May 21: Nanning Village & School

What an incredible day! Jane really went out of her way to make this day
memorable!

We began the morning by boarding a van to the countryside. On the way, we
stopped at GG’s “finding place.” This is the spot where he was left as a
2-day-old infant (estimate.) We knew the spot was under an overpass, but I
couldn’t have imagined this in my wildest dreams. Picture a MAJOR
intersection, so major that Jane didn’t want us to cross the street to go
to the spot where we all guessed that the finding spot probably was. An
overpass is directly above this intersection where two lanes of traffic
come from multiple directions. Buses, cars, bikes, motorcycles all
converging in a noisy, polluted mass of humanity. It’s the last place in
the world one could fathom leaving a 2-day-old infant. Jane said the
converging roads are from the city and country and since she guesses that
his biological parents were from the country, she thinks that they may
have picked this spot because they could drive in from the country and
leave quickly without being seen. It’s illegal to give a child up for
adoption or to abandon a child in China, so people have to do it quickly
and in secret. With all the people around, they probably guessed that he’d
soon be found. However, most people are across the street from the
overpass that he was found beneath and the noise is so loud that I don’t
know how long it might have taken to hear a baby cry. It was very sad to
see the spot and know that our sweet boy was left here.

We continued on our journey to the countryside, passing interesting rock
structures/mountains that seemed to pop up out of nowhere. In the distance
we could see mountains that she said were part of Guilin, a major scenic
beauty area. We passed agricultural fields where small crops grew
intermingled in the fields. Corn, rice, peanuts, mango trees and other
items. She said pineapple is a major crop as well. We approached the edge
of a village where we got out and watched women doing the wash on the edge
of the water. On one side they had water pouring from wells; a few women
stood in a large concrete area that then held the water. Jane said the
water there is recycled. But across the path, women were washing in a
larger body of water…perhaps a large pond or something? I didn’t see the
source. In contrast with the people in Nanning, theses women were very
friendly, laughing and smiling with us. And very happy to have photos
taken. We met several older women who were pounding wash alongside younger
counterparts. One woman proudly told us she was 80. She was in better
shape than me. Jane explained that everyone continues working into old
age; that they would feel useless if they couldn’t work. She said that
this task is also fun for them—not hard work—and that they enjoy gathering
for social time with their neighbors.

As we walked into the village, she explained that the folks here were
mostly related. That just a few families make up the people in the
village. We visited one home where the parents live with their three adult
children, including a daughter-in-law and her new eight-day-old baby. We
spent some time chatting with the new mom as well as one of the daughters.
We asked how they were able to have three children. For this country
family, two children was okay. (I believe that if a girl comes first, they
are allowed a try for a boy…at least that’s what they said regarding the
new baby…since he’s a boy, they won’t be allowed to have another.) But
since this family had three children, they had to pay a fine. We asked how
much the fine is now. They said it’s 40,000RMB. To figure it out: 6.8RMB =
$1 US, so do the math. I was shocked. That’s a lot even in the U.S. They
had just explained to us how they’d build this beautiful addition onto the
house (it was really like a house in itself with at least three bedrooms,
a kitchen, bathroom, etc.) for $50,000RMB. Then they’d decorated it for an
additional $30,000RMB. So an extra child is fined at about the same rate
as that of a new, fairly substantial house.

After talking with the family, we handed out “Smarties” (little candies)
to villagers. They were thrilled with just one Smartie each. THRILLED!
During this time, I was carrying GG in the frontpack (Ergo) and taught him
to hand people candy. He seems to be very content in the Ergo. At this
point, he is fairly okay with me and very upset if Dh tries to take
him. Upset enough that he’ll hit at Dh and scream.

We returned to the hotel, ate lunch, and took naps. GG napped for the
first time, but we had to awaken him in order to make our next
appointment. He does not like being woken up. Loves his sleep.

At 3:30 Jane put us into cabs and we headed to a local school. This
primary school, grades 1-6, has well over 1,000 students. I’m thinking
they said 1,800? We were not prepared for the reception we got.

Picture a huge courtyard (HUGE) with many basketball courts and wide open
areas to play. On two sides of the courtyard is a six (?) story building
with about six or so classrooms across each floor. Each classroom holds
one teacher and (teachers, hold onto your hats!!!!) about 54 students.
THAT’S RIGHT! 54 students!!!!!!! Per ONE teacher!!!! Including in the
lowest grades. (1st graders begin school at age 7.) Not only that, but
they go to school from about 8am til about 5:30 pm. They go home for lunch
in the middle of the day…maybe for 90 minutes?

We entered just as students were let out for recess. We were MOBBED!!!!!
EVERYONE wanted to come see us and say hi and practice their English. They
were VERY friendly. They asked our names, where we were from, how old we
are, etc… And I do mean MOBBED. Dh picked LilDude up so he wouldn’t be
trampled. LilDude was very anxious through the whole ordeal. GG just took it
all in. Don’t know if he is used to mobs, but nothing about this seemed to
bother him in the least as long as I gave him the snacks he wanted.

After the mob returned to their classes, the Director gave us a tour,
highlighting the important things about the school. Several other people
tagged along—an English teacher, an assistant director, etc. They were
just as thrilled to see us as the kids. They wanted photos and photos and
photos of us. We were shown photos on a permanent display of visitors from
other countries, so were guessing that we’re now going to be the token
Americans on the board.

Next, we headed to a classroom. We climbed six or so flights of stairs and
visited a sixth grade classroom of 54 students. It was organized chaos.
Rather than having students stay in their seats to ask questions, they
brought small groups to the front of the room and had Lizzi & Anakin
answer only a few questions at once while the rest of the class talked
loudly and stared. LilDude was panicky by now and wanted to stand outside
the door. Couldn’t blame him as we’d been mobbed since the moment we
arrived. Jane pulled me over to another group of students so that I could
answer more questions as the kids answered up front. At one point they
asked how much P.E. the kids get each week. When I said that next year we
have no P.E. in K-5 because there isn’t enough money, Jane refused to tell
them that because she said she didn’t want the kids to think badly of
America. We were asked to pose for a few bazillion photos. This went on
for a long time. Several kids recited poetry. They asked for our email
addresses and about 54 kids wrote them down. Much later, we passed out
lollypops and then one child after another approached Lizzi and/or
Anakin bringing them gifts—often a favorite possession. A favorite pen
that was used in successfully completing examinations, an NBA Kobe Bryant
keychain, Chinese comic books, magazines, textbooks, stuffed animals. It
was endless. Several girls were focusing on Anakin. And a group of
giggling girls approached Lizzi and handed her a gorgeous jade cross.
She thanked them and they just laughed and pointed at a boy, surrounded by
two buddies, who were making a quick getaway. Lizzi never learned which
boy actually gave it to her.

We returned to the courtyard where more kids were at recess. Then it
became a papparatzi free-for-all. We were mightily mobbed by kids wanting
our autographs. I finally took LilDude and GG to a quiet corner while the
other three continued to sign autographs. It was a little out of control.
At some point Lizzi said the English teacher told the students “no
more”…and not in a nice way. Later, a sweet little girl approached me to
ask me something. The lady yelled at her to go away. The little girl
backed off like she’d been bitten. Guess that’s how things work.

Anakin was then sent out to the basketball court to play a five-on-five
game with a ref and Adidas pennies and the whole bit. Then played and
played. We continued to give autographs and pose for photos. This went on
and on and on.

When it was time to leave, I spotted three little girls in beautiful,
pink, traditional costumes. I asked if we could take their photos. Well,
of course we could…in a “5 minute” presentation upstairs. So we climbed to
the sixth floor again and watched a music/dance/poetry/gymnastics
presentation by a class of girls. It was truly splendid. But I was getting
a little concerned (a lot?) about LilDude who was totally stressed out and
hadn’t had anything to drink through this whole ordeal…now well over 2.5
hours long. We again posed for a myriad of photos with this class. I
believe we left a little after 6pm…we’d arrived a little after 3:30.

It was an incredible experience that none of us will ever forget. They
loved us. With celebrity status. Lizzi said this was the best tour of
the trip, right up there next to the Great Wall.

We won’t forget you, China schoolchildren!

P.S. Our health continues to improve, I think. GG is doing better and
better. It might be TMI (too much information), but you joined the blog
for the “good, bad, and ugly,” so it’s your own fault. ; ) I was quite
pleased to be awakened at 1am so GG could have a bm. This is the first
since we met him and obviously a necessary hurdle to cross. I think it’s
pretty usual to get constipated from stress and we were glad to check one
thing off the list.

Pray for all of us tomorrow. In the morning we meet the foster family.
This is something that we greatly desire for his sake now and in the
future, but it may be very hard on him. Although I can say that the
families I know who’ve done it have said that meeting the foster family
was often a positive turning point. Jane laughed and laughed when she told
us how thrilled they are to meet us. She called yesterday to arrange the
appointment and they were ECSTATIC. Apparently, no other families have
visited and they care so much about GG and want BADLY to see us. They
repeatedly called her asking how they could prepare for us, wanting to
know if his siblings were coming, etc. They called at 10pm and again at
7:30am. They spent today cleaning the house in preparation. They wanted us
tonight and all day tomorrow. That would have been fine with us, but Jane
said no. I think she wants a life. ; )

So prayers are appreciated that this is a good thing for him…and for them.
If you think of any must-know things that I should ask them, send them
quick!