An Adoption Story

Two days ago, an older woman and a little two-year-old girl arrived at the orphanage.  We were told they were going to be sleeping in our room for a couple of days.  I was confused at first, but like most times of confusion, I just went along with it.

The next day, I asked around, and discovered that this little girl was from another orphanage, but was born in Zhengzhou.  They came to apply for a passport, because she was going to be adopted by an American family in a month. 


Of course, I don't think the little girl understood any of this, or what exciting adventure was around the corner for her.  She just knew that she was in an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar people, but that her ayi (who she called mama) was with her, and that made it ok.  "Zamen bu pa," she would repeat whenever she was scared.  "We are not afraid."  


Before she goes to America, I wonder if her ayi will remind her of this mantra.  I wonder if the Ayi will need a mantra of her own.  "Zamen bu shangxin." "We are not sad."

I think being here has shown me that there's another side to the adoption story.  A couple adopts a child and they live happily ever after.  The End.  But there's also an ayi, or a teacher, or a director, or a volunteer, who is so happy that this child is getting this amazing opportunity for a new life, but is also extremely heartbroken that they will probably never see this child again.

Before they left to go back to their own orphanage, the ayi told the child to say, "qu meiguo yi hou, wo zhao ni."  "When I go to America, I will look for you."  

I doubt that will happen, but it's a nice thought.

Warm weather and apple pie

Friday was such a nice day that the kids took a period off from class to go outside and play.  The children rarely get to leave the building, so they were pretty excited.

On Saturday, Flick and I made tenderloin sandwiches and homemade fries for the Lauries.  It was fun being able to cook, since I haven't really been able to for six months.  It was so weird having tenderloin in China.  "Down-home cooking", as Donna called it. :) Marissa also made apple pie, and Donna had made chocolate cookies, so it really felt like America.

Also, this weekend, I went over to the Eagle Wing's baby house with the Lauries.  One of the babies was going to get adopted the next day, so they went to say goodbye and help prepare for the big day.  Another girl is going to America next week too.  It's so exciting seeing kids being adopted, and also really interesting to see it from the view of the other side.

I only have five days left at the orphanage!  It's so weird.  Trying to make the most of it and preparing for goodbyes.

So, till then,
Goodbye!

Lantern Festival!!

On Monday, fifteen days after Chinese New Year is the Lantern Festival, the last day of celebration.  I was lucky enough to be invited to go with the 8^th floor kids to the park to see the lanterns.  I rarely get to hang out with the eight floor kids, since most of them go to public school.  There are six kids on the 8^th floor, and most of them are actually orphans, meaning their parents died. 

At the park, long lines colorful paper ran along two poles on either side of the square.  Written on the paper were riddles that people would try and solve to win prizes.  Firecrackers went off every few seconds, ranging from small sparklers to explosive noisemakers and colorful fireworks.  People also lit bright red lanterns that floated into the sky like hot air balloons.  The sky was full of the imposter stars. 

Over all, it was a fun night, and it was nice hanging out with the eighth floor kids.  Unfortunately, my camera died as soon as we got in the bike cart (we took an electric bike cart like the one from new year's camp).  Fortunately, Liu Ting, my roommate who went along with us, took some picture on her phone.  Sorry the quality is bad. 

Fireworks!

Decorations 

 One of the kids and I

Also this week, two local newspapers interviewed me about my stay here.  A little strange, but it was a great way to practice my Chinese!  They just asked me basic stuff; why was I here, where was I from, yadda yadda. 

I only have one and a half weeks here at the orphanage and two weeks left in China!!! (I’m going to Zhengzhou on my last weekend and in Beijing for one and a half days before finally heading out.)  I also realized I never really described an “average” day here at the orphanage.

So I’ll tell you now! 

The problem with describing an average day is that from the first day I’ve been here to now is completely different.  The first two weeks I wasted away on the second and third floors, trying to play with toddlers and babies who weren’t allowed out of their cribs.  Depending on which Ayi was there, I would sometimes be able to hold them or play with them in the unused playroom, but mostly I would just try and comfort them when they were crying or play with their hands.  It was pretty miserable. 

After the first two weeks I was allowed up to the fifth floor where I could teach the older kids.  When the Harvard students were here we all took turns teaching/playing with the kids in the physical therapy room/ toddler room/ 2^nd and 3^rd floors.  Since the Harvard students left I rarely have time to go to the physical therapy room or the 2^nd and 3^rd floors. 

So for the past two or three weeks, excluding my time helping out with the New Year’s camps, I’d start my day at 7 and go down to the cafeteria for delicious mantou (steamed bread), zhou (rice porridge, a.k.a. congee) and whatever vegetable was offered that day.  At 8 I’d go down to the 5^th floor and prepare for whatever class I had that day.  It varies from day to day.  I teach English, Art, and Music to three different classes.  The older class has kids six kids from the tenth floor ages 10-13.  The younger classes has about five kids ages 4-9, and the middle class has about five to six kids ages 8-13.  The middle class younger class has a mix of kids from tenth floor and 3^rd floor.  If there’s no class, I’ll hang out with the toddlers (made up from kids from the 2^nd and 3^rd floor), sit in on a class to observe, or go to the 2^nd and 3^rd floor. 

At 11:15 I’ll wash up and go eat.  I have a break 2.  (I’ll usually do things on the computer, study Chinese, fill out scholarship apps, Skype, or sleep).  From 2 till 4:30 I’m back on the fifth floor, and at 5 I go eat supper.  After supper I go up to the 10^th floor to do art projects, or just hang out, with the tenth floor kids till around 7.  On Sundays I hang out with the kids all day, using the same time schedule as the rest of the week.  I usually have lunch with the tenth floor kids on Sundays, instead of at the cafeteria.  Saturday is my day.  I’ve recently been going over to Donna’s house for game night and western food.

And that’s a normal week for me.  Here are some random pictures from New Years and this week to end off the blog post:

Xia Lan and You Peng dancing

 From the New Year's camp.  I look like a local

 Kites from the Park we went to at the New Year's camp. this is the same park I went to for the Lantern Festival

 Celebrating New Years with lots of food and tv specials. :)