Five of My Own: Making My Hubby the Social Studies Teacher Proud

I just found a Yahoo Group for parents who have children adopted from Guizhou, (that's where Macy is). It is so nice to connect with people who have traveled to Guizhou. Guizhou is a more remote part of China and there aren't many children adopted from this region of China so this gathering of Guizhou adoptive parents is invaluable. Already people have reached out to offer advice and share their experiences.

It got me thinking that I really should learn something about where my daughter is. Here are some factoids about Macy's Province.

(In case you wondered the numbers on the map show our expected travel intinery. We expect to 1) fly to Beijing where we tour the fobidden city and the Great Wall, 2) fly to Guizhou to pick up Macy ad hopefully meet her foster family 3) fly to Guangzhou to complete the formalities of th adoption and then probably take a train to Hong Kong for our long flight home... but more on that later)

Guizhou is located in the remote southern part of China not far from Vietnam. It is relatively poor and undeveloped compared to other areas of China (which is saying something). Most of the 39 million people who live here are considered to be extremely poor. The average GDP per person in Guizhou is about four hundred and seventy US dollars which is very low compared to other provinces in China.

Guizhou has a subtropical humid climate. There are few seasonal changes. Its annual average temperature is roughly 50 to 68 °F. When we travel in March/April the average high temps will be between 69 and 73 °F. Like home, spring is the rainy season so we will need to take our raincoats and umbrellas. (Hmmm can't you just imagine Macy in a little ladybug raincoat? *squeal*)

Although the climate is "sub tropical" most homes do not have any heating source. This is why in her photos Macy is seen wearing a snow suit indoors.

Mountains and plateaus make up some 65% of Guizhou's topography. The terrain is rugged, with karst formations, underground rivers, jagged peaks, dramatic valleys, and terraced rice fields.

Guizhou is one of the provinces that contains a large number of minority groups. The minority groups account for more than 37% of the total population and they include Yao, Miao (including Gha-Mu and A-Hmao), Yi, Qiang, Dong, Zhuang, Buyei, Bai, Tujia, Gelao and Shui. 55.5% of the province area is designated as autonomous regions for them. Check out this site to see photos of the Ethnic Groups in China .

The local dialect of Guizhou is similar to that of Sichuan. Few can understand English. Standard Mandarin can be understood by most although in the countryside and smaller cities most people may only be able to reply in their local dialect.

Photo outside the orphanage in Xingyi