Zhanjiang - Wednesday, June 29, 2011

After another monsoonal rainfall, we left on China Southern for Zhanjiang, a city of 7 million on the South China Sea. Though bounced around in the storm, we landed safely. We were met at the airport by our guide Yorkee Lee (Ginger had Vincent as a guide). Zhanjiang was very humid, but free of industrial smoke. It is surrounded by beautiful green farming fields. It is at this juncture that Ginger and her girls separated from us, to head 1 1/2 hours north to Maoming and Olivia's orphanage at Dianbai. We headed into Zhanjiang to stay at the Zhanjiang Haibin Hotel, where the next day we would visit Rebecca's orphanage at Suixi.

After the luxury of the hotels in HK and Guangzhou, the Haibin Hotel ("4-star the Chinese say!!) seemed seedy and worn-down. It may have been the place to be 40 years ago, but now it is very tired and somewhat depressing! No one spoke English, so we felt very isolated. As soon as we unpack, we head out to walk the hotel grounds and some of the city streets. Despite being a city of 7 million, Zhanjiang is a third-tier, regional city in the slower-moving, southernmost China. But, believe it or not, there is one McDonald's in town, near our hotel. We decided to eat there, rather than eating the "interesting" Cantonese meals we had no idea contained what!! We then visited a shopping center/grocery store and picked up some familiar items (fruit, bread, tea, peanut butter for emergencies) to eat. We then walked around the city streets. I was the only caucasian person anywhere to be seen, and everyone stared at us, a few even took pictures! Elizabeth and Rebecca did not like being stared at, and wanted to go back to the hotel. So, we did, and took a nap!

Yorkee, our guide, arrived to discuss Thursday's trip to the orphanage. As the orphanage Director, Mr. Han, had a big meeting and lunch planned with outsiders, he asked that we come at 2:30pm and spend a few hours with them, so that they could focus on our questions and give us a tour of the orphanage, and Rebecca's finding site. When we asked what gift we could give the orphanage, Mr. Han asked for a box of baby formula. He did not want any personal gift, but wanted all money spent on needed formula for the babies and toddlers. Yorkee said she would purchase the formula with us before we visited the orphanage. I gave her a list of questions for Director Han.

She told me that Zhanjiang is a provincial city, and that many natives here are "narrow-minded" about adoption. While they think well of Americans, and are very curious about us (which is why they stare), Yorkee said many think it is "wrong" we adopt Chinese children, when they are only allowed one child. She says often this feeling is also due to jealousy, as our adopted children enjoy improved opportunities, a higher living standard, and more priviledges.

To get ourselves out of our room, Yorkee suggests a few restaurants and then a visit to the local movie theatre to see Kung Fu Panda 2! The girls did not want to eat at the restaurants (food pictures showed unappetizing and strange foods to them), so we ate ramen noodles, then went to the movies (in English with Chinese subtitles). Again, everyone stared at us!



Rebecca and Elizabeth at Haibin Hotel Driveway