One of our worries is that we won't be able to communicate with TJ. In the videos above, conducted during a camp that brought together older children, adoption agency personnel and Chinese orphanage officials, TJ was interviewed. Although he understood Mandarin, probably from television and possibly from school, if indeed he attends school, he does not seem to speak Mandarin. Nor does he speak Cantonese. Our agency said he spoke a dialect. Which dialect is the question. If we can find out, perhaps we can learn some phrases to make things easier when we meet him. We thought we were covered, with Mandarin-speaking au pairs and Mommy's painful to listen to but fun attempts to learn Mandarin in classes at work. But it looks like language will be another challenge.
I asked our agency, but I am afraid I have been a bit of a pest, and they suggested that perhaps we wait a few months before we submit further questions. In the meantime, if anyone recognizes this dialect, let me know! Xiexie!
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