Yellow House Greetings

I interrupted dinner in the yellow house to get the boys to say hi to you.

A Long-Expected Party

Five years ago, eight-year-old Otilia was taken from her home in the original Darius House to the U.S. to undergo a painful surgery and another complicated process -- international adoption.

For the eight original children, growing up in the Darius House wasn't bad -- they called each other brother and sister, and the level of care was second to none in Romania, particularly for children with special needs. The kids often had sleepovers at their caregivers house or went on special outings with their other siblings. In short, they had everything they could need or want, except for their own families.

Thankfully, every last one of the original children have been adopted. This Sunday I witnessed their first reunion in five years as Otilia made the trip back to Romania and entered the Darius House again -- this time as a teenager and with her new American family in tow. The house has changed, the children have changed -- like Otilia says: "everything is bound to change."

Ionica greets Otilia by kissing her on both cheeks --

for the fifth or sixth time in as many minutes.

This is not your typical family reunion. Otilia has forgotten most of her native language, so communication between siblings is difficult, but everyone understands as her brothers Ionica and Florin embrace her repeatedly, kissing her on each cheek. Everyone understands as Teo beams uncontrollably from his wheelchair at the head of the table. And everyone understands as Otilia offers up a prayer of thanksgiving before family dinner:

"Thank you for everyone who got adopted. Thank you for our families. Thank you for everything."

Otilia and her siblings approach what used to be their home --

this time accompanied by their families.

Picture Break!

Pictures from the Sunshine School.  Keep checking back for more!

Dani during playtime in his classroom.

Manu dancing with Tomita.

Florinel will have a family soon!

Return to Sofronea

OK, I'll say it -- she's a godsend. Her arrival last Sunday has made all the difference in the world.

Sylva is my translator, which means she bears the brunt of a cultural predisposition to verbosity. So thanks, Sylva.

Yesterday, I made the trek back to Sofronea with Sylva, translator extraordinaire, and Samsung, my new netbook. We visited two households and conducted three interviews -- first with Vasile and Angi, adopted into the same household, and then with Dana, whose family welcomed two abandoned sisters into their home.

Tomorrow is Independence Day. I'm going to go try to buy some fireworks.