Update on Zhongfu

I have been fortunate to receive a couple more emails about Zhongfu in the orphanage. It sounds like he is a bright young man who does well in his class in school. He is learning English and his English name that his teacher gave him is Harrison. He can even write his name. His favorite color is blue. He likes to ride bikes. He lives in the 5th floor of the orphanage with many children. The volunteers estimate that there is 500-600 children in the orphanage. I feel fortunate to get this information.

Thanksgiving?

Well, I was pretty sure today I would hear about Zhongfu and I did. However, it was bittersweet. I loved hearing that there are wonderful volunteers out there helping these children. I loved hearing that he is the cutest boy in the orphanage and that he seems just as sweet and well behaved. However, I was sad to hear that when he was seen he had blood underneath his bottom lip. I want to hold him and let him know he will be ok, but there is nothing I can do but pray. He was seen again and his lip was healing, but we need to get there and bring him home to a family who can provide him love, food and security. So while I am thankful for many things today, next year Thanksgiving will be better.

Shenzhen Kids

Thanks to the local FCC (Families with Children from China) I have met wonderful people and have gotten very good information and made some wonderful connections. I was able to connect to a yahoo group who are all people who have adopted from Shenzhen. There are two orphanages in this city, and many of them have adopted from Zhongfu's orphanage. It has been so helpful to hear from people who have been there, and have them share their experiences with adopting from China, and some who have adopted older children. These wonderful people are able to share with me how their children feel now, years later, about issues such as giving them an American name and helping them learn the language. They have also passed my information on to a lady who volunteers at his orphanage and she is going to send me information about Zhongfu and how he is doing. This is so exciting. I hope to post soon about new information.

One item that was shared with me from this group is that children from Shenzhen all look very different as they come from all over China. Shenzhen is a city filled with extreme wealth and extreme poverty. Many people come from different provinces to work while sometimes their families stay back. We may never really know what Province he is originally from, but we know where he is now and will love him no matter what.

Half the Sky Foundation

We were happy to discover that Zhongfu's orphanage is one run by the Half the Sky foundation. This is good as they started in order to help orphans and to make the orphanages better for the children. We also will be able to have them send any original photos and updates on him, from his time there, after we officially adopt him and bring him home. You can get more information on this organization at www.halfthesky.org.

Shenzhen

”You think you're brave until you go to Manchuria, you think you're well read until you reach Beijing and you think you're rich until you set foot in Shenzhen,” goes an oft-sited saying of today's China.

Shenzhen was a fishing village 25 years ago when it was picked by government officials to become a showplace for China's economic resurgence. Today this city of 10-million located at the border of Hong Kong is an economic powerhouse. A mecca for foreign investment, Shenzhen has been one of the fastest growing cities in the world since the 1970s. In the last two decades, $30 million of foreign investment has poured into Shenzhen.

Shenzhen boasts more people than New York City, more factories than the Midwest, a skyscraper taller than the Empire State Building, the busiest port in China, and a premier golf course where Tiger Woods has played

Though Shenzhen is best known for its modern commerce, the area has a long and colorful history. Archaeological research has found that aborigines started to occupy this area of land as early as 6,700 years ago in the Neolithic Age. As a settlement, the city dates back to the Xia (c.2100 - 1600 BC) and Shang (c.1600-1100 BC) dynasties when Shenzhen was a base for the ancient sea-faring Baiyue tribe.

Shenzhen became a township at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty (221 BCE - 206 BC) and is also called roc city. As a famous Chinese legend goes, long ago, a big roc - a gigantic, legendary bird-- flew to the South China Sea and was attracted by the scenery and decided to settle down. In later dynasties became famous for its salt, spices, and pearls.

The name Shenzhen first appeared in 1410 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Locals call the drains in paddy fields "zhen" or "chong.” The name "Shenzhen" means "deep drains," because the Shenzhen area is crisscrossed with rivers and streams and the paddy fields’ deep drains in the paddy fields.

Chinese fleets started sailing to Southeast Asia during the Ming Dynasty when Dapeng Fortress, about 55 kilometers from the city center in east Shenzhen's Longgang District, was first built to fend off pirates. On September 4, 1839, five British naval vessels launched the Opium Wars with a surprise attack on the maritime forces of Dapeng Fortress. Chinese troops in fishing boats, led by General Lai Enjue, defeated the better-equipped enemy. Not long after the battle, Lai was promoted to commander of the Guangdong navy. In 1844, the emperor allocated a large sum to build a 2,500-square-meter mansion for the general. Visitors can see the Lai home’s painted carved beams, columns and couplets posted on the door.

Ming Dynasty sailors always prayed for protection at the Chiwan Tianhou (Goddess of the Sea) Temple, which lies at the foot of Shenzhen’s Xiaonan Hill, facing the sea.According to legend, Tianhou’s, whose original name was Lin Muoniang, died at 28, when she climbed a mountain alone and flew to heaven and became a goddess. Just inside the courtyard is a “Celestial Tree.” Those experiencing difficulties or challenges ease their worried minds by writing petitions on red cards and tying them to the Celestial Tree’s branches. Inside the main building a statue of Tianhou is flanked by large stands with numerous small lights. Businesses and households purchase these lights in the hope that they will shine good fortune on them.

The China Folk Cultural Villages Park features life-size replicas of 24 villages of China’s 56 ethnic minorities. Performances include folk songs and dance from various ethnic minorities. Visitors can also sample food from the various cultures.

Shenzhen also has two theme parks: Tthe Splendid China Miniature Scenic Spots (next to the China Folk Culture Villages Park) features miniature versions of most of well-known Chinese landmarks including the Great Wall, Summer Palace and the Forbidden City. Window of the World features miniaturized replicas of landmarks outside of China, including Angkor Watt, the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel, Buckingham Palace, and the Acropolis.

Meisha Beach Parks includes Da Meisha and Xiao Meisha beaches, which have been made into parks with restaurants and shops serving day-trippers from Shenzhen. There is an aquarium, jet skiing, boating, bungee jumping, and other resort type activities.

The Referral

I was at work on Thursday, October 23rd when I recieved the call. I came back from lunch and I had a call from our social worker Linda that she had a referral for us. I could barely grab my phone or think. I decided to call Linda first and then call Bill. I finally remembered how to use my cell phone and I called her. She said there is a seven year old boy we are holding for you, but I need to know within 2 hours whether you want to consider him to keep. She said he was found at a train station when he was about 6. He was withdrawn and wouldn't talk or look at anyone. However, today he is doing great in the orphanage, medically healthy and doing what he should be doing at his age.

I called Bill and couldn't talk as I was crying. He kept telling me to calm down. He thought someone had died. (My dad had surgery the day before.) I finally told him to sit down and that we had our referral. I told hm to meet me at home as soon as he can so we can open it together as Linda was sending it online to me.

I went down to find someone to let them know I needed to leave. I left within minutes. I knew this was it before we even looked at the referral.

Bill got home and said that he wanted to know if the boy wanted to be adopted. We opened the documents and started reading. February 14th was the day he was put in the orphanage and his given birthday. (Besides being Valentines Day, I thought of a special young man who passed away on this date. He was a special young man.) We kept reading and there was an interview in which he expresses that he wants to be adopted. He wants a family to love and care for him. This was it, he was ours. Then we looked at his pictures. What a cutie! He just melted our hearts. It was time to call Linda, say yes and begin sharing the good news.