We started the day at the Terra Cotta Warrior factory which displayed amazing clay craftmanship and gave us a glimpse at the time and skill used to make life size people and warrior replicas. The manager that gave us the tour was very kind and good at explaining the process to our children.
Here is Carter next to the only replica we could find that looked like him!
Claire with her look alike!
Supposedly, you can actually leave a picture and have a life size replica made of yourself and easily shipped to the United States, by just a simple swipe of the Visa. We quickly explained that we were not that American family and that as much as we love our children; life size terra cotta statues of them on the front porch were just not our thing.
Beautiful artistry, but again, a little out of our price range.
The manger teaching Carter all of the different types of warriors in the army.
No worries, the sword isn't sharp!
Just plain awesome.
Slightly smaller awesome!
We then drove to the actual Terra Cotta Warriors site, a huge tourist attraction in the middle of a small village.
When we arrived at the Terra Cotta Warriors site, the weather had turned colder and rainy and very windy. We had come equipped with umbrellas and had bundled in layers and were not too worried because this part of our day would be indoors according to our guide. We stood in line to get tickets, walked quite a bit to get to an electric car (golf cart) that would carry us and several others to the site. We stood in line waiting for the car, shivering and trying to stay warm. It was at this point that I began to seriously wonder if this was a good idea. We were having fun conversations with the other Chinese people in line, practicing our limited Chinese while they practiced their limited English. But we were getting wet and cold and as much as I tried to cover up Grace, who I was carrying in the carrier, I could not keep her covered. We finally made it on the cart for about a 3 minute ride in a fast vehicle that allowed us all to be pelted with wet cold wind. Bear in mind that at home, I would not even dream of bringing children outdoors in that kind of weather! I was seriously questioning our sweet guide's wisdom as to how she thought this was a good idea. To make matters worse, Grace was screaming due to the cold rainy wind hitting us from all sides. What seemed to be hundreds of well meaning local people on the cart (actually only 8 or so) began to offer advice that I couldn't understand and throw their scarves over Grace who was already covered in layers from head to toe and has trouble with her airway as it is. She was screaming louder and I was worried that she couldn't breathe and I have honestly never felt more helpless in my entire life. Just unable to make it better for anyone, most importantly, for my children.
Carter, who is again so kind, was taking off his coat to cover Grace. He was sitting behind me and I whipped around in that hushed mom voice that only mom's know and told him to put his coat back on. I was already failing miserably by Chinese standards of child covering and did not need another child poorly dressed. Carter and I laughed about it later because he is old enough to understand the tension of the scene. His favorite quote here is "an egg a day keeps mom's stress away!" He knows that if he loads up on omelets at breakfast, I will not worry about what he is or isn't eating the rest of the day! He is old enough to know that a mom's driving force is to take care of her children. I think he ate two omelets this morning just to make me feel better!!
When we finally made it to the entrance, I honestly did not know what to do. I have read enough about trauma and have prayed with many who have experienced it to know that you can "forget" the details of a traumatic event. I truly am a little hazy on those ten minutes or so but remember getting out of the cart, walking in the weather to the entrance of the site and telling Cory with tears in my eyes that I just wanted to go home. If he could have magically beamed us back at the moment I would have let him. But he couldn't. He was stressed too but reminded me that we don't have any control and have to just roll with it. He also reminded me that you can't get sick from cold and rain. I know he is right but deeply etched in my being is the belief that you can!
Once inside the site, we got our game on. Carter and Claire really wanted to see this wonder of the world and Grace was miserable. (understandably) So, Grace and I twirled and spinned and played on the outskirts of the pits of soldiers while Cory and the big kids educated themselves on the site with our guide. Play is such a natural part of childhood and a necessary one (I have the Master's thesis to prove it) but I realize here how out of place our play really is. I didn't care though, because Grace was happy and content and my two others were in National Geographic heaven.
While the site was indoors (3 stadium size pits of clay warriors, horses and other items) it was not heated but at least offered a roof. When we ventured to the second pit, Grace was tired and hungry so she and I decided to sit and have her bottle while everyone else went on. Forgetting that I had her special palate bottle (that the orphanage cut a big hole in so she can drink easily and fast - not really the best plan but I am not changing it until we get home!) I shook it up, took off the cap and formula flew onto the floor, my pants and shoes and Grace's coat. I did not even look up. I couldn't. Cory came walking over and told me that I was a disgrace to American moms everywhere and that he was going to pretend that he didn't know me. This is one of the reasons why I love him. He managed to get a faint but true laugh out of me when I was just about done.
The bottle proved to be a game changer for Grace and we played and walked at the entrance until everyone was finished. I wanted to document the details because later on our drive home, I was heavy hearted for all of our friends in foreign countries, especially those serving as missionaries. My day got really better really fast but how many days do my friends have like that? Feeling so helpless and out of place and culture shock and the whole deal. I paused to pray for our friends the Leonards in Mexico and the Grays in Africa. My thoughts went to Austin in Romania....if you are reading this and know friends in other countries serving, would you pause right now and pray for them? I assure you, they could use it.
I also reflected on how many mothers in so many countries feel that helpless all of the time? That their babies are cold, uncovered, in the elements, hungry and tired and that they can't do anything about it? My helplessness lasted minutes and had a nice reprive. That norm of helplessness is a constant for so many. I am thankful beyond measure for what I have and that I can feed, clothe and protect my children. I think I always have been, but not like I was today.
OK, for a quick history and honesty card. The Terra Cotta warriors are worth seeing and truly amazing. The detail in the craftmanship of unique warrior after warrior, with individual faces and clothing and horses is indescribable. I am really glad that we saw them. We left with books and miniature warriors to take home with us and I am sure that Carter and Claire's classes will hear in detail about the site.
Here is the honesty card and the PG rated part for any parents reading to their children. When we started out in the blistering rain and cold, with shivering children and screaming baby and LOTS of people with foreign language opinions about what to do about it, my exact thought was, "I don't really give a rat's you know what about the Terra Cotta soldiers!" I am including that because I would bet that adoptive parents (or parents in general!) have reached that point before. Adoption (especially this part with a new child to you in a foreign place) is hard at times. Parenting is too. It is glorious and worth every minute, but I just wanted to take the veil off the "saintly" status that comes with making a decision to parent a child that you didn't give birth too. We are so human and have had moments of real struggle here. Thankfully, because we call on the Lord, those moments are fleeting and often end in laughter. That thought did eventually end in laughter, but in not one of my better moments, I was ready to beam my way back to Texas and be done.
I would bet that other moms have come before me here in China and had that thought or one similar in a stressful moment. I'm including it, because if moms come after me in this process and are reading this, I want them to know that it is OK. It is going to be OK. As I have grown older, I hope that my responses are righteous ones. Sometimes they truly are and statistically, they lean more in that direction with the passing of time and going glory to glory. This thought was probably not one of my better responses but it was genuine. I shared it only with Cory because I knew he probably shared the sentiment and it would make him laugh too. I was returning the favor from earlier. Adoption doesn't make you saintly or holy, casting out demons doesn't make you holy, serving on the mission field doesn't make you holy, signs, miracles, and street preaching doesn't make you holy....Jesus does. Knowing Him. Jesus alone. What He did and has done and is doing. What He is going to do. I'm glad He has been near. We would be lost over here without Him. We would be lost all together. There have been several times on this trip, I have stopped and asked, "Where are you Lord? I know you're here. I know you don't leave me or forsake me." And, it's OK again. To those that come after us here...it's going to be OK. He can make it OK.
So, the history part of the soldiers, in 1st grade terminology, because Claire and I were having conversations throughout the tour. A very evil emperor decided to start building at age 13, his tombs so that when he died, he would be protected in his next life. Three football fields of warriors, weapons, councilmen, horses, generals, archers....and everything in between that were supposed to go with him. When he actually died, he had concubines buried with him alive in hopes of taking them too in the next life. Completely evil and hard to wrap our minds around. I loved watching my Claire take it all in...she would peer in the tombs...row upon row of clay soldiers and look up at me and ask, "Why?" Why would you spend all of that time and skill and resource and start at age 13 to build some sort of protection in reincarnation? Such a picture of earthen vessels...they break, they rot, and they don't stand the test of time. Warriors with arms falling off, without heads and missing weapons. Funny thing...after this emperor died, the next emperor invaded the tombs and hacked off some of the body parts of the soldiers and stole all of the weapons to make sure that the deceased emperor didn't have a chance. I don't think that he did to begin with.
Here are some pictures of the soldiers and tombs. Keep in mind that they are life sized and we are peering into football field sized rooms.
When we exited the 3rd and last pit, we decided to try a traditional tea room for warm drinks and a snack. The sun had come out, which we were so thankful for, because the electric carts don't carry you back to the entrance, just on the way there. The walk back would have been terrible in the morning's weather but now is was crisp and clear.
We all loved the tea house and tea ceremony. I think it is my favorite part of Chinese culture so far. The aroma, the clever tea pots with ingenious ways of stopping water and starting it, the color changes with heat, and all of the different types of tea to try were so much fun. We as a family liked this so much that we may try to venture out tomorrow on our last full day here to find one on our own. Here are some pictures of our lovely tea time!
This is the kind lady who did the tea ceremony for us.
This is Carter and our guide "Krystal" trying some fruit tea. Guides don't usually stay and eat or drink with the families but we keep asking and begging her to join us and she finally gave in! She is really sweet and likes our children a lot!
Claire learning to use the clever tea pots.
Our tea ceremony lady teaching Claire!
Beautiful tea!
Barnett Family,
ReplyDeleteI have so enjoyed reading and following your journey! Have fun in Guangzhou!
-Danae (Qin Xiao Xu's Mama:)