the one with the shopping

so, yesterday when we were done at the safari park we got back to the hotel and our guide said see ya Wednesday for the consulate appointment.  I asked if she would take us shopping at shaimen island on monday.  she said that was not on the schedule and she had to take the two other families that are here with our agency to their consulate appointments on monday and tuesday so we could not have her until wednesday.  well, I had had kind of an emotional day (did I mention I am the wicked witch?) and I was tired from the heat and walking... and I kinda lost it.  I can not believe that they would just have nothing for two days.  she tried to tell me that we could take a cab (two because there are 5 of us) or the subway...yikes!...but I was really upset and about in tears and I just can't understand why this is so hard.  the agency keeps telling me not to expect my experience to be like anyone else's, but I see so many families having the same experiences here that I came to expect the same outings and the same attention from the guides.  maybe I don't know the right things to ask.  maybe others really are navigating a foreign city, where they don't speak the language, by themselves...but I feel like I should be able to expect to be taken shopping and guided around not just left on our own for 2 days.  especially when the consulate appointments are at 8am each day and only last an hour!

anyway, late last night our guide called and said she could take us to the island after the consulate appointment for the other family.  she arrived at out hotel just after 10am.

there was not as many shops as I expected, and I kind of thought everything was about the same in each shop.  but all in all I got some good things (a few things I now wish I had purchased) and I got a pair of squeeky shoes that was the only ones I could find, but I thought there would be more selection...where do you all find them? and we walked around, saw the river and the statues... it is very pretty and the architecture is great.  I will post some pictures when I can...they take so long to upload here. we ate lunch at lucy's which has lots of american food.  it was pretty good.

tomorrow we will have a free day as I didn't know what else to ask for.  well I asked for directions on getting to the pearl market, because I didn't want to push my luck and ask for her to take us again, but she said if we would take the day off tomorrow then she would take us to the pearl market on Wednesday after our consulate appointment.  so we agreed.

kids went swimming while I waited for the call about sarah's tb test. then we went to dinner at pizza hut. when we got back sarah got right into her pj's and brushed teeth.  then when we were getting beds made on the floor, she got upset because we moved the beds and she just cried.  it was a low soft cry, we didn't even know she was crying at first.  but I went to try to comfort her and she was pushing me away.  I tried just rubbing her back and singing but she was hitting me. I didn't want to leave her because i didn't want her to think she could just push me away.  but I was afraid to push too hard.

I laid down next to her and talked gently to her and told her I was not leaving her. she calmed down and I got up but she started again a few minutes later.  I laid with her again and just cried and told her I love her and asked her to let me in.  I prayed over her and she just sobbed.  I know she doesn't understand. but I hope in a small way her heart hears me.

since tomorrow is free I will try to come back and upload pictures.