Suzhou orphanage

Yesterday we took a CRH Bullet Train from Nanjing to Suzhou to visit Hannah's orphanage. It was the first time on a bullet train. It was really nice inside. Like a Boeing 757 without the wheels, and no seat belts on the chairs. Although it was a super smooth ride, like we were gliding on air. The top speed was 305 km/hr (about 200 mph)!! The train ride went smoothly as well. No issues getting on the train and no delays. Once we arrived in Suzhou we took a taxi to the orphanage. Again, no seat belts but the top speed was only probably 30 km/hr. The orphanage is tucked back in what felt like a side street. It was a single lane pseudo-paved road, "psuedo" because it was so rundown. All of a sudden, our guide says "here it is at the gate". We got out of the taxi and walked through a large steel gate with cameras mounted on the gate and buildings.

The Suzhou Wellfare Institute is not only an orphanage, but a residential facility for eldery as well. It seemed like a little gem mixed in with all the mundane. It seemed really clean and bright. The was space and room for cars to park and people to walk. We hardly saw anybody when we first walk onto the property...it felt so expansive. We were escorted to the second floor of the administration building via glass elevator and into a meeting room. Waiting for us was about a half dozen plates with oranges and what looked like tomatoes. It was the same fruit I had seen on Hannah's birthday cake we sent to her about 6 weeks ago. Hannah's eyes lit up! She remembered the fruit and asked for some right away. Jen peeled an orange for her and she ate it right up. She went through 3 oranges in about 20 minutes!!! After settling in for a few minutes, the deputy director, who we met a couple of days ago at the Civil Affairs office, and another director of the orphanage joined us in the meeting room. We shared some small talk about Hannah's future in Minnesota and her potential surgeries for her extremities. We then handed them our red bag gift and they signed a book we had brought along. We then headed for the orphanage.

It was a surreal experience to say the least. We had mixed feelings about whether or not Hannah had spent anytime here, but she seemed familiar with certain places, like the playground (where nearly all our pre-adoption photos were taken) and the room she supposedly slept in. We met the woman who took care of her, the same woman who Hannah cried for the first day we met her. Hannah's reaction was guarded. She was not as excited to see her as the woman was to see Hannah. We were asked to put on some blue booties, similar to the ones I wear for surgery or like the ones you were when touring a house for sale. We also had to sanitize our hands. Then we entered her room. It was a large room with nearly 30 cribs. Each one had a little orphaned child with special needs. Both Jen and I's first reaction, was that they all appeared to be significantly younger than Hannah, like 18-24 months old. Hannah turned 3 yrs old about 5 weeks ago. Little strange. I won't go into great detail, but all the kids looked like they were missing something--a family. It was a tough site to see.

We finished the tour of the orphanage and had a little lunch with the staff members who led the tour. I will be the first to admit that I was skeptical about what might be served, but it was surprisingly delicious! Hands down, the best meal we had to this point. I was even as adventurous to try eel. And I actually liked it, but not enough to take a second bite. The lunch ended when the staff presented Jen and I with a gift, a small wood framed art piece.

We then headed by car to Hannah's finding spot. This was quite emotional for me. Each orphan in China has a finding ad placed in the local newspaper for a period of time, so the parents can reclaim them. Unfortunately, nearly all of the orphans are brought to the orphanage and never reclaimed by their biological parents. We spent a few minutes soaking in the fact that Hannah's parents have reclaimed her forever and will never abandon her again.

Hannah was pretty exhausted at this point, so we decided to head back to the train station to get some rest. What a mistake! She was wired beyond belief. She has a fascination with escalators, so Jen and Jin took turns riding the escalator. We had 2 hours to pass. So the escalator was a nice distraction, we also took turns letting Hannah put stickers on our face, and in my case, on my glasses. Hannah eventually fell asleep in Jen's arms about 20 minutes before we needed to get on the train. Fortunately, she slept the entire 80 minute train ride. Jen was exhausted from carrying Hannah all day. We bought a stroller the day before from Walmart, but our guide told us that it would be useless. Should have went with our parental instincts!

An interesting story from the train station...as we were waiting to travel back to the hotel. I felt a tug on my shirt. Strange since the only people I knew in China were sitting on my right side. It was a woman about 50-60 years old and she held her hand out. She was a begger asking me for some change. I instinctively shook my head "no." But then I realized she had similar looking hands as Hannah. 2 or 3 of her fingers on her right hand were shortened. Internally, I gasped. Not in disgust, but in realizing that this woman might have represented Hannah several years from now.

I am still processing all of yesterdays happenings, and I'm sure I will for a long time ahead. All I know is that I am grateful for God's calling into our lives to bring our beautiful little girl home where she will have access to so much more!

Suzhou train station

My two cutties!

Wall outside the taxi loading dock

The road leading up to Hannah's orphanage

The sign outside of her orphanage

Walking into the orphanage

Waiting for our tour

The 3 of us in front of a pagoda

The view walking up to the orphanage

Hannah carried this orange with her the entire tour. This photo was taken in the playroom.

Outside at the playground

She loved the trampoline

A view of one of the walkways.

Another pagoda-family picture

Sitting down for lunch

Hannah took down this entire plate of mini shrimp. Apparently she likes shrimp, who knew!

The plate of eel (we were told that eel is 4 times more expensive that beef)

One last piggyback ride

The road leading to Hannah's finding spot

I captured this one at the police station where she was brought to after being found

Play time in bed before heading to the pool

Let's go already

Michael Phelps showed up at the Mandarin Garden Hotel...celebrities are everywhere!! The Chinese call him the "flying fish". And yes, that is a pastel rainbow swim cap, as required by the hotel for adult swim.

Hannah not too sure about the pool

But she warmed up quickly and we had a lot of fun splashing

The pool was a little chilly so we got warmed up in a towel.

The pool

Corn on the cob!!! Hannah is ready for the State Fair next year!!!