Yesterday, we woke up early to meet our guide. We were all going to tak e a four hour train ride to Shiyan City - the city where Cheyenne was born, abandoned and lived in the orphanage. On the way to the train station we had our guide tell Cheyenne that we were all going to visit her orphanage but that she would be saying good-bye to her friends and returning with Mama and Baba. She seemed to understand but got visibly nervous after the guide told her where we were going.
To those of you following along everyday, I apologize for not posting anything. The visit to the orphanage was a very long and emotionally draining day. I had to mentally process everything I saw and felt, and wasn't ready to express it in words yet.
The train station arrived in Shiyan City about 11:45am. The orphanage director met us at the train station and took us to lunch. We had lunch with her and three other directors. The lunch was an authentic Chinese meal, complete with beef curd (yuk!). The directors were very impressed with how well Cheyenne was attaching to all of us. At one point Cheyenne had to go to the bathroom. One of directors jumped up to take her, but she grabbed my hand and refused to let the director take her.
After lunch, we went to the orphanage. We had to walk past a metal gate and guard shack. Then we were greeted outside by all the nannies and teachers. There was a small jungle gym outside in front of the building. The boys and Cheyenne played there for a few minutes. Nathan chased her around while she screeched "like a girl" and came running to hide behind me. Then Casey would "protect" her from him and pull her away...and the chase continued. I managed to get a snipit of it on video.
Now it was time to go inside. While walking into the building, one of the nannies said to Cheyenne "Why don't you stay here with us.". All of the staff laughed and then the guide translated to us. We did not appreciate it but didn't think much of it at that point, knowing she meant it as a joke. Once inside, the first thing I noticed is how clean, but stale everything looked. It had a very hospital like feel to it. There were long coridoors with doors on one side and windows on the other. They had a video prepared that they wanted us to watch. They escorted us to the sitting room. On the way to the sitting room we passed some rooms with labels on them. One was labeled as the clinic. Another was labeled as an "Isolation Room". I didn't ask what the purpose of that room was because I didn't wnat to know the answer. Since it was next to the clinic, I'm hoping it is where they treat very contagious illnesses, but even if that's true, it was a fast reminder of how unlike a family environment that would be. It was at this point when I really started to get emotional but I was trying desperately to hide it. We went into the sitting room to watch the video. It was a slide show of pictures of the children and the various outings they have taken them to. They believe that taking the children out on field trips is good for their mental development.
As the slideshow was playing, we were all talking (through our guide). The director introduced us to all of the staff who were present, including the nanny who has taken care of Cheyenne from day one. I took a couple of pictures of Cheyenne with her nanny and then I couldn't contain my emotions any more. I started to cry a little and Cheyenne grabbed a tissue and came to me and wiped the tears away. :) The nanny said (multiple times) things like, "Why don't you just stay with us?" and "Are you sure you want to go with Mama and Baba". I could tell that this made Cheyenne uncomfortable becuase she instantly pulled away from her and came and sat on my lap for the remainder of the slideshow. When the slide show was over, the director convinced Cheyenne to do a traditional Chinese dance for all of us. I managed to capture it on video too.
We then left the sitting room and went to see a room with the history of the orphanage in it (kind of like a museum). There was artwork done by the kids laying on some tables. They pointed out a piece done by Cheyenne. I couldn't take it, but I was allowed to take a picture of it. On one of the walls, there was the shape of China made up of a collage of children's faces of kids in the orphanage. Two of them were Cheyenne from two different years, several years ago. The director was very impressed at my abilty to recognize her when she asked. I told her it was maternal instinct. :) During the time we spent in this area, the nanny who cared for Cheyenne kept trying to position herself next to Cheyenne. She kept saying the things she had been saying earlier and I was starting to get annoyed. I didn't say anything at this point, because as we looked around, we could tell the Cheyenne was clearly a favorite. She was on the cover of their quaterly newsletter and in many of the pictures along the walls. I could tell the nanny cared for her very much and was sad to lose her. After having known her for just two days,,, I couldn't imagine parting with her either. So I understand how the nanny must be feeling and while I was annoyed, I was trying to be patient.
Now it was time to see the areas where Cheyenne spent her time. We saw the classroom, an activitiy room and her bedroom which ws rows of bunk beds separated by rows of cribs.
Now it was time to meet some of the other children. They were all so happy to see some new faces. We had a bag of suckers for Cheyenne to hand out to them. They were clearly happy to see Cheyenne, but it appeared to me that CHeyenne was indifferent about seeing them again. One of the other little girls is being adopted by a family in Illinois. I know the mother from a FB group and promised I would get some pictures for her. They didn't want me taking pictures of all the other children, so they brought the other little girl outside with us. Cheyenne let me take a couple of pictures but was then clearly melting down. She started to withdraw and get very quiet. She seemed distant. Then we noticed the nanny was close to her and was still saying some things to her. Although we didn't know what she was saying, we could tell it was making Cheyenne uncomfortable. Fortunately, it was time for us to leave and right at this time, the car showed up to take us back to the train station.
On the way to the train station, we made a quick stop at the hospital where Cheyenne was abandoned. This is an important part of her history and I wanted to get a picture of her there. Fortunately, as soon as we were all together and out of the car, she seemed to perk back up.
We boarded the train back to Wuhan for one last night in our hotel. On the train, Cheyenne fell asleep on my lap for a while. When she woke up, we let her play on her tablet and I read a book...well I at least attempted to read the book but my mind kept thinking back over the day and at one point I started to cry a little. Cheyenne looked up at me and took her hand and wiped away the tears. Then, she took the book out of my hands and closed it (thinking the book was making me cry). :) She is such a sweet and caring child.
When we got back to the hotel room, I gave her a bubble bath and got her ready for bed. She seemed like she was back to her normal self and I thanked God that the trip to the orphanage did not cause her to withdraw from us.
Today we received her Passport and the official adoption certificate. Then we boarded another train to Guangzhou. This is the city where the US Embassy is located and where we will spend the remainder of our trip. Tomorrow we have to take Cheyenne to the medical center to have a medical exam done and get a TB test. Please pray that she does well with that appointment.
My technology is still not working to include pictures or videos but I will add them later.
To those of you following along everyday, I apologize for not posting anything. The visit to the orphanage was a very long and emotionally draining day. I had to mentally process everything I saw and felt, and wasn't ready to express it in words yet.
The train station arrived in Shiyan City about 11:45am. The orphanage director met us at the train station and took us to lunch. We had lunch with her and three other directors. The lunch was an authentic Chinese meal, complete with beef curd (yuk!). The directors were very impressed with how well Cheyenne was attaching to all of us. At one point Cheyenne had to go to the bathroom. One of directors jumped up to take her, but she grabbed my hand and refused to let the director take her.
After lunch, we went to the orphanage. We had to walk past a metal gate and guard shack. Then we were greeted outside by all the nannies and teachers. There was a small jungle gym outside in front of the building. The boys and Cheyenne played there for a few minutes. Nathan chased her around while she screeched "like a girl" and came running to hide behind me. Then Casey would "protect" her from him and pull her away...and the chase continued. I managed to get a snipit of it on video.
Now it was time to go inside. While walking into the building, one of the nannies said to Cheyenne "Why don't you stay here with us.". All of the staff laughed and then the guide translated to us. We did not appreciate it but didn't think much of it at that point, knowing she meant it as a joke. Once inside, the first thing I noticed is how clean, but stale everything looked. It had a very hospital like feel to it. There were long coridoors with doors on one side and windows on the other. They had a video prepared that they wanted us to watch. They escorted us to the sitting room. On the way to the sitting room we passed some rooms with labels on them. One was labeled as the clinic. Another was labeled as an "Isolation Room". I didn't ask what the purpose of that room was because I didn't wnat to know the answer. Since it was next to the clinic, I'm hoping it is where they treat very contagious illnesses, but even if that's true, it was a fast reminder of how unlike a family environment that would be. It was at this point when I really started to get emotional but I was trying desperately to hide it. We went into the sitting room to watch the video. It was a slide show of pictures of the children and the various outings they have taken them to. They believe that taking the children out on field trips is good for their mental development.
As the slideshow was playing, we were all talking (through our guide). The director introduced us to all of the staff who were present, including the nanny who has taken care of Cheyenne from day one. I took a couple of pictures of Cheyenne with her nanny and then I couldn't contain my emotions any more. I started to cry a little and Cheyenne grabbed a tissue and came to me and wiped the tears away. :) The nanny said (multiple times) things like, "Why don't you just stay with us?" and "Are you sure you want to go with Mama and Baba". I could tell that this made Cheyenne uncomfortable becuase she instantly pulled away from her and came and sat on my lap for the remainder of the slideshow. When the slide show was over, the director convinced Cheyenne to do a traditional Chinese dance for all of us. I managed to capture it on video too.
We then left the sitting room and went to see a room with the history of the orphanage in it (kind of like a museum). There was artwork done by the kids laying on some tables. They pointed out a piece done by Cheyenne. I couldn't take it, but I was allowed to take a picture of it. On one of the walls, there was the shape of China made up of a collage of children's faces of kids in the orphanage. Two of them were Cheyenne from two different years, several years ago. The director was very impressed at my abilty to recognize her when she asked. I told her it was maternal instinct. :) During the time we spent in this area, the nanny who cared for Cheyenne kept trying to position herself next to Cheyenne. She kept saying the things she had been saying earlier and I was starting to get annoyed. I didn't say anything at this point, because as we looked around, we could tell the Cheyenne was clearly a favorite. She was on the cover of their quaterly newsletter and in many of the pictures along the walls. I could tell the nanny cared for her very much and was sad to lose her. After having known her for just two days,,, I couldn't imagine parting with her either. So I understand how the nanny must be feeling and while I was annoyed, I was trying to be patient.
Now it was time to see the areas where Cheyenne spent her time. We saw the classroom, an activitiy room and her bedroom which ws rows of bunk beds separated by rows of cribs.
Now it was time to meet some of the other children. They were all so happy to see some new faces. We had a bag of suckers for Cheyenne to hand out to them. They were clearly happy to see Cheyenne, but it appeared to me that CHeyenne was indifferent about seeing them again. One of the other little girls is being adopted by a family in Illinois. I know the mother from a FB group and promised I would get some pictures for her. They didn't want me taking pictures of all the other children, so they brought the other little girl outside with us. Cheyenne let me take a couple of pictures but was then clearly melting down. She started to withdraw and get very quiet. She seemed distant. Then we noticed the nanny was close to her and was still saying some things to her. Although we didn't know what she was saying, we could tell it was making Cheyenne uncomfortable. Fortunately, it was time for us to leave and right at this time, the car showed up to take us back to the train station.
On the way to the train station, we made a quick stop at the hospital where Cheyenne was abandoned. This is an important part of her history and I wanted to get a picture of her there. Fortunately, as soon as we were all together and out of the car, she seemed to perk back up.
We boarded the train back to Wuhan for one last night in our hotel. On the train, Cheyenne fell asleep on my lap for a while. When she woke up, we let her play on her tablet and I read a book...well I at least attempted to read the book but my mind kept thinking back over the day and at one point I started to cry a little. Cheyenne looked up at me and took her hand and wiped away the tears. Then, she took the book out of my hands and closed it (thinking the book was making me cry). :) She is such a sweet and caring child.
When we got back to the hotel room, I gave her a bubble bath and got her ready for bed. She seemed like she was back to her normal self and I thanked God that the trip to the orphanage did not cause her to withdraw from us.
Today we received her Passport and the official adoption certificate. Then we boarded another train to Guangzhou. This is the city where the US Embassy is located and where we will spend the remainder of our trip. Tomorrow we have to take Cheyenne to the medical center to have a medical exam done and get a TB test. Please pray that she does well with that appointment.
My technology is still not working to include pictures or videos but I will add them later.
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