Yujiang County SWI

It is the start of monsoon season here, so the rain today was not unexpected. It was the day we traveled to visit Harper's Social Welfare Institute (SWI), of which the orphanage is just one part (also elder care, adults with disabilities). Harper was fortunate in that she was in the SWI during the day, and with a foster mother at night. One of the reasons I wanted to go was so that she could see her foster mother and me in the same place - maybe it would help her make sense of the upheaval in her life the past few days. After 3 hours of travel (almost continuous honking by the driver who I thought did a great job of maneuvering around all the things that appear on the road: cars, trucks, bicycles, carts, animals....), the last bit of road leading to the SWI was under construction. So we were met by a woman from the SWI and led through pathways and side streets. When we reached the front gates, the woman yelled and said she was calling for the foster mother who lived close by down the path. And then the foster mother appeared with her arms outstretched yelling "Min Yan, Min Yan" and smiling. I set Harper down and she was staring in disbelief as her foster mother came and scooped her up (Lucy had told me in the car to "hold the baby" so the foster mother could not - are you kidding? - that is why I came so she could hold her and they could have a little more time together). The SWI had a banner welcoming Min Yan back and fireworks were set off to announce her return visit.

We spent about 15 minutes with the foster mother in the Director's office, in which I heard via Lucy's translations about the orphanage and Min Yan's time there, and watched Harper down a banana in about 1 minute. Another food like - check! The foster mother then indicated she was leaving, but wanted me to know I had a "good girl" and a "beautiful heart" to take her. I had to keep it together because the Director and a few others were waiting for us to join in for lunch, but I hope Lucy translated my gratitude to this special woman who I will do my best to tell Harper about as she gets older. The lunch was delicious (best food so far, well, tied at least with yesterday's donut holes), in part because the vegetables came from gardens maintained by the SWI. We then went to visit the babies in the orphanage, most if not all going into the international adoption system, and I tried to bend down and talk to each one scooting around in a walker. This was the only part of the visit where Harper became agitated and started to cry, probably because this building is where she spent so much of her day time. But she mellowed out and was in a good disposition the rest of the day after a little nap during the ride back to the hotel. Noodles for dinner with our hotel friends (the single mom with now two kids - I am paying attention to those dynamics!). I questioned my decision to take Harper back to her SWI, but after the fact have no regrets. The understanding I now have of her life before we met is immeasurable. In contrast, I know almost nothing of Jaden's first year, although on inquiry once home with her I was told she was never fostered. One day we will come back to China to visit her SWI, too (it was not an option at the time of adoption).

Harper and foster mother. See the look on her poor face?!?

At lunch, the Director knew exactly how to make her laugh.

With Director at entrance of SWI.

SWI gardens and countryside.

Pre-noodle dinner.