Here comes the paparazzi

Ok, so we have spent a couple of days touring Beijing.  The good news is we haven't been hit by a car.  The bad news is that I haven't determined what is scarier, walking near a taxi or riding in one.

Our driver yesterday was texting and talking while driving.  Although lanes are clearly marked on the road they seem to be only suggestions.  Throw in lots of other cars and honking and you get the picture.  As our driver is messing with his phone, I see an elderly lady in front of our car.  What you want to say is "Ummmm, sir, don't hit the lady."  But it would be useless since he doesn't speak any English.  We swerve and miss her.  Now Keylime feels sick in the cab.  (Now go back five sentences and repeat . . . And repeat again.)  After 45 minutes we arrive at our location which was only a few blocks away (there are so many one-way streets and fences blocking roads so you can't turn.)  So folks, follow along, now you do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around . . .

We have been to the Temple of Heaven,  Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square.  Truly amazing sites.  We have prayed for bountiful harvest, prayed for peace and unity, and prayed for adequate rain and excessive moisture.  Although nowhere on this praying tour did I see a prayer for mothers (ok, fine, for fathers too) who travel with their children for weeks at a time.  They seriously ought to think about adding that one.  

Hundreds upon hundreds of people are visiting these same sites when we are.   Like little ants we are moving through the places.  We are trying to share with the girls the meaning of what they are seeing, the significance of these places.  Then someone says something to me.  I can't make it out since I don't speak the language here.  So using my keen sense of communication I resort to the random yes or no answers (depending on how I feel) that I used when we first arrived in Singapore.  Hey, it worked OK there, right?  She is pointing to her camera.  She wants to take a picture with the girls.  I think, Oh that's nice.  Ok.  Snap.

It was like the flood gates opened up.  As we are touring, we realize people are walking close to us, touching railings after the girls do, and video-taping the girls walking and talking. Kinda wondering what's up now.  I notice that we do not see anyone from the West as we are touring. 

Someone else asked if they can take a picture of the girls with their children.  A baby is crying but mother really wants him in the picture so grandma gets in the picture with baby.  (Oh great, now small Chinese children will be scarred for life by the American children they had to take their pictures with.)  Once someone stops us to take a picture with the girls, then multiple people start getting their kids and whole families into the pictures.   Grandma, cousins, friends, a whole family affair.  They are smiling and so very happy about the picture.  (Now go back to the beginning of this paragraph and repeat 20 more times.  At least.) 

Our girls don't really know what all the hubbub is about but they are going along with things.  All the people are very kind and truly amazed by the girls (wait a minute, I was just yelling at them at the hotel about being respectful, etc. etc. and now they are being treated like rock stars.  Now, we have just taken two steps back.)  Each group only asks M or I if they could take a picture.  No one ever approaches the girls directly.  

So ladies and gentlemen, just to keep you updated, amidst some of the greatest wonders of the world, our girls have a paparazzi following them of adoring fans.  Are you kidding me?   Keylime reminds me that Justin Beiber sometimes has several cars pull up at a time so fans don't know which one he is in (Thanks United Airlines for the Justin Beiber documentary that she had to watch six times on the way over here.)  So at least she is humble about her new-found (and short-lived) celebrity status!  Serenity NOW! 

From what we understand, apparently people here see very few American children.  Many have only seen dolls.  They can't believe they are seeing fair-skinned, blue-eyed children in person.  It's like they cannot look away from them.  Truthfully, it is a good thing the people don't speak English because if they heard what we hear, they would probably take their cameras and run for the hills:  "It's hot."  "I can't walk anymore."  "I am NOT riding the subway here."  "What is THAT?"  And my personal favorite, "My stomach hurts and I think I am going to throw up." 

Not just kids in the pictures

This was my favorite since FIVE moms were all taking pictures at once!