“For I know the plans I have for you…to give you hope and a future.”

With Great Joy We Introduce Our Newest Son Aaron Donald Walsh Ho

With Great Joy We Introduce Our Newest Son Aaron Donald Walsh Ho
Born January 17, 2007 Guangdong Province, The People's Republic of China Forever Ours April 12, 2010
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."
Lilypie Waiting to Adopt tickers

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Where in China is Aaron from?





(Click on maps to make them larger.)
Aaron is living at the Bao'an Social Welfare Institute in Bao'an District, Shenzhen City. This is in Guangdong Province. We were amazed when we learned this. Basicially, as far as orphanages within China, (and there are THOUSANDS) this is as close to Hong Kong as possible. The top map shows Shenzen City in relation to Hong Kong and Guangzhou (where we will be staying on Shaiman Island). I also wanted to include a map of all of China which shows the provinces, and then a close up of Guangdong Province. The bottom map shows once again that out of the massive country of China, Aaron is living basically as close as he possibly could to Hong Kong. We can't believe our good fortune (since Rupert was born in Hong Kong)!
Interestingly, when we submitted our original paperwork to adopt a baby girl from China in March 2008, we made a special request of the Chinese government, that they please consider referring us a baby from Guangdong Pronvince, near Guangzhou. We made this request knowing that Rupert was born in Hong Kong, and his mother's family was from the Guangzhou/Canton area. We made sure to explain in our letter to China that we would happily welcome any baby they referred to us from anywhere in China, but that we wanted to make this request, especially since that part of China tends to have more people speaking Cantonese (versus Mandarin in the majority of China), and it is Cantonese that Rupert speaks. We felt this could help ease our new child's transition to our family - if Rupert were at least able to communicate with our new child in the only language she/he had been spoken to in.
On November 18, when I saw little Bao Xinsheng's sweet face for the first time, all I knew was that he was almost 3. There was no information about where he lived in China. When I requested his file, I inquired as to which province he lived in, and was told Guangdong. Yet there would be many orphanages (50!) in Guangdong, and so it was not until I received his full file the next day and began reading over it, that I saw he was from Shenzen City, and in looking at a map and talking to others who have adopted from that same orphanage, that I realized how close to Hong Kong it is.

3 comments:

  1. Nicole,

    Congratulations!!! Your son is ADORABLE!!!

    Anne

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anne, Thank you for your kind comments. Your son, Thomas, is so absolutely gorgeous! Your blog says you are paperchasing for a 2nd Waiting Child. Have you already found your child? I'll be following your blog too!
    Nicole

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  3. Nicole - I am so happy for you. I cannot believe that Aaron was on the list for months. He is GORGEOUS!! He was obviously meant for you!! Congratulations!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete