guangzhou

a tale of one more city 

This entire week we've stayed in Guangzhou in southern China. You may have heard of Canton or Cantonese food, well this is the place. The Europeans called this city Canton. And sorry football fans; the Hall of Fame is not here. I've looked everywhere.

part of Guangzhou from the top of White Cloud Mountain

the view from our hotel window

Guangzhou is the third largest city in China, and our guide said it is home to over 10 million. Wikipedia says it is one of the largest urban areas in the world. I'd believe it. This city is multicultural and diverse, very unlike our time in remote Inner Mongolia. In the late 1970s, China changed its policies and began to open to the outside world. Guangzhou was the first city to open up, and the city reflects that. We've seen every ethnicity I can think of here. Within a couple minutes walk is a Starbucks, McDs, Subway, KFC, Muslim restaurants, an Irish pub, two Pizza Huts, three 7-Elevens, and countless little shops and restaurants. Across the street is the fanciest department store I've ever seen; its eight floors sell Gucci, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Versace, and stuff I can't afford. This is Guangzhou, cosmopolitan and diverse.

Shamian Island in Guangzhou reminds me of Charleston and Savannah

It's also hot. Very hot. And humid. And I think that affects the culture. Moss in the banyan trees sways in the tropical breeze. The people wear flip flops, unbutton an extra button on their shirts, and take it slow. Folks here could care less about politics and prefer a long, lingering meal. And no one honks here; it's wonderfully illegal. The place meshes a tropical, Margaritaville vibe with being massive international city with millions of people swarming every which way. It's got it all.

And there's Cantonese food. Today we ate Dim Sum and I found it hard to control myself. Dim Sum is the name for small dishes that you can gorge yourself on and not feel guilty because the plates are so tiny. Kind of like a meal of appetizers. The menu probably had 150 dishes to chose from. We ordered dumplings, noodles, spring rolls, broccoli, and such. We drank Oolong Tea. We took our time ordering. I loved everything about it.

us and our adoption rep/guide Jack... we love Jack

Guangzhou reminds me of how large and diverse China is. In many ways it's a world away from Inner Mongolia. Still, it's a place I'd not want to live. There is almost no religion here. Our guide estimated that 90% of Chinese people have no religion at all. Evangelical Christianity is miniscule but reportedly growing. And we've been shocked to see special needs people on the sides of the street begging. Outcastes of society with club feet and deformities that would be addressed in America, on the side of the road, feet placed in front of them so passerbys have proof that they need help. This country is not friendly to people with special needs or handicaps. And that's what my Judd has.

We are thankful for our time in China, but we are ready to come home. We are grateful to experience Chinese culture and killer food and striking places, but I could never leave Judd here. Here orphans and those with special needs have little hope. It's a beautiful yet hard world in China. So tomorrow we board a plane to the US. And though he doesn't know it, a very different life awaits him there. It may not be as colorful and impressive as China, but it'll be home.

-Chris