Mackenzie Day 12

Since we had Mackenzie’s swearing in ceremony yesterday, instead of today, we had a free day, and decided to take it easy. We were going to rest, let Mackenzie play, and maybe do a little shopping… We had been wanting to go to the pearl market, and when some friends said they were going, we we excited to join them and their guide, who knew good places to go!

There were hundreds of stalls like this one!

Our friend bought a beautiful pearl, and we went in search of more gifts, while Josh went to scope out the rest of the market.
And then we got arrested. Oh yes, we did.
We, along with everyone else we know, were told by our guides to leave our passports locked up in our rooms, so you don’t lose them. But the Asian games are coming to Guangzhou for the first time ever, and they are cracking down, and randomly checking for passports. When police came and asked to see our passports, we, of course, did not have them! At first, our guide thought they might not be real police, so we waited while she called more police to come. Josh had shown up in the middle of this, and we were drawing an enormous crowd. Two other adoption guides happened to be at the market then, and one of them talked the police into letting him take Josh back to our hotel to get all of our passports, while we were taken in for questioning. How many cops do you think it takes to escort two women and two special needs babies? Well, I am glad you asked! It takes about 12! There were seven in the police van with us, and a car and motorcycle in front of and behind us! Ike, the guide with Josh, brought him quickly back to the police station, and everything was worked out, but it was a lot of excitement for one day! For those of you who are about to travel, carry you passport in Guangzhou (a copy won’t work)!

After all the excitement, we have decided to stay on our little island until it is time to go home. We visited Mackenzie’s favorite place, the fish pond…

Then we went to dinner. She likes to help me blow on her hot rice. So cute!