First Day...

We enjoyed a "western style" buffet breakfast at the hotel which included eggs, bacon, hashbrowns, pancakes, dumplings, fried rice, yogurt, and a variety of other things.  We didn't eat it all, but it was good.  We then met our guide to go to the bank to exchange money.   After that, she helped us buy bottled water and then we went off exploring on our own.  We stayed on the main road, but saw lots of people out and about.  There is a pretty square down from our hotel (August 1st (from 1927 uprising)) monument and park and there are dancing fountains, pretty flowers, lots of open space with people flying kites, eating, walking, etc...  We are the only Americans we've seen here, but nobody stared too much (although some teenaged boys yelled out "hello there!" and then giggled together when we turned to look).  Our guide told us that Nanchang is "very Chinese" as opposed to the big, international cities in China.  Not many people here speak English (but they do at the Starbucks), but they have all been very nice to us.   Lots of cell/smartphone stores and street vendors, little storefronts, etc...  There are lanes for people to drive in, but it seems that people just honk loudly (whether on moped or in car or bus) and go where they want to go - including up onto the sidewalk.   We've just tried to stay with the crowd and move when it does. 

We had lots of nervous energy, so we also went to the "gymnasium" of the hotel and ran on the treadmills.  Probably defeating the exercise effort because there was lots of second-hand smoke wafting in from a lounge on the same floor...

Our hotel is very nice and the room is set up with a crib and a baby tub and a stroller. 

Emily comes to us in less than one hour.  We're so nervous - but we know that's probably nothing compared to how she is feeling.  Thank you for your prayers and good wishes.   More later assuming I can get into the blog.