South to Guangzhou

“Oh! She is chubby!”

Our new guide in Guangzhou smiled as she squeezed Rose’s arm. I guess the Chinese definition of “chubby” must be equivalent to the American version of “just your average two year-old”.

On the drive, our guide told us about her teenage son, aspiring engineer/doctor.

“Does he have any siblings?” Jacob asked.

“Ah, no. Because one child policy. Now there is two child policy. So is better.”

Turns out back in the day, not so long ago, anyone violating the one child policy lost their job and paid the equivalent of a $50,000 fine. Yikes.

An hour later we were stashed in a luxury hotel eating club sandwiches and fries, remembering that one place three years ago in Colombia where it felt like living in summer camp with a broken shower head. A study in contrasts.

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Saturday morning sent us to the clinic for Rose to get measured and prodded with the adopted kids of about thirty other American families. Our guide translated the doctor’s comments.

“You are so young!” she said to me. “You look like student!”

I’ll take it.

After the blood draw and TB test — we weren’t allowed to stay in the room with her — our guide took us to Wal-Mart. A little lighter on the Chips Ahoy, a little heavier on the dried squid.