A highlight of our trip to Taiwan was a visit to the orphanage where our son David and his wife Janalee picked up their daughter Maya Xiao Pin Smith in 2006 at 8 months of age. We were hosted by Sally Chang, the Social Worker who assisted David and Janalee in finalizing the adoption. She is a member of the LDS Church and works with several orphanages in helping make placements. She met us at the Church Service Center and we took a taxi to the orphanage. Sandy and Vickie, two aides, greeted us and showed us the facility. The orphanage has been licensed since 1955. It houses children from babies to teen-agers. We toured the facility and saw the dorm rooms for the older children, with the boys and girls in separate rooms. We took recent pictures of Maya to leave with them and also some pencils, crayons and books for the children. We were impressed with the love shown to the children. We had our temperarures checked with a measurement gun pressed to our foreheads before we could go in. The new swine flu scare is making everyone cautious.
Maya playing in the orphanage in 2006. Isn't she cute!!!
David and Janalee with their new princess. She became the younger sister to four active boys.
The front of the Chung Yi orphanage in Taipei. Notice the bicycles.
Vickie, an aide at the orphanage, and Sally Chang, our guide.
Joined by aide Sandy and the Director of orphanage (in white blouse).
The shoes are off and in place.
The large play area for the younger children.
Here is where Maya spent much of her time. The babies are in beds in the adjoining room. Three aides are working with the children. We could not go into this room. This picture is through a window.
Cute welcoming bears.
The school has placed bird feeders near the entrance.
The cafeteria for the older children.
AND HERE SHE IS TODAY. STILL AS CUTE AS EVER WITH HER BROTHERS.
Maya playing in the orphanage in 2006. Isn't she cute!!!
David and Janalee with their new princess. She became the younger sister to four active boys.
Vickie, an aide at the orphanage, and Sally Chang, our guide.
Joined by aide Sandy and the Director of orphanage (in white blouse). 
The shoes are off and in place. 
The large play area for the younger children.
Here is where Maya spent much of her time. The babies are in beds in the adjoining room. Three aides are working with the children. We could not go into this room. This picture is through a window.
Cute welcoming bears.
The school has placed bird feeders near the entrance.
The cafeteria for the older children.
3 comments:
Stop, you're making me want a girl. ;) I'm kidding. I'm fine. What a great experience!
Wow! Now I really want to go back. So many special memories as I look at Chung Yi through your eyes. Our day there was such a whirlwind of emotions, meeting our beautiful little Taiwanese princess for the first time, meeting Maya's birth family and walking through Maya's first home and meeting her nannies who loved her so much and cried as we left with her- 3 years ago in August but still so fresh in our memories. I am so thrilled that you got to go to Taiwan and Chung Yi and see these wonderful places for yourself, David and I left a piece of our hearts in beautiful Taiwan and feel so blessed that our Father in Heaven led us to such a wonderful place for our little girl. She is sitting on my lap right now telling me all about coming home from Taiwan on a big "Hairplane" to her mommy and daddy and her boys. When we showed her the picture of you with Sally at the orphanage se said "That's grandma and grandpa!" then we asked her where you were and she said "They're in my Taiwan!" She recognized the wall of pictures behind you as this is one that she looks at of us with her birth family when we picked her up. Thank you so much for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to spend a few hours in a place so special to us. I am so excited for you to be able to tell Maya all about your visit to her birth country one day. Love you!
Janalee
I am so impressed with how equiped that orphanage seemed. The children that are there seem to be very well cared for. What a special experience.
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