Hannah and her little friend! Ya gotta wonder what they're thinking!
More friends headed together to the States!
The gal cupping her face was adopted by a family in New England 3 years ago. They returned for her little sister (seated to the right.) Her sister was part of the special needs program. Special needs in China is defined as anything from heart conditions, to cleft palate, to albinism, even to the age of the child!
These two sisters were adopted out together. Their story is touching. Their father was killed in a traffic accident. Sadly their mother commited suicide. Grandparents up until recently cared for them. However, they were given to the orphanage last year. Thankfully they have a family from the States who are AWESOME and have high school children themselves. They are thrilled (as you can imagine) to be together. The boy on the right is name Tye. He has a heart condition & is also considered special needs.
This morning 30 children with their forever families converged on the grand hotel lobby. We sat on the marble staircase framed by orchids. It was our Kodak moment. (Signal to all familiar w/ international adoption that we are almost at the finish line---next stop---HOME)
The girls were dolled up in traditional Chinese dresses. The boys,too, clad in traditional garb. (Note the blond haired one sporting the Confucian style p.j.'s Yes, that would be Ian. You put these silks on him and he morphs into a kung-fu master. Back off, Jackie Chan!! By the way, Ian, 'put your sister down...head locks and kung-fu chops are NOT signs of LOVE'.)
Hotel guests seemed amused (o.k. some annoyed) as they watched the giddy eyed parents snap their photos. Oohs & ahhs could be heard (from the parents, that is). Remember, we are staying at the Guangzhou Garden Marriott---guest profile businessmen and less than adventurous traveler.....so, they might have been thinking....gads, of all the days to be in Guangzhou....30 kids running around---not disciplined yet as the new parents are too glossy eyed to care that their kids are trashing this place, ha! You should see the breakfast buffet after we all finish dining. Another, ha!!
I try to envision what this scene would look like if the tables were turned. What if it were the Chinese descending upon America en masse? Chinese coming by the thousands to adopt western children? What would their group photo look like? Would they bedeck those kids in pilgrim garb? Would they 'feel' obliged to wave the American flag and play our National Anthem?
On the one had, (I tell myself) you can't blame us trying to pay tribute to a land that has given us what we most wanted (in my case, a girl). Plus, we're here because we are Asia-philes. We could be in Russia or Guatemala or any of the multitude of nations who adopt in particularly high volume to Europeans and North Americans.
Some have commented here that it's curious that we'd travel so far for children. (As a side note---on my last work trip to Germany several weeks ago---our driver asked me w/ total seriousness, "Judy vye do you go to Cheena? Are zher no cheel-DRUHN in America?"----you might be wondering the same. ha!)
I suppose one reason 'we' (meaning here me/I) have purchased the dresses & shoes, the souvenirs, trinkets, etc. is that I'm trying to capture a piece of Hannah's past that quite frankly I know nothing about. (We're seeking a certain piece/or would that be peace?? You decide!)It's an attempt to fill a void that could/might exist for her later. (And, that quite honestly exists for me now.)
Several Chinese have queried as to why we are so 'old' and so 'big'. I was tempted to ask if they were specifically referencing me or just a 'general' observation about those they see. ha!
I watched the staff & guests watch us. I wondered what they were thinking. I can't totally believe that they feel the warm fuzzies we do. There were 90 of us swarming the place. That number alone would be irritating (if this was your day to work the front desk, that is)! Remember, it is here that we are the foreign ones!
I've attempted to ask how the Chinese really see this throng of foreigners descending on China to adopt. The answers are as varied as the people asked. If the moment seemed right & the person seemed the type to share, I posed the question. Most seemed shocked that I really wanted to know. I realize I've used the verb 'seemed' three times...but I just can't/couldn't know for certain.
Some of the answers given were scripted/courteous/nice. Most bewildered. Several irked.....not at me per se but at what this entire exchange/business/form of philanthropy/acquisition (I don't even know all the words that people could use to describe how they see it.) For me, it's just simply longing for a larger family.
You have to understand that the name for China suggests that they understand themselves to be at the center of the world. China = Zhongguo in Mandarin Chinese (Simplified: 中国, Traditional: 中國, which is usually translated as "Middle Kingdom." The first character Zhong (中) means "middle" or "center" while guo (国 or 國) means "country" or "kingdom".
You know how wall maps in the US will invariably show the US at the center of the world and circumferencing us are all the other countries of the world? Well, if that same map were in hanging here it would be CHINA and not the US in that center position.
For 16 years with Delta, I've passed the time on flights observing people; their gestures, expressions, their smell (YES, THEIR SMELL), their humor. (And you thought flight attendants were just focusing on your beverage of choice!) You name it, flight attendants have trained themselves to spot it---on a crowded plane, that is!
Yet, here in China, I can't totally read the people. I don't know their history well enough nor understand their beliefs/perceptions/prejudices deeply enough to interpret what they could be thinking when they see foreigners adopting here. Maybe in the end it doesn't really matter.
Anyway, I wanted you to be apart of this grand finale day!!!! I wanted you to get a 'feel' for what the lobby was like....the chattering and laughter, the clicking of the cameras and so on.
Thanks for checking in. I have absolutely loved this blog...it's been a catharsis for me.
We go to the U.S. Consulate today at 3:00 to pick up Hannah Mei's visa. How exciting!
I had meant for the blog regarding 'saying Good-Bye' to China to be the last one written. Then the phone rang and Susie wanted to deliver the CD of photos from Hannah's county prior to our departure. I am so grateful to have these for her someday. It is very sobering to see. 
`How Very Grateful We Are to Know This Land A Little Better`
Hannah and her little friend! Ya gotta wonder what they're thinking!
More friends headed together to the States!
The gal cupping her face was adopted by a family in New England 3 years ago. They returned for her little sister (seated to the right.) Her sister was part of the special needs program. Special needs in China is defined as anything from heart conditions, to cleft palate, to albinism, even to the age of the child!
These two sisters were adopted out together. Their story is touching. Their father was killed in a traffic accident. Sadly their mother commited suicide. Grandparents up until recently cared for them. However, they were given to the orphanage last year. Thankfully they have a family from the States who are AWESOME and have high school children themselves. They are thrilled (as you can imagine) to be together. The boy on the right is name Tye. He has a heart condition & is also considered special needs.
You really do see photos of Mao in restaurants, businesses & even in village homes (see Brent's blog ). This astounded me. Brent said that 80+ year old woman in the countryside had one on her wall in her home and then when she pulled back the curtains overhanging her bed ---one hung over the pillow area!
Lady selling fruit from her bike.
