April 1997

On April 21st, in a government office in Hangzhou, six little girls stared cautiously into the eyes of the parents they had just met. Four new fathers and six new mothers, their faces beaming from the intense emotions of sudden parenthood, gently caressed the babies in their arms. So begun the two-week trip in China, replete with papers to sign, ceremonies to attend, sights to see, exotic foods to savour, and markets to visit, among others. The pace seemed unceasing, yet, given the bliss of retrospect, perfectly timed. Not a temple passed by without being treated to the group’s inspection nor a succulent dish un-tasted by the curious (and adventurous) crowd! China left a deep impression on everyone and offered ample material for the stories the parents would one day tell their children.