Orphanage Day

John, Sarah, Bj Ben and Ian

Bj and his cell mate Ian. Ian would watch over BJ, they were best buds, including Ian giving snack to Bj at night.

The directors and nannies, we were eating lunch together. The same rules apply I will not eat what I don't recognize.

Bj's nanny

I'm gonna get mommie!

The location where Bj was found. The red store is the beauty shop, the yellow writing with the pig is the former chicken restaurant.

The orphanage and nannies, Bj is on the right, his little cellmate Ian is on the left. The nannies tell me that Ian used to give snack to Bj at night. I believe it because this tiny little kiddo is a bottomless pit. He could easily eat Eric under the table.

The Zhangjiagang Child welfare institute.

I see ME!

We were able to make the trip to Zhangjiagang today to see the orphanage where Bj lived. It was a long 3 hours, BJ is a great little traveler.

I am amazed at the miles and miles of new construction taking place between Nanjing and Zhangjiagang the adoption city. Tons of new apartments under construction. The Chinese however are not so interested in road construction, I don't think there is a DOT, the roads are lousy/bumpy!

We arrived around noon and it turns out we were late, the orphanage director and nannies waited for lunch so that we could eat with them. I have the potential to cause serious trouble here if there is no rice available and if I see another duck head on a plate in front of me, well I don't know what I am going to do.

It is custom with the Chinese to eat a meal and offensive to them if one does not take part in sampling everything on the table. A typical meal involves the entire group sharing a portion of whatever is served, a lazy susan is in the middle of the table, so you just give it a spin and take what you want. This is fine if I am able to eat what is served. I don't eat fish, and I am not eating shrimp with the little antenaes attached....we took the orphanage tour. Another emotional day for me.

The nannies asked if I would like a picture of his bed-where he slept. The other family in our group adopted BJ's cellmate. We both wanted a picture, so the nannies took the boys and put them BACK in their old beds to take the photo. I am concerned Bj will think I am sending him back, but he was fine. I might need therapy!

So many children, at least 25 in this nursery. This is the only one we are allowed to see. As of yesterday 3/26 there are 70 children in this orphanage. All of them are special needs kiddos. CL/CP most common. I have come to learn that because the orphanage directors are usually peasants/poorly educated it is usually determined that the SN kids are not adoptable! The directors think that families will only want beautiful healthy children-beautiful to them means no defects. I am broken hearted, and would take home as many as I could if we were allowed.

This way of thinking is common in every orphanage in China.

We finished our tour and I was stopped on the way back to our van. The director Mrs Gu, hugged me and cried! I was stunned, she said she would miss Bj.

Then we had the opportunity to see the spot where Bj's mom abandoned him. What we are told is that she is a peasant and was briefly in Zhangjiagang for temporary work. He was left in a BUSY mall area out side of a beauty shop and karaoke bar and chicken eatery. Her note said

"Dear stranger thank you for taking this baby to fortunate place and raising him to grow up like other healthy children. We are peasants from another place and we work here temporarily and cannot keep him. We hope someone with a big heart can take him"