A very special visit

Today we made the journey back to Iyla's orphanage. Thanks to the magic of Facebook, I was able to contact the in-Vietnam advisor from our long-since closed adoption agency. With a little planning we had a visit all arranged. Dr Hoang along with her daughter picked us up at our hotel at 7am.

We headed outside of the hustle and bustle of Hanoi to the orphanage in Phu To province in Northern Vietnam. Along the way, we stopped for some delicious pho (soup with meat or chicken) and rice noodles at a roadside restaurant. Dr. Hoang demonstrated how to season it correctly with slices of lime and peppers. After our quick meal, we returned to the road trip. We drove for another 90 minutes and arrived at the orphanage. The director and staff were waiting. As was Iyla's nanny-the incredible woman who was so attached to Iyla all those years ago. She looked just the same!! Huge hugs and pictures all around.

We sat down at the table and chatted about all of Iyla's hobbies and about how so much time had passed. They could not get over how tall Iyla was and how strong she looked. Her nanny, Nga said that Iyla's nose looked different but that she still resembled herself as a baby. She also told us that Iyla loved bananas when she was a baby! Funny, she just had one to eat this morning!!

  We shared the pictures that we had printed for the trip that showed Iyla with the various staff members and they loved identifying themselves and each other. We also traded pictures on our phones of Iyla and one of her dear friends, Leigha who they remembered from her recent visit as well. Leigha's nanny was also there and we shared lots of pictures of the girls together- Thu Ha and Kim Hue. They LOOOVED that the girls still see each other and are good friends!

After all the chatting, we saw where the babies slept. Well, most of the babies. Our girls largely slept and stayed upstairs in the air conditioned room that the orphanage director used as an office. We learned that Nga, Iyla's nanny was the orphanage director's wife. It was so amazing that she was there, in person today as she no longer works there. The baby rooms are empty now and are largely used for storage.

We took a few pictures and talked for a few more minutes before learning we were going to visit Nga at her home! A short time later, we were welcomed into Nga's newly built house. This was an incredible experience to visit this special woman in her new, house. We walked into the courtyard and met Nga's grandson who was splashing around in a baby pool. Next, we were led into the house and served some green tea in the main room of the house. We got to see Nga's pets- she had several dogs and puppies. She also had chickens!

 Soon, it was time to say goodbye. Lots of hugs and tears. Nga held Iyla and I tight as she said goodbye. It felt a bit like it did 12 years ago when Nga hopped in the van and tried to accompany us to Viet Tri city. It was so gratifying to able to thank her for taking such wonderful care of our baby girl!! And she thanked us too!! There are no words in any language that adequately describe
all of the thoughts and feelings experienced today. Nearly impossible to express just how it felt to understand (and be understood perfectly) by someone who knew not a word of English. Simply amazing.

 After the visit, it was time to make the trek back to Hanoi (about 2.5 hours away). Much shorter now that there is a highway and the roads are much better 12 years later. Dr Hoang stopped at a roadside stand and bought us some steamed corn which was a delicious snack. I never thought I would be munching on an ear of corn in the back of an SUV on the way back to Hanoi. We arrived back at the hotel exhausted and amazed. What a special morning- what incredible memories we have. We said goodbye to our gracious hosts- Dr Hoang and family and invited them to visit us in the states one day.