Nanning Day 4

Today is our last day in Nanning. We have a tour of the Green Mountains this morning and then we leave tonight for Guangzhou at 8:20 pm. Yesterday, we went to a small rural village an hour from our hotel. The countryside was beautiful - tall limestone mountains covered in trees. Getting to see the village life was so nice, as we didn't get to see anything like that on our last trip. The people work very hard to put fresh food on their table every day. Only 20-30 families live in this village, but it is quite a production every single day. Fresh meats are brought in every morning and laid out on tables for people to choose for their meal that day. There are tons of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh fish, live animals to kill, etc. It looks like an open air market every day. Although to us it has the appearance of an area of extreme poverty, many of these people used to live in mud houses, but they have made money from growing rice and now live in brick houses. Among the brick houses were a few very nice, modern looking homes for the wealthiest in the village. I think the women are the hardest workers here - working in the rice fields, preparing the vegetables and fruits, taking care of the children, building houses, fixing roofs, doing the laundry by hand in a pond that catches mountain water - while many of the men sit under shade trees and play cards. So maybe I'm not going to move her after all. ha ha

The people were very nice and used to adoptive families taking a tour through their village. I wanted to ask if they get paid for us to go through there, but I didn't. Our guide said that we could take as many pictures of the people as we wanted. When we got to the second half of the village and I showed them a picture of a little boy I had taken, they started lining up to have their pictures taken. I am going to develop them, send them to our guide and she will take them to them. The people in the village spoke their own dialect and neither of the guides could communicate with them.

Since last night was our last night in Nanning, we asked Kara if there was anyplace special she wanted to go. She chose the Brazilian Barbeque. Our guide, Mary, said this was the most special of restaurants in Nanning. The servers come around with all sorts of meats and fish on large skewers and shave off all the meat you want until you say you are full. I thought the food was very good, but Leila, our meat eater, decided she was a vegetarian last night. I think it is so good for her to be here to appreciate how vastly different everything is going to be for Kara once we return home.

Well, off to shower and then Skype Mia and my mom. We called home for the first time Wednesday night and it was so great to their voices. I am thrilled to say that Mia has been doing very well at home and that this has been a great opportunity for the two of them to bond. (MMMMMMMMMWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, Mia!! We love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)