Kari Lemons and her family just returned from Cambodia Ties 2011. She posted this wonderful story on our Facebook page. With permission, and a HUGE smile on my face, I share it with you. Kari writes: My favorite picture of the whole trip is from our first day touring around in Cambodia. We were at Banteay Srei Temple early in … Read More
Why Birth Country Visits are So Compelling
By guest author Doris Jacobs In taking my son Andrew on a birth country trip, I had hoped to reinforce his personal identity—that it is great to be who he is and to value who he is becoming, including where he was born and where his personal history began. • Being able to say and really understand “This is the … Read More
The Benefits: It’s not ALL about Race & Ethnicity!
But let’s not kid ourselves. The international adoption experience and kids’ comfort levels with themselves is hugely interconnected with race and ethnicity. As internationally adopted people explore their identities, “Race/ethnicity is an increasingly significant aspect,” according to the Evan B. Donaldson Institute. Given that truth, and the need for racial/ethnic acceptance as part of oneself, it comes as no surprise … Read More
The Benefits: Being There is Validating—Making Me Real
We’ve discussed the complexities related to: • Preparation • Traveling into unknowns • And those tied to the “right age to travel.” While there are no doubt countless other complexities, I thought I’d balance the table a bit and talk about the positives of a homeland journey. For starters, being there is validating. That is, for many adoptees, their very … Read More