Day 5 Orphanage & School visit

Yesterday we visited Amy's orphanage in Tonggu and her school in Shanggao. It was a L-O-N-G day. We left at 8am and didn't get back to the hotel until 6pm. The day started and ended with terrible traffic in Nanchang. The expressway to Tonggu was nice, but the roads back from Shanggao were crowded, dusty and bumpy. We all slept well last night.

We arrived at the orphanage to the sound of firecrackers. A typical Chinese celebratory activity, they lit off an impressive number to welcome us. The orphanage at Tonggu is a social welfare institute, not a children's welfare institute. The difference being that SWIs care for the young and the elderly. Tonggu actually has no childlren living on site now as they have all been placed in foster care. Because Amy only was in Tonggu during school holidays, she's been living at the SWI and was very popular with everyone.

After introductions and pleasantries we were invited to lunch. First of course, there were gifts exchanged and Amy quickly was off to see people and show Alice around.

We learned at sad bit of news though. Amy's roommate at the SWI, the only other "child" living there was a 28 year old girl who used a wheelchair. We don't know anything more about her disabilities, but they told us she passed away just 1 week ago. They said Amy's leaving may have hasten her passing as she was sad about being the only child left at the SWI.

Amy didn't seem bothered going to her room and enjoyed showing Alice the electric keyboard she liked playing (a gift from an American family who visited with their daughter during the summer on a return trip to China).

More pictures and then off to lunch.

At lunch there was food, food and more food. Also many toasts, only a few of which were translated for me. It seemed they were toasting each other as much as us and Amy. The former director of the SWI joined us and presented Amy with a gift also. She is a very popular girl. We learned that she was the oldest child still at the SWI. I'm glad we "found" her this year. She will be 14 next August and no longer eligiblel to be adopted.

Soon it was time to head to the school. The orphanage had their driver lead us all the way there, a 45 minute drive. It was uneventful until the final few blocks. I have no idea how people find places in these cities who don't already know where things are.

Anyway, we were warmly greeted by Mr. Oulang, her teacher, and the principal. More people kept coming and then all of a sudden this tiny lady scooped Amy up and pulled her into a big hug. It was one of the kitchen ladies and she was extremely fond of Amy.

We saw Amy's classroom and classmates. We met her other teachers.

We saw the room and bed where she slept. (I hope you noticed the beds at the orphanage and school have boards with thin blankets to sleep on. That's why Amy insisted she would be more comfortable on the floor than I would.)

More gifts and then it was time to go. Amy had another episode of desparate clinging and tears (to the kitchen lady), but this little lady through her tears tried to physically lift Amy into the van when it was time to go. With several adults working, Amy was finally peeled off and loaded into the van. I felt so sorry that adoption involves so much pain. The best I could do was let Amy sleep on my lap most of the way back to Nanchang. These kids are so resilient. She was fine by the time she woke up and has been fine since. She was able to just say good-bye to the nanny when we left the restaurant in Tonggu - the same one she had clung to for dear life on Monday. At this age good-byes are hard because they understand they may never see these people again.

One final picture - these are all the gifts Amy was given during our visits! Not sure if we have luggage space for everything. Most of it's candy and sweets. I am happy that she is going home with 2 books in Chinese braille!