The Chen Clan Academy House

Today was a sightseeing day. We visited the Chen Clan Academy House that was built by the Chen family from 1890 to 1894, during the Ming Dynasty. Here the Chen family lived and attended school. The house also acted as sort of a hotel for the Chen family members who were traveling to the area. If you were not a member of the Chen family, you could not stay here, nor go to school here. It is a very beautiful building with many different rooms, each serving a different function. The carvings on the house and roof are very intricate and beautiful.

Sophie rode in the stroller during this sightseeing tour. Jennifer's Place, a little store next door to the hotel, let us borrow the stroller, so we picked it up the yesterday afternoon. We don't think Sophie had ever ridden in a stroller because she cried the first time we put her in it. We practiced riding in the stroller last night, so that she would not be afraid during our sightseeing. She did great!

While at the Chen Clan Academy House, we had Sophie's Chinese name professionally painted on a scroll in caligraphy. It turned out beautiful, and we can't wait to hang it in the house. There was also an artist there that painted only with his hand, without any brushes. His work was beautiful too!

After sightseeing, we came back to the hotel for lunch and a nap. We then walked around the island. We found a little pastry shop that sells hand-dipped ice cream. We stopped in for a scoop. Bo got vanilla, and Sophie and I shared a scoop of mango ice cream. It was delicious! I hope we can find mango ice cream when we get back to the States! I gave Sophie a little taste of the ice cream to see if she was going to like it. She made the worst face when she took the little bit into her mouth because it was so cold, but she quickly discovered that she REALLY liked it! I thought she was going to climb out of the stroller trying to get more of it. We finished the ice cream quickly and continued our journey around the island.

We stopped by the playground and let Sophie slide down the slide. That was a big hit! She laughed and laughed. They had told us that she really likes being outside, and they were not kidding. I'm so glad that it is not cold now. She would have been miserable all cooped up inside the whole time.

Sophie seems to be warming up to her Baba (Chinese for father) more today. She waves at him and will walk with him down the hall holding onto his finger with her little hand. He left the room for a minute yesterday, and she cried, so I think she's liking him a little bit more.

Today's firsts for Sophie:

- riding in the stroller

- sliding down the slide at the playground

- eating peanut butter

- eating ice cream