us purchase tickets then left us there for a couple of hours while she went to the US Embassy for us. It's 80 degrees and very little breeze so we were in shorts. The Chinese are still wearing long pants, long sleeves and layers. Being the only Americans there and appearing half dressed, we were as much a spectacle as the animals. People stared and pointed. At first that was okay but it soon became a bit uncomfortable if not annoying. However, there was a group of school children, probably at least 200 of them who would all say "Hello" to us when we got to exhibits with them. They also had rides there and Dale rode one mid-size roller coaster with Bella. She wanted to ride another so we bought tickets. Apparently, each ride had it own ticket booth and ours were not good there. We never were able to figure out how to get tickets to ride. Bella was fine with that because she enjoys the stroller a local store owner loaned us as much as any ride. We call it her chariot as she enjoys pointing directions and playing music as she rides.

Several times Bella had to potty and there were only two pottys one near the front and another near the back. In China it's customary to let kids squat whereever they are and potty. We did that several times. Oh how Rachel and I miss American toilets. I thank whoever intented the toilet seat because squatting over a hole in the floor is not my idea of fun. We did see several small kids with slits in their pants from knee all the way up then to the other knee. That made it very simple for them to squat and do their business then keep on moving.

For dinner we walked to Lucy's again. I ordered spaghetti and Bella went nuts for it as soon as it came. It was a huge dish and she ate at least three-fourths of it. They weren't kidding when they said she loves noodles. Lucy is taking us to a noodle restaurant today. Bella won't be able to contain herself!

I had to get stern with Bella last evening because she wanted to drip her chocolate ice cream. I made her sit down. We aren't friends now. She's ignored me the rest of the night. But she did sleep with Dale all night for the first time. As I've been typing this morning she's gotten up to potty. She pretended I wasn't here as she walked past and has now crawled back in bed with Rachel. We have a room with two beds slightly larger than twins plus a blow up mattress. I'm on the blow up and find it's the most comfortable spot of all.

Today I think will be very interesting. We're going to an open market where they sell all kinds of dried insects and plants they make tea from. We're also going to the pearl and the jade markets. We'll be sure to have the card in the camera today (left it in the computer on the zoo visit) and I'll let you know how it goes with both text and pictures.

By the way, our VPN is only working on the laptop consistently. We aren't able to do much to get access on our phones. It it improves we can communicate more directly.