Midterm review

Recently, we are doing a midterm review for our project. Thinking back, it has really been a great experience.

 

Back to the very beginning, the idea of choosing international adoption as my topic was inspired by my friend. They are an American couple, and adopted a little girl from China. I was curious. What a commitment it takes to make the decision of raising a child from another country, put great amount of money and effort, wait for years, go through piles of paperwork, and travel all the way to China to bring the child back? A topic that I’m interested in makes the work enjoyable.

Then I learned two lessons. First, Persistence is the key. Second, Be flexible. U.A.B. International Adoption Clinic was my first choice. It didn’t work out after all the communications because of schedule problem. I’ve contacted several agencies, and finally found my perfect match – Villa Hope Adoption. Have to say that, the process of looking for an agency was frustrating, but the encouragement from our instructor Dr. McGuinness did help—“Persistence is the key.” And interestingly, sometimes an alternative choice works out perfectly.

Original plan was just doing research, and generating a booklet. But once I got started to do it, opportunities just naturally came, such as all the communications with U.A.B. International Adoption Clinic, and the friendship I have built with some adoptive families.

There is a family that I knew from an organization called Central Alabama Families with Children from China. They got their daughter Lilie from China when she was 6 months old. Now she is 4 years old, cute, smart, interested in anatomy, and wants to be a nurse in the future. Lilie is the only child. She made this family complete. I was invited to their house, and we cooked Chinese food together. I can feel the joy Lilie brings to this family. And at the same time, this child’s life is changed.

 My friend asked how long will I be doing this project. Well, the booklet will be done at the end of this semester, but I don’t think the connections I have made with the adoptive families will stop from there. I really enjoyed the friendship with these families, and will be happy to contribute in many other ways in the future.