Shanghai and Changsha {Week 1 Re-cap}

We are already at the end of the first week in China. So far we have seen 115 children. Our team has become a cohesive unit with each member filling their role pretty efficiently. Not only have we seen 115 children, but we have gotten a good evaluation of how each of those children are doing. We have had time to play with, cuddle, and take photos of each child.

It has been a good week, filled with every emotion, a few tears, and a lot of laughter. We have worked hard and loved much.

Tomorrow we will travel to the Jiangxi province. We will be traveling to several orphanages in Jiangxi the first few days of the week. We will then travel to Fuzhou, Fujian. This will be our first time visiting the orphanage there. I'm excited to see some familiar little faces in the next few days and to meet a lot more children

Picture Post!

I'm going to give you a glimpse of our day through photos. We went to YueYang by high speed train and met some of the precious children there. 

Taken from the train window.

Another shot from the train

Getting ready to see children!

And here they are!

Lunch in the cafeteria

Those carrots were so delicious!

Our fearless leaders taking a break

I wonder what they fumigate?

The orphanage garden

Our train back to Changsha.

A Sweet Surprise

The past four days I've been in China have been truly incredible. I feel like I do not have adequate words to describe what I've seen and experienced. When I volunteered to write to blog for today I realized I was going to have a difficult time deciding what I wanted to focus my post on as I have so many stories I would love to share! 

I've decided to write about a boy named Anthony who we saw in Changsha the first day we were at the children's home (Wednesday, April 15). Before coming to China I started to look at the past posts on the Superkids blog. Obviously I did not get through all the posts before the trip, but I did come across the post about Anthony. When I saw him walk into the room yesterday I immediately recognized him from the photos I saw on the blog. The room I was working in was connected to the first 'station' where the children come. I saw Anthony walking through the halls before it was his turn, and noticed he did not seem to interact with anyone too much. When it was his turn to begin the examination he seemed very quiet. I watched him answer April's questions from a distance, but it seemed he felt overwhelmed, shy, and somewhat self conscious of so many people watching him. When I first saw Anthony walk in the room I knew I wanted to be able to connect with him. I wanted him to know how loved and valued he is. When his interview portion was done he went to the next room to wait for his examination. He sat down, and I brought him a couple treats hoping to see a smile. He didn't seem the least bit interested in the candy I had to offer so I just left a couple of pieces beside him and let him be. I didn't want to bother him, and while I hate to admit it I somehow 'gave up' trying to connect with him.

Not long after I left Anthony with his treats I was goofing around with another boy and girl who are similar in age to Anthony. I was teaching them to give high fives and just laughing with them. Anthony passed by a few times, and I quickly tried to involve him in the high five lesson. He was hesitant...unsure how to respond to the silly American girl who wanted him to hit his hand against her own. After watching me interact with the other kids he decided participating was a good idea, and that's when I saw him smile! It was the first time his face went from showing discontent to a spark of joy! I was thrilled! Thrilled he was interacting with the other kids and just has thrilled to see him smile, feel part of something, and act like a kid! The day went on, and Anthony slowly became my buddy. He willingly sat down next to me and colored a picture. Later in the day he would duck into other rooms and run out onto the balcony when I went to look for him so could be further examined.  He's a mischievous boy, and hearing him laugh (even though it was just a quiet giggle) warmed my heart.  

Those moments yesterday afternoon were the sweetest surprise. I didn't think Anthony would have any fun before he left that day....especially when I couldn't win him over with a couple of treats. But he proved me wrong, and for that I am grateful. It's kids like Anthony that remind me to love always, and that the smallest act of kindness can make a difference (even if that difference is made later down the road). Loving people is not always an easy task, but I know it is what we are called to do. I believe Anthony left the room yesterday feeling loved by all members of the Superkids team, and what a privilege it is to be a part of a team that loves so well! 

-Tanna 

What a Difference a Day Makes

This morning we awoke, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed… eager for our first day at Changsha No. 1 Social Welfare Institute.  Tonight we finished up our team meeting at 10:00 PM to recap the day… exhausted and ready for sleep.  In the middle we met 45 amazing kids.  Yes, you read that right, 45 kiddos.

We saw kids ranging from 4 months old to 13 years old. Today was a complete whirl-wind of personalities—4 year olds laughing, 2 year olds cautiously holding on their nanny (a little nervous about the new people), 8 year olds making jokes, 1 year olds just starting to pull up and take steps on their own, 5 year olds proud they can write a few characters or even their name. I never cease to be in complete awe when I meet each child.  They are just so authentic, inspiring, resilient.  It makes you so stinking happy just to be around them because they are all so “in the moment.”

Our team is learning and growing each day to find the best way to capture this spirit:to meet these kids, to know these kids so that we can share them with you. Today each of us did our part to hear their stories (April), take beautiful pictures (Erin), join their world and play with them (Tanna), run, jump and play ball with them (Nancy), stack blocks and look at books (Me), evaluate their medical needs (Darla) organize, organize, organize (Keith), be the best tour guides and translators ever created (Rocky and Ashley) and keep things afloat with steadfast and fearless leadership (Gongzhan).

What a difference a day makes.  And we still have so much more to do!!!!

-Keely

Moving On To Changsha

Here we all are!

We are now safely settled in a hotel in Changsha. Today was a full day! We saw a some children at Shanghai Children's Home (and loved on a few that we didn't officially see), had a bit of a tour of some of their facilities, did a little bit of sightseeing in Shanghai, and traveled to Changsha.

It is always a little sad to leave one city, but also exciting to move on to the next. We met so many lovely kids in Shanghai! Each of them has their own story, their own personality, and their own way of relating to their life circumstances. I really hope we can share their stories in an effective way over the coming weeks so that you all can learn to know them a little bit too.

Checking in at the airport

Let me just tell you a little bit about Grayson. You can read his post here. But let me tell you about meeting him. He is so eager to make connections with people! He has a gentle personality and was very sweet with the younger children. He quickly caught on as April and Tanna motioned for him to draw a self-portrait and he did a fabulous job. He included amazing details such as a row of rabbits across his sweater. As it was time for him to leave he waved to us and told us "Good-bye". 

Ni Hao From Shanghai

Nihao from Shanghai!  After weeks of anticipation, we are finally in China and today was our first day at Shanghai Children’s Home.  We saw 22 kids in 6 hours (including a lunch break) and everyone jumped in headfirst!   As a newbie to the Superkids team, I was asking a million questions and trying to gather and retain as much information as I could.   It would have been so fascinating to just sit and watch the medical team do the developmental assessments, but I had my own very important job of playing with some awesome kids and snuggling some sweet babies!  Such a tough job… ;)

I am constantly learning new things about this country, city and the children that we meet.  And only knowing a few words in Chinese, it’s a good thing that kids speak the language of play!  Towards the end of the day, some of the older kids were repeating my English words - apparently I say “OK” a lot!

I’m so glad we were able to spend a good amount of time with the older kids from foster care – they had driven a ways to get to the orphanage to meet us so they stuck around for a while.  In the beginning, several of them were pretty reserved, but they were able to open up to us and started to show their true personalities – what a gift!

I couldn’t help myself from cuddling some of the tiny little babies!  It was actually a surprise to see several young babies – one particular little guy with albinism stole my heart when he grabbed my fingers to pull himself up and get as close to my face as he could so he could see me.  I pretty much melted into a puddle on the floor... I expect that won’t be the last time that happens in the next two weeks!

Another little baby girl made me work hard for a smile, but I didn’t give up and we were friends by the end of the day.  Lots of nose ‘booping’ and goofy faces on my part, but it was SO worth it to see that face light up!

Tonight we had dinner with some of the officials from the orphanage and local government – what a feast!  So far I have really enjoyed what I have seen of Shanghai, but we have a bit of time tomorrow to do some real sight-seeing before heading off to Changsha. 

Signing off for the night – jetlag = early bedtimes around here!

April

Let the Adventures Begin!

We have all arrived in Shanghai safe and sound. Tomorrow begins the real adventure, but this evening, as many of us as arrived by dinner time walked and took the subway to get some real Chinese food.

Ahhhhhh! Welcome to China!