Finding Formula, "Nutritious Porridge" and Diapers

I'm still haven't quite adjusted to the time change. Its 4 am and I'm very awake in anticipation of all the festivities so I thought I would tell you about Eric's experience trying to find formula and food for Madeleine. Our Holt social worker said that we should give Madeleine Lactogel 2 formula - its made by Nestle. We also thought we would get the porridge that she's been eating or something similar. After our orphanage visit, Eric hired a motor scooter and went off to find the Big C -- a store like Wal-Mart. He said the Big C was really big and had tons of things but no Nestle products. When he got back, he asked at the front desk of our hotel for a mini supermarket/different store but the woman at the front desk insisted there was only Big C. I thought -- well the orphanage got the formula somewhere!

After some brain storming we decided, he should try the Han Market. Dad and Eric walked down to the Han Market which is just south of the suspension bridge. The Han Market had "everything" --- floor to ceiling stacks of products all packed in tightly and 2 to 3 floors like this. When they arrived they were swarmed with people asking them what they needed and insisting on helping them. They rebuffed help and went in search of the baby products section. Well, when they got to the right section, they realized they really did need help! There were just so many things. Eric told a woman what he wanted. Off she went and quickly returned with formula. Then Dad told someone else about the diapers and that Madeleine is 9 kg. So off another person went. Eric said he couldn't see anything that remotely looked like the cereal Anne-Marie had found in January by Nestle but when Eric showed the woman the names on the labels, she instantly pulled a box of it from out of nowhere. So if you come to Danang and need baby products, you should go to the Han Market and take advantage of all the people willing to help you!

On a side note -- everyone in Danang is incredibly friendly. Mostly people are saying hi to Andrew (4 yrs old) -- people on the street, in the elevator, taxi drivers waiting for customers. At breakfast yesterday morning, our hostess noticed I was giving Andrew some of my bacon. In 2 minutes out she was with more bacon for him. She just watched him eating bacon and doted on him. Last night we had dinner at our hotel restaurant. Our host this evening asked us about our trip and upcoming adoption. He also taught us some Vietnamese. Carol told him we want to go to My Khe beach tomorrow and he lit up. He told us all the things we should see and if tomorrow we want to hire a driver, to call him and he gave us his phone number.

For all of you who have asked me to say hi to the orphanage director for you, we will pass on how well your children are doing and your good wishes!