Day 4 ~ Painful goodbyes

We have settled into a routine, here in Guizhou.  Don and I up early and reading in the bathroom, Wu Yi waking up around 8, breakfast at the hotel buffet, Wendy joining us for an attempt to QQ (Skype) with the orphanage (problems with this everyday!), and a trip to the "monkey park".  Wu Yi loves to feed the monkeys and they are very entertaining for all of us to watch.  Today, we hiked 1/2 mile uphill in the park to the zoo.  Wu Yi is not a big fan of hiking, but it was warm today and she is still wearing lots of layers, so I'm sure she was hot.  (Still can't mess with her clothes!)  We saw a tiger in labor, which should have been exciting, except the conditions of and smell of the zoo were very bad. We also had to experience the zoo bathroom, which was the most disgusting experience of my life! (And I am a North Idaho camping girl!) Poor Wu Yi had to manuver around her layers of clothing to use a filthy "squattie potty", and had to stay there awhile with some unfortunate diarrhea.  Its a good thing she knew what she was doing, as I was pretty clueless. (Wendy volunteered to stay outside!)  Wu Yi enjoyed feeding the deer through the fence with leaves we picked, and we left BaBa outside while the two of us ventured into the "snake and reptile house".  Then, back to feed the fish, eat "spicy meat on a stick", and return through the crowded city streets to our hotel.  Today, the sidewalk to our hotel was under construction, so we had to walk in the street. People and vehicles move together as one through these streets ~ no rules, lots of honking, cars driving within inches of pedestrians, yet nobody seems bothered or mad at all.
Wendy left us to go pick up Wu Yi's passport so we returned to the room to watch Chinese cartoons.  Wu Yi still looks at us like we are the bad guys and was, once again, not interested in playing with me.  After a couple of hours of this, she picked up the phone to start making her daily phone calls.  She broke down and started crying to "grandma" and after about 1/2 hour, "grandma" hung up.  When Wu Yi tried calling her back (about 1/2 dozen times), there was never an answer.  About this time, Wendy returned to the room and bribed WuYi to take a bath (she would get one more phone call if she did).  Wu Yi agreed to the bath (her first one this week) only if I left the bathroom.  She happily played in the bath and brushed her teeth with Wendy's assistance and then firmly refused to put on clean clothes.  She seems to detest anything we brought her today.  She eagerly emerged from the bathroom to make her call, and as she tried calling every number in her phone book, she was put through to voice mail.  Wendy explained to me that the orphanage is "cutting her off" from phone calls and QQ in an effort to encourage her to bond with us, and they do not wish to speak to her again until she is firmly rooted in our home.  I was, once again, reduced to tears watching WuYi dialing number after number and not understanding what was happening!  I trust that the nannies know what is best, but this seems so cruel.  Wu Yi then chose to cling to Wendy and asked her to write her number in the phone book.  She knows we are going on the plane tomorrow (to Guangzhou, but Wu Yi believes she is going to the US) and asked Wendy if she was coming too.  Wendy told her "yes" that she was coming and said she would break the bad news at the airport.  I hate all the lies, but just have to trust that these people are experienced and know what is best.
Its my 44th birthday today and Don found time to sneak away and have a special cake and bouquet of flowers delivered to our room while we were out!  What a wonderful surprise!  I am lucky to have such a great guy!  Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes and I love and miss you all!  Be safe in that blizzard I hear is going on back home! Save some snow for me!  :)