Gloria Plaza Hotel, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China (28.687560,115.877704)
Click the LAT/LON coordinates (WGS84) for our current location
Haze, 20C, Winds NW 5 km/h

Summary: Trip to the People's Park and a porcelain shop.

Details: Today we toured a little and visited a public park in Nanchang called the People's Park. We were driven by bus about 15 minutes from the hotel. Sandra carried Lauren with the carrier which has worked very well for us. The hotel has lent us a stroller but we think that Lauren will not be happy sitting in it. She has been a little fussy with sitting with us for dinner. It's winter in China and things are looking a little drab in the park and us Canadians were in short sleeve shits and pants while most Chinese were wearing jackets. A couple of shots of Sandra and Lauren in the park to give you an idea of some of the space. Below find a photo of Ross and our two tour guides, Mary and Monica (their English names) who for the record have been excellent in keeping us organized and on time. Wherever we have been we have generated some attention from all the local people. Everywhere people stop to talk to people in our group, even though we cannot understand them. Most mean us well but other stop to tell us that we should dress the babies warmer.



A short video (60s) we shot in our hotel room today can be found here. Lauren was chattering quite a bit until the camera came out. The talking that you do hear is mostly me, sorry. The link will take to to another page to play the video and it will autostart and repeat. Hit the browser 'back' button to return to this story

Another short video (60s) we shot in the People's Park can be found here. This was a little more than the typical commotion that our group would cause as we would walk about. The ladies were concerned that our children were not dressed enough. The link will take to to another page to play the video and it will autostart and repeat. Hit the browser 'back' button to return to this story

Gloria Plaza Hotel, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China (28.687560,115.877704)
Click the LAT/LON coordinates (WGS84) for our current location
Haze, 18C, Winds W 5 km/h

Summary: Trip to local markets in Nanchang.

Details: Unbelievable, we didn't take any pictures today. We spend some time shopping at the local markets and walking through the large pedestrian mall that is in Nanchang. I guess we were enjoying our time being with Lauren so picture were not a priority. I also spend all a lot of time trying to get the website back online. I am very disappointed that I have had to waste so much time trying to remember and retyping all the missing information. I've caught up now and our daily events should be available the next morning for everyone following back home.

Gloria Plaza Hotel, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China (28.687560,115.877704)
Click the LAT/LON coordinates (WGS84) for our current location
Haze, 18C, Winds W 5 km/h

Summary: Trip to Adoption office and Notary official.

Details: Today was a day of paperwork and interviews. We started at the Adoption office in Nanchang with our entire group of parents and babies for the official paperwork to be finalized. We were taken into a room for a family photo and a photo of Lauren. The family photo would be used later for her adoption certificate shown below. Next we had a 5 minute interview with an official that asked questions like "Were do you work?" "What do you do?", "How long have you been married?" and "What are your plans for the baby?". Next we needed to pay all of our fees including the orphanage donation to the cashier. While we were waiting for our group to all finish a group of American came into the office and a few minutes later a group of babies in the all too familiar yellow snow suits. They were another group of babies from Fencheng orphanage. In the course of the next 5 minutes of waiting, 3 nannies came upto Feng Ke wen (Lauren), called her by name and spoke to her. We didn't see this happen with any other family in our group that we could see. We were grateful for that opportunity to see them and have their pictures below.



After that office, we traveled a short distance to the Notary's office to finalize the paperwork. Another short interview and more fees (actually paid earlier) and it was official. We were a family. Below is what can be considered our very first family photo.

Gloria Plaza Hotel, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China (28.687560,115.877704)
Click the LAT/LON coordinates (WGS84) for our current location
Haze, 14C, Winds W 7 km/h

Summary: Travel Day to Nanchang and meet Lauren.

Details: We packed up our room in Beijing and left our bags outside our room to be picked up by the hotel porters while we had breakfast. I think everyone was nervous this day. The trip to the airport was about 45 minutes by bus and we received our boarding passes as soon as we got to the airport. Security wasn't a problem except for a few bottles of ice wine that someone in our group forgot to check in their luggage. The 2 hours China Eastern flight was uneventful and was never anything to worry about. Another bus was waiting for us at the airport for another 45 minute ride to our hotel. We arrived about 2:30 PM and has a little time before the babies arrived. Some headed to the hotel bar and other waited impatiently for the arrival. Those that waited in the bar got to see the children as they arrived and we could tell which of the 4 orphanages they were from by the number of children that showed up. We actually have video of Lauren's group as they arrived but were unable to pick her out at the time.



Just before 5:00 PM local time we were herded into a small conference room that had 19 babies in yellow snowsuits and 19 caregivers. It was a little chaotic to say the least (we have video of this). We could not pick out Lauren from the group and had eventually narrowed it down to 2 babies. After about 5 minutes we asked someone where is Feng Ke Wen 3 of them pointed to a man sitting near the corner holding a baby. We a few minutes later our names were called and we handed over our Notice of Coming and received Lauren. She cried and so did we. The director of the orphanage gave us a gift of porcelain and the powered milk and rice formula that Lauren has been eating. We took the following shots back in our room moments about 10 minutes later.



All the families retired to their room to get acquainted with their babies. There were no activities planned for this evening. Lauren settled with us as soon as we gave her something to eat. In addition to being hot she was hungry it seems.

International Hotel in Beijing, China (40.044438,116.367188)
Click the LAT/LON coordinates (WGS84) for our current location
Haze, 6C, Winds W 7 km/h

Summary: Tour Day to Hutong area of Beijing and Chinese Acrobats.

Details: Another organized bus trip to the Hutong area of Beijing that is north of the Forbidden City. It was one of the oldest parts of the city remaining. For about 200 yuan (28 CDN$), we received bus transportation and a 2.5 hour rickshaw ride through the area. This was a poorer area of the city with narrow laneways and much activity. Remarkably it was very clean. We made a few stops along the way to a large gate to an old home (entrances to homes displays status of occupants) so this is important to understand this. Another stop on the way was to a womans house who lives in this area. We all crammed into her living room and asked question about her family and the areas. Below you can find a picture of her and of her kitchen.



In the late afternoon we paid another 200 yuan ($28 CDN) to see the Chinese Acrobats of Beijing. The show was an hour, a little short, but the action was fast paced and very exciting. After we were done we ate quickly in the hotel restaurant and packed the suitcase we are leaving behind in Beijing. We bought another smaller one for 200 yuan ($35 CDN) the other day as the weight restriction are only 20 kg/bag and 1 checked bag per person. Anyway, we fly out tomorrow morning for Nanchang and finally meet Lauren at 5:00 PM our time. Lots of picture and maybe a video tomorrow.