Reblog - Going Back to Visit the Orphanage Part II

 
See Theo's previous blog for the first part of the story. These next pictures illustrate his comments.

All in all it took about twice that, including a search for a bathroom (we found one, of the kind that Rowan calls a "squat") and the detour to the grocery store for supplies to bring to the orphanage. Schell insisted on a few photo stops too, like the cave houses and the Yongquan government center. We didn't understand his interest in the latter until he pointed out in Li Mei's history where she was found on the sidewalk; our translation said it was at the police station, so we imagined a squad house, not the whole city office complex.

Then to the orphanage, and it's just impossible to describe it. Look at Rachel's blog for the pictures. We only saw a handful of the 90+ children (the rest were sleeping, a good way to spend a hot afternoon here) and were only allowed into the courtyard/playground. Kai and Rowan handed out cookies, which might have been a nice scene, but frankly both sides were weirded out by it all. We did get to meet two other children whose adoptions are in progress, and got very thankful e-mails from their waiting families, who hadn't received any photos before Rachel sent hers.

We saw the garden where most of Li Mei's pictures were taken, and met the three nannies (yep, three for 90 kids), the manager and some of the older kids who help out. Some of our gift supplies went into the orphanage, and some went to the nannies' cars, and what could we do about it? I didn't say anything; I was trying to think of how we could just load the van with kids and take them all home with us.

Li Mei had been wearing her sunglasses all day, but when the nannies saw her, the first thing they did was take them off, so she was back to her angry-looking squint for the rest of the visit. I watched her for some sign of recognition or understanding (or panic) but she was quiet and passive the whole time. She perked up again during dinner and was playing as usual well into the evening.