Beijing Summer Camp 2007
Thoughts & Commentary
Now that the camp has concluded, these are some of the closing thoughts of camp leaders, CCAA officials, parents and children.
End of the Camp: My Perspective
by Gongzhan Wu, The Gladney Center for Adoption
On the last day, campers continued to experience Beijing. The visit to the hutons in Beijing on a rickshaw was both thrilling and educational. Every two campers shared one rickshaw as they moved through the zigzagging hutons.
A camper asked: what is a huton? One reply is that it is a narrow street. Another is that it is a residential corner. But neither answer is exactly complete.
In the Mongolian language, huton means wells. When Mongolians invaded Beijing, they had to station around wells. They stayed, and built a dynasty. The areas around wells they lived around expanded into residential corners with narrow streets.
Campers showed interest in learning about the hutons of Beijing, but seemed to have more interest in the street vendors who were selling Olympic hats, key chains, wood fans, and the like. This merchandise was offered at such a low prices that campers could hard turn them down.
The afternoon of the last day was spent on a return to the well-known Wangfujing walking street, and the closing ceremony in the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The closing ceremony was another unforgettable moment of the event. Mr. Li Xue Ju, Minister of China's Ministry of Civil Affairs came to say farewell to the campers. The farewell speech was quite meaningful. Here is what he said:
"No matter what you do when you grow up, never forget about the devoted love and care of your American adoptive parents. No matter where you go, never forget that you have your root in China. You will be the angel for the friendship between Chinese and American peoples forever.
I give you my sincere wishes that you have a happy today and beautiful future."
These words were printed beautifully on a certificate. Minister Li signed each certificate himself the night before.
Minister Li was grey-haired. He identified himself as both a representative of the PRC government and a grandpa of the adoptive children. Later that day, I learned at the farewell banquet that he is also an adoptive parent himself. Minister Li adopted a child two years ago. That inspired me to make a toast to the Minister to thank him for doing so on behalf of adoption agencies in the United States.
I was so pleased that in his farewell speech, Minister Li thanked adoption agencies for helping place Chinese children with American families. He described the role of adoption agencies as a key to successful adoptions. So I took up my cup of Mao-tai, and on behalf of American adoption agencies, thanked Minister Li for mentioning us.
The highlight of the closing ceremony was the presentation of gifts. CCAA gave each child a Fuwa doll, mascot of the Beijing Olympics 2008.
It was the last night of the camp. To say farewell is always the most difficult thing to do. That night, none of the children stayed in their own room for more than two hours. They went to chaperones' rooms and the rooms of fellow campers. They did not seem to have enough time to chat. They chased those who had not left their contact information. Of course, none of them forgot to come to my room to pick up their passport, which was a crucial document for traveling home the next day.
None of us slept more than three hours. Despite staying up very late, all the children got up early to say farewell to each other. In the same way we came, all campers returned in two main groups, East Coast and West Coast. Xiu Xiu could be considered a third group as she was going to travel again by herself. At 6:00 am sharp, the West Coast group boarded the bus. While half of the campers waved farewell at the hotel gate, the other half were slowly taken away by the giant bus. All eyes were wet. Including mine.
A Beijing huton
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