Guigang in a day

Lanterns in the trees in Nanning celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Guangxi Autonomous Region


Today was the day of our scheduled visit to Guigang. We made sure we got up early enough for breakfast then met our guide and driver in the lobby at 8:45. The drive took about 2.5 hours including a rest stop. We had a city map of Guigang from 7 years ago which showed the location of the orphanage but the city had changed quite a bit and the driver got lost. Our guide had to phone the orphanage a couple of times to get directions on which way to go. Finally we pulled up at the gate to Guigang SWI and the orphanage director and one carer Qin Feng who had cared for Jade were there to meet us. We were not allowed to even enter the courtyard of the orphanage as we had last time but had to park on the street. After introductions and some photos we handed over our gifts to them from the back of the van in the rain. Jade wanted to hand the things over and I was a bit nervous about this as there was a medium-sized puddle full of black dirty water in the street at the curb and I was afraid that some of the gifts might accidently be dropped into it. Thankfully none were!

The gates of Guigang SWI--closed

Director Liao, me, Jade, Paul & Jarrah

with East Lake in the background

The director was especially excited about the knitted clothing we gave her and the memory quilt with photos of Jade. She was also very interested in the framed photo of Jade and her batchmate from Guigang. We asked a few questions and then were getting ready to leave as we had been told that the director was too busy to join us for lunch. Then our wonderful guide Allen told us that he had asked the director if she could take Jade into the orphanage so she could see where she had lived and the director had agreed. This was an initiative on his part and was agreed to by the director as Jade 'did not have a foreign face'. I am so thankful to Allen for even thinking of this as Jade had been disappointed that she couldn't go in and I think it is important for her to see where she spent the first few weeks of her life. She was only shown the courtyard area and not inside any of the buildings but that was enough for her I think.

When Jade and the director came out we prepared to go but then Allen told us that she and the carer were going to come along in the van and show us where to go for lunch. (He also asked me on the side if it was OK if they came to lunch too.) Evidently they had changed their minds and I think that may have been because they were pleased with the gifts. We were very happy that they could come out to lunch with us. We went to a very nice restaurant (do I need to say it was Chinese?), went into a private room there and had a lovely lunch. We learned that there are about 10 other adoptees from Guigang SWI in Australia who were adopted in 2003. I was surprised to find this out as we know nothing about these children. It is a shame that their parents don't seem to be involved in any of the adoption support groups. We were also told that we were the fifth family to return to Guigang SWI and the first from Australia. Director Liao was curious about Jade's life and asked us about her activities. She also asked what Jarrah's activities and hobbies are. She asked us about our trip too. All of this was in marked contrast to the lack of conversation we'd had with the foster family the day before!

At lunch in Guigang City

We asked the director in general if she'd ever had contact with any birthfamilies and she told us she'd been at the orphanage for 20 years and in all that time she'd never heard from any birthfamilies. We asked about what the children did when they grew up and she said some studied high school and university, some went to work in Guangdong province and some had even joined the army. So it sounds like they've integrated fully into Chinese society.

After lunch we parted ways and returned to Nanning. Coming into the city from the East we pass through the new part of the city with many beautiful and tall buildings. Allen says this area will soon become the new centre of the city.

Court Building

Pretty gold building

The tallest building in Guangxi Province

After coming back to the hotel Allen went with me to the nearby post office to mail the gifts we'd received from the foster family and a few other extra things we were carrying back home . It was a relief to get rid of the extra weight! We're also glad to no longer have the big carry bag of gifts.

It's a shame that every day we've been in Nanning that it's been raining--but I guess that's winter! We are glad that the gifts we've brought to the two orphanages are very seasonal and needed. At Mother's Love we saw that the buildings are not heated and the children and carers wear their outdoor clothes all day. We imagine it is much the same at Guigang SWI. Even during our long van ride today the driver didn't use the heater. I guess the Chinese are used to being in unheated buildings. Even the restaurant today was unheated. When I initially sat next to what I thought was a heater I was told it wasn't turned on unless it was hot outside. Then it was explained that it wasn't a heater but an air conditioner!

We are getting really used to China now and beginning to know our way around Nanning. We'll be a bit sad to move on but we're also a bit short of things to do here in between our arranged meetings so it will be good to be in a more touristy city. Tomorrow we meet Michael, the guide from our adoption trip, who was unable to guide us this time because he was away in another province. We look forward to seeing him again. Jade is enjoying meeting all these people and tonight she counted out how many people she's going to be seeing in China. She included some pandas in the count as well!