The New Orphanage

We left the old orphanage through a crowd of people who had gathered outside of the gates. Most were middle age or older, watching the foreigners come out of the place with their Chinese girls. We must have been quite a sight! Especially because many people don’t even know that the orphanage exists or that’s what they say. In China, they often say what they want to hear, or what they wish to be true. One adoptive mother (who speaks Chinese and lives in Shanghai) was talking to some locals. She said her daughter was from Fuling and from the orphanage there. “Where?” they said, “Must be Chengdu or Chongqing, not Fuling, there’s no orphanage here.” and they were only standing a few winding blocks from it!! Could they be so uninformed? or just want to ignore the obvious…it’s like the Emperor’s New Clothes.


The new orphanage is located up on a small mountain with a thin winding road. The gates were large, with a tall tiled wall around the complex---no yucky food stalls and the pollution must be much less. We were welcomed by Director Yang and Vice Director Chen and trekked up the hill. The tiled building was nice, but I wasn’t too excited to see the large pretty building, I just wanted to get in there and see if I could get my hands on some babies!



We were invited into the building, given plastic footies to cover our shoes and were given free reign to wander around the baby rooms!!! We were lead first to a room of older special needs children (ages 3-4 probably, with Down Syndrome and cognitive deficits). We played with them for awhile and what characters!!! They would play little games of peek-a-boo and toss the toy, so we would pick it up, but also just wandered around with no one really watching them. Several times, we encountered one little girl wandering down the hall towards the stairs and I gently guided her back to the play room.

We were able to go all around the second floor and I finally found a room of babies! Of course the cute one immediately catch your eye, but we made sure to give attention to all of the little ones. It’s very difficult to not given too much attention only to the cuties…I can imagine what it is like for the nannies as they work with them all hours of everyday. I’m sure they have their favorites and the favs (usually cute) get the most attention. We took plenty of pictures and took turns holding “the littles”.


Jason has such pity for the kids and it is hard for him to be there, but he held babies and was the photographer. The boys ran around like goons and played with toys and special needs kids. I am proud of them that they aren’t afraid to interact with these little ones, who are so craving of attention. They have grown accustomed to being with special needs kiddos because of my job and I’m thankful that they are inclusive of differences.

I never wanted to leave there! I wanted to give hugs and rock and squeeze those little girls all night. Our guides tried to announce that it was time to wrap it up, but we mommas ignored them several times and continued to stroke baby cheeks and coo at puzzled eyes. One little one in particular I couldn’t put down---she has huge dark eyes, chubby cheeks, and a pouty lip…kind of reminds me of Lydia. I tried to find out her name, but couldn’t understand their pronunciation without seeing it in writing.

Finally, I tore myself away as it was time to go to another building. Director Yang had arranged for some chefs to teach the girls how to make dumplings. We washed with the tap water (no soap available). My hands were probably cleaner PRIOR to washing with the Fuling water J and headed off to the cafeteria for a meal. We had a lesson on dumpling making and then were served a meal that the nannies had prepared. Jason got a dumpling making demonstration directly from Director Yang. It was some of the best food we’ve had! Dumplings, greens, oranges, fresh vegetables. Even the boys got their tummies full.

Again, I was overwhelmed with the welcome that we were receiving. The orphanage staff was so proud to be hosting us and did an amazing job at serving over 100 people (children included!) AND, that we were allowed to touch, hold, and cuddle those little ones for as long as we wanted…truly amazing, especially since only eight years ago when adoption first began at this orphanage in Fuling, no parents were allowed in, ever, not even when you picked up your child. The relationship between the adoptive parents and the orphanage has grown so much since then.


The most wonderful part of the afternoon, was in the baby room. I was playing with some children when Jason came in with our guide and said that he had found Lydia’s nannies! He said, “These ladies recognized Lydia and said they were her nannies for the last eight months she was here” I couldn’t believe it---finally some REAL info!! These women we did not meet last time…I’m not sure why, but they weren’t presented to us. But today, we met them! Two sweet women…one older lady, and one younger. Lydia was sleeping, but they both talked to her, hugged her, and kissed her. We got lots of pics and when Lydia woke up, we showed them to her. Lydia let them hold her for a while, but then wanted to come back to me. She almost seemed to recognize the younger woman, as she stared at her for an extra long time and then wanted down.


I was overwhelmed to meet them, and showed my gratitude for their care with many hugs and tears. They stroked Lydia’s cheeks and had tears as well. Tears and hugs cross any language barrier and we stood awhile telling them our thanks (the only Chinese words we know).


I think we all left the orphanage with a full heart today. Full of gratitude for being allowed in there, full of sadness for the children who are there, and also full of hope that they will someday find a true family and permanent home.