A Day to Remember in Jiujiang

Today was an amazing day in Jiujiang and one that none of us will soon forget.

At 9am, we were met at the hotel by the orphanage Director, Mr. Cao, and we all ventured off to the Jiujiang Social Welfare Institute (SWI), the orphange where Hannah was cared for in the first 9 months of her life. Hannah was a little nervous about the visit but started to relax as we neared the complex. The sights along the drive to the orphanage brought back memories of 2000, especially remembering the sign at the gate of the orphanage - "Love in the World".

After departing the van, Mr. Cao led us up the front walkway. There was a big banner across the roadway welcoming Cao Meng Si (Hannah) back to her roots. While we all gazed up at the banner, firecrackers popped up the road in celebration of Hannah's return visit.

We met several of the children currently residing at the SWI, many with special needs, as well as several babies, both healthy ones and those having special needs. It was wonderful to see them all. The side-by-side cribs that Hannah and her friend, Kira, occupied, were still the same as back in 2000 (and in the same location). We were taken to several other areas within the orphanage including a rehabilitation room and a beautiful outdoor playground with padded floor, both of which were constructed within the last 3-4 months through some kind donations.

When we arrived in the meeting room to talk to Mr. Cao, we all received some beautiful porecelain gifts - there was even one for Jennifer. We felt very comfortable talking to Mr. Cao and Miss Yu (the orphanage Secretary, formerly the Vice-Director). We asked Mr. Cao the questions that Hannah had prepared. After receiving a hot-water bottle that the Nannies had used to keep her feet warm, Hannah was warmly greeted by one of her caregivers, who was very happy to see Hannah. A few minutes later, a second Nanny appeared, Hannah's primary caregiver (she was the woman who held Hannah when we first met her in the Gloria Plaza Hotel in Nanchang).

As she embraced Hannah, genuinely remembering her from back in 2000, she was filled with tears of joy, which prompted tears in all of us. From the moment that Hannah met the 2 Nannies, all of her apprehension and nervousness surrounding today seemed to disappear, a smile painted on her face from ear to ear. As with Stephanie, Hannah had completed a circle of love with her return.

Along with Miss. Yu and another staff member, we then proceeded to the supermarket to purchase some supplies for the orphanage according to their needs, with the help of a few Jiujiang families. We picked up diapers, forumla and other essentials for the orphanage, and they were very grateful for them. On the way back to the orphanage, we hopped off the van and walked to the location of Hannah's finding place (what once was one end of the New Bridge, is now a small island of shrubs in the middle of a very busy intersection).

We then returned to the SWI for a wonderful lunch. The fish was out of this world! Even with the head staring back at us, Jane filled her belly!

On full stomachs, Mr. Cao then took us to a couple of local sites, the Pipa Pavillion and the Xunyang Tower.


As seems to be the case on all our excursions with the pleasant, spring-like weather we are experiencing thus far, the strolls through these 2 pavillions were extremely relaxing.

In the evening we walked up the street from our hotel to do some grocery shopping and the dreaded shoe shopping. We also had a nice walk into the centre of the city for some "western" eats, experiencing a bit of the night life and bright lights on our travels. It seemed to jump out of nowhere in contrast to the "blue collar" town we have witnessed in the daytime.

Tomorrow morning, an adventure up the art-inspiring Lushan Mountains awaits us.