| We arrived in Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province in northern China on June 9, 2002. We were scheduled to meet with our babies the next morning at the Civil Affairs office located in downtown. A charter bus would be picking us up at 8:30 am. Everyone was right on time this day. We arrived at the Civil Affairs office on schedule, but had to wait for over an hour by the gate. Only members of the Communist party are allowed in this building, we were told. We could see the guard at the gate checking IDs. We were finally allowed in, but then had to wait because there was only one small elevator. Once we were all on the third floor, we were allowed to proceed down a long hall. We could see babies in arms at the end of the hall! |
