We have Pearl!

After trying 5 times, I have only managed to post one picture, so you will have to wait until I wake up in the morning and try again.

Wow! What a day today has been. We were prepared for a very tough meeting. Daisy, Pete, Chloe, our guide and I headed off to the Chengdu Childrens' Welfare Institution at 9 AM. Chloe must have sensed something as she was clearly out of sorts this morning. She is still waking up at 4 AM and consequently, so are we. The orphanage is located in the sub-burbs approximately 40 minutes from the center of town where our hotel is. After we passed through the city, we entered a place with very nicely designed high-tech factories by Intel and Motorola, some car manufacturers, and lots of pharmacuetical companies. Just at the end of the road was the orphanage, rather large and attractive as far as orphanages go. Our guide said it was the nicest one she had ever seen. It had been built only 4 years ago.

We entered the orphanage and were quickly escorted into a conference room. In only a moment, in walked Pearl with a timid smile upon her face, clutching the photo album we had sent her only a month ago. She calmly walked up to Pete and called him "Baba" which means Daddy. She then looked at me, smiled and called me "Mama". She is so thin and delicate with such a sweet smile upon her face. She seemed almost eager to see us. Chloe also was very interested in the activities as Pearl looked at her and addressed her as "Mei Mei" (little sister). She was so very proud of her photo album as she could name off each of the people in it and point to her bed in her room.

I was quite surprised by our initial greeting, but less so after I learned that she had never been in foster care (like I had thought), but had rather spent her entire time in the orphanage. If she had been leaving a mother that had cared for her, she would have been seriously grieving. I guess there was a misunderstanding on my part regarding the paperwork and its translation. Pearl seems to be anything but a special needs child. She is perfectly healthy except for some mosquito bites and the tail end of a cold. She was originally diagnosed with a light case of brain paralysis (cerebral palsy), but then she recovered from her symptoms and seems totally fine.

So far, after only one day with strangers (us), Pearl is quiet, yet chatty and inquisitive, calm, curious and compliant. This really made things easy for us today as Chloe was her usual rambunctious self and far more. These girls are like yin and yang. Pearl is thin and at least two inches taller than Chloe. She can wear Chloe's clothes and they are loose on her. I am sure that in time, when she comes out of her shell, she will behave more like the toddler she is. Seeing these new sisters together made me really appreciate Chloe's very unique, crazy, silly, funny and wild personality. Most people in China seem amazed and amused by her antics.

The staff at the orphanage emphasized that Pearl is very clever, a comment that reinforces her description in her medical report. She can speak Chinese fluently, although Daisy sometimes has difficulty with her Sichuan accent. Just watching Pearl color and interact with Daisy gives us the impression that this is one very smart little girl.

Immediately after meeting Pearl, we were shuffled into a larger gathering room with sofas all around the perimeter. There were three other families receiving their children. One of the babies was screaming for dear life and the other two appeared shut down and confused. It was amazing that we received such a calm smiling little girl. After that, we toured the orphanage and grounds and took a picture of Pearl by her old bed. The gardens are very beautiful and there is a brand new track and basketball court in between the playgrounds. Pearl was so excited to show us off to all the staff and other children she met along the way, however, when it was time to get in the car to leave, she became scared and cried. I think she must have expected we were coming to live with her rather than take her away from the only home she has ever known.

Next we went out to Pizza Hut for lunch and Pearl ate very well. Even Chloe ate much more than her usual 3 bites. While we were sitting there, a song began playing over the speakers. It was one of my favorite songs, entitled "Someone to Watch Over Me". Pete said hearing that song and its lyrics nearly caused him to cry. It seemed most appropriate, given our circumstances.

Well, I must get to bed. Sorry, the pictures didn't post, but check later on and I should get them up in the morning (afternoon/evening your USA time).