Front Page News

Yibin Newstand

Today in Yibin, we returned to the huge food market outside the gate of the orphanage. All kinds of meat-dead and alive :) - as well as fruits, vegetables, assorted spices, and Yibin fire water. Lots of spicy Sichuan peppers.

We watched as two women rubbed the local fire water on a screaming baby trying to break the baby's fever. The orphanage director was pulling into the gate as we we walked through and seemed happy that we returned to explore more of Yibin. As we were meandering through the market taking it all in, we were approached by a local with a copy of the Yibin Evening News. The reporter that followed us yesterday posted our picture on the front page and again inside with an article about our visit to China. Our guide translated some of it - very positive words about how we were bringing our girls back to their hometown and how well our Chinese pronunciation of Ni Hao was. They were being very kind!

So, we were famous for the day, smiles everywhere we went from those that recognized us in the paper, and special discounts in the stores we visited. We strolled along the street and went in and out of shops. Kiara and Emily were thrilled there were so many stores with fancy shoes. Some day they will be wearing those like all the other Chinese women we see. The girls found a Claires-like store with lots of cool hair things and store clerks that were very cute and happy to see the famous Westerners. They had a very hard time choosing what pretty hair things to buy. Poor Terry, our guide, was being very patient as we went in and out of all the stores. We stopped at a grocery store to get drinks and snacks. Barbara and Emily picked out some candy. When they got to the cashier, she said they did not get enough to register on the scale so back they went for more. In an alley, we discovered pool tables and the girls played a game as the curious, friendly locals stopped and watched and chickens wandered around. Earlier in the day, we visited a bi-lingual kindergarten that was fun to visit. The children sang and played with their teachers while we watched and clapped. Oliver, one of the teachers, was there for a few months and then was headed back to the UK to study for his masters in international business. The school was brightly decorated and the children were so well behaved. Even the little one with a t-shirt that said "Scream if you want to go faster"...and scream he did every once in a while. Kiara and Em were very happy that the teachers let them play in the playground before we left-lots of fun on the trampoline!

We went back to the hotel mid-afternoon and then out to a hot pot dinner at a restaurant that Oliver recommended - everyone enjoyed that experience. We declined to order the real Chinese foods - pigs throat, fish heads, pig brain - and stuck to beef, meatballs, mushrooms. Lotus root was the closest we got to food that locals would eat. Debbie was very happy to eat white rice for dinner as she has had just about her fill of Chinese food - though it was still fun to watch! Went in search of a bank to exchange some money for Barbara. Finally found one that could but the teller refused to exchange it because she would need to charge a service charge because it was under $500 and that would not be "good thinking." Very thoughtful but..... All in all, Yibin has been a very positive experience. The girls (and the adults) have enjoyed their time here, but it is time to leave tomorrow morning for the 4.5 hour drive back to Chengdu for another overnight stay before we head to Shanghai and then home.

Pedicabs in Yibin

Baby In A Basket

Overlooking The City Of Yibin

Yibin Bridge Over Yangtze River

Orphanage Visit

3 Temples
2 pandas
1 orphanage visit...
PRICELESS!!!!!

We were greeted at the gate by the director and ushered into a conference room where the girls' nanny hugged the girls with tears in her eyes.

We were able to review the girls' files. The director presented the girls with necklaces with stones from the Yangtze River.

We saw the boxes that contained the washing machines we donated. The girl's Chinese names were posted on the outside of the boxes. The girls were very proud to recognize their own names.

The director seemed sincerely greatful that we had brought the girls back to their hometown to visit. He was thrilled to see how happy and healthy they are now. The nanny said that she still remembers June 22, 1998 when she brought the girls to us. She recognized each of them and made personal comments about each. She was thrilled with the photo album that we had brought with pictures of 12 children from Yibin. She was so excited each time she turned the page and saw another familiar face. We went on a tour and were able to see the baby room. The girls all want a little sister!

When we went into the crib room there were 3 more nannies that were able to recognize and call each girl by name... more tears-even our tour guide!

The director took us for a tour around town and showed us the finding places, showed us where the three rivers meet and recommended a wonderful restaurant where we were treated like royalty in our own private room. We seemed to attract attention whereever we went and a newspaper reporter appeared out of nowhere and followed us.
WHAT A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE!

Overnight Train To Xian

We left Beijing Friday night and boarded an overnight train to Xian. We all had sleeper cabins - 4 to a cabin, 2 top & 2 bottom beds. The train station was crowded and chaotic but we all managed to get on the train together and to our cabins. The train left the station around 9:30pm and then the girls went cabin to cabin exploring and visiting. Our group is an interesting bunch and we all get along fairly well. Tony our tour guide took some of his "people" to the bar car while some adults stayed behind with the kids. Things quieted down somewhere around 10 or 11pm. Most of the kids slept but I think the adults had a harder time getting some shut eye. Around 5:30am, we passed by a village where there were caves carved into the hillside that people sleep in-cooler in summer, warmer in winter than their houses. We all lined up at 8am in search of Tony's cabin before we departed. Off we went to our hotel and breakfast before a quick shower and our next adventure. Boarded the bus to Wild Goose Pagoda with Buddhas and then to a Muslim market and mosque-beautiful and quiet. A slower paced day since we were all very, very tired and Jackie our Xian guide took pity on us. The girls went to the pool afterwards where the ceiling is covered in umbrellas. Then, John and Barbara went in search of Pizza Hut-a scary journey with more details to come on that later. Suffice to say that a guard followed them around the mall while Barb tried to hide the scissors in her pocket. Crossing the street was a whole 'nother matter. Pizza never tasted so good!!

Great Wall

My favoite thing so far was flying kites in Tiannamen square. EMILY



We went to the Great Wall on Thursday. It turned out to be a perfect weather day, sunny and warm but not unbearable. You could see for miles.The girls walked quite a distance. They could have gone further but we were only given one hour on the wall. Emily bought a kite on the wall and did a little bargaining. The venders were very persistant if you made eye contact they followed you. Emilyand Elizabeth helped me tell them no thanks in Chinese. I wasn't saying it right and the girls said it with such authority that they left me alone. After the wall, we did a little shopping instead of eating lunch. I can't wait to post pictures but we can't read theChinese directions. We will add them when we get home.
Sunday
Today we went to the jade factory. We saw a few men carving pieces and our guide told us how it is done. Then they let us loose in the shop. In all the shops they seem to assign one person that follows you around and helps or encourages you...