Yesterday was a tough day. We visited Dr. Sun Yet Sen’s Mausoleum in the morning (392 steps to the top!) and then had a nice lunch.
In the afternoon, we were brought to visit the Nanjing orphanage. I’m not sure what I expected, but I definitely wasn’t prepared for how I would feel seeing all those older children living in an institution.
The orphanage is world-renowned and definitely a model orphanage in China. It looked like the girls’ Montessori school in the classrooms and the babies playrooms. As well, it had therapy rooms where they worked with children with special needs and a complete medical clinic in a separate building.
We toured the babies rooms first (we were not allowed in but could look through the glass wall). The babies were so adorable and sweet. Some had special needs, but many looked healthy. There were many nannies looking after them, it looked like about a 3-1 ratio, although that could just be for the day time.
We were allowed into a few pre-school classrooms as well. The kids were a little alarmed and a few cried at the disruption, but they eventually warmed up to us and said a few words like “hello” and “good afternoon”. They were so sweet!
We were then brought to a large room where the presentation and show was held. The older children put on a wonderful show with dancing, a magic show, singing and kung fu demonstration. The first dance was to a song about how a mother’s love is the best love of all and one of the teachers joined in part way through to play the part of the mother. I was in tears, as were many of us, to watch the children dance to this song and act out the actions of meeting their mother and dancing with her. It was very hard to see, knowing that these children are waiting for a mother and may never have one. It was heart-breaking.
There was a little boy (10 years old) who they called the “Pocket Orphan” because he’s a little person. I couldn’t believe that name, but its true. He was quite the showman and put on a wonderful magic show. There was also a 14 year old girl who danced and assisted in the magic show. She was so tall and beautiful. We found out later that she is being adopted next month to an American family. We were happy to hear that, but wondered how hard it would be for her to leave all her friends and teachers, everyone she knows and loves in the world and move halfway around the world. She was so motherly with the younger kids, and now she may never see those friends again. It must be so hard for these kids to endure the endless stream of losses in their lives. From their first family to the friends that leave constantly through the years. And finally, when they leave themselves and lose their country, culture, language and everyone they know in the world. I think most of us couldn’t even imagine this for our children.
At the end, they showed a video about the Nanjing orphanage that also brought me to tears. I think the worst part was that these kids are living in the best orphanage in China. It was hard to imagine how some children are doing in the poorer orphanages.
Today, we stopped in Suzhou on our way to Shanghai. We weren’t able to do this when we came to get Avery in 2001, so we were glad to be able to see it this time. We were taken on a river tour on a boat, which was quite interesting. The houses are right up to the water, with some even having stairs that lead to the water.
We then went to a silk factory where the girls got to see how silk is made, right from the worm and caccoon to the final fabric weaving and dyeing.
In the afternoon, we visited one of the 120 gardens in Suzhou. It was unbelievable! Many of the gardens were made hundreds of years ago when government officials, etc. retired and would come to Suzhou to build a retreat and garden. We walked through fairly quickly, and it still took us an hour to get through it. Although the girls complained bitterly about the heat, we had a good time and enjoyed the beauty and history of the garden.
We’ve now arrived in Shanghai, where we’ll be until we leave to come home on Sunday. Our hotel has changed to the Hua Ting Hotel. Tomorrow we’re visiting Zhouzhuang – I think it’s a city built on water, like Venice, but I’ll know for sure tomorrow!
Will update again tomorrow.
1 comment:
Oh wow Paola - I can just imagine. I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes just reading your description - I can imagine how emotional it was in person.
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