2005 has been an amazing year already. First off, my health issues are very slowly beginning to find their root causes; In the same arena, I'm feeling better than I was a year ago; New opportunties have surfaced that ignited an excitement in the very deepest part of me; I've been blessed to renew some old relationships; And I have been able to find an amazing network of other Vietnamese who were adopted, and met one in Portland when we visited two weeks ago. Since then I have been in email conversations with others like myself, and even from the same orphanage. It's been an pretty incredible high for me.
VAN - Vietnamese Adoptees Network was established by five adoptees who had similar and not so similar experiences in their lives that they wanted to reach out to others like themselves, and allow for each of us to share our own unique stories, see the very common thread we all have running through each one of us, and have a community to support the questions, the experiences, the hurts, the past, the joys and our futures as Vietnamese Adoptees.
http://van-online.org/ •and• http://motherlandtour.com/
However, in reading stories and listening to others chat about their lives, it brings a great sadness to me. We all know that we are suppose to feel blessed, lucky, fortunate, etc about having been adopted, but many of those in my new new community did not fair as well as I did. There have been stories of incredible abuse by parents, immediate family members, racism within the family and society, neglect, and so much more. But for those this new network is a true blessing, as they are able to express themselves, ask the hard questions and feel supported by what they are experiencing and feeling, that I hope every one of them will pull through with new and healthier views of themselves, their families and this society.
Please take a look at the VAN site as well as the other links that are within the site. You may just learn something new today or experience something you never would have expected.
I have so many people to thank for my adopted life and the journey I continue to explore. My parents, my siblings, my husband, Michael, my in-laws, my closests friends, my spiritual communty in Marin County, California, and those who have always loved and supported me regardless. I say, THANK YOU from the deepest part of my soul. I am just beginning to feel Vietnamese after all of these years. What a great feeling!
PLEASE, if you know of anyone or you, yourself are an adoptee, please write me or send them my way or to the VAN network site. I personally would love to meet those of you who are out there.
Shalom,
Kim
Thursday, April 21, 2005
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