We're In Nanchang

Today we left Beijing and flew southeast to Nanchang in the Jianxi Province. Our new helper is not a tour guide but rather an adoption facilitator. She helps us with all the paperwork. Her name is Echo and she is just 24 years old. She is in graduate school and studying English. Nanchang is very hot and humid. We have been informed that there are many heavy thunderstorms here most days. Certainly this is not a place for Gary (Dad) if that is the case. We learned a lot from our facilitator. She said that in the north and in Beijing many families are beginning to value girls just as they do boys, however, in Nanchang and the country areas, it is still very much preferred to have a boy for both carrying on the family name and for farmwork as well. She talked a great deal about overpopulation and how China still must keep the one child policy. After checking into the Galactic Hotel which is very nice, we were asked to go to Walmart and get supplies for the baby. This was an experience. The four floor Walmart was mobbed. Now I am one to get uptight when the Bangor Walmart gets packed at Christmas time, but this was ten times more stressful. We purchased a stroller and water and snacks and baby food, and I found diet coke!! I mentioned in previous entries how Bayley received many stares because of her hair and light coloring. This was exacerbated here in Nanchang. Echo, the facilitator, explained that foreigners are very, very rare in this part of China, so it was likely that Bayley and I were some of the first caucasians the local children may have seen. Like I said, we have a great hotel, and the room was well prepared for us. (See Picture) The crib was ready along with a baby bathtub and special toy chair which converts to a potty. Bayley checked out the large pool and is pretty excited about that. She has been a wonderful traveling partner. Many adoption agencies do not recommend a single traveling parent bringing a preteen/teen because the trip is too demanding on them, but I cannot say enough about how great she has been, and I think it will be a wonderful chance for her to bond with her new sister as well. The area of Nanchang appears much poorer than Beijing. Tomorrow Addie will be driven two hours to Nanchang from Fengcheng, and we will be meeting her at 11:00. She will be accompanied by the orphanage director and a nanny. Then we have a formal interview at 2:30. We're so excited and nervous at the same time. What if she doesn't like us? We have practiced some words to help with the transition. Here are a few for Tommy and Jo-Jo and others to learn for her arrival. I will just spell them phonetically.

Wha Eye Knee - I love you.

Howla Howla - There there you'll be Ok.

Gee ah - sister

Brother is pronounced gooh -like the vowel sound look

Baba -Daddy

Mama- Mama

Hopefully the next blog post will allow us to introduce Adeline Mei Ting Ray-Smith.