June 2009 Trip for Family from The Netherlands

On Sunday 7th June 2009 we could hold our daughter from Hengfeng for the first time in our arms. Our daughter was not fostered by the orphanage of Hengfeng but by a foster family in the area of Hengfeng. Our guide arranged that our group could visit the orphanage. She also arranged for us to meet the foster mother.

My wife and I talked about going together with both our daughters. However we felt that it would be too emotional for our daughter having to say goodbye to her foster mother for the second time. Therefore we decided that only I would go together with the other couples of our group from the Netherlands.

On Wednesday 10th June we left Nanchang at eight in the morning and arrived at the orphanage at noon. I did not like leaving the girls behind especially because Sidan just recently entered our lives. So my thoughts during the ride where most of the time with my three ladies in Nanchang.

When we arrived with the bus at the orphanage, all the nannies and the director were welcoming us at the entrance. Most nannies were very emotional when they saw the children.

My first impression of the orphanage was that is was quiet. Not only outside but also inside. All the children at the orphanage were sleeping in the baby rooms with the exception of three children in the age of 2 or 3.

After a short introduction by the director, each parent/couple could talk with the nannies/foster mother separately. I was able to speak to the foster mother of our daughter for almost 30 minutes. Our guide translated our questions and the reactions from the foster mother.
Fortunately someone else of our group was able to tape the whole conversation so we can show our daughter the video when she is a bit older to understand is. My wife was also on the phone the whole time, so she was able to ask questions during the conversation.

After the talk with the foster mother we were allowed to film and take pictures of the orphanage. I counted approximately 30 children. I tried to take pictures of all the children however some of them were under a sheet so I could not take their pictures. All pictures of the children are placed in the map photos under photos orphanage babies on the Hengfeng Families yahoo group.

In the afternoon the director invited us to join him to a restaurant nearby. We had a very nice lunch and it gave us the opportunity to ask the director more questions about the orphanage.

After the lunch we were taken to the civil affairs bureau. Most the children of the orphanage were found at the gate of the orphanage or at the entrance of the civil affairs bureau. Our daughter was found at the civil affairs bureau. Seeing the place where a mother of father had to abandon her/his child was quite emotional for me. It is located at a side street of a busy road and many people are walking by the office.

After the visit to the civil affairs bureau the bus brought us back to Nanchang. I was happy when we arrived at the hotel so I could cuddle my three lovely ladies and spent some quality time with them.

Please e-mail me at webmaster@gurrad.com if you have any additional information or if your child is from here and you would like to post a picture here or other contact information.