Day in the Village

Today our CCAI reps coordinated a tour of a local elementary school in a neighboring village,  It was a half hour drive out of the city to the village, and an opportunity to see the "real" China.  We all realized that this was the type of village that our daughters would probably have grown up in if they had not been abandoned. This was probably the best day in China so far.  When we arrived at the elementary school the children was sooooo excited!  Our reps gave us candy to pass out, and the children swarmed us.  They were so sweet.  We visited a third grade classroom of 40 students.  The desks are just wooden tables and benches.  The children sit straight upright, and when called on stand at their desks to answer questions.  They were so polite and well-behaved.  They got to ask us questions about America, and we asked them questions.  Then we went to a fifth grade room where the children sang to us with their music teacher.  Three girls got up to sing solo's at different times, and one song was "It's a Small World". 

These children absolutely stole our hearts.  This is a very poor school and there is no "classroom environment", but the students take school very seriously.  They might not have much, but education is obviously very important and not taken for granted.  The children were quite dirty, and my heart went out to them.  The director of the school had us stand for a photo with the third grade class.  He explained through our interpreter that he feels learning English is very important to the students.  He wants to frame our photo as a reminder to the students to study hard.  We were very humbled.  As we were leaving the school a little girl ran up to me and chattered to me in Mandarin.  We found our guide, and she translated that the little girl asked if she could have a hug!  Talk about breaking you heart!!!  I posed for a picture with her, she is a doll.  Many of the children then went home for their lunches, and followed us through the village.  We were invited into one of the homes of the villagers.  They are considered one of the wealthiest families in the village.  The grandparents, parents and all the young children shared a family bed.  Only the newly wed young couple in the family had their own room.  Again, a very humbling experience.  The funny thing was they had a tv set in the living area!!!  As we were leaving the kids chased after our buses.  I am so greatful for this opportunity that our agency arranged.  It is truly something I will never forget.  I am actually a little embarrased at everything we take for granted in America.  We are so lucky to live in the country we do. 

Peyton is doing so well.  She lights up when we sees us, and brings so much joy to our lives.  Trav and I still can't believe she's ours!!  We have been carrying her in the hip hammock, but it fits Trav better than me.  She is such a little wiggler that it's difficult to keep her in it!  So, today we made a trip to the local department store and I got an umbrella stroller.  She seems to like it, but she likes it when mommy or daddy carries her best of all!!  She isn't too keen on bathtime yet, but we found out that the babies weren't really bathed at the orphanage due to water shortages.  They were mostly given sponge baths.  She also has a very flat head at the back.  The Chinese consider this very beautiful.  Peyton was tied down at night so she couldn't move around I guess.  I don't like to think about that very much, some of the babies actually had marks on their legs from it.  Anyways, Peyton rolls all over the crib, and this morning she was sleeping crouched up on her knees face down.  This is fine with us!! Tomorrow we are touring a Chinese pagoda on the hill.  That should be fun!

Love to you all,

Trav, Simone and Peyton (aka Mr and Mrs. Wood)