We recently interviewed an international adoptee, Danielle, who was kind enough to answer some of our questions about her adoption!
You were adopted from Korea, what was it like growing up in a family with parents of a different race?
As long as I can remember, I always knew I was adopted and always knew I was different from them. They were very open about the fact that we were adopted and reasons why (whether it was true or if they embellished a bit, haha). The worst part about being different wasn’t necessarily being different from my parents; it was being different from other children. People weren’t as accepting of other cultures as they are now.
Have you ever been or wanted to travel to Korea to experience that part of your heritage?
Yes, at first it was lack of time and money. Also, the town I’m from has since changed its name and has been rebuilt it into a completely different town so it wouldn’t be an accurate depiction of where I’m from. My mother and sister (also adopted) have been back to visit so I shared their experience through stories and photos. I would still like to travel there one day, although surprisingly it is not at the top of my list. I think I’m very comfortable in who I am that I don’t feel a strong longing to solve any unanswered questions like some adoptees might have.
What do you think was the best thing your parents did for you and your sister to celebrate your adoption?
We always celebrated our “anniversary”. Nowadays it’s considered a “gotcha day”. We would always do something of our choice on the anniversary of the day we came to America. It was typically going to a theme park, restaurant or some other treat along those lines. It was almost like a second birthday but an event instead of a gift.
What advice would you give to other adoptees about growing up a little different from their peers or struggling with their identity?
It was tough being so different growing up. Like I mentioned above, things were much more oppressive. There wasn’t a huge push for everyone to be politically correct and people were less sensitive to racial slurs and such. As a kid, I just wanted to be like and look like everyone else. The best parts of being different weren’t appreciated until I was older. When you’re young, fitting in is everything. When you get older, everyone wants to be unique and different and stand out from the crowd. You see this transformation of everyone trying to find unique qualities in them that they may not have cared to see before. With a little patience, you’ll come to see that being “different” is a gift you will learn to be thankful for.
