Thursday, Oct 25th....

Hengshan... Doug, I and Ken started out for the orphanage at about 8:30AM local time. We were told it would take about 3hours to get there so we settled into our seats as well as we could. It took about 45 minutes to get out of Changsha as the traffic was awful (what else was new). I video-taped some of what the “flow” was because if I tried to convey it verbally, no one would believe me. It is sort of like organized chaos. A massive game of “chicken”, starting with the pedestrian and working its way up to the large trucks and busses. One gives way to the other in a progressive dance that seems to work. There is no “road rage” here simply because the penalties are too great. I wouldn’t survive 24 hours and would either be in jail or a casualty. :)

Once we got out of Changsha Proper, the predominant landscape was rice field upon rice field as far as one could see. It is just past harvest time here and the farmers are burning the chaff. The air is filled with pungent fumes and smoke and it all looks like a fog has rolled in and will never roll out again. We are all lost in our thoughts but every once in awhile, we ask our guide a question or two about local customs, farming, the soil... things like that to try and pass the time.

Eventually, we get to the orphanage. It is on a busy street, but set back from the road a bit. The traffic is mostly cars going up to the Hengshan Mountain Temple area so the noise is bearable. Director Li meets us at the end of the driveway and is very cordial and jovial. Winnie, our guide introduces us and the conversation becomes very animated as our questions, and the answers about the orphanage and life here go back and forth. We find out that there are no longer any children here and it is only an Old Age residence. The children that are found still pass through because it is the local Social Welfare Institute, but they are usually placed into Foster Care as soon as possible. The first and second floors are being renovated to house the elderly and the smell of fresh paint is in the air. I am video-taping everything I can and Doug and Ken are snapping photos while Winnie is busily asking and answering questions. The Director shows us the rooms where our children played and where they slept. We see the tiny, individual play pens (about 18 inches square). These were used because the caretakers had charge of 6 or so children and when one needed attention or changing, the others were placed in these play pens. They are sort of baby walkers without wheels. There are also “dual” playpens where the children are placed facing each other so they can interact. It’s a very efficient system where one-on-one attention is unavailable. They do what they can.... The Director shows us the barren landscape behind the main building and tells us that the architectural plans are already drawn up to build an annex to house future abandoned and special needs children. He said the projected finish date is sometime late in 2008. I am both glad to see that there will be new housing for them and saddened that they need something like this here.

We are taken to the business office area and the staff has prepared a feast of fruit and water for us in the conference room. We eat bananas, oranges that are more tangerines than anything else, pears and small round fruit that look and taste like apples but we are told are dates. It is all very nice and there is no awkwardness as Winnie is relating to us what is happening here. There are many pictures of happy families who have sent their photos to the orphanage from around the world. They show happy and smiling children who have found their Forever Families and the Director and his staff are very proud of their service to the children and in seeing them so happy. We promise that we will also send pictures of our families as we grow.

It’s time to get back in the van as the Director wants to show is the places our children were found. We go to the place in town where Teresa was found and it’s a very emotional time for me as I film the hotel steps and the surrounding area. It is a busy place and there’s a police station right across the street so someone knew that she would be found safe and sound.

After a time, we drive to the center of town and stop at the local “Best Buy” :) It’s a small appliance store that carries everything under the sun. I had promised that we would buy the orphanage a washer and air conditioner when I found out their needs prior to our trip to China. Because of the generosity of so many folks back home we were able to pool our money here between three families and we bought a large, industrial washer, a fairly large air conditioner and had enough money left to “negotiate” an additional water heater :) It was a lot of fun to “haggle” with the local dealer :) We took pictures of the purchases and we will post them once they come off of Dougie’s camera. We could all tell the Director and his staff were very grateful for these donations. It will make life that much easier for the orphanage and that’s pretty much all that matters when all is said and done.

Time for lunch... :) The Director and his staff treat us to lunch at one of the local eateries... We have a private room and food is served at a round table with a large “Lazy Susan” where all the food is placed. We again talk up a storm with the Director and staff and ask many questions about our children. The food is delicious! First out was a cooked chicken... head, body and feet... the whole thing! I grab a foot and start gnawing and I could tell the folks were impressed that a Westerner didn’t turn his nose up at anything brought out ( I drew the line at the feet and didn’t touch the head :) Next came out a plate of “Wild Boar”... a native animal hunted and caught in the hills around Hengshan. It was a little gamy tasting but delicious nonetheless... We ate and toasted and ate some more and the three of us could tell that everyone else there accepted us and was glad for the opportunity to meet and talk with the parents of “their” children.

It was almost time to leave, but Winnie wanted us to see the famous Hengshan Mountain Temple area. We drove for about 20 minutes through the countryside and got to the temple area. We couldn’t stay long but were able to get a feel for the place and the local culture. I bought some incense and made an offering...

This is a very rural area and they do things much differently here than we could ever accept in the States. I saw small children about Taylor’s age (4 or so) walking alongside the busy road and making their way home from whatever school they went to. Darling and adorable kids and it made me shudder to watch them travel this road, but it’s their way of life and they were all smiling and happy, so who am I to say?

We saw many driveways that were covered with a layer of drying rice... They even had it on the side of the road... .any flat surface that would allow the sun to burn off the moisture was used... Chickens were walking through it, pecking away and I even saw a motorcycle parked in the middle the drying rice... Oh well.. .”When in Rome”... :)

We drove back to the orphanage and the staff presented us with small gifts for the parents and the adopted children. A very kind and simple gesture that we appreciated very much. We were also given the clothes and whatever they had that our babies were found in. The Director was saddened that he didn’t have more but he told us that our babies were found in January and their outer clothing... the heavy coats and pants were used for other babies as ours grew out of them. No matter, we had something precious that no one can ever take away from them or us.

Time to leave... We say our good byes and I promise the Director that we will take good care of our daughter and make sure she grows up to be a good person. I also promise that I will bring her back someday to see where she came from. The ride back for me is quiet as so many thoughts and images are racing through my mind... I try not to contrast my life with what I experienced today as that is totally unfair, but it’s difficult to remain aloof and distant when it’s your daughter and you see where she came from and what could have been.

We have it all on video and in photos, so someday, Teresa will have it to do with as she sees fit.

We make our way back to the hotel in Changsha... I open the room and see three smiling and happy faces running towards me...

All is well with the world...

Andy

ps. pictures will follow later tonight/today...