A few weeks ago, FCC (Families with Children from China) and FCV (Families with Children from Vietnam) merged, mainly because there were one or two families that have kids from both countries... but also because FCV is not very active. Vietnam and China have most of the same holidays... but with slightly different names. The celebration is basically the same.
FCC actually is organized, has a president, Board members, and dues... as compared to FCV which is about 8 families.. 7 of which are single women.
So, today was a party celebrating any children from Vietnam or China who have come home in the past year. Eight children attended. Jazzy was the only Vietnamese child there, although I know there are two more Vietnamese children in Arizona... as well as many more Chinese kids who have just been adopted. It was held at the Golden Buddha restaurant in the Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix. There was a huge amount of Chinese food plus a "Welcome Home" cake. We went to swimming lessons early just so we could attend.
We each received a bamboo plant symbolizing happiness, and the kids got little Chinese dragon purse filled with Chinese stickers, chop sticks, a cute little Chinese notepad and a bracelet. The next event is a holiday party/cookie exchange. We won't be going because it is way up in North Phoenix on the night prior to us leaving for Ohio. We wouldn't know what to do with all those cakes/cookies and candies right before we left town, plus it is way to far away when we have to get up really early the next morning.
The FCC group is just so much more active than FCV, so it is nice to be a part of it.
Jazzy at the party. She won't smile when I take her picture, and purposely frowns or looks away, but when she went up to the front of the room to get her certificate, she smiled and posed like a big ham.
Welcome home cake for the kids
Sitting with two other little Chinese girls
Figuring out how to unfold her lantern
Holding her certificate
Eating her soup and pot stickers appetizer
