Today was the first day we woke up in China (I actually woke up a couple times in China this morning). We met Bob in the lobby at 9:30 AM.
Since we were up in our room at about 6:00 AM, this gave us plenty of time to get ourselves sort of put together and have breakfast first. The hotel we're staying in is not one I'd recommend, but it's not too bad. The "buffet" has very few western items, and I'm not quite brave enough to venture into the Chinese breakfast staples yet. We did alright though, and got a kick out of the amusement we provided to the staff. After breakfast we headed straight to the S.W.I. where Kai used to live for a visit. It appears being granted the opportunity for this visit was quite fortunate on our part. Another family who was just here to adopt was refused by the director. Bob told us that when he first inquired about our visit with the S.W.I. director he was refused as well, so he contacted the local governor who gave his approval. Basically Bob went over the director's head. We aren't sure why the director doesn't want familiies visiting, but the nannies and the assistant directors made us feel very welcome. We worried a bit about how Kai would do during this visit. Would he be frightened that we might leave him? Would he truly remember his nanny? Would he behave? As Bob drove closer to the S.W.I. Tina and I began to recognise the area from our trip to adopt Kai, and then we were pullling in to the compound. When Kai saw the entrance to the offices he proclaimed, "China!" He finally felt we had arrived.
We went in to the same office where we first met Kai; the assistant director we met two years ago called out, "Hui-Hui!"
She greeted us, and Bob explained that we would be allowed to take pictures outside, but not inside, then a few other adults joined us and we headed to see the new children's building. The assistant director took Kai's hand and he went with her willingly. As soon as we got the children's building Kai's nanny, Chin-yen appeared and scooped him up! Kai was actually thrilled to see her!
The language barrier is so frustrating, even with an interpretor it was very difficult to communicate what we wanted to say. We have looked at pictures of her so often with Kai, that meeting her again was almost like encountering a mythical being! There is a play-structure in the atrium of the new building that Kai was dying to play on, so they let him in and we all followed him. We had a short list of children who we know have adoptive parents waiting to come get them, so they brought these children down for us to photograph. I have a lot photos of these children, but the internet connection is too slow for me to upload them all now. Hopefully it will be faster in Xi'an and I will get them all uploaded to our Walgreen's site then. Kai had a great time playing and visiting with the nannies, and one little girl in particular who was close to his age. We only saw a few other children besides the ones on our list, and we weren't allowed to see their living areas. but the nannies were very gracious and truly thrilled to see Kai. They were all over him, and at one point his main nanny scooped him up and took him up the stairs. It was clear that Tina and I were not to follow, and even when she took him out of view, he was fine with her. It was actually quite strange the way he was so at ease. He seemed to be enjoying the visit every bit as much as they were.
We brought a few gifts of clothes and art supplies for the children and asked the nannies what they could use. They told us that they really needed disposable diapers and formula for the very young babies, as they seemed to be getting more of these lately. So we went to a store and bought some more of these items and returned with them later in the day.
We invited the directors to lunch but they declined. Bob felt that this was probably due to our visit being arranged in spite of the head director initially declining our request. He had met with us out of obligation, but was going no further. So we went to a very nice lunch at a beautiful Chinese restaurant with Bob. The rest of the day we spent touring the former governor's estate/office, and the Lotus Pond Gardens. The former governor was a very high ranking position and the offices were layed out like a small version of the forbidden city. The Lotus Pond Gardens, were formally owned a by a very wealthy landowner and are amazingly beautiful. Kai particularly enjoyed the gardens as he was able to run and play outdoors. Bob was very indulgant of him and played games of make-believe that Kai initiated. The day was very warm and humid, but the rains from last night had cleared the air and we had blue skies overhead and good visibility. In spite of feeling a bit sticky, it was a very beautiful day for site-seeing.
Kai had a few very minor melt-downs, but on the whole he has continued to be extremely cooperative and eager to go and see whatever is next. He loves talking with Bob, who is way too indulgant. The staff at the S.W.I. were this way too, he was definitely spoiled today and was the star of the show. Considering though, how things will shift for him when we receive Shen, we are glad that Kai is able to be the main focus for this part of the trip.
We continue to receive lots of intense stares from people when we are out. It's mainly the site of us with Kai that seems to puzzle people. I went alone to a little grocery store down the street from the hotel on my own to pick up a few snack items and was hardly noticed, but add the woman with curly red hair, and the little Chinese boy speaking English to us, and we become something like a UFO siting.
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