Caring parents accompanied their own "children" to seek lucky grass in the Tiantan Park with full attention. Nine-year-old Rattanaphon Saeli skipped over rope with her 52-year-old "mother" Cui Xuejun. Chinese primary school pupil Wang Boyu taught a little Thai friend how to play diaholo. Chaichan Sakaeo learned to make tea at the "new family" from "father and mother". Twelve Thai orphans, aged 8-12, who lost their parents in the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami last December, are visiting Beijing and staying with Chinese families for a week, which started from June 21. The stay, known as "rainbow after storm" activities, is co-sponsored by the Red Cross Society of China and other units. Twelve volunteer families are showing their parental love towards the 12 orphans and accompanying them to visit historical sights in the city.

I love my Chinese "papa"

"I love my Chinese papa just like my lost one," said 12-year-old Suphattra Sueathong through a Thai interpreter, expressing her affection towards her "new papa" Lv Dongsheng. "Although I have lost my papa, I feel very happy upon seeing my "new one".

"The child is very clever and understands things quite well," Lv praised his "Thai daughter". Video camera in one hand and camera in the other, he brought his "daughter" from Tian'anmen Square, the Forbidden City to the Tiantan Park, taking photos of her in a day when Beijing's temperature reached 39 degrees centigrade.

"I am planning to record her one-week stay in Beijing, write a disc and have a group of photos taken as souvenirs", he told reporters.

Although helping children who were unable to go to school in the past, this is the first time for Lv to recognize her as his daughter. "I feel that she is like my own child. I was very anxious about her when I learned that she was ill after one-day tour. I set my heart at rest after going to the Beijing International Hotel at 9pm to visit the child. "Papa" is one of several Chinese characters she can speak. "The appellation makes me feel she is very kind," said Lv.

Devote affection

Twelve volunteer families have the same feelings as Lv Dongsheng, although there are different members in the families. "An affection will be devoted to the children by doing this, letting them enjoy happiness", Kang Ru told reporters about the intention to sponsor the activities. In the six-day busy event in addition to the consecutive high temperature weather, ordinary people were hard to bear. However, 62-year-old Kang Ru was in high spirit. "Now that recognizing the relative, I will participate in the whole event." After a day's trip she would wash socks and make up the bed for the claimed Phisut Miphian before leaving the hotel.

Wang Boyu, the grandson of Kang Ru, also took part in the event and became the most intimate friend of these children since he is as young as they are. They were hand in hand affectionately, played shuttlecock and diaholo, took photos �� for the parents, there seemed no language barriers that brought difficulties to the conservations between them. "We communicate by hand language, and that can be understood by both of us." Wang Boyu was fully confident. "Participation in the event was helpful to the little Thai friends, and also an educational chance for Wang Boyu", said Kang Ru. Although she was happy that her family was chosen from the 90 volunteer families, the several days' exchanges let her regret as she said, "My initial intention is to adopt a child."

Chaichan Sakaeo has a Chinese name

"In the first contact with Chaichan Sakaeo, he did not allow me to carry his schoolbag for him." Zhao Hongsheng recalled her first meeting with the child. To communicate with the child, everywhere they went she would buy a gift for her "son"-diaholo, the Great Wall model �� When the child was tired, she would let the child sit on the shoulder of her husband Wu Mingliang. Several days later, he looked for candy in my bag, not just like a stranger. "The third day, he called me Mama. Beyond expectation, I felt very excited," said Zhao. Her husband and she gave the child a Chinese name-Wu Dan. "We want him to enjoy family love."

"I think that the child is not my claimed one. The residents from the whole building and the entire community look after him", said Zhao. The community of the first Fangchengyuan district, where she resides, gave the orphans a welcome meeting and sent each of them a toy-panda. The meeting will let more people feel that these children do not merely belong to the volunteer families, instead they will gradually associate closely with a "big family" with affection.

Render more affection to them

Army men, workers, doctors, retired civil servants, teachers, �� families are different, and however, they have the same intention. They went and visited the Forbidden City, the Tiantan Park, the Great Wall and an amusement park, �� with these children. They not only felt the warmth of the volunteer families, but also the affection of the Beijingers.

"Everywhere we go, if getting to know that we are tsunami orphans, people will send us some playful things", said Suphattra Sueathong when talking of her trip in Beijing. Both Thai teachers who have accompanied their trip and the orphans have the same experience.

"I am very happy and excited as there are so many people taking care of them. Returning home, they will certainly have very lovely recollections". As for the volunteer families, they will feel regret at parting from them. "The more time they are in contact with each other, the deeper their sentiment will be. The children are somewhat reluctant to leave for Thailand."

Losing her parents in the deadly Indian Ocean tsunami, the broad smiling, appeared on Rattanaphone Saeli's face when she was skipping over rope in the Tiantan Park, will remain in many people's mind. It will be a desire for many volunteer families to continue to help orphans who have suffered losing parents and to let them have sweeter smiling-wishing to keep contact with them and render them much affection in the future.

"I have written down address of my "son" and will write to him in the future", said Zhao Hongsheng.

By People's Daily Online