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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

On To Dianjiang

We were met at Chongqing airport by the lady I have always known as the assistant director, Director Dai. Xia told me she is actually the party represenatative (no , not that kind of party) at the social welfare institute.(Li Jiang Hong is now assistant director.) She welcomed us and we set out with the driver to Dianjiang. Also joining us was our translator, Wang. He is a student of our former translator, Oriole, who among other things now teaches at the university. He is studying English and was glad to have the opportunity to travel with us. Xia had been our unofficial translator up until that time. It is absolutely exhasting for her to do her work and alsotranslate back and forth ...English to Chinese and Chinese to English. Especially when that is not her job.

We set out for Dianjiang, an approximately 2 hour drive, going between 130 and 140 km per hour the whole way. Not only that, but our luggage was crammed in the trunk and in the backseat was Director Dai, Xia, Krista and Wang while I was scrunched up in the front ( my legs are on the long side!). We were greeted at our hotel by Li Jiang Hong, the business manager also named Li and the woman in charge of foster care at Dianjiang.

After depositing our bags in our rooms, we joined the SWI personnel at a local hot pot restaurant. We were met there by the new SWI director. He used to be at the local Civil Affairs office and oddly enough has the same family name as the previous director. He is Director Gao. He is a friendly and outgoing person and we could see how comfortable his relationship was with the women he worked with. In fact we both also made note of how the women had all been at Dianjiang as long as we could remember and how they seemed to work so well together.

This was a different hot pot than I had ever had as each person had their own individual hot pot on an element in front of them. The food was, as always , delightful and some of the presentation was gorgeous too. This was a time to renew acquaintances and build relationships. Business would not be discussed until the next day.

The next morning we awoke and had breakfast at the hotel. We then met the driver downstairs and drove to our first meeting of the day. We had requested to meet with 5 specific foster children and the first was a little boy whose family is waiting for news that they can come an bring hi home. We were met on the street by him in his foster mom’s arms along with the foster dad. We were also met but another DJ baby who was with her foster mom. I was able to whisper a special message into her ear from her waiting mama in the USA. We followed the couple up to their apartment on the third floor of a building not too far from the orphanage. We were welcomed in and encouraged to remove our shoes and put on slippers. The place was spotless and surprisingly large. There was a sunken living room with nice furniture and a gleaming floor. There were three bedrooms. We played with the kids, took pictures and asked questions for the parents who were waiting to adopt them.

We then left and walked a few blocks down the street to meet with another foster child and her foster mom. The baby was a sweet thing who was obviously shy and looked away. That meeting lasted only about 5 minutes as some locals who of course would have no idea of what we were doing, objected to us taking pictures and were getting quite vocal about it. A group of men were starting to congregate and we were rushed off onto the car so as not to create a big fuss. So we saw this little one and talked a bit bit did not have as long a time as with the others.

We went back to the orphanage and there were met by another beautiful Dianjiang child and her foster mother. Because that child is going to a family in Canada, Krista put a Canada sticker on her and took pictures. the child waved and blew kisses and most precious of all, when her foster mom would tell her to, she would join her little hands together and bow.

Soon another family joined us. They have two foster children and also with them was their young son and the grandmother who lived with them. You could see their love and affection for the children. The girls were both wearing ballon animal backpack. You will have to look at the pictures because I don’t think I can adequately explain them. Too cute tho. The older girl who has delayed development was just delighted beyond belief to see pictures of herself in my digital camera, and the younger one, who reminds me of my Dianjiang girl, was very happy to let me practice my sad little bit of Mandarin and imitate my English.

All the kiddos were happy to receive the yogurt drinks we bought for them, although a few made the expected mess!! But that makes it all the more fun, right?

The children were all obviously well loved and cared for. They were happy and you could see the attachment to the foster mom/parents. they sought out the foster parents for comfort...just like they should. The staff told us they have over time weeded out any foster families they have not felt provided good care and kept those who have. For these children, being in a foster home is the next best thing to having a permanent family. It is tons better than being in the orphanage. We are so glad to be able to help provide this kind of care.

Currently there are 28 children from Dianjiang in foster care. Dianjiang Kids sponsors 25 of those. Sponsorships are available if you are interested in helping out with this program and making a difference in the life of a child. (www.dianjiangkids.org)You can sponsor a child for $480 annually or donate what you can and your donation will be joined with others to sponsor a child. As a sponsor you will receive quarterly reports and pictures of your sponsored child. And you will know you have helped a child get a good start.

Kelly coordinates foster are for Dianjiang Kids International and would be happy to talk to anyone who is interested in the program.

That afternoon, we were thrilled to be able to go to the country side to enjoy the annual rapeseed blossom festival. We ate lunch outside a rural home which during this festival, becomes a restaurant. Over 20,000 people were estimated to be attending the festival that day. Pictures really do not do the scenery justice.

We were able to share the pictures, letters and books DJ parents had sent us to give to the orphanage. It was fun to watch the staff ooh and ahh and call out to each other to point to a child they recognized. They were particularly thrilled with the calendar. Thanks Lionel for all your hard work!

The director of the Social welfare institute. Director Gao told me that they really appreciate all that Dianjiang Kids International does for the children at the orphanage. He says there are currently between 10 to 20 children abandoned at Dianjiang annually. A far cry from just a few years ago. Most of those children have special needs.

Director Gao and the other staff made sure to say they hope to continue our relationship and that they are aware that they have a huge responsibility to us to run the program well and be sure the children are well cared for.

Overall Krista and I were very impressed with the foster care program. We hope it can continue to run in the future. For us, its all about the kids.

Moya Smith
www.dianjiangkids.org
Sponsor a child in foster care or in our Gracie's Room program
YOU can make a difference in the life of a child!!

2 comments:

  1. Moya, I'm glad your trip is going so well and that you're encouraged by what you're seeing there. I miss you! Have a great rest of your trip.

    ReplyDelete