Greetings from nanchang!  nanchang is a city of over 4 million people in jiangxi province.  It has the largest swi (social welfare institute) in the province with about 500 children.  I have learned since getting here that Esme is in a foster family, likely the youngest of 3-4 kids.  Her foster mother cares for her during the day and her foster father likely has a job in the city.  The foster apartments are a building of about 10 families in the orphanage itself.  The foster parents are often a bit older with grown children who do not live at home.

I have learned that my survival instincts are not as strong as they should be; on arriving exhausted to my gorgeous hotel room I did down a small drink from the tap before realizing how dumb that was.  If Dave were here he would have stopped me!  No major I'll effects although I didn't eat too much yesterday.

My flight was long, but not horrible.  I watched 5 episodes of downtown abbey, season2!  And I slept 3-4 scattered hours...

On Sunday morning (saturday afternoon for you all) I wandered the city. Well, I should say I walked about 7 blocks in one direction before deciding I might get lost and turning around.  It is a very safe area, my biggest fear was traffic!  Not many lights, the guide just told me that you go to a crosswalk and cross in a "large group" for safety.  Very comforting!  When I was without her I sought out families with babies crossing and crossed with them. So far so good!

I wanted a good photo of a motorbike with 3-4 people on it but wasn't quick enough.  My guide tells me that 10 years ago it was all bicycles, and now many motorbikes. Some cars, but not a lot.  

We went to an indoor market which reminded me slightly of uwajimaya in Seattle.  Very modern with many tanks of living seafood.  I got diapers and a hat for esme.  I have been told that women will come up to me to tell me she isn't wearing enough clothing, and their local dialect sounds very harsh so I will think they are angry at me...  It is chilly here; about 40 degrees and cloudy yesterday.

I saw a wedding party on the hotel lobby; I was surprised to see the bride in white, but my guide told me many women do the traditional Chinese wedding followed by a more western one.

So, they will bring her to my hotel in a few hours.  I'm excited and nervous!