Sunday 26th July

Today we visited the Huizhou Social Welfare Institute where Mae, or 'Jaio Jaio' as her carers called her, spent the first 14 months of her little life.

It took us approx 2 1/2 hours by car and it was interesting to watch the scenery change from the industrial chaos of Guangzhou to the still and rolling hills leading into Huizhou. Huizhou sits on the other side of those verdant hills and is about 45 mins from the sea. It's a pretty town with quite a mix of traditional and modern architecture. It has a river runnning through it and wide promenades.

The Huizhou SWI sits in the centre of the town and, I think, was built about 30 years ago. It's entrance and exterior walls have been painted with colourful pictures of children and animals. Inside it's clean and reasonably well equipped (for Chinese standards). It's called a 'Social Welfare Institute' because it's home to 78 occupants, only 12 of which are children between the age of 0-16. Of these children only 5 were likely to be adopted. The other occupants were adults with mental illness.

The Director was very welcoming, pouring us tea and answering all our questions. He explained that his policy is to ensure that the carers are very well trained. His motto is that the children must be treated as if they were the carers own children and the adults as if they were their own parents. He also ensured that Mae's main carer was with him to answer any of our questions. He then took us on a tour of the orphanage and many of the adults and children came out to greet us. They were obviously very curious as to who 'Jiao Jiao's' new parents and Aunty were but seemed very happy for her.

All in all, it was a very emotional journey but one which we are so glad to have undertaken. We've taken lots of photos for Mae's Lifebook, obvioulsy, much of which is very private to her. But I'm posting a few pics of the day which I'm sure you'll all be interested in.

I have to say the Director looks rather like 'Oddjob', don't you think?!!