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Hefei
Childrens Welfare Center
Hefei, Anhui Province, China
"A Visit
To A Village Near Hefei"
 Scene
14: Baby Photos
Uncle Sun reminds his wife to show us her foster certificate. Aunt
Sun, like the other two aunts doesn't read. She comes out of her
bedroom with a big photo frame with eight young children's photos in it.
She tells us the names of all of the children and tells us stories
about each child.
In one of the photos Aunt Sun is holding a baby. Her son and daughter-in-law
are standing behind her and her grandson is next to her. "This picture
was taken just before the baby left for a foreign country. Each
time one of the children leaves, my heart feels sad and heavy. I
have been taking care of the children for more than ten years. Dr. Qian
lets me look after children if he has any. He trusts me. The
government gives me a little over 100 yuan and 4 packs of formula every
month. I can make more money caring for children from private families
but I do what ever I can for these children."
Scene 15: On the way to the bus stop.
"I told them to get a chicken ready. Don't go home until after lunch".
Aunt Yang is asking us to stay for lunch but our taxi is coming. YanYan
gives Aunt Yang some money, saying, "It is for the children". Aunt
Yang tries to hand it back but the car is moving. We wave to her
through the car windows. Aunt Yang stands there holding the three
umbrellas smiling goodbye.
Scene 16. On the way back to the city.
The village, to me, was not an idyllic land, even before I went. I
thought that I was familiar with rural life since I had been assigned
to a mountain village for more than 3 years, nearly thirty years ago.
In fact, my memories were blurred and I feel obsessed with the memories
that are embodied in these people and the place I had just visited.
Aunt Yang was adopted as a child bride sixty or seventy years ago. Her
own adopted daughter came to her fifty-three years ago. YanYan's
oldest sister-in-law was infertile and adopted a little girl eighteen
years ago. The little girl had been left outside a friend's house. Their
stories and the three children taken care of by the three aunts make me
feel that this story is vitally important. The story transcends
time and distance but is the story of all of the unexpected little girls
and handicapped little boys. Living conditions are improving and changing
but the concepts related to bearing and raising children is not changing
nearly as fast. It is not changing fast enough for these children.
If they could speak for themselves they would be crying with all
of their strength for compassion and acceptance in their own culture.
Read all about
Yannie's tour of the Hefei Children's Welfare Orphanage in this recently
added section...
Hefei Children's Welfare Orphanage
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