Visiting Huainan

This morning we traveled to Huainan City, about 90 minutes from here.  Before we left the hotel, our guide explained to Kamea that we were going to the orphanage and that we would be seeing her foster family.  She also told her that she would be coming back with us, which made her very sad.   

According to our guide, the population of Huainan is about 7 million.  We drove into the city to get to the orphanage.  Near the orphanage are many tombs.  Tomb Sweeping Day occurs next week in China.  It is a holiday in which the Chinese people honor their ancestors.  In preparation for the holiday, there were many people decorating the tombs today and also lighting firecrackers, which is allowed during this period of time.     While we were at the orphanage today,there was a constant sound of firecrackers in the background! 

When we first arrived, Kamea directed us to her classroom.  School was in session, so we got to meet her

classmates and teachers and see where she sat during school.  The kids were so excited to see her (and us) and they greeted us with a great big, "Hello!",  While there, Kamea stood at the front of the class and recited a Chinese poem with her classmates.  

We also met with Kamea's foster mother and foster brother while we were there.  Her foster mother provided us with invaluable details of Kamea's life in China.  It was so wonderful to meet her and see what a kind and loving family that Kamea had been a part of.   

After we returned to Hefei, we decided that we all deserved some afternoon comfort food, so we walked to the mall for treats at Dairy Queen and Starbucks.  After that, we walked through a park where we were entertained by a group of musicians.  In hindsight, I think our family may have actually been the entertainment.  At one point, the male vocalist started shouting something at us (in a loud, but nice kind of way), using a bunch of hand signals.   We had no idea what he wanted us to do, but we think it had something to do with dancing or becoming part of the performance.  We just looked at each other, laughed and shook our heads.  We sat through one more song and then decided to make our exit.

We ate supper at the hotel, which was another night of pizza, noodles and oranges.  Tomorrow afternoon we will be leaving Hefei and flying to Guangzhou.  We spent 2 weeks in Guangzhou when we adopted Dexter in 2009, so we're looking forward to going back there again.  

Huainan City Social Welfare Institute

Kamea's classroom and classmates

Kamea's chair

Kamea and her favorite teacher

The Nelsons with Kamea's foster mother and brother

Kamea and her foster mother

The girls goofing around at the mall

Dairy Queen!

The girls!

The musicians at the park