When You're Named After "The State"...

Yesterday, I learned more about how orphans in China hold the lowest of the low rank among society members. And when they are found and placed in an orphanage, they're given the last name of the city in which their orphanage resides. Mia's "given name" is "Feng" b/c she's currently in the "Feng Welfare State".

Sadly, this naming practice of the Chinese serves as a scarlett letter b/c it follows them for the rest of their lives. When they come of age (and are not adopted), they are released out of the orphanage and into society - with their given name on their official papers. And when you're named after the state and not a family, no one wants to hire you. No one wants to marry you. No one sees your worth.

I wonder about that as I was looking back on my pictures from yesterday. This picture on the left is of an older women who is cleaning a "fort" on the Great Wall of China. She's cleaning it with these two sticks that were connected together to make a long wooden "tong". She kept her hood wrapped tightly around her cheeks. Her eyes fleeting; dead. I wondered about her story and thought, "How does someone get here?" I wondered what is her last name.