Greetings from the White Swan Hotel, Shamian Island, Guangzhou (formerly Canton). We have very busy here. When we arrived Friday night there were over 100 adoptive children and their new families staying in the hotel. The following morning Mia had her medical checkup for her U.S. VISA. We then completed many forms relating to the VISA. We've also done a lot of sightseeing including trips to the Guangzhou Zoo, jade, pearl, fine arts and traditional medicine markets.

Shamian island, in the Pearl river, features colonial era european architecture with tree-lined streets, quaint parks dotted with sculptures of children and many small shops catering to adoptive families.

Because of the high cost of internet access at the business center we will upload more pictures of Mia and the sights we've seen in China when we get home. Our advise to future adopting parents is to bring a laptop. It makes access much cheaper and more convenient with a new child.

Mia is doing very well. Tomorrow we all go to the American consulate to complete U.S. VISA processing.

As foreigners and as adopting parents we have had a very positive experience here in China. Official matters have been conducted in an extremely professional manner. Our agency in-country representative has simplified things for us as much as humanly possible. The Chinese people clearly greatly treasure and love children. We have found people welcoming and encouraging wherever we have gone.

Love,

Kate & Neil