One World: Chinese Adoptee Links Blog

Gifting a "Ghost Continent"

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bao Yu "Precious Jade" Jue-Steuck) — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:22:00 +0000

“I came to understand that all people, if they dare to think at all, think of themselves in some sense as orphans—foundlings—who are struggling with problems around alienation. Everyone has some feeling of having been deprived, of playing the impostor because they’re not supposed to be here. Everyone is in some kind of pain. Everyone, as Loren Eiseley observed, contains within himself a ghost continent.”

--Lost & Found: The Adoption Experience by Betty Jean Lifton

Join Us in a Kickstarter Campaign for MU Films

noreply@blogger.com (One World Guest Contributor) — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:13:00 +0000

"One World" is pleased to be an Outreach Partner for Mu Film's Fundraising Campaign for their forthcoming documentary on global Korean adoptee experiences.

Check out footage at http://www.mufilms.org/films/geographies-of-kinship-korean-adoption-story/.

HOW KICKSTARTER WORKS

Kickstarter (http://www.kickstarter.com/) is the world’s largest funding platform for creative projects. People pledge millions of dollars to projects from all sorts of creative fields. In exchange, the project creators offer rewards to backers.

Kickstarter is all or nothing funding. Either our project will secure all the funding needed by the end of the campaign, or we will not receive any of the funds raised and the backers will not be charged.

Mu Films hopes to raise $80,000 over one month for the production phase of the film.

Stay tuned for how YOU can help.

Monday Musings: on Ambiguous Loss

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bao Yu "Precious Jade" Jue-Steuck) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:53:00 +0000

"We see things not as they are, but as we are."
--H. M. Tomlinson

One Worlder Susan recently recommended the book "Ambiguous Loss" by Pauline Boss. Check it out! Much Love, Jennifer

Finding ourselves through the missing pieces

noreply@blogger.com (Jazz) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:41:00 +0000

Hello again, I haven't blogged in a while but I just have to say our web designer Erin did an amazing job we all did! Thank you so much.

I have been growing a lot this year I realize. Yes I do know I am one of the youngest blogger on here, and that may be why I don't have some of the time to blog constantly, but when ever we write or express ourselves in what ever we do it's very eye opening to what we are, and who we are. The things we love to do, the things that makes us strive and make us feel more connected to oneself is our passion. Being a Chinese Adoptee, I sometimes get lost in thought of what my biological history is. I do not know but who we are mentally aside from physically is different, mentally I am a normal American Teenager, but physically I am an descendants of a Chinese family from Hunan China. I love being adopted because I am more open to life in two worlds. Connected to two lives, both weaving it's way into me as if to show I have two beautiful elements in my life.

I have a lot of traits from my adoptive family, to my adoptive mom's love, sympathy and kindness to my dad's music talent, perfectionism, and creativity. I have all those traits. Although I'm not sure I believe that my birth or biological parents didn't have a connection between the things I am drawn to or am attracted to. Is it nurture over nature? or the other way around. This question is interesting. All kids have a bond with their parents a connection but because I feel very connected to my adoptive parents and value a lot of what they value, so maybe I have more with them because I grew up in America, but maybe there is still some spark something like my favorite food, to the way i handle my situations that my birth parents did.

One more thing I am 6 weeks from going to visit my orphanage. I am leaving for 10 days and will try to blog while I am there. Hunan is very humid and has some of the prettiest bodies of water in the world! I am also going to Hong Kong for a day which I am very excited to experience, going to shop until I drop. In Hunan I will visit one of the oldest mummy's from ancient China history and also get to have lunch with the staff of the orphanage. After looking over my file (which they have for me and my Chinese adopted friend whom was from the same group as us) my god father who i am going with, who is also her dad, is going to the temple I was found in. The Jin Ping. i am interested to see what kind of temple it is and what it's whereabouts look like. I am very excited for this trip!!!!

Have a great day everyday!

Love

-Jazz

Adopted: The Movie - A Review

noreply@blogger.com (China's Children International) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 02:32:00 +0000

Adopted: the Movie - Maia S.

This semester, I’ve been studying the psychological effects of adoption, and specifically, the psychological challenges faced by transracial adoptees. In keeping with my course of study, I got this movie, expecting it to be a way of “relaxing” from reading studies and academic books. Did I ever miscalculate!

The documentary, filmed in 2009 by Barb Lee, was heart-wrenching - it made me cry at points both from sadness and from joy. It chronicles two families at two separate points on the same adoptive “journey”. The first, the Fero family, has an adult adopted daughter, Jennifer, from Korea. The second, the Trainer family, is preparing to adopt a little girl. In the Fero family, Jennifer has been raised as a “white”, with little attention paid to her Korean heritage. In the film, she begins to open discussion in her adoptive family about her feelings related to her adoption and upbringing. This push for understanding is partly due to the fact that Jennifer’s mother has been diagnosed with brain cancer and has only a few months to live. Jennifer offers the adult adoptees perspective in the film, providing contrast to Trainers’ adopted daughter from China, who is still a little girl.

The film opens with an idyllic scene from Jennifer Fero’s American life in Washington – she digs for clams with her family a cloudy beach. We learn, however, that her life has not been so idyllic. Jennifer was abandoned at a police station in Korea, and was then “claimed” by her adoptive family. Unlike the Trainers, who actively try to bring Chinese culture into their home, even at their little girl’s young age, Jennifer grew up with parents who wanted to integrate her into their world and help her fit in with the white society around her, and the only non-white in her town. This approach was following the dominant ideology at the time, that if adoptive parents integrated their minority children into the parents’ own cultural group, the children would not feel bad about being different. As a grown woman, Jennifer still faces difficulties that result from the way her parents handled her birth culture. She was raised in a society where everyone around her, her friends, and her family were all Caucasian and couldn’t understand her difficulties related to race and stereotypes. Feeling so alone, Jennifer felt empty - so she turned to substance abuse.

I could not help but be moved by Jennifer’s story. The journey she embarked on herself to try and understand and accept her adoption was inspiring. Even as an adult, she was trying to make sense of her status as an Asian in her society, and in her very family! It makes me realize that, like Jennifer, I am on a journey. This path that all adoptees must travel is inexorably intertwined with our birth cultures.

The film requires a mature audience capable of considering sensitive issues, and the tough questions that the film raises. Parents should probably watch it before they show it to younger children – It may not be appropriate until later. For parents, I think the main lesson this film teaches is that adoptees’ issues, if unacknowledged, will fester and develop in adulthood. Problems don’t just disappear when you sweep them under the doormat.

Gendercide in China - Alll Girls Allowed

noreply@blogger.com (China's Children International) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:24:00 +0000

Gendercide in China

Please watch this movie! Gendercide in China needs to stop!

http://www.allgirlsallowed.org/

-Jessie Lutz

Genealogy, Mothers & Meeting Hope Edelman

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bao Yu "Precious Jade" Jue-Steuck) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:21:00 +0000

Last night I had the privilege of meeting with New York Times best-selling author Hope Edelman. As many of you know, I'm writing about Motherloss and the Motherline (check out "The Motherline" by Dr. Naomi Lowinsky) for the adopted person for my Ph.D. program at UC Berkeley, and Hope's book Motherless Daughters is considered by many to be the bible for women and children who have lost their mother(s). (More to come...)

P.S. for Katie: Thank you for posting about Genealogy. I completely agree. It is interesting how often non-adopted people may become very interested in searching for their ancestors/family trees/trips to genealogy centers, and yet adopted people who would like to do the same (but often can't) are sometimes asked, "But that's in the past. You have a family now. Why would you want to search for people you don't even know...? Can't even remember?" It sometimes makes me feel sad when I see that people perhaps take for granted the fact that they can search for their ancestors in the first place! What a privilege. How lovely it would be for me to be able to do the same. It's almost as if non-adopted people (or people with access to their records) feel that it's a 'birth right' to do research on their family tree. And yet, many adopted people are denied this fundamental human right (by law!).

Anyway, just to say that I completely understand and hope that we, as a community, can help each other create our own new 'family trees,' and support each other in the process of forging our own paths and community connections. I think, at a deep level, it must feel very satisfying to know about one's ancestors. I think it must bring a sense of psychic connection that is priceless...that can perhaps make one feel a little less alone in the world? At least, I think that's how it might make me feel at this point in my life (of course, there have been periods in my life when I really could care less about searching for ancestors, but it's the same for non-adopted people, too, probably...it comes and goes in waves). Thanks for writing.

Genealogy Records

noreply@blogger.com (Katie) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 20:14:00 +0000

The U.S. government recently released the 1940 census. And naturally, my parents were interested in looking for information about their family history. I think genealogy is fascinating, to look back and find data about relatives you've never met, but share similar DNA! By looking through the census, my parents decided to sign up for the ancestry website. The whole talk about their great-great-great grandfathers' occupation and street they lived on makes me feel sad about my situation. But I realize I am clearly not the only one who cannot complete a family tree.

I wish I had the opportunity to do that as well, but I know that my chances are slim.

Happy Spring!

noreply@blogger.com (Mei-Mei) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 07:15:00 +0000

Happy Spring, Easter, Passover!

Wishing all One Worlders a beautiful celebration with delicious food, scintillating company and time to just relax and savor the inestimable gifts bestowed upon us by our beautiful planet, friends and family, both close and extended.

With much love,

Mei-Mei

CCI T-Shirts!

noreply@blogger.com (China's Children International) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:01:00 +0000

CCI is selling t-shirts! They are $23 and ALL the profits will go to Half the Sky, a foundation dedicated to helping orphans in China.

We think that, together, we adoptees can make a difference and change the world. We might not change it all at once, but we can make baby steps. Our larger goal in this process is that fellow adoptees will take this idea of making a difference far into the future, and into whatever path they might chose.

But we can't accomplish this alone! We hope that you will join us in our effort by buying a shirt. Through your purchase, you not only get a cool shirt, but also support our mission of empowering yourself as well as fellow adoptees worldwide!

Thanks (谢谢!),

Jessie, Charlotte, Maia, and Lane

http://www.chinaschildreninternational.org/chinaschildreninternational.org/Fundraiser.html

Heritage Trip: Charlotte C.

noreply@blogger.com (China's Children International) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 22:06:00 +0000

I went on a heritage trip back to my hometown in 2009. I was 15, a little bit older than most kids who go on heritage trips. At the time my sister was 13. We went back to her hometown as well. We did the trip through Our Chinese Daughter’s Foundation which I think no longer exists. But then, they used to run group trips, so my whole family went with another couple families for sightseeing before we split off into our own hometowns.

At the time, I mostly thought of it as a fun touristy trip. I don’t think I really got the significance of what I was doing, and I’m not sure I do even now. It’s a powerful experience though, whether you can explain it or not. I think it means something to get that close to finding your origins.

We went to my city, and that was fun. They took us sight seeing, and sight seeing is just sight seeing, so that didn’t have much to do with adoption.

But they also took us to the orphanage. We got to meet the orphanage directors and they treated us out to lunch. We then went to what I think was the most powerful part: where they found me. Now, it was probably not really exactly the place where they found me, but they told me it was, so I felt like it was.

The feeling was weird. Maybe it was because I thought I should be feeling something interesting, but maybe it was because I actually did feel a sense of belonging, of coming home. It was content and fulfilled, like coming full circle.

You know, I think the heritage trips are important even if the importance isn’t evident right away. I think that these trips make deep impressions that might come to the surface later. But then again, everyone is different, so be prepared for anything. Whatever happens, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by this. It’s a big thing for us adoptees to come back to our hometowns.

Expections versus reality

noreply@blogger.com (Mei-Mei) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 03:54:00 +0000

Mei-Ling

Shortly before leaving for Toronto last week, I discovered that one of Danish grandfather's closest friends, Rev. James Scarth Gale, had lived in Korea the entire eleven years Grandfather, James Frederick Oiesen, was posted in Wonsan, first as Commissioner of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, and later in Seoul as British Consul to the entire country [1889 and 1900]. To my immense excitement, I came across a link on the internet that led to University of Toronto's Rare Book Collection. Among other fascinating archival materials, I discovered that the Gale family had donated a total of 24 boxes of unpublished manuscripts, translations, photographs, correspondence, and diaries of J.S. Gale, a prolific writer, researcher and "historian."

I hoped to find letters to and from my grandfather, diary entries and that I would also be able to ascertain if the amazing photographs I have of Korea in the late 1800s were taken by Grandfather or by Gale. Luckily my daughter Mei-Ling was once more by my side. She had just given a paper at the Association for Asian Studies and thus lured me to Canada. [I hadn't seen her in 9 months since her brother's wedding last summer and her return to Canberra to complete her PhD].

We tackled a mountain of boxes with great expectations. Gale's handwriting isn't the easiest to decipher but after half an hour or so, we were able to read fairly quickly. We worked on separate boxes in a most efficient manner, consulting each other as we came across items of possible interest or words that were hard to make out. I was astounded at the vast collection of materials and the detailed accounts of Korean daily life, customs, descriptions of its people, that Gale had captured so vividly. He clearly was fluent in Korean itself and wrote quite copiously in the original language. We went through 3/4 of the 22 boxes, choosing to photocopy quite a few selections, though none connected directly to Grandfather. The Rare Book Room closed early and we planned to return the following day.

As often happens in life, the unexpected occurred and for several reasons beyond our control, we were unable to go back. I now realize that since Grandfather and Gale were living in Korea at the same time, they probably saw each other frequently and thus had no need to correspond.

Gale stayed on in Korea well past the time my grandfather returned to China in 1900, so I guess another trip to Toronto is in order, sometime in the future. At least I didn't come across any photos that were similar to the ones in my possession, a huge relief! There are still about 6 boxes left which I haven't explored, plus materials after 1900 I had skipped. Perhaps a few stunning surprises still await me...

What I found fascinating was the deep attachment to Korea, so evident in Gale writings, my grandfather's and a whole generation of expats during the end of the 1800s and early 1900s. The appreciation for the Korean people and their culture was whole hearted and based on intimate knowledge. I know from personal letters to his daughters, that Grandfather spent some of the happiest years of his life between Wonsan and Seoul. How distressed he would be by today's separation between North and South, yet proud of the social and economic vitality in the South.

A final unrelated note: my daughter and I stayed with a charming couple who had adopted four children after their first son was born, from Guatemala, Korea and Vietnam. Their house is full of lovely objets d'art and furniture from the various countries of origin of their children, plus other countries where they have resided throughout the years. Such a cosmopolitan family, and judging from the many photos on the walls, a very joyful and united one.

Dedicated to my Grandfather Oiesen with infinite thanks to my daughter Mei-Ling who has both led and shared the greater part of my journey in search of family connections.

Wonderful First Michigan Visit

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bao Yu "Precious Jade" Jue-Steuck) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 16:02:00 +0000

Dear One Worlders,

Greetings from London! Just had the most wonderful weekend visit with the new Adoption Mentoring Program at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photos and more to come...)

Much Love, Jennifer

Heritage Trip: Back to Hangzhou - Maia S.

noreply@blogger.com (China's Children International) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 16:19:00 +0000

Sipping Hangzhou’s famous Dragon Well tea from a small plastic cup, I hear the company representative through our translator, who talks of the tea’s color, texture, temperature, taste... I turn my gaze from the soft tendrils of steam drifting upwards from my tea, and look out the window onto the hills where all the tea is grown, my view obscured slightly by the mist that cloaks the area in a light silk veil. The thick green horizontal lines of tea plants are dotted with the occasional bobbing yellow dot, and I know that farmers are hard at work, backs bent double as they pick the valuable leaves. I could just as easily be one of them. Or maybe they’re my mom or dad. Maybe.

I was adopted from Hangzhou, China, when I was an infant. Since then, I’ve lived my whole life in the American Midwest. I have been very fortunate in my opportunities, and have been able to go back twice to Hangzhou. The first time I went back was in 2005, with my family. I was eleven at the time, and besides the thrill of bargaining, drinking tea from a fancy cup, and riding a big boat on a lake, Hangzhou really had no particular significance to me. Even though I visited the spot where I was found as an infant, went to my orphanage, and saw the actual note my birth mother left in my clothes, the thing I most remember about that day was going to a small store close to the orphanage and buying their entire stock of baby diapers! (We gave the diapers to the orphanage, which was much in need of them).

It was only this most recent time, the spring of last year, that it really struck me. I was seventeen, and travelled with a group of American high school students to Hangzhou and Shanghai as a break from our studies in a Beijing high school. This time, I didn’t visit my orphanage, or go to my finding spot. But I was there. I was in the city of my birth, and even though we didn’t spend much time there, every shopkeeper I talked with, every street cleaner I saw, every tour guide whose voice amplified over a grainy little speaker clipped on her belt, I thought, “That could be my family.” This shopkeeper charging me ten kuai for a mango - this could be my father. And instead of bargaining down from such an exorbitant rate, I would fish in my wallet and pull out a ten yuan bill.

My experience in Hangzhou last year was one that pulled up many complex emotions all whirling together to leave me feeling almost numb and removed from my surroundings. I found it altogether difficult to process that I was there, that my unknown parents and family were so close. And so far. Every time I looked up at the man selling mangoes, I wondered - could he be my father? What if he was? Would fate bring us so close together that we brush hands a little as I give him my money? Or was the woman who I saw riding an electric scooter, could she be my mom? I found myself unable to handle so many emotions, and relegated them all to a small box, where they stayed for the few days we were in Hangzhou. It was only after we left the city that I began tentatively poking and sorting through the big jumble. I tried, and gave up. So the little box got put back in the corner, neglected until this past fall. I pulled it out once again, blew a fine layer of dust from the top, and tried again - I almost gave up. But in this process, I made the realization that there really is no way to sort through everything that you feel from an experience so complicated as going back. Sometimes you just have to love the mess of contradictions and emotions you will never completely understand or quantify.

At the tea place, my mind wanders from the pickers to the recent memories of the day just passed. We rode in a boat over the glassy surface of the West Lake. We walked around the lake’s edge, and looked up at statues of figures long deceased. I admired the lush greenery all around me as I bent over and sniffed a blooming flower on the path that shared a beautiful fragrance with every passer-by. Maybe, before going to work selling mangoes in the early morning, my dad had taken a walk, and had stopped to sniff the same little flower. Maybe.

My tea is cool now, and I am once again in the tea place, sipping absentmindedly, looking out the window.

---

This is a copy of an article on the CCI blog! Visit us at:

http://cci-chinaschildren.blogspot.com/

or our website: www.chinaschildreninternational.org

"In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee"

noreply@blogger.com (Mei-Mei) — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 03:04:00 +0000

Am in Toronto for the the Association for Asian Studies yearly conference. Today I watched the documentary film, In the Matter of Cha Jung Hee, and had the great pleasure of meeting Deann Borshay Liem.

I was deeply moved by Deann's beautiful film, documenting her relentless search for the child whose identity she unknowingly took over when the Korean adoption agency sent her to her American family as the "real" Cha Jung Hee. Her journey to restore the over sized sneakers she wore at the time of her arrival in the US, to their rightful owner, to discover what had become of the child who was supposed to been brought up by Deann's adoptive parents, shows courage, a fierce but quiet determination, compassion and an underlying need for completion. Even though Deann had been reunited with her own biological mother, she couldn't quite reconcile with having lived the life destined for another child.

Personal issues, private feelings about identity, the practice of adoption, secrecy and openness are revealed in the course of Deann's search. With no absolute conviction that she has found the real Cha Jung Hee, the film ends nonetheless with a sense that she has completed her mission, and gained greater peace.

The question of what would her life had been like had she remained in Korea with her biological mother, still lingers, yet she is grateful for her upbringing in the US, her parents' love, for being granted the many educational opportunities that led to her becoming a documentary film maker with such a fascinating, if at times painful and very complex quest to discover her true identity. Her previous reunion with her biological mother and ability to bring together both her families, has turned Deann into a strong advocate for open adoptions, a position I strongly support.

Dedicated to Deann, a new sister, with love from Mei-Mei

What is in a name? by Mei-Mei Ellerman

noreply@blogger.com (Mei-Mei) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 04:39:00 +0000

I have no intention of getting caught up in the 0n-going evolving controversy of what terms are more appropriate when speaking of "adoptees," or "adopted persons", "natural parents," "birthparents,", "biological parents," etc. This link covers a good portion of the historical debate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_of_adoption

Thank you, Jeff, for your posting. I really appreciate your point of view.Wish you well on your return trip to Columbia. Each one of us has had and continues to have unique experiences as we explore the infinite paths that lie before us, taking us places both within ourselves and out into the world. For me, what is most important is simply knowing who I am. Though I was aware from the time I could crawl that I had been adopted, I never considered myself anybody but my mother's child. I never referred to my mother or father with the qualifier "adoptive." They simply were my parents. As Mother and I moved from country to country from the time I was 4 and always adapting to new cultures and languages, I came to consider myself a "global cosmopolitan." I felt at home wherever we happened to be living, Denmark, Mexico, the South of France, Italy, Switzerland, even the US, where I spent the least amount of time.

That said, when I set out to weave together the threads of my mother's family members [as most of you know, her father was Danish, her mother Chinese], and incidentally, at a rather late stage, began to seriously investigate my roots, I made my first trip ever to China in 1999. Though I was born and relinquished for adoption in the United States, the minute I set foot on Chinese soil, I felt a deep connection, in part due to my mother's vivid stories about her early childhood, and my appreciation for Chinese culture, literature and food. In addition, however, I experienced a primeval gut reaction, a sense of belonging. It was as if, buried in my unconscious, a shadowy, ghost-like world, had laid hidden, waiting to emerge. Everything seemed familiar, the language I couldn't understand, the smells, sounds, landscapes, the multifaceted country in its fascinating complexity.

I consider myself fortunate in having had two mothers and two fathers, though the person who stood by me until the day she passed away at the age of 94 was my beloved maman. As I write my first memoir, I only occasionally use the terms "adoptive" and "biological" parents and refer to myself as having been adopted. Despite parts of my past being shrouded in mystery, in my unrelenting pursuit of connections, I have magically pieced together the disparate pieces to complete the mosaic of my life. Having been adopted does not define who I am, though the fact I was, connects me to hundreds of thousands of "siblings." I am who I am, someone who continues to grow, develop, unveil layer upon layer within, as well as discover the endless riches innate in existing relationships, new encounters, and roads untraveled across the globe.

Deann Borshay Liem site

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bao Yu "Precious Jade" Jue-Steuck) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 21:03:00 +0000

CHECK OUT...

www.mufilms.org

...for Deann Borshay Liem's latest award-winning films on adoption experiences.

A Long Overdue Check In

noreply@blogger.com (Jeff Leinaweaver, PhD) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 00:11:00 +0000

Hello One Worlders,

I haven't posted in ages, but wanted to try and begin joining the conversation more often.

One reason I don't often post about my experiences, is because I'm frankly a bit tongue tied. This may sound a bit contradictory, because I actually speak often and write about international adoption (including at the upcoming conference on Adoption & Culture at the end of March at Claremont College).

I'm frankly tongue-tied at blogging, because I am so passionate about the topic of representing the internationally adopted person's voice, as well as representing an appreciative view of international adoption from the viewpoint of being a global citizen, that I just have too much to say!

Jennifer and Mei-Mei and I have spoken about this at great length, but I do not call myself and "international adoptee." I will usually say I'm an internationally adopted person, but to be quite honest, "adoptee" is a non-adopted person's label for the experience of my origins. Adoptee is not a name for me. I do, however, see our experience as being truly global, and open to being a child of Mother Earth. I have been fortunate to live in a number of countries both as a child and as an adult, and what I've learned, both from experience and through research, is that the international adoption experience has a lot more in common with those other identities that bridge cultures, nationalities, and places of dwelling. Essentially, we are the quintessence of the global citizen.

The other reason why I get tongue-tied at blogging is because for most of my life, I had never met another internationally adopted person. As it stands, I haven't found an adopted Colombian who's older than I am (a ripe old age of 43, btw ;-). I just grew up in an era when international adoption wasn't a trend yet, or even before the label "international adoptee" was tossed around. In fact, growing up, people thought I just had an active imagination (which IS true, but…..). So Jennifer was one of the first internationally adopted people I've met. Subsequently, I've learned a lot about the adoption scene, the politics and power to control the narrative around adoption and the fact that the majority of all books, research and professional practice is modeled from a non-adoptee's point of view. In essence, there's an unacknowledged narrator or controller of narrative that has shaped so many "adoptees." More to say on this later, but to sum it up, I think the adoption industry (including many scholars and professionals) is in need of a rebuke as I feel it's consistently overly stigmatizing of "adoptee" worlds. There is no acknowledgment that there's a huge difference between speaking for an "international adoptee" and speaking as an "international adoptee."

I will be returning to Colombia near the end of April and will be sure to blog my experiences of returning to my home culture of origin.

More soon, but just wanted to get something posted and wish you all well.

It's great to be connected with this fabulous and heartfelt community.

Warmly,

Jeff

An evening with the extraordinary Madeleine Rees of the Whistleblower

noreply@blogger.com (Mei-Mei) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 04:43:00 +0000

Madeleine Rees, Secretary General of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

A few evenings ago, I had the privilege of attending a private function with a group of inspiring practitioners, activists, academics, preponderantly women, who had come together to meet and converse with Madeleine Rees, a towering figure both figuratively and literally [she must be six feet tall plus she wears knock out black boots! ] The guests came from many different fields-Women's Action for New Directions [originally founded by Helen Caldicott as Women's Action Against Nuclear Disarmament in 1982, Our Bodies Ourselves, The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the Boston Consortium on Gender, Security, and Human Rights, as well as from local colleges and universities, MIT, Tufts, Suffolk, UMass.

All attention centered on Madeleine Res, one of the heroines in post-war Bosnia, portrayed in The Whistle Blower [see my post of Feb. 4th], both the book and recently released film (played by Vanessa Redgrave). A powerful lawyer in international human rights, passionate and formidable activist, Madeleine's demeanor belies the strength and determination that drive her to fight for security, peace and freedom for all women, across the globe. She is a delight: warm, outgoing, self-deprecating, quick witted, compassionate, with a whimsical sense of humour, and... unmistakable fire in the belly.

http://theglobaljournal.net/article/view/235/

I look forward to following her into battle and hope that at some point, we can join forces in our common mission to bring freedom to all. Madeleine is a stellar example for humanity. She offers hope, a stunning vision, the strategy and skills to implement it, and the steely resolve and power to hold single nations and the UN itself accountable.

http://www.socialupheaval.com/archives/2011/06/wilpfs_highest.html

PS. Jen, I am beyond thrilled to hear that you are finally on your way "home." A long time in coming and absolutely the right choice. Wishing you a safe and amazing journey.

Going Home: Tracing Mom's Footsteps...en route to Taiwan & Hong Kong

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bao Yu "Precious Jade" Jue-Steuck) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:25:00 +0000

It's time to go home to where my birth mother and adoptive mother first met (story tbc). Sometimes it's necessary to lean into the past in order to spring into the future.

This post is dedicated with love to

Susie & Will (looking forward to seeing you)

Dr. Andrea Louie & APA Studies in Michigan

Gretchen Ryan, Mary Child & David Youtz

Mitsuye, Jeni, Hedi, Alana, Mia & Emi & Family

Dr. Naomi Lowinsky (thanks for the chat & for inspiring my research)

Hope Edelman (can't wait to meet you in London)

Reflections- Charlotte Cotter

noreply@blogger.com (China's Children International) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:45:00 +0000

I believe that Chinese adoptees are a special group. It’s not the mere fact that we are Chinese adoptees that makes them special. We are, of course, special in our own right. But we have, under no fault or choice or any action of our own, become a group that can proudly identify ourselves as Chinese adoptees. Now that we have become Chinese adoptees, I think that it's nice to think of it as a special thing.

I think, and I have always thought, that in the future, Chinese adoptees will be a force to reckon with. I believe that together, we can do a lot more than we think we can do.

That’s why I’m a part of China’s Children International.

chinachildreninternational@gmail.com I www.chinaschildreninternational.org

African Drumming and Dancing

noreply@blogger.com (Mei-Mei) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 03:20:00 +0000

The Women's Drum and Dance Company of Guinea

From Feb. 6th to 13th, Brandeis University celebrated its social impact through lectures, performances, workshops, films, dance and music. An extraordinary affirmation of its unique commitment to making a difference in the world. I attended as many of the 40 plus events, many student run, as I was able to fit in. One of the highlights was the electrifying performance by the Nimbaya women drummers and dancers from Guinea. The group is named after the Nimba mask that in West African culture represents "Woman" in all her beauty and power, and that "embodies the mother of fertility, the joy of living and the promise of abundant harvest."

For thousands of years, playing the djembe drums, considered sacred instruments, was the sole prerogative of men. In 1998, Mamadou Conde, manager of the group, Les Percussions de Guinee, decided the times had changed and assembled the fabulous women drummers and dancers of Nimbaya.

The women he chose faced harsh challenges. Many were persecuted by their families and communities for breaking with tradition. They often already lived in precarious economic conditions; were single parents with one or more children to support. Becoming "amazones" has given them voice and allowed them to take charge of their own destiny.

We were indeed fortunate to see these amazing artists perform. Their energy, superb drumming, dancing and singing were nothing short of exhilarating! Their courage, unparalleled.

YOU Project!

noreply@blogger.com (China's Children International) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 03:17:00 +0000

China's Children International presents:

YOU Project! We want to hear YOUR story!

Check out the video below :

dos vegetarianos en México!

noreply@blogger.com (Jennifer Bao Yu "Precious Jade" Jue-Steuck) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:56:00 +0000

Love these recent posts about "Meatless" days :). Luckily in Mexico there were lots of vegetarian options at cousin Colette's beautiful wedding in Cabo San Lucas. Have you tried Mexican Fried Ice Cream? Delicious. Much Love from Your Vegetarian One Worlder, Jennifer xx

The Virtue and Gains of eliminating MEAT altogether!

noreply@blogger.com (Mei-Mei) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:27:00 +0000

Great suggestion, Sabrina! I wholeheartedly support the scientific data you offer and I love your recipes! I would go several steps further: try eliminating meat altogether! For both humanitarian, environmental and health reasons, you would be making a stellar choice.

My son has been vegan for 17 years and has thrived. In fact his cardiologist claims that a veganism [no animal products of any kind] is the healthiest diet of all. One substitutes with tofu, soy curls [when soaked in marinade, they taste just like meat], beans, grains, nuts, lots of fruits and vegetables... Unless I eat totally organic, antibiotic free poultry, my system rebels. Also, the entire Ellerman family has become wheat intolerant [causes fatigue, skin problems, increased symtoms of arthritis] and so we now resort to other organic flours.

Not pushing for veganism, but vastly reducing or eliminating especially red meat, would be a gift to yourselves, to the planet, and to animals who for the most part, live in the most stressful, inhumane conditions [raising stress hormones that are passed on to consumers].

Amazing how creative one can be and still produce delectable meals without using meat or dairy products. Especially in the US between use of pesticides and untold number of additives that go into practically everything, our food is full of toxins.

Congratulations to China's Children International for their brilliant video! If you haven't watched it, you are missing out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LunDssabfKc

PS. Am personally allergic to all fish and shellfish, but had dinner with friends last night at Oga's in Natick and couldn't resist taking a photo of this amazing presentation.