Day 2 and 3 were tough days for us. Maggie Sonia is grieving for her care-takers and we are struggling with the ethics of taking her away from all the people that loved her so much.
None of the books really prepares you for these challenges. One of the biggest hurdles for us is that we don't speak or understand Oriya -- but we have a english-oriya dictionary which helps just a bit.
So the 1st and 2nd day was spent walking the hallways of the hotel at some ungodly hours to keep Maggie Sonia from crying -- lugging 20 lbs isn't good for the back and 2 days without sleep sucks. Unfortunately she will only go to Mary so I can't help -- there will be a day soon when she'll come to me. Mary hasn't slept for two days....
Helpful hints for those following us to SMSS:
The staff and care takers genuinely love the children, and with limited resources are doing their best in raising 60 girls. Dr. Smurti Mohanty is in charge of the international adoption and is a good resource for questions on the process and status of the kids (she can be contacted via email).
The orphanage is about 20 minutes from the Trident hotel outside the city limits of Bhubaneswar.
When you arrive at SMSS -- the kids will just come to you and want to be held. Its quite chaotic --initially you will not get any one on one time with the child. Our first day we spent more time talking to Mr.Mohanty (the director of SMSS) than being with Maggie.
On the first day, it will be mentioned that a going away lunch is expected and hosting it will be 10000 rupees (that was a cost we didn't expect but were glad to be part of it --but with typical Indian-English translation we had to hold the lunch not on the day Maggie left but two days later). Mary and Maggie stayed at the hotel for this lunch because it would be very traumatic for her to go back.
Dr. Smurti Mohanty is the only one that speaks English but its difficult to understand her completely. There's a lot of the "Indian waggle" going on during the conversations -- you have to visit India to get what it is! :+)
Bring bug spray -- the mosquitoes are big and fierce.
If you are planning to give any in-kind donations to the orphanage : here's what we observed. The school age kids loved the multi-subject activity work books. Pencils, erasures, writing books and books for little kids are needed. During play time they could really use more soft balls to play catch, jumping ropes -- but the space is very confined so we think even board games would be fun especially for
the older kids. The major construction addition that is in progress but halted due to lack of funds needs
approximately 17 lakhs rupees. (Our catholic church in Starkville Mississippi raised over $4500 the week before we left for SMSS which we will send to them after we return home).
Gift in kind is suggested for all the caretakers (there are 15). It was also suggested we give Maggie's two caretakers 500 rupees. Mary made a gift bag of lipstick,nail polish, shampoo and hand cream but we only had enough for 9. It was well received by all.
And most of all, be prepared to want to take more than one child home with you -- emotionally that is the toughest.
Trip to Delhi:
We flew out of the Bhubaneswar airport on Kingfisher Air on Friday night December 18th and arrived at the ITC Maurya hotel at 2:00 am due to flight delays.
Helpful hints for those following us to SMSS:
The staff and care takers genuinely love the children, and with limited resources are doing their best in raising 60 girls. Dr. Smurti Mohanty is in charge of the international adoption and is a good resource for questions on the process and status of the kids (she can be contacted via email).
The orphanage is about 20 minutes from the Trident hotel outside the city limits of Bhubaneswar.
When you arrive at SMSS -- the kids will just come to you and want to be held. Its quite chaotic --initially you will not get any one on one time with the child. Our first day we spent more time talking to Mr.Mohanty (the director of SMSS) than being with Maggie.
On the first day, it will be mentioned that a going away lunch is expected and hosting it will be 10000 rupees (that was a cost we didn't expect but were glad to be part of it --but with typical Indian-English translation we had to hold the lunch not on the day Maggie left but two days later). Mary and Maggie stayed at the hotel for this lunch because it would be very traumatic for her to go back.
Dr. Smurti Mohanty is the only one that speaks English but its difficult to understand her completely. There's a lot of the "Indian waggle" going on during the conversations -- you have to visit India to get what it is! :+)
Bring bug spray -- the mosquitoes are big and fierce.
If you are planning to give any in-kind donations to the orphanage : here's what we observed. The school age kids loved the multi-subject activity work books. Pencils, erasures, writing books and books for little kids are needed. During play time they could really use more soft balls to play catch, jumping ropes -- but the space is very confined so we think even board games would be fun especially for
the older kids. The major construction addition that is in progress but halted due to lack of funds needs
approximately 17 lakhs rupees. (Our catholic church in Starkville Mississippi raised over $4500 the week before we left for SMSS which we will send to them after we return home).
Gift in kind is suggested for all the caretakers (there are 15). It was also suggested we give Maggie's two caretakers 500 rupees. Mary made a gift bag of lipstick,nail polish, shampoo and hand cream but we only had enough for 9. It was well received by all.
And most of all, be prepared to want to take more than one child home with you -- emotionally that is the toughest.
Lunch in honor of Maggie Sonia at SMSS started with playtime.
Lunch was mutton with potatoes (it was more fat than meat and there was only one piece of meat on each plate but everyone got seconds), cauliflower, eggplant, salad and rice.
Airport at Bhubaneswar, Orissa
We flew out of the Bhubaneswar airport on Kingfisher Air on Friday night December 18th and arrived at the ITC Maurya hotel at 2:00 am due to flight delays.
First ever flight on an airplane!!!
Hi Mary, Thom, and Maggie! This is Amy....we met you in the airport last night. I thought I would give you our contact info in case you need some help. Our India cell is 9818660631, or you can email me at amy.bhatnagar@gmail.com. We will be at a wedding outside of Delhi from Sunday eve onwards, but please feel free to call us if you need any help (my husband's family is in Delhi) or if you just want to talk to someone! Good luck with your visa process on Monday.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the tips to those of us who will follow you soon...they are invaluable! I know you must be exhausted but hang in there!! Maggie is lucky to have a mommy and daddy now and someday she will recognize that...you, of course, already know how lucky you are to have her...she is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMary and Thom, Maggie is sad now, but you know the life you're going to give her will be wonderful, and she deserves to have you; she deserves a mom and dad. Remember that she will adjust. She can obviously tell that you love her and care for her but she needs to process this in her own way and time. You did the best thing in the world for Maggie -- she will be ok. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteMichele
Hang in there Thom and Mary! All parents spend some sleepless nights, so I guess you're getting a crash course in parenting! Well, Maggie has to make up for lost time. And kids pick up languages fast. She'll be talking your ears off in no time. See you back in Starkville! Holly
ReplyDeleteHi Mary and Thom. Hope this attempt succeeds. Been thinking of you both over the last few days. Lots of love to you all, especially Maggie (from her adopted UK grandparents - Dick and Jenny)
ReplyDeleteThom, MAry & Maggie Sonia,
ReplyDeleteSending you love and happy thoughts and wishes for a good night's sleep. With each day you are making such tremendous progress. A month from now you won't even remember how hard this all has been. You'll only be basking in the warmth of your sweet baby daughter running around your home in Mississippi.
Look forward to skyping again soon. Hope you're safely in Delhi and perhaps dining with Ashish and his family?
Much love from Maggie, Bob, Evan & Keith
PS - saw my sister last night and she asked me to send her regards. She loved your blog and the pictures of baby Maggie. She, as we all are, is thrilled for your both. She remarked too how Mary has such a beautiful smile and looks like a natural mom... so true!