We were greeted by Maggie and many of the other children( there are 60 girls at SMSS, and 20 of them are currently in the process of adoption). The girls all seem happy and care for each other--the older girls take on some of the care taking of the younger girls. They have a class room and the pre school aged children have lessons and activities. The older girls go to a local school. It was hard to see the impoverished condition of the orphanage -- the majority of the girls do not have shoes( Mary had a burning desire to give them all pedicures--their feet look old). The staff was very helpful with helping us in teaching us how to take care of Maggie and very affectionate toward all of the children.
Maggie has changed physically since the last photo we had seen, so initially our thought was "where is Maggie"--but she still has the same big beautiful eyes. Because of the cultural disconnect, our first meeting was difficult--Maggie's care takers wanted her to run into our arms --opposed to letting her come to us. Also we did not have any time alone to interact with her --it was like a three ringed circus--but our motto on this trip is" go with the flow."
We will return to SMSS tomorrow in the afternoon to observe the afternoon routine. Then we will plan to take custody of Maggie on Wednesday---we initially thought that we would not be able to take custody until Friday--it will be nice to have some quiet time with Maggie at the hotel , before we fly back to Delhi.
The orphanage :Subhadra Mahatab Seba Sadan in Kolathia Khurda Orissa about 15 km from Bhubaneswar.
