The Wal-Mart in Hefei

We had only one evening in Hefei. While I was doing fine, JieJie was still reeling from her "cultural experience" at the Hefei train station. However, much to my surprise, she suggested that we go out for a little walk, after we had a bit of a rest in our hotel room.

With the knowledge that there was a Wal-Mart just across the street, JieJie was comfortable with letting her guard down for just a few hundred yards.

Hand in hand, and being the happiest dad in the world because of that, we walked alongside a very busy street towards the large Wal-mart building. JieJie asked why I was walking so slowly. She had to ask me the question again, as I awoke from my dream. I was in a dream where I was feeling the grip of a hand of the most beautiful girl in the whole world, and I was looking only slightly downwards to see her raven black hair pulled back in a ponytail. I saw the side of her face, such a beautiful button nose, and angelic and perfect lips. There was a little black beauty mark just underneath her eye, one I have stared at for countless hours, memorizing it, and watching it move all around as I used to change her diaper, and she would look up at me, giggling.
A few stray hairs are out of place now around her ears, and with my free hand, I reach out and tuck them back for her. She strides now with power and grace, and whenever she looks at me, she smiles, and every part of my body crumbles to her in warmth and love. And now, here 7000 miles away from everyone, I have her ALL to myself, and her hand is in mine, and I can smell her hair as I pull her close to me...

"Daddy....Daddy!! Why are walking so slow!?!" she says.

"oh......sorry kiddo...."

And with great sorrow, her hand leaves mine, as she opens the door to Wal-Mart

The Wal-Mart is spread out over 2 floors of a big high rise, and we first encounter the food section, with a wide array of foods that are not often seen in the Wal-Marts of our neighborhood.

Lots of rice!