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Tips for a China Orphanage Visit
When paying someone a visit in China, it is proper to take and gift for the children who remain at the orphanage. You can always make a specific inquiry ahead of your trip during the planning stages, or in the few days prior to your arrival in orderto allow for shopping in China to accommodate specific items that may be identified. The guide from LeadtoChina can help you to buy these things. If you’re not made aware of any special items needed by the SWI, some good general guidelines include: a box of Almond Roca, or a basket of fruit, school supplies for school age kids, backpacks, books, or small candy treats.
Depending on the size of the SWI and how often visitors return, a visit could can be a highly anticipated event by the staff,or a routine, minor inconvenience to the day to day running of the institution.
You will want to discuss this aspect of reality with your child and prepare her or him for what it might be like, based on what you know. It is good to talk to your child about what to expect and then what to do if things turn out differently than you expect. It is important to develop an attitude of flexibility and focus on enjoying the experience rather than to get set on things going a certain way, since things don’t always go exactly as planned on any trip or daily life experience. A small gift is always appropriate for the effort expended by the director and or staff to accommodate the visiting family.
An important, but not always anticipated aspect for an SWI visit is to be aware that most of the orphanage children remainingoften have a variety of special needs. It is best to have these discussions sometime before travel and relate this to a childwith a physical or mental disability that your child may already know. This can help put the special needs population at theorphanage into a useful context during any SWI visit.
If your family is interested or inclined to invite the orphanage director to lunch, it is proper to invite others in the meeting as well. This would usually be one or two of the directors' assistants. If you want to invite the caregiver or nanny(s), then you should extend that invitation through the director to show the proper respect that the position merits. Your guide will handle this for you, but inviting the staff through the director follows proper etiquette for the situation. Some of the orphanages offer the free lunch while the others request about $100USD for the extra charge. You may ask our trip consultant before you travel.
Last of all, Chinese values modesty and gentleness, no matter your position. Chinese born individuals may go to great lengthsto not “lose face” or have you “lose face”. Keeping this in mind can help guide you in a variety of situations you will encounter during your SWI visit and throughout your homeland trip.
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Tips for a China Orphanage Visit
When paying someone a visit in China, it is proper to take and gift for the children who remain at the orphanage. You can always make a specific inquiry ahead of your trip during the planning stages, or in the few days prior to your arrival in orderto allow for shopping in China to accommodate specific items that may be identified. The guide from LeadtoChina can help you to buy these things. If you’re not made aware of any special items needed by the SWI, some good general guidelines include: a box of Almond Roca, or a basket of fruit, school supplies for school age kids, backpacks, books, or small candy treats.
Depending on the size of the SWI and how often visitors return, a visit could can be a highly anticipated event by the staff,or a routine, minor inconvenience to the day to day running of the institution.
You will want to discuss this aspect of reality with your child and prepare her or him for what it might be like, based on what you know. It is good to talk to your child about what to expect and then what to do if things turn out differently than you expect. It is important to develop an attitude of flexibility and focus on enjoying the experience rather than to get set on things going a certain way, since things don’t always go exactly as planned on any trip or daily life experience. A small gift is always appropriate for the effort expended by the director and or staff to accommodate the visiting family.
An important, but not always anticipated aspect for an SWI visit is to be aware that most of the orphanage children remainingoften have a variety of special needs. It is best to have these discussions sometime before travel and relate this to a childwith a physical or mental disability that your child may already know. This can help put the special needs population at theorphanage into a useful context during any SWI visit.
If your family is interested or inclined to invite the orphanage director to lunch, it is proper to invite others in the meeting as well. This would usually be one or two of the directors' assistants. If you want to invite the caregiver or nanny(s), then you should extend that invitation through the director to show the proper respect that the position merits. Your guide will handle this for you, but inviting the staff through the director follows proper etiquette for the situation. Some of the orphanages offer the free lunch while the others request about $100USD for the extra charge. You may ask our trip consultant before you travel.
Last of all, Chinese values modesty and gentleness, no matter your position. Chinese born individuals may go to great lengthsto not “lose face” or have you “lose face”. Keeping this in mind can help guide you in a variety of situations you will encounter during your SWI visit and throughout your homeland trip.
