It was never a secret in my family that I was adopted. I am a dark haired, and dark eyed Asian girl with white parents. Adoption has never seemed like an awkward or foreign term to me. It is as normal and natural as brushing my hair every morning. Occasionally I thought about what my birth parents were like, or fantasized about how things were back in Taiwan. My parents in the US would tell me stories about the day that they adopted me and who they met and what they were like. These tiny insights sparked some curiosity in me. More than my own curiosity was that of my friends of aquaintenances who would always ask if I was interested in finding my birth mother.

 

3 years ago I became a little bit more than curious and started doing some research online. It didn’t take me very long to find the Child and Juvenile Adoption Information Center. I submitted my information online and they responded to me within a couple of weeks. Through email correspondence they were able to locate my birth mother & family in Taiwan. I was amazed and in disbelief at the ease and speed in which they were able to find her.  The first email that I received with photos and a message from my birth mother was surprisingly emotional. Looking at her photograph I tried to compare every one of her facial features to my own. When I found out that I had 2 younger sisters I became very excited. Sisters! I had always wanted sisters! I was overjoyed to receive pictures of them and see how beautiful and happy they were. Through the Child and Juvenile Adoption Information Center I have corresponded with my biological family for quite some time now. They have opened a door for me that I have yet to walk through. I am still not sure of when, how, or if my birth family and I will ever meet in person. I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to communicate with them.

 

I have not told my parents here in the United States and have only shared this experience with my husband. A part of me is afraid it will hurt my parents. They have blessed me with a wonderful life filled with love and joy and I cannot imagine hurting them. I don’t know what their reaction would be, but I’ve played the scenario over again and again in my head. And would they want to meet with me? I still struggle with some temptation to meet with my birth family and start a lifelong relationship with them. I’m not sure how long it will take me to decide to move forward, but I feel very lucky. I am so grateful to Beatrice and the others at the Child and Juvenile Adoption Information Center. Thank you so much for being a bridge that has connected me to my roots.