Children and China

When Dr Lise Beard took up her post as resident physician at the SOS Clinic in February this year, she had come full circle.

"It was almost surreal that over 10 years ago I was also in the Sheraton Hotel but in a very different situation," said Dr Beard who first taught Medical English at the General Hospital in Anshan Road in 1989.

Her trip in 1989 was her first visit to China and it started her love affair with this vast country which has lead her back time and time again to China and specifically Tianjin.
"I believe it is no coincidence that I am back again after all these years and that I will be here for the nest few years," she said, adding that she found Tianjiners particularly warm and friendly.

But what brought this Houston native halfway across the world to China in the first place?
"In 1989 one of my friends was working in Tianjin and she invited me to come visit and I thought why not?" she said, adding that trip evolved into a stay as she was captivated by the different culture, language and peoples.

Although she had to leave in 1991, her attraction to China brought Lise to Tianjin no less than 20 times and now the city is home to her and her three daughters.
"China now is much more special to me now as it has given me three blessings in the form of three beautiful daughters," said Dr Beard, who adopted Emily, 7, Beth, 6 and Katie, 1.

Lise adopted Emily in 1995 when she was 4 months old while Beth become a second addition to the family in 1997 when she was 11 months old.
"KatieÕs adoption came through in April this year," said Lise, whose face lit up at the mention of her girls.

Since they were adopted, both Emily and Beth schooled and lived in Houston, with Dr BeardÕs sister Alice Davidson and their nanny while Lise was working in China.

"They are very American girls but they know where they came from," said Lise.
She said that she brought both of the girls to live with her in Tianjin as she wanted them to learn Putonghua and also more about their country of birth.

She said she had explained to her daughters about the "one child" policy and that they understood that their parents must have given them up under difficult circumstances.
"Most importantly however these girls know that they are very much loved and are very special.
I feel I am so lucky to have these beautiful girls," said Lise.

Adoption was something Lise always considered doing as she had decided she was not inclined towards marriage and was not interested in having biological children.
"And China, unlike other countries allows single people to adopt so it was an obvious choice to adopt a child here," she said, adding that she has encouraged others to also adopt Chinese children.

Dr Beard said that she saw the many girls during her volunteer work at orphanages here.
"There are so many beautiful girls who are left behind because of the 'one child' policy.
But this also presents a wonderful opportunity for childless couples all over the world to adopt these beautiful girls," said Lise, adding she helped her neighbor (from the States) to also adopt a baby girl.

She said that there have been 5,000 adoptions a year of Chinese children to foreigners since 1994.
Lise said that the Chinese Government had changed adoption laws over the years to make it easier for foreigners to adopt Chinese children.
"This is good news for childless people who have restrictive adoption laws in their own countries," she said.

Dr Beard said the organization Families With Children from China (FWCC) helped America families adopt Chinese children and also provided extended emotional support for them.

She said the organization had support groups in most large cities which helped the families keep in contact to ensure the children had peers who shared similar background and culture.

"The adoptive families meet once a year for a range of activities so the children grow up with an extended family," said Lise.

And how is Lises family?
"My sister has come back to Tianjin with me to help me look after my girls and we are all extremely happy here" she said.
Dr Beard said she has always liked China and is amazed at the vast Westernization in only 13 years.
"I still like Tianjin best because it has still maintained its Chineseness. I like its flavor, its history and its culture," she said.

Lise said she has enrolled her daughters in Chinese schools as she wanted them to learn about the "real" China and ensure they had a good understanding of their roots.
On those considering adopting children, Dr Beard has some words of advice.

"Do it, its not that hard to adopt plus the effort is more than worth it," she said.
Secondly, she said the parent or parents should maintain contact with other adoptive families for a support group which will help parents and children in the formative years.

"So many people long to have children but cannot do so due to medical or other reasons but they can adopt these children who are in need of a good home and a loving family,"
"My girls have made me so happy and our happiness is reason enough for me to encourage others to do the same," she said.