Trip to SWI

We visited the SWI (Social Welfare Institute) which Mei Mei comes from with one other family from our group yesterday. It is located in Tonguu, a rural mountainous area 4 hours from Nanchang. It is a beautiful forested area that reminded us a lot of the outlying areas around Seattle where we live.

We were greeted by the Director and Assistant Directer of the SWI and were indeed fortunate to able to meet with the foster mothers of both babies. The director also hosted a lunch at a local restaraunt with us, the foster mothers, the assistant director, and some of the staff of the SWI. The director was extremely hospitable, produced a bottle of rice wine and led a series of toasts. He reminded us that according to tradition you are to drain your glass in one drink with each toast. He said that when he retires he wants to come to America and visit each family which has adopted children from his SWI. (300 families). He's been having some difficulty obtaining a visa though. They say is very difficult for Chinese to obtain a visa to visit the US. He siad his only requirement is that each having have a bottle of rice wine for his visit.

This SWI seems to be very well run. No children live at this SWI. The residents are all elderly people under care. The children are all under foster care. The foster mothers work for the SWI and the SWI retains guardianship. The assistant director regularly visits the foster families and supervises the care for the children. The directors visits each family once a month. All the babies in our group are healthy and happy and obviously well cared for.

They took us to see the places where each of the babies were found before we returned to Nanchang.

Greg

Fwd: China Update

On Friday we went to Peoples Park in Nanchang. It is a huge, very beautiful park with lakes, many traditional chinese structures and gardens, and an amusement park with rides. The park is frequented by many retired peaple who go there to do various theriputic activities. Our guide,Sissi, yook us thee to see this because she says this is a big part of Chinese culture. We saw one group of women practicing a folk dance together. There was an area where there was a group of men with long brushes wiith a pointed brush on the end like a giant paint brush which you could paint on the ground with while standing up. They were doing calligraphy with water on the pavement so that they could cover the stones with beautuiful calligraphy without making a mess with chalk. The water simply evaporates. The elderly men got physical exercise as well as the spirtual exercise of expressing them selves with the poetry they made up on the spot. When Sissi told them that we were visiting from America one man wrote in Chinese "Welcome Americans" and another man wrote in beautiful english script. "Welcome to China". People are always very social and friendly everywher you go, especially when have babies which they love. A large group of people will gather around and oogle the babies.



Another group of elderly people were gathered in a group singing a playing folk music. There was one man with an accordion and another with a flute and a group of women signing. We joined them for awhile with them and had a great time listening to them. When Sisi told tham we were from America the man with the accordion suprised us by playing "Old Suzanna". Everyone laughed. You would also see men standing in some of the gardens or on the porch of some of the Chinese buildings doing Tai Chi.

While enjoying talking to these people it was really amazing how content and happy they are in their lives. It really made me see how much value Chinese culture places not only being healthy physically but also making the effort to be healthy emotionaly and spiritually as well. This is what Sissi was trying to show us.

The night before we went to the August 1st Square in Nanchang. Nanchang's historical claim to fame is that the first uprising in the communist revolution, called the August 1st Uprising,happened there in 1927. It is also the birthplace if the red army. Zhou Enlai led 30,000 people to form what became the red army. They took over the city for about 3 days before they were defeated by Chiang Kai-Shek. They fled into the mountains and Zhou Enlai joined forces with Mao Zedong and they started the Long March. They have a large memorial in the square commemorating the uprising. Growing up in the cold war and hearing about the Cultural Revolution all through my childhood the last thing I would have expected would be to go to China twice and stand in a square looking at a memorial to the revolution.

Mimi Playing with Mei Mei

China update

Please humour me while I give vent to my professional architectural passions. We went to see the site of the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou. The city has turned the site into a huge open square with many beautiful ultra modern buildings. They apparently used the games to showcase the new China similar to Beijing for the Olympics. It also features a large fountain choreographed to music.They whole thing is now only 1 year old. There is one building still under construction. The square is surrounded by a new commercial development of large office buildings. The largest, the Guangzhou International Finance Centre, is 103 stories and is located across the street from the square (see attached photo). The top 30 stories is a Four Seasons hotel. There is another tower under construction next door which will be 116 stories. The who;e thing is built on the site of an old historic airport. This is just a small part of the development going on all over the city. The scale of new construction going on in Guangzhou is mind boggling.

Greg

Update from China

There are two other girls from China in group 123 beside Mimi. Bethany, age 6, and Grace, age 7. Bethany's family is from Georgia and Bethany speaks with a downhome southern accent. They all had a great time playing together during our day in Guangzhou. Their families went to differrent cities while we came to Nanchang but they will all be together again in Guangzhou next week. More additions to our China family (albeit long distance).

China Update

We are one of 4 families which traveled to Nanchang, Jiangxi Provence, the day after we arrived in Guangzhou. The babies all came from Tongu which is a rural area 4 hours from Nanchang.

We received Mei Lin in the hotel from the SWI director and a care giver. The same day we all went to 2 government offices for the interviews and to do all the documents. The photos I sent previously were taken at the the Jiangxi Provencial offices. We also got the opportunity to talk to the SWI director there. Jiangxi Provence is famous for its porcelean. They gave us a porcelean cup as a commerative gift with a picture of farmers planting lotus seeds. Lotus flowers and seeds have an important symbolic meaning in the Buddhism we practice so this was significant indeed to Dottie and I.

The woman who is leading our group for the adoption agency is the same woman who led our group to Chengdu when we got Mimi 6 years ago.We are so happy to be with her again. We loved her then and still do. Her name is Grace and she is in the attached photo with Mimi and Mei Lin. We also have a woman from Nanchang named Sissy who is doing a wonderfull job taking care if us. She is in the second photo with Mei Lin.Grace used to love to carry and hold Mimi when Mimi was 19 months. Mimi of course doesn't remember this but she immediately became very attached to Grace and always wants her to pick her up and hold her. It makes you wonder, although Mimi is also the same way to Sissy.

Mei-Lin is wonderful. She is healthy (eats like crazy), very happy and everyone loves her. At first she wanted to be held all the time and would cry if you set her down (about the only time she does cry). Dottie got her over that though. She is close to the same size at 7 months that Mimi was at 19 months. She is wearing some of the same clothes Mimi wore when we fist got her.

Mimi is adjusting very well to Mei Lin. She is already being the big sister and watching out for her and trying to help take care of her. She watches me when I feed Mei Lin with a bottle and tells me what to do (doesn't that sound like Mimi).This is good news since she was having difficulty for a while before we left. I took Mimi swimming in the pool yesterday and Dottie swam with her today so that we are spending time with her too.

Seeing China and interacting the Chinese people we have been meeting (more about this on another occasion) is an experience for Mimi that I don't know that I will ever fully grasp the significance of and this is just the first few days. I am so happy that she had the opportunity to come.

Greg

Welcome to Mei-Lin

It's finally happened! Mei-Lin is now a Putney. Thanks to all of our wonderfull family and friends who have supported us and encouraged us.

Greg, Dottie and Mimi

2 am in Nanchang

In contrast to the Dim Sum. Here is 2 am (jet lag) snack in Guangzhou.

Fwd: Dim Sum in Guangzhou

Welcome lunch in Guangzhou.

Greg

AND THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COM'IN

This whole process has been one big pain in the tuckus. First the pat down because we have a exploding thermos and now the airlines has put our luggage on the wrong cart. So it didn't arrive when we did. We have been waiting in the baggage claim for the past hour and a half. I could sure use one of Allyn's Mai Tai right about now.

Sent from my iPhone

HAVE BABY JAGUAR.....

Will travel. Here we sit at our favorite place in every airport.....the sports bar.

The highlight of my day so far? The security pat down of course. Who knew
that Mimi's empty thermos, the same exact one we used for her back in 2004 and everyday since then is an explosive?!

GIRL TALK

Yesterday afternoon we received a surprise phone call from another dear China family friend Erica. This is a picture of Mimi and Naomi discussing plans for when we get to California. Hopefully we get a chance to meet with them sometime during our stay.

Long story short, we met the Alvarados at Allyn's Disneyland way back when all our girls were 3 and have remained great friends ever since. Naomi's family was on the list to go again and we were to be in the same group. As you already know our wait was sooo %^$#@ Long! So in the meantime they went ahead a adopted a little boy Rueben from Korea and he came to them quite quickly. However they still had their paperwork active with USAA.

Then in November of last year they let their paperwork expire as Erica had thoroughly convinced herself that these two were the only children they needed. But then there still was the feeling that she has given up on the daughter in China. When she talked with Norman about letting their paperwork expire, Norman mentioned to her that they had already been matched with a child. Wow! So both she an Miguel mulled it over deep within in their minds and hearts and talked it over with Naomi. Naomi as it turns out was the one to tip the scale. Both Miguel and Erica were leaning toward getting a mei mei for Naomi and when Naomi mentioned how much she really wanted a mei mei they both said that' it. We are going to China. So now they are active again and in the next group to go. Woo Hoo! They too are getting a "Tonginator".

This is an old picture of the Alvarado's back in 2009 when they were here for a visit. Rueben was not here then so therefore not in the picture so to speak.

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES

Krista shared this following story with me today. According to Xander, he is definitely going to China with us. Krista says to Xander "you need a passport" to which the boy replies "That's ok, Mimi's mom has the password to get into China"

Then there is Ms Naomi who told me this afternoon that I need to make a chart of rules and regulations for our house. Really? The girl is such a little rebel. So I asked her who is the chart for? The answer? Her friends for when they come over to our house. Uh, huh, right.

OUT OF OUR MINDS

We have some of the most dearest friends who seem to have think that we have insanely and completely lost our minds. First off come this Saturday night, the girls, Mimi, Halli, Olivia and Erin are going over to their best friend Rachel's house for a sleepover till Sunday morning. And the grownup are coming over to our house for a last hurrah before we take off Sunday afternoon.

Then on our way home, we are making a detour to Los Angeles. To visit with family and friends before heading home to Maple Valley. Those dear friends also seem to think that we have completely lost our marbels by going to Disneyland, Sea World so on and so forth. They all say we should rest and take it easy. Have they met Mimi yet??? Plus I understand that her sister is going to be the same way. YIKES! Mimi has thoroughly "trained" me. Now I am always, always, always, on the go.

So yeah, maybe I have lost some marbles along the way. But I am having way too much fjun doing it.

OUR ITINERARY

From Sunday the 22nd of May till the 3 of June, the Putney's will BE IN CHINA!!!!

June 3 - Arrive at LAX at 6:50 pm. Go directly to immigration and baggage claim. Who knows how long that will take. Then go directly to hotel and BED.

June 4 - Get nails and pedicure done for mom. Pick up keys from the Luce's
4:00 - Early dinner with Gini and David (friends of the family)
8:30 - Go to the Luce's home.

June 5 - Hang out with our China family. BBQ in the park.

June 6 - Head down to San Diego but not before visiting with my bro "Jim"

June 7- Take Mimi to Sea World

June 8 - Take Mimi to Disneyland, sleepover with the Fratkins

June 9 - Take Mimi to California Adventureland, sleepover with the Fratkins

June 10 - Just hanging out and having fun with the Fratkins

June 11 - Head for home.

June 12- R & R

June 13 - Back to the old grind again. Mimi has a whole sleuth of testing this week.

June 20 - SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER !!!!!

Maple Valley Summit Gymnastics tumbling and trampoline team participate in state championship

Maple Valley Summit Gymnastics tumbling and trampoline team participate in state championship

Mimi's gymnastic team made it into the local newspaper. She's super jazzed about it and so are we!

CHINA FAMILY GET TOGETHER / BABY SHOWER

Yesterday afternoon Lisa, Art, Nathan and Emily hosted our monthly get together / baby shower for us at their home. They have a great home that is super kid friendly. As you can see Mimi put her crutches to the side and that is where they stayed the whole afternoon. We got to the Spencer's home and the next thing I knew Mimi was walking around with no crutches. She was just limping a smidgen. The girl told me that under no condition was she going to use those crutches at school cause that would be embarassing for her. I just wish the girl would use the same determination toward her homework. The crutches went back to Halli's house the second we got home.

As you can see, Elsie just loves doting on Emily and Emily is eating is all up too. As you can see in the picture, the Spencers have a huge playroom upstairs. So in between the eating and playing outside on the playset, the kids would go upstairs to play while the adults would visit in the family room catching up on what's going on in our lives. Lisa came back down after checking on the kids upstairs and reported to us that the girls were playing "Orphanage" and that the only boy there who was Nathan, was the "Director" of the orphanage. We all cracked up.

Besides the good food, there was great company and many beautiful clothes and baby items for Mimi's mei mei.