Dog Meat
Some years ago I took this picture at Qingping Market, in Canton (China). I think I will never forget that experience, specially because it was the first place to visit after our arrival to China. It’s difficult to describe the smell, it was not bad but it was totally different (a new smell for me). Some minutes later we arrived to butcher’s area and I couldn’t believe what my eyes were seeing but there they were, dogs at butcher’s. They were previously boiled to take out the skin. In fact, we had read in our guide book that in Guandong Province (in the south of China) all the things with four legs could be eaten (except tables and chairs!!!) and it was true. If you went for a walk around that market you could see all kind of animals (some of them protected in Europe), dogs, rats, fawns, tortoises, snakes, ferrets… The market also had one of the biggest sections in Chinese medicine products I’ve ever seen. If you ever go to Canton, then Qingping Market is a must . I’m sure you will be astonished.
Diary Entry: The best day in my life
June 21st. Today is the day. We have been waiting for many months and today, if everything is OK, our dreams will come true. Helena, our translator, is waiting for us outside. First of all, we must visit Mrs. Vasilievna. She will give us the permission access to the orphanage. She explains to us that she is not sure if today we will be able to visit the orphanage but, after some phone calls, she tells us we will go in the afternoon. We still have some free hours so our driver decides to show us the highlights of the city and we also go for a walk along the Volga river. Unfortunately, I cannot concen- trate on all the things the driver wants to show us, specially because my mind is not there at the moment. Finally, we arrive at the orphanage and we come into a big room decorated with a big sofa, a piano and some toys. Two very kind doctors, a social assistant, the orphanage’s director and two more nurses (all of them women) are waiting for us. There, they read us her medical and social report. The long-waited moment is just going to arrive. Someone opens the door. My heart is beating so fast. A precious little toddler come into the room walking by herself with a nurse. She is shy, looking at the floor but, in fact, I think she knows something special is happening. There she is, the most beautiful girl in the world,…. MY PRECIOUS LITTLE GIRL.
