China adoption travel: Donations and Gifts

Before our China adoption travel, we thought about gifts for the Chinese for a long time. We wanted something special and unique. The longer we looked the more we realized the gifts were only a sentiment. They were nice thoughts to show we appreciated the Chinese people and their caring for our daughter.

Giving money was forbidden other than the orphanage donation. We did not want to give the appearance of bribery.

We read about many gift ideas ranging from cosmetics to jewelry. Eventually we decided to take chocolate made in the US, something they would have a difficult time finding in China.

We took 5 boxes plus 5 red gift bags with red gift paper. They traveled nicely during our China adoption travel. Thankfully nothing melted.

In addition to the orphanage donation, some travel groups donated toothbrushes, socks, and clothing. Others waited until they got to China to buy and donate cribs to their daughters’ orphanages.

Each family in our travel group donated their own items to their daughters’ orphanages. They were all well received.

The director at our daughter’s orphanage seemed especially pleased with the handmade baby bibs and crocheted baby blankets that we gave them. My best friend spent many hours making these gifts for us to donate to our daughter’s orphanage.

She created her own beautiful tapestries to give to the Chinese people. These creations were given in gratitude to the Chinese for allowing us to adopt one of their beautiful babies.

To me these creations symbolized the fabrics of our lives being pieced together. We gave the Chinese something created from the heart. The Chinese gave us the red thread to weave into our family tapestry.

I noticed later during our China adoption travl many older Chinese ladies sitting on benches crocheting their own masterpieces. I then understood the director’s appreciation. The Chinese people share our love of creating beautiful tapestries also.

Return home.