It's our last day at the Hope Foster Home located about one hour outside of Beijing (depending on the traffic). There are ten of us here who have split off from the bigger group to come and hang out with the kids for a few days. This home takes kids from the government run orphanages who, with medical intervention will have a better chance of being adopted. The kids are aged between 0 and 5 and are absolutely devine. Many have congenital heart disease or cleft palates and are generally flown to Oz, the US or Hong Kong to have corrective surgery and then they're well on their way to a better life. The kids are really well looked after here. They have a 1:2 Nanny:child ratio with the nannies coming from the neighboring village to work their shift. Our job is to play with the kids and stimulate them and give them a wide variety of experiences. We've been staying in Yurts out the back of the orphanage. We have beds that were donated from the German olympic team which are arranged in a circle around the yurt. It has actually been a really relaxing time here, playing with the kids, having a snooze in the yurt, going for walks through the village.

Yesterday we were able to go to an ex-pat church Beijing Central Church to celebrate easter Sunday which was good.

A lot has happened since I've last written but I haven't been able to get to the internet. Amongst other things we've climbed the Great Wall (amazing), walked through the Forbidden City and surrounds (get yourself there if you haven't already) and discovered the delights of Beijing's 'little eat street' (hello starfish on a stick). I myself did not partake of said starfish, taking on the role of official photographer.

I must away and find some children.

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