May 1999

Summer Newsletter 1999

Lucky Group Gains a New Member in China
Norrie Press Bureaus in Beijing & Toronto

Arecent Family Outreach International (FOI) group left for China on May 9th returning two weeks later. As an experienced group (6 of the 8 families on the trip had previously adopted from China), this group pretty much knew what to expect.

Among the group members adopting their second children were:  John & Cathy Sprowl (Julianna, sister to Kailah), James & Michele Norrie (Jillian, sister to Lia), John & Rita Damoiseaux (Kiana, sister to Elise and Layla), Cathy Evans (Evelyn, sister to Celine), Linda and Ken Melnick (Asia, sister to Jenna-Lee), and Robert Wood (Donna-Marie, sister to Valerie-Ellen). Those making the trip for the first time were Fred & Judy Pellerin and Elizabeth Hanson. Brave ones included Robert and Cathy who made the trip without spouses who stayed in Canada looking after big sisters!

While all the families did return to Canada with new daughters, most also brought home an unexpected second member to add to their families—someone named Tommy! 

Local adoption laws made it impossible to adopt the designer himself (although it was rumored that some members did try…), the group did buy everything else that he ever manufactured in China as proof of their devotion to him. The lure of cut-rate prices on this brand-name clothing was so strong that some folks acquired additional suitcases (“also at great prices” they justified) to carry treasures home.

Of this group’s penchant for shopping, Yulin Deng was quoted as saying: “at least it makes the itinerary planning easy”. Not that Yulin is unfamiliar with what to buy in Beijing this correspondent will hasten to add… and if she didn’t know, a member of her helpful family did!

Elizabeth, the thought-provoking Professor from Queen’s who was a part of this eclectic group, was quoted as asking: “in a metaphysical sense, is this new suitcase you purchased loot in and of itself or a loot bag?” This caused several seconds pause in the shopping fury before members of the group returned to their frenzied shopping. While Elizabeth contemplated the nature of Western materialism, her sister Kristen who  accompanied  her  was  into  shopping in a big way as she acquired cute gift after gift for her new niece.

This included needing to use the expert negotiating skills of our additional local guide, Kylie, to haggle with the local merchants on the prices and origins of various goods.

 Before embarking to Beijing to the news of the NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy, some members were nervous. Most were glad to simply connect in Beijing and carry on to Fuzhou, in Fujian Province. The most nervous, including first-timer Judy Pellerin of New Brunswick (who along with her husband Fred had lots of time to contemplate the possibilities on their extra long flights to and from …) bravely talked about their Canada pins as possible protection. Those who had already met John Damoiseaux (who is very tall) had discretely asked his wife Rita if they could walk everywhere in Beijing with them instead! In the end, the group missed all the demonstrations and the only impact (again to do with shopping!) was missing “silk alley” which is adjacent to the US embassy.

One highlight of the trip was a great visit to a local elementary school in Fuzhou (with newly adopted daughters in tow — quite a site!) where the Chinese love of kids was clear.

The real problem the group faced was not demonstrations of anger but demonstrations of Chinese decorating—while staying in Beijing, the smell of paint solvent from renovations on other floors in the hotel was quite pungent. Some of us discovered that this was best overcome by drinking local red wine with fake French labels — that’ll kill any smell!

 Destinations for our children beyond Vancouver (and besides the local Eaton’s to set up our own Tommy boutique) include: Brampton, Mississauga, Kingston, Kitchener, Ottawa, Sarnia, The Pas, and Moncton.

 All are glad to be home safe & sound and are looking forward to the joy of family life.

James Norrie -- Beijing ; Toronto