Jace

Jace

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Not Coping Too Well

Today we visited a Tea house and the Beijing Zoo...

The tea house was cool. I liked tasting the different teas--even if it was 100+ degrees outside!!! Nothing like tasting hot tea with a smile on your face and sweat running down your boobs and back. Oh, lets not forget holding an also sweating toddler who wants very much to upset the tea cart. But, hey....let's move on to the zoo scene....

Hot + Hazy + Humid= 3 MISERABLE ADOPTIVE FAMILIES IN BEIJING!!!! Ugh!!! Come on! How much more can this girl take??????? Can you tell I am starting to unravel? Here's the deal...

I am ecstatic to be here to get my little boy. My sweet, adorable, God given little boy. BUT, I hate everything else!! I hate the schedule! I hate it that my son misses out on nap time while being transported place to place to place! I hate going outside and walking for hours in what feels like a huge sauna with 30 million non-smiling, nasty-look giving, rude and pushy people! I hate feeling like I will get hit by a car or a hurling 'loogy' or anything else!!!! I hate it that after standing in this sauna we go to a restaurant and eat FRIED EVERYTHING. I hate it that there is not a healthy dish ANYWHERE!! I hate it that I haven't worked out in FOREVER--unless you call toting a 40 pound hot, squirming toddler around for hours without a stroller because your guide promised to get you one and never did-exercise.

I miss my family. I miss American food. And ice in my drink. All I want is a big, fat, COLD, healthy salad. And maybe a glass of wine.

To my family and friends...sorry to vent. I am really stir crazy here. I didn't let on to any of this complaining before now for a reason. Now, I just don't care. This blog entry is really for all the adoptive moms before me. Help!! How did YOU handle it????

Please pray for us. Even Alex sits on the bus with her ears plugged into an ipod. That's how she copes.

Signed,
Sweating in Beijing

photos: http://www.dropshots.com/shannonpierro#date/2010-07-28/00:06:01

10 comments:

Cindy Wilkerson said...

Shannon,

Tell your guide to stop!!! There are only 3 families, right? You do not have to do all of that stuff. Tell them you want to change the plans, have more down time, and slow down! You paid plenty for your travel and you guys need to let them know. We didn't do the tea house, didn't stay long at the zoo, left several things early. Feel free to vent, I feel your pain. It is a loooooong trip. Praying for you!!!!

Rbarrow said...

Shannon, my heart is aching for you....it is beating fast and I feel a feeling of urgency to get you home!! I read the email you sent earlier, and I think it was great advice that you take some time off....plain and simple!! Take a couple days to refresh!!! No one can MAKE you do these things if you are not feeling well!! We will skype later! LOVE YOU and I am praying for you!!!!

lauren said...

Aww, sorry Shannon-I would be very homesick too. Hang in there, you will be home before you know it and your family united!

lauren said...

Hang in there Shannon. You will be home soon and and your family united-I would be so homesick too.

Jamie said...

Oh girl, you are saying exactly what we were feeling! I read blogs about how people are so happy and they love China and everything is great and I am thinking what medication are you taking and what China are you in? I cannot imagine the heat! We went in winter and that was bad enough. I know EXACTLY what you are going through and how hard it is to stay positive in the midst of everything!!!!

My advice...bury your sweet little face in His book!!!!!!!! You need His words, even if you have to force feed them to yourself! We did not do this, and it would have help tremendously. I will email scripture as some comes to mind. My second piece of advice...make Tom get you a stroller!!! My goodness I can't imagine having to carry him!

Guangzhou was a huge relief for us! The heat might still be bad but it seemed that the pace slowed down. In fact we did not do any of the sightseeing in Guangzhou, we just enjoyed the hotel's playroom and went for leisurely walks instead. I promise the hotel is MUCH nicer (and cleaner)! By the way there is a Subway a few blocks from the White Swan so that might be a nice change of pace!

Also keep in mind that satan HATES that you are being obedient to the Lord! He is going to creep in any way he can! Girl, you are rescuing a child from a life of living in an instatution, not getting proper language training (sign), not having the unconditional love of a family, etc... Satan knows you will bring him up in the admonition and love of the Lord and he knows he just lost another one!!!! Put on the full armor of God and He will get you through this time!

I know that it seems like an eternity while you are there but as a mom who has been home for about 4 months, it seems like ages ago and it feels like Kai has been with us all along. This will be a distant memory soon and it may take months but one day you will cherish the hard times because they changed you for good!!!!

I am not articulate and I wish I had wiser words for you but I hope this helps a little. I will get on my knees and face and pray for you as soon as I send this and I'll seek some scripture. God would not call you to something He would not help you get through! Hang in there and keep your eyes fixed on Him (and Jace of course!)

Oh and go to church in Guangzhou! It is very close to the hotel and we loved it!

Email me if you need ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!

Praying,
Jamie Ashton

Jamie said...

Oh girl, you are saying exactly what we were feeling! I read blogs about how people are so happy and they love China and everything is great and I am thinking what medication are you taking and what China are you in? I cannot imagine the heat! We went in winter and that was bad enough. I know EXACTLY what you are going through and how hard it is to stay positive in the midst of everything!!!!

My advice...bury your sweet little face in His book!!!!!!!! You need His words, even if you have to force feed them to yourself! We did not do this, and it would have help tremendously. My second piece of advice...make Tom get you a stroller!!! My goodness I can't imagine having to carry him!

Guangzhou was a huge relief for us! The heat might still be bad but it seemed that the pace slowed down. In fact we did not do any of the sightseeing in Guangzhou, we just enjoyed the hotel's playroom and went for leisurely walks instead. I promise the hotel is MUCH nicer (and cleaner)! By the way there is a Subway a few blocks from the White Swan so that might be a nice change of pace!

Also keep in mind that satan HATES that you are being obedient to the Lord! He is going to creep in any way he can! Girl, you are rescuing a child from a life of living in an institution, not getting proper language training (sign), not having the unconditional love of a family, etc... Satan knows you will bring him up in the admonition and love of the Lord and he knows he just lost another one!!!! Put on the full armor of God and He will get you through this time!

I know that it seems like an eternity while you are there but as a mom who has been home for about 4 months, it seems like ages ago and it feels like Kai has been with us all along. This will be a distant memory soon and it may take months but one day you will cherish the hard times because they changed you for good!!!!

I am not articulate and I wish I had wiser words for you but I hope this helps a little. I will get on my knees and face and pray for you as soon as I send this and I'll seek some scripture. Hang in there and keep your eyes fixed on Him (and Jace of course!)

Email me if you need ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!

Praying,
Jamie Ashton

Anonymous said...

Hang in there, friend! August is just around the corner and you'll be home with your husband and family eating all the salads you want!

We miss you, and can't wait to welcome you and Jace back!!

~Missy & The Wadsworths (and everyone else from church lol) :-)

Cousin Sheri said...

Praying for you right now! Praying for peaceful, cool sleep at night to get ready for the next day's stress. Don't let satan steal your joy! You are gonna be home soon w/your sweet boy.

Sheri Dills

Dana@AdoptionJourney said...

Shannon - this is Dana, waiting for TA any day now. Thank you so much for sharing. I lived in Thailand for 7 years and have traveled internationally a lot. I think your frustration is so so normal for an American traveling in such a very very different culture at such a very very hot time of year. I can't even imagine adding all the emotion and challenges of adoption and a new child into the mix. Please take care of yourself. Are there little changes you can make -like skipping some of the organized tours / meals and just resting or getting some kind of food that would be more enjoyable for you? Sightseeing is great - but in the heat with a toddler - I couldn't keep that pace. Please know you're normal and that many people are praying for you.

Mario and Lisa said...

Shannon! I've been praying for you since yesterday and wanted to email. This will have to do. I know our other friends have gotten to you with emails so I just want to add this.....Is TOM your guide? Honey, tell him you want a SALAD!!!!! He took us to the best restraunt where he said the salad was safe and it was like MANNA to my soul. REFRESHING! I can almost still taste it. I think I ate most of it, but I was dying for fresh veggies. It had a balsalmic vinegrette. Mmmmmm!!! Just tell your guide. Like everyone else has said, PRAYER and the WORD are key. Opt out of the activities. Walk around on your own or stay in the hotel, but don't think for one minute you HAVE to do anything outside of finalizing the paperwork. All sightseeing is optional. :) Praying for you!!!

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