Trip to Wal-Mart.NOT!

I am writing from the breakfast area…using the Wi-Fi and loving it.  Jacob, Jen and Rachel are still in the room and were still sleeping when I got up at 5:00.   Getting to sleep is still a tough event.   I think all barely 3yr olds have some issues in a strange place, just throw in some strange new parents, a little gastric distress and a room full of neat buttons, lights and phones and viola...who wants to go to bed?

Well the much awaited and highly advertised trip to Wal-Mart did not really materialize yesterday.  After our guide polled the group we found that we were likely the only family that had not yet gone to the Wal-Mart  and instead we went to the LOUTUS CENTER. 

The Lotus Center is like a three story Chinese Wal-Mart.  It is rather large, but I think in total square feet it is still smaller than a Super Wal-Mart however for a foreigner it is still overwhelming, if not for the simple reason that we cannot read Chinese.    We wanted to get a few simple items:  an umbrella stroller, wipes, more pull-ups (he is potty trained, but the diarrhea kicks in at the worst times),cheerios, water, a couple of toys with buttons, etc).  We managed to get most of the items, but it was an experience.

In the food section there were many fruits and veggies that we never knew existed, and the usual butcher items hanging out in full display, chickens with all their body parts, sides of other animals not yet cut, and fish that were jumping out of their holding pens were just a few.  You really realize how hard it is to experience things and take pictures at the same time.  I was pretty much caught in a blank stare and unable to remember to take pictures…also you begin to feel a little self conscious being the crazy westerner standing there taking pictures of the meat section of the grocery store. 

The one item that we could not find was cheerios.  Now I know that they (or something like them) exist here, but the word cereal didn’t seem to make the translation either with our guide or anyone else.   Cereal sent us to the isle with oatmeal, some versions of what must have been cream of wheat and some other types of hot cereals, but nothing like the isle with Captain Crunch that we are all used to.  Eventually we dropped the hunt and decided on cookies…they go great with anything.  (So we aren’t exactly starting him on the low carb diet while we are here).   Note to the McBrydes….bring a big box of cheerios, and more of those sink sized detergent thingy’s than you think you will need, they are also hard to find…we ended up getting a bar of tide (it must be a guy thing, but I didn’t know that Tide came in bars, hopefully this won’t get left in the shower).

Well…after an uneventful checkout we headed back to the hotel and explored the play room then hit the pool.   Good news, this time some other kids from our group were in the kiddie pool so Jacob got right in…in his clothes.  (Another note:  bring swim diapers, the pull-up full absorption look is so 1990).

After a fun swim, we went back to the room…and tried to go to sleep.  And, here we are.

I think we are really ready to go home at this point.  It is hard to get on a schedule, create routine, play and sleep when you are in a hotel room.  We miss everyone, and at this point aren’t really able to enjoy being in this incredible country as we are in another big city.

Thanks for all your prayers and notes of encouragement.

Ric