China adoption diary: "Officially ours," Madeleine Bao Yi becomes a Belsie
(Read article summary)Part 5 – China adoption diary: After questions from Chinese functionaries – such as "Why did you choose to adopt?" – the Belsie family officially becomes four, with new sister and daughter Madeleine Bao Yi.
Guangzhou, Garden Hotel, June 19
Part 5 of Gretchen Belsie’s account of her trip with husband Laurent and their first adopted Chinese daughter – 10-year-old Grace – as they head to meet and bring home 7-year-old Madeleine Bao Yi.
Today we made it official: Bao Yi legally became our daughter after a second brief interview this morning back at the Civil Adoption Bureau of Guangdong Province.
We returned to the same large room with the red couches and graphic pillows, but this time, the children, for the most part, seemed settled already into their new families. There was a slight whimper here and there, but it was nothing compared to yesterday’s cacophony.
We came with gift bags in hand. Our first stop was at the room with the photographer. We had our picture taken with Bao Yi for legal records. Next we proceeded to an interview room where a nice woman asked us questions like, “Are you happy with this child?” and “Do you guarantee to keep her?”
The questions seemed cold and bureaucratic, given what we had gone through to make this decision and get to this point.
Bao Yi exchanged a few pleasantries with the woman, handed over the gift bag, and went on the second interview. A young functionary settled down with authority and asked us more questions: “How long have you been married?” “Why did you choose to adopt?”
