americans in guanzhou

[mtbdude]

we saw so many couples there to pick up their little adopted chinese daughters. it was incredible how many there were. i think many of them were part of a group who came all at the same time.

 

i asked yan zi what she thought of that. yan zi is not easily impressed by america, and she is very proud of china. so i was a bit surprised when she said it made her feel a little ashamed that her people were not taking care of their own, and she was so impressed with the big hearts of those americans. the affection shown by those parents for their new babies was unmistakably genuine, and i know she was watching and scrutinizing that.

 

we've been talking about kids, because she's only 28. at age 51 i've never had any, but i surely wouldn't mind. i talked to one of the parents, charles ham from michigan. he told me it takes about 2 years from start to finish, and recommended the agency that he went through. his daughter is the cutest little 16 month old, who crinkles her nose when she smiles. i recognized her in the elevator the next day with her mom because of that smile.

 

yan isn't ready for kids yet; i think she wants to deal with the whole experience of going to america first. but i'm going to start my research. looks like another long wait in store, but i've learned how to do that!

[ed and ying]

Steve

Orphans are not limited to China. There is no reason for Yan Zi to be ashamed. Tell to her to take joy that someone is helping a child.

[oregonknl]

Well Steve, (and anyone else here at the Candle)

 

When I first joined in April I had several lengthy posts about the adoption process in China for my two daughters ------

 

And if anyone wants advice about how its done, I'd be happy to accomodate....

 

And Steve, yes, there are good international adoption agencies all over the US, and I have to tell you, there are some advantages to dealing with a local one --- if that becomes an option.... I can tell you how to go about selecting an agency.

 

There are fewer shaddy operators (unless they are involved in outright fraud) in the Chinese adoption business than in other international adoptions because the Chinese government is all over the agencies, and only works from an "approved" list --- SO CHINESE!

 

China takes its orphans very seriously, and has a record of everyone in the orphanages of China. The central agency in Beijing makes the child placement ---- not the orphanage its self...

 

You were probably not seeing only one group, but many. Just like the K visas, all Chinese orphans go through Guangzhou for their US visas, many stay at the White Swan, where groups naturally get together to compare notes about orphanages throughout China.

[ed and ying]

Yes the all go through GZ. A coworker just completed the process, it does take awhile. I have had a few return flights from China with several new parents and their bundle of joy.