Fwd: Update 1

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From: Jane boyce <janeboyce@live.com>
Date: January 20, 2018 at 8:35:45 PM AST
To: Jane boyce <janeboyce@live.com>
Subject: Update 1

Update 1

Our plane was full of Puerto Ricans who cheered and clapped as we landed in San Juan.  They were so delighted to be home!  The city looked and felt much like it was last year when we were here  except that most the traffic lights were not functioning so all the intersections were like a round about without the circle. Glad Rog was driving!  Fresh paint & new awnings were everywhere on the beach strip.  Things looked a bit worse when you drove down a little ways out and down the side streets.  A couple miles out of town, that's where the electric poles are laying sideways and the rubbish piles line the road.  

We had great conversations with several people...they are so upbeat & grateful for all the support they are getting...mostly from their neighbors but also from the mainland. Here's a few tidbits we heard:

-We feel hugged by the mainland.

-The hurricane brought out the humanitarian heart .

-We didn't wait for the gov't...we cleared our streets, shared our food & ice.  

 -PR showed strength, unity & compassion.

-If we had any extra, we knew there was someone who could use it so we gave it to them.

-Yes it was very hard but we will go forward.

Not once did we hear anyone complain...just great positive attitudes! 

We were successful in getting the solar generator that Faith Fowler from Cass Community Services in Detroit left for us.  It was built by homeless people there...how cool is it that they are helping those in need in PR!  The storage unit we thought we'd lined up, fell through (no big shock) but Faith's friend, Maria Teresa stored it for us.  That turned out to be a great experience as we spent a good hour visiting her.  She'd met Faith at a Church & Society board meeting in Washington years ago.  She said that's where they fought for justice & truth for all.  Our Church & Society class at home always begins class by reciting Micah 6:8:  What does the Lord require of us: to do what is right & love mercy.  It's a small world!

Update 26

How to describe Vieques??  An island with gorgeous deserted beaches hidden behind overgrown bushes & vine-covered trees with a one lane sometime paved & sometimes barely passable road weaving through it.    And horses!  Everywhere!  Roaming wherever they want.  Here we don't say "Deer in the road!" You say, "Horse in the road!"  Some are branded.  Some wild.  

But also hiding is the past.  My friend, Mary told me to duck when she heard I was coming here.  After a couple days here, I had to call her and find out what she was talking about.  She said, "Duck when the bombs go off!"  I did some research.  How did I not know that the US Navy was using this island as target practice until just 15 years ago??  How did the US justify bombing, using napalm & leaving the island loaded with radio active particles which are causing cancer & other health issues?  How did US justify giving them 10 days to leave their homes and either move to the middle arid land or leave the island?  I realize the Navy needed to practice somewhere...but was it fair to use an inhabited island that has no voice in the US govt?    Is it better that I know now??  What would I'd done if I'd known??  And what else don't I know???  Living in my little blissful bubble of ignorance is nice...but traveling does make pinholes in it at the same time as it fills it with a deep love of other cultures & places.  

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Jane's 2017 Updates

So much for counting on email...once I got to China, my email messed up and from then on, I could only send a few emails to one person at a time.  So my updates just sat in my folder.  Not even sure which ones got sent so I am forwarding all of them to you just in case you are still interested.  Remember I did not do any editing...so there's lots of errors.  Either you'll have lots to read or lots to trash.  I'm home now.   The wash machine is running & we're sorting the mail as we settle back into our real life.

Hope to see or hear from you soon and catch up with your life!

Jane

#38 Painful Thought. #39 Cutting the Cord & Heading to Costa Rica. #40 The Girl on the Bus

#38. Painful Thought
As I watched MM charm his way deeper into the hearts of Chan, his YaYa, Rog, Chan's neighbors & friends, a painful thought erupted: there's a woman in China who carried and delivered MM--and then, more than likely, she abandoned him at the hospital. I wondered if she had any other choice?? MM could hardly breathe. Did she have the $$ she'd need for his medical bills?? Was it possible for him to grow up healthy & someday support his parents?? What an excruciating, painful decision she had to make! And then I thought of the thousands of new Moms who had and would have to make that same decision. It became overwhelming to me--all that heartache--the helplessness of their situation--the gut wrenching pain.
MM's shrieks of laughter brought me back to the joy that surrounded me. That night I prayed for peace & healing for those Moms and thanked MM's mom. He is such a gift!!

#39 Cutting the Cord & Heading to Costa Rica
It was time to cut the cord. The frig was stocked, wash done, bags unpacked and all the safety gadgets mounted. Chan's safety net of friends were in top gear. Though I had loved being in the middle of it all...it was time to move on...and after discussing the pros & cons...Chan booked us a flight to Costa Rica. We landed in San Juan but took the first bus out to Turriaba. There we hiked through the jungle to Gustavo--the oldest archeological site in CR. Saw the many mounds where houses had been built & the aqueduct system used from 1000AD to 1400 BC still somewhat functioning. Biggest thrill was spotting a lots in a tall tree. Actually a guide pointed him out as we'd never had been able to spot it's dark body clinging to a branch so still among thick leaves...I know Sarah, you are jealous. Also saw a tayra, variety of insects & butterflies. The 150+ in of rainfall here feeds a thick jungle. Tomorrow we hope to wake up early enough to see Turriaba Volcano smoking & venting from the upstairs of the hostel we are in. Not sure where next, that's what Rog is working on now!

#40. The Girl on the Bus
That's be me. I love getting a peek into lives & hearing people chatter as we travel via local bus. Well dressed women with babies & groceries, men in work clothes or suits and students in uniforms. We pass neat, colorful small homes in the midst of a medley of flowers. Each small village boast a church & soccer field. The bus stops often as it climbs & descends the mountains..and people hop on & off greeting each other warmly. I love this "buseye" view!
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Why You Shouldn't Raid Your Retirement Fund for a Child’s College Education | Investing | US News

http://money.usnews.com/investing/articles/2017-02-24/why-you-shouldnt-raid-your-retirement-fund-for-a-childs-college-education


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Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday, Reagan! Hope to talk to you later today.
Love, Gpa and Grace

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Costa Rica!

Leaving here on Wed. For Costa Rica and Panama. Love, Mom and Dad

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The guys

#35 Safari. #36. The Long Haul Home #37 Next Few Days

#35 Safari
What better way to kill the last waiting day than at the Safari Park! I rate it a 5*. Huge variety of animals and lots of each. MM & Chan loved the monkeys best and Pandas were my favorite. Sun was shining and all three of us were loving it. What could be better??

#36 The Long Haul Home
It was a long haul--3+ hours to Beijing--6 hour layover--13+ hours to Dallas--2+ hour layover--2+ hour to Orlando. That's the long. The haul was the stuff you need for 30+ hours of traveling with a 2 year old and tons of adoption papers. We dragged into Orlando @ 5:30 pm (5:30 am China time)...and SURPRISE!! There was YaYa--Ed--holding a stuffed tiger & sucker. MM quickly realized that guys was the one he'd seen on the phone! The whole bunched hugged & then the sucker game began. MM licked the sucker then Yaya either got a lick or some smeared on his face...pure fun for MM. Pure joy for Ed, Chan & me.
We managed to stay up about 4 hours letting MM explore his home...then crashed.

#37 Next few days...
Rog's phone call the next morning asking me to open the front door, woke me up. He'd flown in from visiting his brother's family in Calif. He'd been in Puerto Vallarta with Bob & Elsi since leaving Louisiana. So we'd sure been on two different trips these last almost 3 weeks!
The next couple days were spent unpacking, meeting neighbors & laughing at MM. Ed is staying in the Navy base campground less than a mile away. He'd had a toy Kubota tractor shipped so Rog & Ed quickly pulled out the tools to put it together...then repair the stairway gate...then add another lock on the back door...than a wagon. Chan's cute chic home is now a kid's zone with toys & lots of not really toys sprewed all over!
Rog & I still haven't decided on our next move....maybe tomorrow we'll figure that out.

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Matthew

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#33 Unwanted Babies & Old Folks. #34 Count Down

#33. Unwanted Babies & Old Folks
So how did so many couples avoid having more than one baby from 1979 to 2015?? Our CCAI rep answered that question with one word--abortion. And since only sons were expected to care for their elderly parents ...how did parents assure they'd have a healthy son to care for them--orphanages filled with girls & boys with special needs. Our rep also explained that today that picture has hardly changed as many couples are deciding to only have one child due to the stress to succeed economically. In the meantime, the older population is growing. Here the retirement is truly your children. The court will step in if a child is not supporting their parents & require parent support payments. If a couple does not have kids, they'll get gov't $$. All this seems to be verified by the huge number of orphans & the relatively rare times we've seen couples with even one child & the multitude of elders we've seen exercising & playing in the parks! Wonder how much our parent support check will be??? And when will it come in the mail????
(Ben, Bek, Jake???)

#34 Count Down to Home Sweet Home...for Chan & MM anyways. Finally...the last hoop...the US Constable who told Chan--I hope to issue MM's VIsa by tomorrow. Well let's hope so cause we're leaving early the next day and we're NOT leaving with out MM!! We're really not worried as CCAI is a well oiled machine. It has adopted over 12,000 children. Our rep has helped over 1000 families...that's 1000 less orphans in China. Reminds me of a Japanese legend that anyone who creates 1000 organizations cranes will be granted a wish. (Sadako & the Paper Cranes). In this case...1000 wishes HAVE been granted!! Who knew the 1000 cranes could be mechanical instead!
Today we strolled through a beautiful park with manicured bushes & gorgeous gardens of provinces, begonias, canvas, impatients, , poppies, salvia--boasting every color of the rainbow. The apple & cherry trees were loaded with blooms. I noticed all the blooms...but Chan seemed only to notice MM. She laughed continually as he performed antic after antic encouraging her delighted response. He'd run ahead only to turn around & run as fast as his chubby legs could go to her. She beamed with pride as many Chinese stopped to talk to him. We could have been in a sand pit and as long as MM was there she'd loved it...and I was so glad I was with them...in this very special time and in this beautiful park!
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Fwd: #32 Blooming in Guangzhou

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Begin forwarded message:

From: Jane boyce <janeboyce@live.com>
Date: March 5, 2017 at 2:01:13 PM EST
To: Jane boyce <janeboyce@live.com>
Subject: #32 Blooming in Guangzhou

#32 Blooming in Guangzhou
It was a 2 houcr flight to the much warmer Guangzhou, the Flower City.  Here bright pink bougainvillea hang form the bridges, an abundance of trees are deep green, birds sing...and Chan & MM 's bonding is blooming!   I love spring in Michigan because little by little, it reveals itself.  Watching Chan & MM reminds me of spring.  The first major thaw, when MM laid his head on Chan's shoulder, then the slow but sure signs:  removing layers of clothing, diaper change without tears, sleeping without shoes, quick bath to laughing in the tub and running to Chan with out stretched arms.  Of course, a lot of snacks were embedded in each step.  This morning, Chan had to go get some papers from our room, so I loaded the bus with MM...his little brow wrinkled and he looked so scared while pointing to the hotel saying, "Mama?"  I had our rep explain to him that Chan was coming in a minute.  But it wasn't until he saw her that the the fear turned to joy.  Spring in full bloom!!  
The last couple days included:  paper work; trip to Chen Clan Ancestral Hall/Folk Art museum where we witnessed a Buddhist ceremony where over 100 tubs of live fish, squid & eels were blessed & soon to be purchased to later be set free in the nearby Pearl River; paper work;  shopping in high end stores & side street markets; paper work;  health check up & yup more paper work.  Today we wee at the crowded Chinese Embassy where over 2000 visits are granted each day.  
MM keeps us busy and laughing.  He has an arsenal of facial expressions...and would do well as a beggar on the streets.  He likes wandering checking to make sure we are in tow.  We spend lots of time visiting with the other families we've been with since Beijing.  Our hotel is the last stop to many other adopting families as well.  It's hard to wrap your head around how many special needs Chinese orphans have won the lottery and are now part of a loving family!!  Have seen downs, cleft palates, blind...and know many have internal issues...but all have bright smiles...it's like they already know their future will be brighter.  Say nothing of how much joy they'll bring to their new families!   What an unique and blessed role I get to play in this joyful happening!!  

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#20 Plantations

Noticed I'd forgotten to get this into my blog...better late than never!

#20 Plantations.
We were deep in plantation land so head to The Whitney Planation--the only one that focuses on the slaves-side of the story. Our guide's ancestors had probably been slaves on this or a close by plantation. She spoke from her heart feeling the strong need to inform people about slavery...since many schools only briefly discuss it. She emphasized how the north as well as the south benefitted from the slave trade...especially after international trade was outlawed & domestic trade gave rise to breeding houses in the north. Biggest was in Richmond. We walked through a memorial where names & stories where etched in stone wall. Stories told & recorded during FDR's Federal Writing Project. You could feel the heart tugs. Stories of working from "can't see em to can't see em." Inhuman torture --similar to what the Jews experienced under Hitler who studied slave punishment--and how the dead were tossed into the swamps. There was also an Angels Garden dedicated to the over 2000 kids who died in this parish. Clay life size statues of these children were placed all over the grounds. A rusted metal jail which sat next to the auction block screamed of the injustice done. As we left the Whitney Plantation, I thought of the opulent Whitney Inn in Detroit where my sisters & I savored elegant desserts. What contrast!! We headed down the road to Oak Valley Plantation--passing lots of worn down house trailers--made me thing that things haven't improved enough for the manual laborers. The Big House was highlight at the Oak Valley Plantation. Certainly the other side of the coin. A 1/4 mile driveway was lined with twenty-eight 300 yr old Virginia Oak trees and blooming azalea bushes surround the twenty-eight pillared mansion. The gigantic dining table was set with fine china and a large decorative hand pulled fan hun from the ceiling ready to stir up a breeze & keep the flies away. Sugar cane made the family rich & still today is the main crop. Shortly after the Civil War--the house was deserted and later cows bedded down inside. About 100 yrs ago, a Texas couple bought it & returned it to it's glorious state then will it to a foundation after their death.
It was a a day of stepping back in history!

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#29 Hello Family. #30 Orphanage/ Luoyang #31 Tidbits

#29 Hello Family
This a.m., my phone's weather report read: 27F/unhealthy. Looking out the window at the snow & smog confirmed both. Our trip to the orphanage was postponed...which left no plans for the day. Spent our 1st "free" morning (evening in USA) meeting some of MM's family thanks to FaceTime & Skype. Many had been waiting to see the little man "Live From ZhengZhou." Chan beamed as each fell instantly in love with MM. His humongous new family is ready to give him humongous love!! Ate brunch @ 10 then napped, played in the hall with other families, a Walmart run, fitted out clothes for MM pass out extras and/or packing them for orphanage. Five families went to dinner together--chaotic & fun time. MM fought sleep but Chan & I welcomed it!

# 30 Orphanage/Luoyang
Chan wanted to learn everything she possible could about her son so off we went on an over 2 hour drive to the two orphanages MM spent his first two years. She found a wealth of info!! First the Welfare Institute run by the gov't housing @600 kids with a 10 to 1 nanny ratio. Though very clean & decorated, it was not heated. MM lived here the last 6 months. Adjacent to that one was Maria's House...a branch of New Hope run & funded by US Christian NGO. Here MM lived for 1 & half yr & got lots of tender care right after his initial operation. Chan cried when she meet MM's main sweet nanny & the American doctor who'd given him such good care. Chan knew MM's intestines were pushed up into his lung which is why he has a big zipper strip on his abdomen --but can you imagine the shock to find out his heart is on the other side & flipped around! Dr. Said it seems to be no problem--how can that be??? His Dr. and the director (whose husband was super attached to MM) walked Chan out to the van where I was entertaining & being entertained by MM. They we so thrilled to see him. Feeling was mutual. Hugs & Pictures galore. Contact info & stories were exchanged. Both Chan & Dr. had a heartfelt appreciation for each other: Chan for the Dr. who cared for & nurtured young, sickly MM and the Dr for Chan for giving him a new life in a loving home!! We rode past the hospital where MM had been abandoned--his finding spot. Then headed back to his new life!!!

#31 Tidbits
Our ride to Luoyang gave me the opportunity to pepper our CCAI rep, Tina with lots of questions:
-Apartment cost $2300 per sq meter
-Most apartments are shared by 2 generations
-Few retirement homes as it is frowned on to have parents there
-the hundreds of apartment building going up (Counted 35 in @ 5 min drive) are private investors & will most likely not be occupied for a while. (Same story we heard 4 yrs ago.)
-Cars cost between $3300 & $17,000
-Average wage is $400-500 per month
-As far as TIna knew:
No Chinese have adopted American kids.
Most kids in orphanages had special needs.
Chinese can adopt from orphanage at no cost but few do.
Chinese can adopt from other Chinese families at a cost but few do.
-Crops in field now are wheat & the same field will be planted to corn with both harvested in the same year.
-Drove by several homes build into the side of clay hills.
-Also drove by several men sweeping with bamboo brooms along the expressway--what an endless job!
-And a bit of humor: When MM spits food out, Chan tells him, "No, No--Don't you know there's starving children in China!!"

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# 26 Being a Mom. #27 Meeting Yaya (Gpa) #28 Shopping

#26 Being a Mom
Mathew Ming's (MM) first night went pretty good--especially for me cause I just rolled over and went back to sleep when MM woke up at 11 pm & Chan comforted him & let him lie next to her until he was vast asleep an hour or so later. Chan woke up early, got herself & the diaper bag ready so when MM woke up, she could just cuddle him while he drank his bottle, change diapers, dress him & feed him a banana. She's loving being a Mommy & MM melts in her arms. We were at breakfast buffet by 8. It was a great place to see what he likes to eat--hard boiled eggs, toast & yogurt...and most everything else except some Chinese! Chan & MM went off to do more paperwork but I stayed with Malaya--the 10 year old daughter of one of the families here--who was sick & both parents had to to to sign papers. I used the down time to catch up on my writing & typing. They got back around noon & we ate in our room & were entertained by MM till 1:30 when it was time to go fill out passport papers. I again stayed with Malaya. Chan had helped me get the app that rerouted internet so I could read Facebook again...my connection to home & friends!

#27 Meeting YaYa (Gpa)
A world away but thanks to skype--MM met his YaYa (Gpa--my big brother). Staring at the happy, laughing image while Chan repeated "YaYa, Gpa"--MM put his face right up to the screen making his Gpa laugh harder. Next day, scene was repeated but MM was catching on & to his Gpa's delight said, "YaYa". Gpa's grin filled the screen! Next day scene, MM added a dance, lots more babbling, smacking the phone & several loud "YaYa!" Gpa was belly laughing. What a treat for Chan, Gpa & MM...and me.

#28 Shopping
Since MM is accustomed to wearing 3 layers of warm clothing--we headed to the mall with Dennis, Elizabeth & Benny (their new son). The walk to the mall was down right dangerous--it was snowing, the walk was slippery & motorcycles & bikes buzzed by almost running us over. As we tried to walk slowly & carefully, crowds of people almost bowled us over. The mall was NOT a welcome relief as it was cold there too. We did find some more layers & shoes for MM--thanks to Dennis who is Amer-Chinese & speaks some Chinese. Our trip back to the hotel was better but we were all chilled to the bone before we got into our warm hotel. Leaving the hotel for dinner was not an option so we all ate at the fancy hotel. Dennis ordered for us. It was way past bedtime but Chan wanted to give MM a bath--which he wasn't sure he wanted, but got. Then she put on 2 sets of PJ's & he strutted around the room so happy. Think he's realizing how great his life now is!!


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#21.5. Roger's AHV Thoughts

#21.5. Roger's AHV Thoughts

To have a friend, it is necessary to be a friend. It is just common sense, but something that I recall reminding my students about each year. I am happy to say that this idea appears to be alive in the volunteers that are making friends in Louisiana as they rebuild some of the 200,000 homes devastated by the flooding last August..
The All Hands volunteers plan, gather supplies and tools, pack their lunch, then travel to their assigned site to spend their energy and their time being a friend to someone they might not even know. Just like a good friend who will drop anything to help...they put their lives on hold for a period of time to use their talents in service of others. Some work for a day...or three! Some arrive thinking they will stay for a short time and decide to stay for months. Many move from project to project...traveling from Detroit to Tennessee to Louisiana to Nepal...working with
All Hands for years! Everyone we worked with seemed to be energized by the project. They even cheered and celebrated when the project in Louisiana was extended .

Some of my best memories of feeling that I had done the right thing have often involved helping a neighbor or a relative in need. Helping someone move or fix something or just helping with a small chore has always put a smile on my face and a spring in my step. I like to think that being there for your neighbor is what we all should do.
Our family has always been blessed with good neighbors who stopped by to visit and they have often pitched in to help. The volunteers at All Hands are like good neighbors who have put their own plans on hold so they can reach out to distant neighbors in time of need. I never heard a volunteer complain about the work or the fact that there was no pay for the work. The satisfaction of knowing they helped was sufficient payment to buoy their spirits and lift them to do the next job. I hope to again be a good neighbor with All Hands as they do the work of reaching out to those in great need.

Matthew

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