Taking our daughter back to visit her orphanage

In September 2005 we took our daughter back to China for a holiday and an visit to her hometown and her orphanage. Despite my concerns prior to our visit she loved being able to visit the babies everyday while we were in Fuling.

I'm not sure that she had any conscious memories of the SWI (even though she was 13 1/2 months when we were united). But we talked about it a lot in the lead up to our trip - she knew she would be visiting the babies and meeting her nannies.

Being a typical shy 3 yo she didn't really want to have anything to do with the nannies when we arrived - it always takes her some time to warm up to a new social setting. This was hard for Director Yang and the nannies because they really wanted to give her a hug. But she did agree to sit on our friend's lap next to DirectorYang and look through the photo album we took (after all it was about her favourite subject - herself).

But as soon as that was over she announced that she wanted to see 'Her room' and 'her cot' now. So in we went - me with my heart in my mouth because I didn't know how she would react when she saw it - I needn't have worried she took it like a trooper, straight over the barrier.

I don't know if any of you are familiar with the classic British sci-fi 'Dr Who' but if you are the next scene was like the invasion ofthe Dalek - because a wall of babies in baby walkers surged towards her and surrounded her. She was completely trapped and little hands were reaching out to her - that she didn't mind but she didn't like being trapped. The babies did the same to me but I was able to stepover. At one point I tried to move forward but something was stopping me - the strap on my bag was hanging down and I found onevery determined but happy (I've caught you!) baby hanging off the end of it - not sure if she was trying to stop me getting away or thought she might get a tow.

In relation to the 'her cot' we showed her where we were told her cot stood on our visit to collect her. She was so interested in seeing what was in the cots. There were definitely less babies inthe room that we visited immediately post SARS in 2003 and therefore less cots.

There were also areas of matting near the TVs and we saw a number of babies out of their walkers and being given the opportunity to crawlaround and explore.

Our daughter wanted to know what the babies were wearing, what they were playing with and what they were doing. She wanted to know where their nappies (diapers) were and was fascinated with the split pants (to the point of becoming our official split pant spotter for the rest of our China trip). She witnessed a few lightening fast nappy changes.

We gave Emily her own camera to record her trip and the babies - she loved it. And throughout the visit she would buzz in and out of the rooms to visit the babies and take photos.

The babies still watch the big screen TV and love music - at one point they were all outside on the verandah and the nannies turn onthe TV - it must have been time for a favourite program because as soon as they heard the theme music there was a stampede back intothe room. We have to report that there are quite a few little 'headbangers' in the making because they were all bopping along in their walkers like they were at a heavy metal concert - it was a hoot.

On other occasions the nannies turned music on and clapped and danced and the babies were bopping and grooving along.

What really impressed me is that some of the babies were really babywalker artists - they would twirl and twist those walkers and hurtle forward and backwards giggling away.

Our daughter had a great visit and I'm sure she has some lovely new memories of the SWI - she is still talking about the babies and the nannies (even a year later - and that she would like the babies at childcare to wear split pants).