Today, we are back where our life with Julia began. We arrived in Ben Tre last evening. The trip was 180 miles and took about 7 hours. A lot had changed road-wise in the last 5 years. There were a few new, smooth roads and a new bridge. The bridge is big news. It use to be that you needed to take a ferry to get to the province where Julia lived, but they finished the bridge in the last couple of years, and that shaves a lot of time off the trip.
Anyway, back to where it all began. This morning, we were able to go back to the care center where Julia spent the first 15 months of her life. She was so excited to go. When we arrived, we were introduced to the director and another woman. After a few minutes of talking with them (we were fortunate that the hotel that we are staying at provided a fantastic interpreter as a lot of people in this province don't speak English), a woman (Mrs. Chi) that was a nanny when Julia and her friends lived there, came in. She was so excited to see the kids. Within a few minutes someone had called two other women who worked there at the time when the kids where there and they came too. As soon as one of the women (Mrs. Thao) got off her scooter she was crying when she saw the children. Julia spent most of the time in the arms of Mrs. Chi. We were able to spend almost two and a half hours there and it was an amazing time. Julia was so happy to be there and be re-introduced to the women who took care of her. And we are so thankful for these women who took good care of her for the first 15 months of her life until we were able to do it ourselves. Thank you so very much Mrs. Chi and Mrs. Thao - words cannot express what you have done for us and for Julia.
Merry Christmas from the Atkins clan!
Barbie
3 comments:
Merry Christmas! Julia looks so happy to be there. I remember seeing their faces and I'm glad Julia got to see them. Sounds like you guys are having a really good time.
Bolt is doing fine. We got a light dusting of snow overnight so he will be excited to get out and enjoy it. Tell the kids he might be a lap dog when they get back. He wants to get so close to me that I think he might try to sit on my lap. We got him a chicken flavored rawhide for Christmas tonight. Hopefully he will enjoy.
Oh...what a wonderful experience for you all!!! Julia looks so elated! I'm sure there were many tears of joy shed that day!! It's so nice that she could be reunited with those sweet ladies! Happy for you all! And also that mom and dad got to experience it with you this time!! Happy travels!! Much love~~Cindy
So great to see how HAPPY Julia is! What great experience for you all!
Angie W.
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