A Chinese-American Story of Love (Part VI - section 4)

By Douglas Wagganer

As we began our last two days in China, I began feeling a need to experience as much as I could. I watched everything around me with anticipation and great respect. A sort of sadness began to take a grip within me. I had only gotten a small taste of the true China I had been seeing, so a strong desire to learn and share every aspect of the sights and activities had more pressing urgency.

On Tuesday, our adoption group all gathered together in the Hotel's Atrium for a series of group photographs. Entire group shots and group pictures of the two Orphanage's families were taken. The traditional group baby photograph on one of the White Swan Hotel's red couches was taken. The babies all seemed to be mesmerized by all the camera flashes. Everyone wanted that perfect camera shot. Everyone wanted that perfect memory. I knew that this would in all likelihood be the last time any photographs would be taken of our entire group together. I took several rolls of pictures myself, so Maribeth would have a recorded account of the last days she shared with her twenty sisters from China.

Later the entire group would gather and march two blocks from the Hotel to the American Consulate. Now let me tell you I felt a strong sense of pride when I saw the American Flag flying inside the Consulate grounds. I love American and it was a beautiful sight and a comforting feeling to my soul in knowing I had a representation from my government so close. We passed a security checkpoint and escorted to a large waiting room area. Then family-by-family we were each called up to a Clerk's window to pick up all our daughters approved immigration paperwork and travel Visa. About one hundred or so total families were present for the procedure. When everyone finally had the paperwork a lone American Consulate Official walk into the room. He congratulated everyone on his or her adoptions and then had everyone swear an oath of responsibility. I indeed had a tear in my eyes as I held my daughter and swore that simple oath to the American Government. The last major paperwork hurdle had just been completed and with the conclusion of that oath I had all the final authorization we needed to bring Maribeth home to the America.

We lingered briefly inside the American Consulate for Photographs with the Consulate Officer. In front of the American Consulate's Main Entrance Seal and in front of the American Consulate's American Flag we took more photographs. National pride abounded in both Jane and myself. It was comforting to know that the small little girl I now called my daughter would be accepted by America with open arms. Maribeth was then just hours away from becoming a new Chinese-American Citizen.

In leaving the American Consulate Grounds, we passed through a large group of Chinese Citizens waiting outside. Here were several hundred people, all waiting to get passport Visas to America. The crowd watched quietly as we walked back to the Hotel. Many smiled as we went by. A few told us congratulations in Chinese. I at first thought it was Jane and I who were being congratulated, but later I realized it was not to us they were speaking. It was to Maribeth all those good wishes were given to. My daughter was considered very fortunate and probably envied by most those people waiting outside the American Consulate that afternoon. She had something they each dreamed for and wanted. She had two new parents and most of all a chance to go to America.