Trip to Xiang Yin County Social Children’s Welfare Institute

Today was an emotional day—we didn’t know how Charlotte would react to returning to the only home she’s ever known. We had decided that we would take Charlotte into the orphanage, as we knew the visit would be very short and wouldn’t likely cause any irreparable damage.

The director met us on our way to the orphanage to stop off at the department store to help us select an air conditioning unit that our children’s families are donating to the children’s playroom.

When we arrived, we were greeted by the officials. Several people and workers fussed over Charlotte and called her by name. A few asked to hold her, but she fussed and was returned to us. Introductions were made in a little waiting room. We were then invited to visit the room where the children slept and to meet the nannies who looked after our children. The director pointed out where Charlotte slept (the middle bed in the photo of three beds in a row). I’m curious as to how they kept her in this crib, as it is not as deep as the one we have in the hotel room and she climbed out of it the second night she was with us.

We met Charlotte’s nanny and presented her with a gift. I wrote a letter of love to the nanny that our guide translated for me and attached it to the gift. She read the letter and was very appreciative.

This orphanage has only one room of children, which is located on the 8th floor—our 3 who were adopted and the rest of the beds were filled with special needs children, mostly mentally challenged. This building is also used as an old age home. This orphanage has 30-40 children in its care; however, most of them are in the foster care program. These children must return to the orphanage once a month for a check-up.

This visit was really quite upsetting, at least for me; however, Charlotte seemed so disengaged from it all. She just observed everyone and didn’t get upset.

We then returned to the meeting area and enjoyed tea and watermelon with the key officials. We met a lot of key people but I can’t remember their names or titles right now. I did wonder why so much attention was being showered on us. The officials could stop thanking us and asking us to help improve relations between Canada and China.

Gifts were then presented to the director, vice-director, and for all the staff and nannies to share.

We were invited to have lunch with the high official—we went to a restaurant where we tasted a lot of local favourites and specialties: shrimp from local river, duck soup, eel. There were a lot of things that we didn’t try. It was difficult to fit so many people around the round table in a small room. The highest official in the area then joined us for lunch. It was quite an event. Of course, the girls were totally oblivious to all the hierarchy and power that was in attendance. They just wanted to be fed.

We then went to each child’s place of finding: outside the civil affairs office for the county (Luanna), outside the gov’t offices (Kate), and outside the gate of the orphanage (Charlotte). A woman walking on the sidewalk in front of the orphanage was quite taken with Charlotte and wanted to hold her. She had tears in her eyes as she spoke to her. People around didn’t translate for her so we can only guess what her story might be.

We returned home emotionally exhausted late in the afternoon. It was a good day and well worth all the tears that mommy shed. Not all travel groups get the chance to return to their daughters’ orphanage, so I feel really blessed for the experience but at the same time I’m extremely saddened. I’m really glad that Charlotte is ours forever and that she’ll never have to spend another day in the orphanage again. I found the experience in the children’s room to be a little overwhelming with sadness for those mentally challenged children left behind.