Fuling SWI - Orphanage Visit

Alex's Notes: Cool peek into a day of someone visiting China
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We arranged for a car and a driver to take us to Fuling today for our revisit with the Fuling Social Welfare Institute. That's the orphanage where Rachael spent the first year of her life. Back on October 28, 2003, we made our first trip to the orphanage just two days after we adopted Rachael. Today was a lot more relaxed, so we were able to enjoy and absorb more both on the ride there and while visiting. We enjoyed the ride, for the scenery was very pretty. There are many small mountain peaks and tunnels through the mountains. It took us about 1 hour 45 minutes to get there. We arrived around lunch time, but our visit wasn't scheduled until 2:30. So, we stopped at a department store where I can assure you we attracted a small audience in the restroom as I was changing Catherine's diaper. One older woman asked Joyce why Catherine still wore diapers since they are so uncomfortable. Another woman had followed us to the bathroom, stood behind Joyce and watched us the whole time. She then walked out and stood behind Randy and Rachael, waiting for us to come out of the bathroom. An interesting cultural difference here to note is how people will ask personal questions very easily. They will ask Joyce things about our family all the time. Are the girls adopted? Are they Chinese citizens? How old am I? Is my husband Chinese? I think they ask because they believe "Wo ting bu dong." (I don't understand their Chinese.) They just don't see many people from other cultures, especially with Chinese children.

After we left the department store, we had lunch at a hotel very close to the orphanage. We arrived at the orphanage at 2:30 where we met both the Director, who is a woman and the Vice Director, a man. We worked with Vice Director Chen when we visited in 2003, and we had some photos to share with both of them from our first visit. We talked with them about our first visit, using Joyce as our translator. As a small token of our thanks, we gave each of them gifts, and we took gifts for 3 older children who are living at the orphanage. At the end of our visit, we had a chance to meet one of the older children. This was a girl, about 6 or 7 years old. She will be adopted by an American family next month! We toured part of the orphanage and met one of the nannies who worked when Rachael was a baby. In fact, we had photos of this same nanny holding Rachael from 4 years ago, and we shared the photos with her. We took new photos of them together! Then we spent over an hour in a room with over 20 babies aged 4 months through one year. They were all playing on a mat or on riding toys or taking baths. We sat with the nannies and held them, wanting to take them home with us. There were 2 boys in the group, and the rest were girls. As usual, the room was very warm, and the babies were bundled up. Suffice it to say that the babies were all absolutely beautiful! What a wonderful way to spend the day. Even though Rachael and Catherine became a bit bored, Randy, Joyce and I were totally enjoying ourselves. Each child was so unique and precious. Some were afraid of us because they did not know us. Others came to us easily. There are about 260 children in the orphanage at this time. When Rachael was living there, the number was near 400!

We are so grateful that we had the chance to visit for the entire afternoon. We stayed until 5:30 PM. Before we left, we took family photos with the Directors, and they took some, too. They were very open to having us visit again, but the orphanage will be moving to a new location in the next year or so. So, we aren't sure how much longer this part of Rachael's past will remain. Today was certainly a rewarding day.

Tomorrow is Catherine's third birthday. Wow!

Love to all,
Charlene