Day 4 - Guangzhou

We arrived in Guangzhou the night before via a late flight from Beijing. Guangzhou weather is much warmer than Beijing kinda like going from New York to Florida. We stayed at the famous White Swan Hotel where everyone stays at some time when adopting from China. The hotel is located on an island on the Pearl River and contains numberous art pieces. Plus this is where everyone loves to shop with many shops close by. We saw several families who had just adopted their child and were getting ready to go home.

Jeanna was thrilled that they gave us the adoption barbie dolls that she had heard about but didn't receive when we adopted our girls.

In the moring we went to the China Institute of Archives where we were allowed to review Brighton's adoption paperwork. We were not allowed to take cameras or video recorders into the building. They had all of the adoption papers bound in a booklet. It contained the english / chinese translation of all the forms we had submited 14 years ago for her including pictures of us and letters of recommendation, etc. Then it contained Brighton's (her name was Guo Xiao Pao) infomation from when she entered the orphanage. They gave Brighton a lanimated copy of her birth record with picture and foot print.

After another Chinese lunch and shopping we flew to Zhanjiang where Brighton's orphanage is located. The meals have been typical chinese meals with the lazy suzan and a variety of dishes and beer, tea or soda to drink. Brighton was thrilled that she was able to buy a very nice Coach (knockoff) purse for only $30.

We will be spend most of the day tomorrow which is Thanksgiving at the orphanage.