Shanghai Nights!

I am a few days behind in the daily log but the girls have done a good job in filling the gap. I hope to get a couple of posts done today as we leave for home tomorrow afternoon (wow, I can't believe that has happened so fast!)

This post is mostly a pictorial of our first night in Shanghai. We have been here before, but we are experiencing some new things this time around, including staying on the other side of the river (the modern, space-age looking side). As Bryanna mentioned, the hotel is out of this world in terms of luxury - it was built this year for the Shanghai Expo and I'm not sure we'll ever be able to afford something this amazing again!

After dinner on our first night, our local guide took us down to the Bund - meaning "muddy bank" though that couldn't be farther from the truth - there's mud down at the water, but otherwise it is a beautiful tiled, raised walkway bordered with cafes and seating areas to enjoy the view of the opposite side (the "european" side).

The following are some shots of us enjoying that walk and view. Enjoy!

Bryanna's Notes on China

Today is Bryanna's turn for chatting!

Hi everyone,

I didn’t visit my orphanage on this trip to China. Not that I didn’t want to, but nobody else was going and I went last time so I chose not to. Going to Cassidy’s orphanage was a really good experience for me. It wasn’t like when we went to my orphanage. At mine we were escorted to some of the 4-5 year olds and we were allowed to play with equipment (and it was only us). The next photo was taken at Bryanna's orphanage on our visit in 2007.

At Cassidy’s orphanage we got to play with younger babies (and it was most of the younger girls)...
On this trip we did stay at the same Holiday Inn in Hefei where my mom adopted me - we took a picture in the hallway where she and my Papa used to push me in a stroller all the time.

It seems that we have been in China a really long time. I feel a little homesick, but want to make the most of it. I think this is the most planes I’ve been on in my life! (From Bryanna's mom - two international flights of 15 hours each and four in-China flights of 1 - 2 hours).

I think my favourite 4 things that we’ve done so far would have to be…

1. Going to the school in Hefei
The kids were really friendly, they got to test their English on us and they weren’t very shy. They were also quiet during class.

2. Going to the markets
We got to bargain (which I really like to even though I don’t do it), we get to buy fun stuff.

3. Going to the panda reserve
There were lots of them. They were really cute and friendly, and we got to wear goofy outfits.

4. Our Shanghai hotel
It's amazing!

That's it for now...see all of you soon!

Cassidy's Notes on Hefei and Dingyuan

The following is a special post from Cassidy. She has written these words and told me that she wanted to share the happenings of the last two days with her friends at home.

FROM CASSIDY...
We are in Hefei city because this is close to where I was born and this is where I was adopted by my mom. We had fun going to the hotel where that happened - the Novotel. We visited the ballroom where my mom saw me for the first time. The bench where I sat as a baby is all gone, so here I am sitting on the floor in the same spot! (And with my mom and nanny.)

Yesterday we went power shopping - because we were buying lots of stuff for the kids in the orphanage where I used to live. We went with our friends Anne Marie and Julia - Julia is from the same orphanage as me - Dingyuan.

We grabbed two shopping carts and first we went to the baby section for clothes.
We bought shoes, sleepers, tops, and pants and hats. Then we went to the toy section and bought rattles, musical instruments, blocks and dinosaurs. For the older kids we bought basketball, soccerball, games, skipping ropes, paper, pencils, markers,and candy. Here's some pictures of us shopping...
...and everything we brought back to the hotel to pack up!

Then today was the big day where we visited Dingyuan orphanage with some of my friends who come from there too.

Inside the white building, we got to see really little babies sleeping...

...and then older babies that we got to play with. But when we first got to their room, some of them were afraid and started to cry. But we talked quietly and didn't run - we didn't come in stampedes.

The little boy I spent most of my time with was in his crib and may have had a fever. He didn't seem to notice me until I touched his hand through the bars of the crib. Then he laughed. We found out later that he is blind and he has Downs' Syndrome but he loved me and having people near him. Can you see his smile in these pictures?

The orphanage director gave us little presents after our visit and took us out for lunch. Here's some more pictures!





It was an excellent day!

Time for School in Hefei

(If you haven't read the blog since the Panda post, there is another one before this. Scroll down to read it first.)

Hefei is the city in China that is near and dear to the hearts of the Thompson family. This is the city where we first met our beautiful girls, Bryanna and Cassidy, and held them as tiny babies in our arms for the very first time. Hefei is an industrial and university city of 4.5 million people - it is a wonderful city to explore and the parks and gardens along the river are great places for walking and having fun.

We were excited to be visiting an elementary school this morning: No. 2 Primary School of Chang Jiang Road of Hefei City (how's that for a name!). We loved some of the signs found throughout the building, meant to inspire and encourage...
No. 2 School goes up to Grade 6, though right now holds only 5 and 6 as the younger grades have been moved to a new location (the upper grades will follow soon). We were thinking this was a lot like Osprey Woods but there are MANY more students!

We started our visit by joining the classes for their morning exercise break - the entire school comes to the school yard and exercises in unison to music. Our kids had fun trying to join in and the parents had fun photographing it all!




Then we went up to join a Grade 5 class...this class had 53 students and this was typical for the school we understand. The children listened closely to their language class teacher...first she spoke to them about vocabulary and they learned some new words, and then they recited an essay together. Imagine our wonder when we learned through our guides that they were reading about Helen Keller (a favourite heroine for our family) - describing her as an independent and brave person.


After the lesson, we introduced ourselves and then some of the children did the same - in English! - and asked us questions - we learned a lot and were very impressed with the class. We were also interested when the school children had a relaxation break - this is one of several such breaks during the day where thestudents apply pressure and massage their faces. It apparently helps relax and rejuvenate them for further study...Hmm!
Around this time a recess was called, though our class stayed put as they seemed fascinated with the interchange with our children from half-way around the world. However, other classes came to the room on the break and swarmed in...we were surrounded with a hundred or more children all clamouring for us to autograph their books and notepaper. As my niece Allie said, we felt like rock stars! Wish I had some photos of that crazy five minutes.

After the recess, "our" grade 5 class was starting a music lesson, and they sang "you are my sunshine" to us. Our group of kids then responded with a rousing verse of O Canada - we were so proud of them all.

We ended the school visit with a tour through their computer lab...




...and then back out to the schoolyard for a photo with the Directors (equivalent to the Principal and Vice-Principal in our schools back home).
We all had a great time - and it was another high moment of this trip (and I was so glad that I was feeling better to enjoy it).

We had a relaxing day after that with a few other activities but it is late here and I will post about that at another time. Just one moment in the afternoon to share though...we were walking along the street and passed the most adorable puppy sitting out in the sunshine in a basket near its owner. Cassidy and Julia approached and it wagged its tail madly. Look at this cutie as he gazes up at Cassidy...
And finally, will end this post with a couple of night shots of our hotel and a bridge over the river...I do love this city!

Goodnight all!