The Grands Arrive

This is hands down the summer for visitors for the Johnsons in China. And despite H1N1, the turmoil in Xinjiang, the flooding in Guangxi Zhuang, last week's magnitude 6 in Yunnan, and a certain anniversary that has brought down the Internet here; all of our guests have arrived safely and without incident (but not without having their temps taken... China remains hellbent on using thermometers and spacesuits on all incoming international flights!)

Sunday we arrived @ the airport armed with an armful of fresh flowers and a Mylar balloon in the shape of an American flag to greet and welcome the girls American grandparents. After a watching a series of polite, bend from the waist bows from arriving Japanese businessmen and their receiving Chinese hosts; and university aged kids returning to the sailing city who were greeted stoically by parents who were clearly happy to have them back in the Middle Kingdom, but reluctant to offer any extra display of familial affection beyond a brief pat on the shoulder and a gruff argument over who should push the luggage trolley; we put on a good show for the entirely Asian group waiting with us, outside the international arrivals area. The Americans by contrast (and this time there was no need to guess... our aforementioned Mylar balloon served as a dead give away of our ethnicity) made quite a production. The little girls took turns on their daddy's shoulders, hoping for a peek over the frosted security glass that separates arrivals from the public area. Once spotted on their decent on the escalator frantic shouts of "Mema & Bopa!!" rang out in English. Bopa later recalled faintly hearing something, and spotting a floating red, white and blue balloon. After knowing the grands had not only arrived, but had not been sequestered, questioned or quarantined the excitement was unleashed. The threesome waited at the very entry to the off-limits area, daring the nervous guards to challenge the three balloon and flower toting blondes who were down-to-their-toes excited to see their grands. It was sweet to watch, and probably the topic in other homes across QD that night as fellow watchers related the frenzied American style of waiting for an arriving flight.

After a long journey, including a scheduled overnight in Japan, the grands are recovering remarkably well from jet-lag and have already braved an outing to the tailor in Taidong.

We're looking forward to some fun filled days (and hoping for some dryer weather!)