Tuesday, May 22
Fengcheng City
Today we got to go to see the orphanage. Shirley went with us. It was about an hours drive from Nanchang. This is definitely a poor area of China. As we drove by, we realized what looked like falling down sheds were actually houses. This area is very 
agricultural and they grow rice, lotus blossoms, and corn. We took pictures as we were driving but not sure how well they came out.
We had our first experience with "squatty potties" today. They are holes in the floor that you squat over and no TP. About 15 minutes outside of Fengcheng Sydni really had to go. Shirley had the driver stop at a hotel along the road. Very simple hotel. The bathroom was part of the supply closet.
We were able to get permission to visit the outside of the orphanage but couldn't go in. Because we had a suitcase of donations and offered to buy formula for the babies, the director, Mr. Wong, met with us and took us to Camryn's finding place. Mr. Wong met us a the new orphanage that they had just moved into. As we were getting out, he kept telling the "aunties" to move the babies away from the front of the entrance. I guess we weren't supposed to see them. He let us take our picture in front of the orphanage and then hurried us back into the van. Camryn's finding place was outside the small post office just down the street from the old orphanage. We stopped and took pictures. We attracted a lot of attention because we were Western and had blond hair. The director and Shirley kept waving them away from us.
Next we went to the store. Shirley asked how much formula we were going to buy. After we told her, Mr. Wong asked if we would change our mind and buy a crib instead. They didn't have enough cribs for all of the babies. We said fine. We bought one and Mom bought one. Mr. Wong gave us his email address so that we could keep in touch and he would send us pictures. Shirley then took us back to Nanchang. We were able to stop on the way back and take pictures of the rice fields.
When we got back to the hotel, we all laid down for a nap. Jetlag is still getting us. We had a breakthrough with Camryn! AFter nap I decided to give her a snack (Cheerios) first and then a bottle. That went wonderfully. Because she has been with a foster mom instead of in the orphanage, she got much better care. We just needed to figure out what she is used to in her schedule and help her to feel comfortable. No smile yet, but I think we are getting close! Then we read a book and you could tell that she had been read to because she immediately starting turning pages.
AFter naps we walked to Walmart for supplies and KFC. On the way, I started feeling really sick. Probably a combination of heat, jetlag and eating different food. That night I ate crackers and water while everyone else had KFC.
agricultural and they grow rice, lotus blossoms, and corn. We took pictures as we were driving but not sure how well they came out.
We had our first experience with "squatty potties" today. They are holes in the floor that you squat over and no TP. About 15 minutes outside of Fengcheng Sydni really had to go. Shirley had the driver stop at a hotel along the road. Very simple hotel. The bathroom was part of the supply closet.
We were able to get permission to visit the outside of the orphanage but couldn't go in. Because we had a suitcase of donations and offered to buy formula for the babies, the director, Mr. Wong, met with us and took us to Camryn's finding place. Mr. Wong met us a the new orphanage that they had just moved into. As we were getting out, he kept telling the "aunties" to move the babies away from the front of the entrance. I guess we weren't supposed to see them. He let us take our picture in front of the orphanage and then hurried us back into the van. Camryn's finding place was outside the small post office just down the street from the old orphanage. We stopped and took pictures. We attracted a lot of attention because we were Western and had blond hair. The director and Shirley kept waving them away from us.
Next we went to the store. Shirley asked how much formula we were going to buy. After we told her, Mr. Wong asked if we would change our mind and buy a crib instead. They didn't have enough cribs for all of the babies. We said fine. We bought one and Mom bought one. Mr. Wong gave us his email address so that we could keep in touch and he would send us pictures. Shirley then took us back to Nanchang. We were able to stop on the way back and take pictures of the rice fields.
When we got back to the hotel, we all laid down for a nap. Jetlag is still getting us. We had a breakthrough with Camryn! AFter nap I decided to give her a snack (Cheerios) first and then a bottle. That went wonderfully. Because she has been with a foster mom instead of in the orphanage, she got much better care. We just needed to figure out what she is used to in her schedule and help her to feel comfortable. No smile yet, but I think we are getting close! Then we read a book and you could tell that she had been read to because she immediately starting turning pages.
AFter naps we walked to Walmart for supplies and KFC. On the way, I started feeling really sick. Probably a combination of heat, jetlag and eating different food. That night I ate crackers and water while everyone else had KFC.
