Today was supposed to be a free day, but the orphanage director changed our plans and scheduled us to apply for Claire's passport. We left the hotel in a taxi at 8:15. At least the taxi drivers know the way to these places! He took us straight there and we were early. When the office opened we went in with an official from the orphanage and had her passport picture taken, paid our fees and had some paperwork stamped. It took all of about 15 minutes and we headed back to the hotel...where Claire passed out because she did not sleep at all last night!
Hanging out at the passport office.
We let her rest for a couple of hours and then headed out to meet Robert for lunch. A quick trip on the subway and we were at the orphanage where we met up with Robert and also with Lisa Jordan and her crew. The Jordan's just adopted the cutest fella. He is about 10 years old and Claire was fascinated with him and her other son, Brent. We went to a local restaurant and Robert, who has lived here for something like 8 years, ordered lots of local dishes. They brought the dishes and put them on the big lazy Susan so we all could share. The food was great and I fed Claire with my chopsticks. I think I got more food on her lap than in her mouth and she kept putting her face down to the plate with her mouth open to indicate that she wanted more! Unfortunately, I did not get any pictures of this experience because my battery died and the back up was back at the hotel. Oh well! We stayed at the restaurant for hours picking Robert's brain about life in Tianjin and Claire behaved so beautifully. She sat in my lap or Paul's and just played quietly! This afternoon we walked down to the "Walking Street" here in Tianjin. Like in Beijing, it is a long street of shops but it was not as nice as the one in Beijing. We did buy a children's book for Claire and some snacks.
Pizza Hut in China!
Sweet Girl!
Sweet Feet
Robert shared several things with us today based on his knowledge of the area and of the welfare system in Tianjin. First, Claire is almost certainly Han Chinese and not one of the 56 or so minorities in China. Of course, it does not make a bit of difference to us but is a little piece of information that may be of interest to Claire one day. Also, he was quite surprised that she still had club feet. He said the welfare system had been good about getting repair surgery for club feet and thought she most have slipped through the cracks. I think it may be possible that due to her low muscle tone and reflex, they felt she would never walk and there was no point in correcting her feet. I don't know that for sure but we are hoping they can be corrected non-surgically, so I for one, am fine with the fact she did not have surgery. I have read that the surgery done here could have made it worse or caused her to be in pain as she grows up. I also don't know that for sure but we are planning to have her evaluated by a Ponsetti Doctor when we get her home!
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