Caroline

"She also came to discover a new-found appreciation for Asian culture. It started with the food, and then developed into learning more about the culture more generally. Her interest in her Asian and Chinese identity inspired her to found her school’s very first Asian Club."

Caroline was found at about ten days old outside the adoption door of the Social Welfare Institute in Huaihua city of Hunan province with a note and a red blanket. At eight months old, she was adopted by her mom, a single parent, to the United States. Growing up in Charleston, South Carolina was really hard for Caroline, because she grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood and experienced a lot of racism. She distinctly remembers wanting to be white and to fit in with what she perceived as the “cool, popular kids,” but she never felt like she fit in.

Her experiences have informed her participation in AAPI and LGBTQ+ activism in recent years, where she has experienced first hand the toll activism takes on individuals and is practicing setting healthier boundaries for herself. Additionally, when selecting where she wanted to attend college, she specifically sought a more diverse, liberal environment, and ultimately chose to attend Champlain College in Vermont, where she is going into her sophomore year studying digital forensics. As for digital forensics, she saw it as the logical outcome of being good with computers and the fact that she, in her words, “loves crime.”

When COVID hit, Caroline was upset to see so much discrimination against people who look like her. She also came to discover a new-found appreciation for Asian culture. It started with the food, and then developed into learning more about the culture more generally. Her interest in her Asian and Chinese identity inspired her to found her school’s very first Asian Club. She expressed an interest in traveling back to China to try to find her birth parents. As of now, she has signed up for posters, is in the process of getting her papers translated, and did a DNA test, where she found a second cousin who lives in Virginia. She sees her interest in Asia as connected to her desire to fit in and to reclaim her heritage. To younger adoptees, she says “not to be ashamed of being asian” and that it is important to “learn how to stick up for themselves.” In a way, Caroline has found a way to “fit in” that embraces the ways she is different. “I know I’m different from others, but I accept that,” she says. “Now, I love who I am, and I’m not ashamed of being Asian.”

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2023.

Anica

“Their personal mission is to not only be ‘comfortable enough to be herself’ but also to ‘give others the opportunity to do the same.’”

Anica was adopted from Anhui province in China when she was approximately 8 months old. They grew up in the Bay Area of California with her two white mothers. Throughout their childhood, Anica had the privilege of being close to both Asian and American culture: participating in cultural or culinary customs was relatively easy since they were nearby; she also had lots of Asian friends. Anica is still grateful to live near communities with other Asians since it “does make a difference to see people who look like you; there’s familiarity in that.”

While self discovery is always a gradual journey, Anica has spent much of the last few years exploring what it means to be involved in the adoptee community and other communal spaces they find important. Balancing both their queer and adoptee identities informs how she interacts with the world, and when doing so, they are eager to bring their whole self. Anica is aware that the parts of their identity that she closely associates herself with are not necessarily outwardly visible: for now, Anica is she/they, transracial adoptee. So they know the importance of being mindful of how others’ understand themselves. In fact, community is probably what drives Anica most. A self-declared “connector,” Anica loves helping others. Their personal mission is to not only be “comfortable enough to be herself” but also to “give others the opportunity to do the same.”

In addition to her involvement in CCI, Anica’s involved with BIPOC Adoptees Organization, which places an emphasis on the BIPOC adoptee experience across different countries, the Korean American Adoptee Adoptive Family Network (KAAN), Asian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN), and Young Invincibles. Fascinated not only by community but also by how our history affects how we exist today and tomorrow, she is now going back to school to pursue a degree in sociology.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2023.

Ashley

“As an adoptee, Ashley credits her identity with her ability to socialize and understand many types of people. Having grown up in predominantly white areas but also being a person of color gives her a unique intersection that she says is the ‘best of both worlds.’”

Ashley was adopted from the Hubei province at 11 months old and raised in Minnesota. After earning her bachelor’s in Graphic Design, Ashley craved adventure and set out on multiple treks abroad. Over the last few years, she’s been able to travel around Europe and Asia for months at a time. As a self-described foodie and terrible cook, being abroad has its perks. In addition to trying new foods, Ashley loves exploring new cultures and meeting new people. Her many friends scattered around the globe make an easy excuse to hop on a plane and go somewhere. And being able to meet people from different backgrounds amazes her and allows her to reflect on her own experiences growing up and how she was raised. As an adoptee, Ashley credits her identity with her ability to socialize and understand many types of people. Having grown up in predominantly white areas but also being a person of color gives her a unique intersection that she says is the “best of both worlds.”

One of Ashley’s more formative experiences abroad came the summer after her freshman year. A good friend of hers from China had invited Ashley to spend some time with her family in Cheongju, China. Eager to explore and travel, Ashley agreed. However, much to her surprise, the trip was much more emotional than she initially expected and really “opened the Adoptee world” for her. She came to the realization that there was a “missing part of [herself] that [she] didn’t know [she] needed to find.” When speaking about her trip, Ashley advises other adoptees to give themselves grace, noting that “it takes time to process where you’re at and your emotions. Sometimes, they hit you out of nowhere.” The following summer, Ashley came back to the same city for a 3-month language class, and to this day, Cheongju still holds a special place in her heart.

As for what’s next, Ashley would like to live abroad, which may include teaching English in China. And of course, she’ll continue to travel.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2023.

Emily

“Having once written-off her status as an Asian American, Emily now realizes that she ‘represents a rarer version of what it means to be Asian American’ and that her story adds value.”

Born in Fujin, China and left on the steps of a Buddhist temple at 3 months old, Emily was cared for by monks until she was adopted at 16 months old. And after having spent most of her childhood in Arkansas, she wanted to see more of the world. During her bachelors, Emily was able to live abroad in Italy and Germany. Shortly after graduating, she moved back to Germany to work as a professional dancer. Emily describes her experience living abroad profound; not only was she able to explore and find her voice, she learned the power of advocating for herself. This growth prepared her well for the healing and therapy she undertook after returning home to Arkansas during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Perhaps equally as transformational as her time abroad, Emily describes her self-exploration as an in-depth study on the power of vulnerability. During the pandemic, she also experienced Asian hate, which prompted her to become involved in online support groups and the Asian American community. Having once written-off her status as an Asian American, Emily now realizes that she “represents a rarer version of what it means to be Asian American” and that her story adds value. Today, she feels passionately about sharing her journey with others. Combining her love for dance and advocacy, Emily is now a professional dancer and owner of Language Adoptee Travel. She just began learning Chinese and aims to document her experience on Youtube. Emily hopes to fill gaps in the adoptee language learning space by discussing themes like belonging and identity while also raising awareness in the non-adopted language learning community. As a woman, person of color, and an adoptee, Emily has a unique perspective that she is eager to share.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2023.

Kate

“As the only adoptee on the board, Kate recognizes how pivotal this time is; she views it as a transition where many adoptees are becoming more aware of their own identities and an opportunity to make the organization more adoptee focused.”

Kate graduated a few years ago from the University of Texas Austin with a degree in Interior Design. Having grown up enjoying art classes through middle and high school, Kate wanted to pursue a field that was hands-on and allowed for the potential to work on creative projects. Fittingly so, since graduating, she has also been able to maintain many of her creative passions.

Kate has been a dancer since she was 2: from studio classes to her high school drill team, today, Kate is a “shuffler” and frequently posts shuffle videos on Instagram. In fact, while she grew up in relatively diverse cities, dance was one of the ways Kate was also able to connect with Chinese culture. She spent 12 years in traditional Chinese dance and was even able to meet other Chinese adoptees.

However, it was not until college that she considered her identity as an adoptee more seriously. In spite of UT’s large Asian population, Kate didn’t necessarily fit in. While not uncommon for many adoptees to experience, the estrangement between adoptees and the Asian community became more apparent, and it was awkward to realize that in some ways “there’s a boundary you can’t cross into their community.” Put simply, being “too Asian for the white community and too white for the Asian community is a difficult thing to balance.” Nevertheless, during COVID, Kate was able to reconnect with the Asian and adoptee community. She reconnected with her local Families with Children from China (FCC) chapter and now serves on the board. As the only adoptee on the board, Kate recognizes how pivotal this time is; she views it as a transition where many adoptees are becoming more aware of their own identities and an opportunity to make the organization more adoptee focused.

When she’s not volunteering, you can find Kate at an EDM rave, shuffling, or enjoying some of the best tacos and BBQ Texas has to offer.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2023.

Janelle

“Being involved in the adoptee community opened her eyes to the spectrum of experiences adoptees face: ‘It’s not a homogenous experience at all, and it’s great to see the different things adoptees go on to do all over the world.’”

As a transracial adoptee, Janelle recalls it being difficult to reconcile her racial identity, often feeling “too white” for Asian friends and “too Asian” for her white friends. Growing up in a predominantly white area and realizing the lack of resources available for adoptees, motivated her to become engaged in the adoptee community. Her parents did not know how to support her with exploring her Chinese identity, so she took matters into her own hands. In fact, Janelle joined CCI back in middle school. And during high school, she connected with her local Families with Children from China (FCC) and helped start a program for kids and teens. She also served as a mentor in an online mentorship program. Being involved in the adoptee community opened her eyes to the spectrum of experiences adoptees face: “It’s not a homogenous experience at all, and it’s great to see the different things adoptees go on to do all over the world.” Janelle knows that the adoptee experience is complicated, and for many Chinese adoptees, being transracially adopted adds to its complexity. Thus, she geared her studies with the long-term aim of creating more resources for adoptees.

Recently, Janelle graduated with her bachelors in social welfare with a minor in sociology. She loves it and plans to work in social work afterwards, specifically with supporting foster and adopted youth. During her degree, Janelle was able to meet more Chinese people and at one point, even served as the president of her school’s Asian Student Union, which she describes as being tricky to lead the club without having grown up with more cultural context. Admittedly, she felt like a bit of an imposter and wondered whether she was doing enough. The thing that stands out most is that she can’t speak her mother tongue, which makes parts of the culture inaccessible. In the future, Janelle would like to revisit Mandarin and be more involved in Chinese culture. With plans to stay on the East Coast, she is looking forward to taking advantage of being in a more diverse area than where she grew up and of the Chinatown nearby. Beyond connecting with Chinese adoptees, she hopes to be a voice for transracial adoptees.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2023.

Téa

"When encouraging and welcoming other adoptees to tell their stories, I imagine that she might give them similar advice to that which she once received: tell a story that only you can write — it has to come from you."

When 10-year-old Téa Tamburo was preparing to apply to middle school, the University of Chicago Laboratory schools, her mom gave her the following advice: Write an essay that only you can write. It has to come from you. This reflects lessons that she has learned from her parents about how important it is to be herself and to be true to her own identity.

Being adopted at 9-months-old from Yiyang, Hunan province, China and growing up in Chicago, Illinois, Téa has certainly written a life story born of her unique experience as a Chinese adoptee. Given the Chinese name银一君(Yin Yi Jun) by the orphanage director in Yiyang, Téa shared that her English name is coincidentally the female version of her father’s name, Theodore, and that she carries over a part of her Chinese name, Yin, as her English middle name. She attended a private, religious elementary school before going to the Laboratory Schools, where she was distinctly aware that she was one of few Asian girls in her grade. In middle and high school, her own story of adoption and its relation to the One Child Policy’s overlook of women’s reproductive rights and women’s reproductive autonomy and the rights of the children involved inspired her to take up advocacy work in gender equality for issues like the gender wage gap and menstrual health. Her advocacy work has intersected with and developed into a passion for finance and economics, which she plans to study next year at Case Western Reserve University. In the male-dominated fields of finance and economics, Téa feels it is important to have representation for women and for Asian women in particular.

Not only does Téa tell her own story, but she also has created a platform that helps fellow Chinese adoptees tell their stories. When she was in eighth grade, a heritage trip to Changsha, Yiyang and Guangzhou sparked an interest in connecting with the girls she was adopted with. Seeing the photos from her adoption, she felt connected to people that she didn’t even really know, so when she returned to the states, she sent letters — she was sure to clarify they were “old-fashioned printed letters” — to the addresses her mom had saved from thirteen years prior. She heard back from eight of them and keeps up the connection to this day. This newly found connection, finding girls from her same orphanage and hearing each other’s vastly different stories, led her to create Girls Adoption Connect, a platform that shares spotlights of adoptee stories and posts about adoptee experiences, in 2020. Founding and running Girls Adoption Connect has led Téa to think about how multi-faceted adoption is and, in particular, how important it is to shed light on this diversity given that the American lens on adoption is quite singular.

During our brief talk, I found that Téa is a soft-spoken, composed and thoughtful individual; I can see she uses these strengths as a leader within the Chinese adoptee community. When encouraging and welcoming other adoptees to tell their stories, I imagine that she might give them similar advice to that which she once received: tell a story that only you can write — it has to come from you.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2023.

Haley

“Interestingly, her in-depth study of religion culminated with a thesis on the intersection of scripture and adoption. Haley credits her investigation as a pivotal moment in her own development and understanding of her adoptee identity.”

Growing up a devout Protestant, Haley planned to be a minister. In fact, she pursued her bachelors in Religion and a Masters of Arts in Religious Studies. Interestingly, her in-depth study of religion culminated with a thesis on the intersection of scripture and adoption. Haley credits her investigation as a pivotal moment in her own development and understanding of her adoptee identity.

Frequently, religious scriptures emphasize a western understanding of adoption that implies that God meant for it to happen. This, however, was a significant point of self-conflict: for an institution that had brought her so much community and comfort to also suggest that her abandonment and subsequent adoption was God’s will was hurtful to confront. This was the catalyst that pushed Haley out of the “fog” that many adoptees experience. Today, Haley’s understanding is that the ancient Greek and Roman adoptions that scriptures often reference are not representative of the transracial and closed adoptions that occur today, which means they should not be used to justify adoption. Haley describes her research experience as “healing.” It is no longer her plan to become a minister; today, she considers herself to be more inter-religious.

In her free time, Haley enjoys engaging in adoptee advocacy work. Most recently, she has joined an Asian heritage pageant, which has given her the opportunity to speak about adoptee experiences within Asian communities and the discomfort many adoptees feel. She is also looking forward to her own personal growth and learning other skills through pageantry. With the time that’s left, you can find Haley trying everything and anything NEW: from traveling to new places, running, singing, surfing, etc. She is a self-described “concert junkie” and was even able to snag Taylor Swift tickets for this summer.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2023.

Danielle

“As a Chinese adoptee, Danielle feels that she can contribute uniquely as a cultural ambassador [in Taipei], being an Asian-American who grew up entirely culturally American, as opposed to an American-born Chinese who grew up with more exposure to Asian culture.”

I last spoke to Danielle in July of 2020. At that time, she was still in undergrad studying chemistry, biology, and global health, and we were only a few months into the global pandemic. Since then, Danielle has graduated and moved all the way from Phoenix, AZ to Taipei, Taiwan.

Currently, Danielle is a Fulbright Scholar pursuing her Master’s in global health at National Taiwan University. When asked about her interest in global health, Danielle says that COVID-19 definitely played a role. Having entered undergrad with the plan to solely be pre-med, Danielle shifted her focus towards global health after taking an introductory course in the field. She’s drawn towards its potential to impact and improve the quality of life for whole populations around the world compared to one patient at a time. Her long-term plan is still medicine and perhaps working for a governmental organization like the WHO or CDC.

Naturally, I was curious about Danielle’s experience abroad. Since being adopted, this is Danielle’s first time back in Asia. She says that one of the biggest shocks when she first arrived was being surrounded by so many people that looked like her. Danielle speaks animatedly about her experience thus far. Not only has it been a fantastic opportunity, but it has widened her perspective beyond the U.S. – and so much so that Danielle could see herself living abroad again. A large emphasis of the Fulbright program is cultural exchange. As a Chinese adoptee, Danielle feels that she can contribute uniquely as a cultural ambassador, being an Asian-American who grew up entirely culturally American, as opposed to an American-born Chinese who grew up with more exposure to Asian culture. As for the language aspect, Danielle studied Chinese throughout high school and a few semesters in university, so she tries to meet and speak with as many locals as she can on a daily basis.

Danielle came across CCI in 2019 and even started the CCI Local Meet-Ups chapter in Phoenix during that time. She is grateful for the friends she has made through CCI and the adoptee community, so while in Taiwan, she hopes to further connect the Chinese adoptee community through starting a CCI Taipei chapter.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2023.

Maya

“Maya helps graduate students with their research. [She] describes students’ excitement as infectious and says that it's a ‘joy to share in their experience’ with the ‘light-bulb’ moments being her favorite.”

When I last spoke to Maya B in August of 2020, we discussed her experience growing up around the U.S. She was also helping with the CCI Boston Local-Meet Ups program. And while not mentioned in the original profile, Maya had just started her job as a librarian.

Just from our short conversation, it’s easy to tell that Maya loves her job. Not only is it service-based, but Maya gets to spend her days diving head first into whatever people are passionate about. Oftentimes, Maya helps graduate students with their research. And while she may not be an expert in the subject herself, Maya describes students’ excitement as infectious and says that it's a “joy to share in their experience” with the “light-bulb” moments being her favorite.

Historically, libraries have been mostly white-spaces. So, Maya recognizes the value that her perspective as a BIPOC librarian can bring. In fact, she speaks highly of the community that can be found in libraries for BIPOC people. When she was a student, Maya was a Spectrum Scholar (BIPOC focused) and is a current Emerging Leader for the American Library Association. Today, she is still in-touch with many of the people she met through these programs and remains engaged in the BIPOC librarian community.

While pursuing her library science degree, Maya was also able to connect her studies to her identity as an adoptee. She worked on a project concerning data privacy and consumer genetic technology. Specifically, Maya investigated the effect of results from tests like 23andMe and their effect on identity formation. This project was important as genetic data and adoption studies are a generally under-researched area. Maya was even invited to speak on this topic at a Chinese Adoptee Alliance (formerly Families with Children from China New York) virtual webinar in 2021.

Today, Maya continues to explore her identity as a Chinese adoptee through a cultural lens. She enjoys the Chinatown in Boston and is learning to bit more Chinese and how to make more Chinese dishes at home. While doing so, Maya tries to remember to be kind to herself during these learning processes, which she thinks is important for other adoptees to remember as they explore Chinese culture too.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2023.

Phoebe

“[Phoebe’s] work is driven by the desire to ‘ensure people have resources to be healthy, safe, and whole.’ For [her], public health is the best way to do that.”

The last time we interviewed Phoebe, it was June of 2017. Phoebe was serving as a Board Member of CCI, a biomedical engineering undergraduate student, and a self-professed TV-person with a foodstagram.

Since then, lots has changed. While Phoebe still enjoys sitcoms like Abbott Elementary, TV-watching isn’t quite as big of a personality trait, and while still a foodie, their foodstagram is not active. Phoebe has also graduated from her undergrad and masters; she holds a masters in Epidemiology with a certificate in Health Equity from the University of Pittsburgh. Today, Phoebe works as a research project coordinator at Pitt Public Health. Specifically, her work examines structural racism and inequities and their impacts on sexual and reproductive health. Her work is driven by the desire to “ensure people have resources to be healthy, safe, and whole.” For Phoebe, public health is the best way to do that.

Phoebe is no longer a CCI Board Member. Instead, their time today is centered around the Asian American community. She works part-time for the AAPI Pennsylvania Power Caucus and the Asian American Women’s Political Initiative (AAWPI). They also volunteer on the Board of Directors for the East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU) and with the APALA Pittsburgh Chapter. However, when asked about their time with CCI, Phoebe credits it as where she “got her start” and was first introduced to nonprofit work. Being involved with the adoptee community was pivotal to their understanding of transracial and transnational adoption within both a larger and more personal context. Today, Phoebe’s identity as an adoptee is just one of the many things that make her who she is. At some point, they hope to travel back to China. Until then, she’ll continue to keep busy and, when free time allows, explore Pittsburgh.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2023.

Carrie

"Being adopted at 9 years old and living in China has really shaped my outlook on life. Moving from China to the U.S. was really difficult."

This profile is written from Carrie’s perspective following an interview. Carrie was adopted from Guangdong province at 9 years old and grew up in the Bay area. She currently resides in California and works as a project manager/graphic designer. She is also one of CCI's new webmasters.

"Being adopted at 9 years old and living in China has really shaped my outlook on life. Moving from China to the U.S. was really difficult. My parents, although third-generation Chinese-American, didn't speak much Cantonese. So, during the first few years, the language barrier and culture shift was difficult to overcome. However, the distance between Chinese Americans and Chinese culture was still quite present. I wanted to be as Americanized as possible and assimilate quickly, but it was tough. And unlike many other adoptees, who are adopted as infants, I was conscious of my change in the environment. Consequently, it was challenging to reconcile being an adoptee and an immigrant. I came from a place where being an orphan was very stigmatized (because of how important family is in Chinese culture) to a completely new country. However, I'm very grateful for the Bay Area. It was lucky to be around other Chinese Americans; I didn't feel like a complete fish out of the water, and we often took trips to Chinatown in San Francisco. Being in Chinatown comforted me: the familiar food, Cantonese, and culture put me at ease. I liked visiting, but I was surprised when my parents pulled out dollars to pay at first. I just assumed they would use yuan. At that point, I was not sure if I was fully immersed in my new reality.

I've been here for over 20 years now, and it's taken a lot of time to sort through the emotional baggage from my childhood. Self-reflection was a big part of that, and I think it's important to reconcile the past and present and be able to speak to it. I wouldn't be where I am today without that process. It has given me perspective and gratitude for my journey, which strongly influences how I conduct my life, who I am, and my art."

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2020.

Maya

Maya’s passion for horsebacking riding filled some of her favorite memories growing up – from the first time she cantered to visiting Colorado and watching her Dad comically scramble as his lagging horse sprinted to catch-up with the group.

Maya Bergamasco was adopted from Ma’anshan in Anhui province at 8 months old. Her parents honored her Chinese name, Mǎ Hǎishì, by choosing a name with “Ma” and kept her Chinese name as her middle name. Currently, Maya resides in the Boston area and helps lead the CCI Boston Local Meet-Ups. However, before settling in Boston, she grew up all around the U.S. Maya has lived in Connecticut, Arizona, and upstate New York, where her family lived on a horse farm. Maya fondly remembers moving around and even driving all the way from Arizona to Connecticut with her horses. It was an unforgettable two-week trip that led her to many horse barns across Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. Maya’s passion for horsebacking riding filled some of her favorite memories growing up – from the first time she cantered to visiting Colorado and watching her Dad comically scramble as his lagging horse sprinted to catch-up with the group.

Nowadays, Maya enjoys exploring Boston while meeting new adoptees. Before moving to Boston, she wasn’t in touch with her Chinese heritage, but being around other adoptees with experiences she can relate to has helped regain her confidence. Being involved in the Local Meet-Ups is an experience that she is grateful for and wholeheartedly recommends to other adoptees; Maya looks forward to the program’s continued growth. And when she’s not meeting up with other adoptees or busy with the craziness of life, Maya enjoys reading, or going to a museum, library, or bookstore.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2020.

Danielle

Danielle recalled a meet-up at a Chinese festival in Arizona where one of the booths was holding a chopstick-using competition that tested the ability to pick up things like goldfish, beans, and rice.

Danielle Brister was adopted from Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province at 10 months. Danielle grew up in Arizona where she currently resides with her mother and younger sister, who was also adopted from China. Danielle’s mother adopted and raised her and her sister all by herself. Danielle considers her mother to be her role model and speaks admirably of her: “She dedicated her whole life to us and held balancing a full-time job at the same time to support our small family,” and describes her as “not only the best person but the greatest mother she could be.”

Growing up, Danielle’s mother thought it was important to expose her and her sister to Chinese culture and signed both up for Chinese school on the weekends. Danielle continued her interest in Chinese all the way through high school and up to the college level. She found fun ways to study like watching Chinese dramas in her free time and enjoyed learning the language. While she was familiar with some parts of her Chinese heritage, Danielle didn’t grow up with many other Chinese adoptee friends, which sparked her interest in starting the CCI Phoenix Local Meet-Ups chapter. Through the local meet-ups, Danielle has met so many unique people all with their own stories. One of the things that Danielle appreciates most is the diversity the group has and that they all share adoption as a part of their beginnings. While the chapter is fairly new, Danielle recalled a meet-up at a Chinese festival in Arizona where one of the booths was holding a chopstick-using competition that tested the ability to pick up things like goldfish, beans, and rice. The meet-up group had a face-off against a group of younger kids that was quite intense and even garnered a large crowd and a few cameras. In the end, the younger kids won, but it was such a fun experience. Danielle looks forward to the growth of the meet-ups and maybe even a chopstick-using rematch.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2020.

André-Anne

One of the best pieces of advice André-Anne has ever received is from her grandma, who told her that it is better to try and regret than to want to try and have resentment. “When I have temptation,” she says, “I go for it, and I live the consequences. That’s my motto."

One of the best pieces of advice André-Anne has ever received is from her grandma, who told her that it is better to try and regret than to want to try and have resentment. “When I have temptation,” she says, “I go for it, and I live the consequences. That’s my motto. [This] has helped me get very far.” Very far indeed. André-Anne boasts a diverse collection of experiences, including a professional ballet program in Montreal, an undergraduate program in anthropology, and language semesters in Berlin, Shanghai, Taipei and Beijing. Born in Nanchang, Jiangxi, André-Anne was adopted at five months by French-Canadian parents. Growing up in Quebec city, André-Anne grew up with her younger brother and sister adopted from Haiti and another younger brother who is an adopted northern Canadian indigenous person. Due to her double identity as Québécoise and Canadian, André-Anne has long been fascinated with territory, nationalism and ethnicity struggles. As she learns more about China, she thinks a lot about how China is so fraught with maodun 矛盾 (paradoxes) in its own political identity and she feels it is more easy to identify with a city or province rather than China as a nation. Today, she feels like it is natural that she ended up at Peking University studying international relations - guoji guanxi 国际关系 - and more specifically, the micro-perspective of inner society tensions.

In her free time, André-Anne loves photography and journalism, especially sharing travel photos through her instagram account, and taking care of animals, of which she has a dog and a cat. With a free afternoon, she would grab her swimsuit and go swimming . “I like the feeling of not feeling gravity,” she says.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2018.

Gracie

She also describes her mom as always being a glass half-full person and loves that she is so confidently unfashionable, a trait that Gracie shares with her.

Gracie was adopted from Changzhou in the Jiangsu province when she was 9 months old. Gracie grew up with her sister, who was also adopted from China, and her two moms. Gracie grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood in Winston Salem, NC. Currently, Gracie is looking forward to attending PA (Physician Assistant) school at Wake Forest University. One of Gracie’s moms is a scientist and she credits her for introducing her to science, which sparked her curiosity and love for problem-solving. She also describes her mom as always being a glass half-full person and loves that she is so confidently unfashionable, a trait that Gracie shares with her. She adores both of her moms for being good and loving parents.

Gracie has been back to China twice. The first time with a group of other adoptees and the second time with her family. She remembers visiting the orphanage that she was left outside of and it being “kind of weird” and very emotionally impactful. Her moms kept the orphanage name, “Ping,” as her middle name. On her trips, Gracie also enjoyed experiencing the Chinese culture. CCI has helped Gracie explore her identity as a Chinese adoptee and reconcile with the fact that her race will never match her culture. Gracie’s time at college in Western North Carolina prompted her to think more about her transracial identity. She adds that “it’s been tough,” but talking with other adoptees and therapy has really helped. Gracie highly recommends her therapist, Katie Naftzger, who is a Korean adoptee herself – the link to her website is down below. In her free time, you can find Gracie enjoying mountain biking and kayaking. Gracie often finds she’s the minority in her sports, – being the only female and person of color in sports typically dominated by white men – and so she’s “learning to take it in stride and with grace.” The link to Katie Naftzger’s website: https://adoptiontherapyma.net/

Humans of CCI profile in 2020

Taylor

Taylor RuiPing Shennett can be found doing “thirty-plus things at once”.

At the University of Memphis in Tennessee, Taylor RuiPing Shennett can be found doing “thirty-plus things at once”. While majoring in Communication and Social Media Marketing, she is also very involved on campus; “some of my roles are Vice President of Operations for my sorority, Vice-President Marketing for the Student Ambassador Board, and a senator for Student Government Association.” Additionally, she writes and maintains a blog that she began in high school. Adopted from Hunan Province at 9 months and originally raised in Pennsylvania, Taylor later moved to the South where adoption was less common. In her high school of over 2,000 students, only 3 were adopted from China. As a result, her blog became a place to “explore my identity as an adoptee […] I talk about adoption from an adoptee’s view. I write about my adoption and feelings towards it.” In the future, Taylor hopes to combine her passion for social media, marketing, and writing into a career.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2017.

Lia

“Between Chinese adoptees, there is this special connection, even if you have never met them in real life. "

Adopted from Guangzhou, Guangdong Province in 1996, Lia Walton has recently worked to connect the Chinese adoptee community. In college, she co-founded and was president of an adoption organization. While looking for other resources, she found CCI. “Between Chinese adoptees, there is this special connection, even if you have never met them in real life. Understanding their journey and to see how many [adoptees] there actually are is great”. Lia has returned to China once, as a high school graduation gift. “My mom and I took a tour group throughout China, hitting places like Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. At the last leg of the trip, we went to two orphanages in my hometown”. For Lia, this experience was very moving and was beneficial in connecting to her birth culture: “I saw how my life could have been like and how different it is in China”.

Lia, now living in Richmond, Virginia, recently graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and is still discovering what she is passionate about. In the meantime, she kickboxes, hangs out with her friends, or naps, depending on the day. As for the adoptee community, “I guess I hope CCI and other organizations continue to support each other, and that adoptees that currently can’t or don’t find an interest in the Chinese adoption community will discover this community that is so unique”.

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2017.

Calla

Growing up in a small, predominantly Caucasian village in New York, Calla "became more sensitive to the lack of Asian American representation in media, and as a result, had a greater desire to find characters with stories like [her] own”

Filmmaking is Calla’s dream, but equal representation in media is her passion. As a Film & Television Production major at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Calla is working to pursue both. Growing up in a small, predominantly Caucasian village in New York, Calla "became more sensitive to the lack of Asian American representation in media, and as a result, had a greater desire to find characters with stories like [her] own”. Working to promote more Asian Americans on and off-screen, she emphasizes, “I really want to tell stories of people without a voice”. While this group includes Asian Americans, she is also interested in documenting other peoples and cultures whose narratives have been excluded from popular media. Calla hopes that her films will one day “show young Asian boys and girls that their stories matter” and “make audiences see others in a new light”. She firmly believes that greater and equal media representation will lead to wider acceptance and understanding of minority groups.

Adopted from Huanggang, Hubei in 1999, Calla found CCI in middle school and enjoys being on the Board because of the community support and dialogue. Her advice for younger Chinese adoptees? “It is okay to have mixed feelings regarding your adoption. Your feelings are valid. You don't have to go through it alone.”

Humans of CCI profiled on Facebook in 2017.

Zoey

Zoey's Chinese name means “quiet clang.” But otherwise, Zoey is far from quiet, always using their voice to correct wrongs.

Zoey Kapusinski’s Chinese name means “quiet clang.” They were found by the road in a Zhejiang Province village with a little piece of red paper stating their Chinese name and their birthday. Zoey recalls a time that the “quiet” in their name seemed to fit, remarking, “There is a photo of three babies in the orphanage sitting on a couch, and I’m looking at the crying one with a face like, “Shhh!’”

But otherwise, Zoey is far from quiet, always using their voice to correct wrongs. For instance, when Zoey was very young, they came to their mom having heard someone claim that he was born from his mother’s tummy. They told their mom that they had corrected him, saying, “No you don’t. You come from China!” All joking aside, Zoey’s voice really is an amazing presence in their community. Having grown up doing a lot of community service, they are super passionate about social justice and community service. Working with a group of local Chinese adoptees, they have raised over $9,000 dollars for charities serving children in China. This group of Seattle-area Chinese adoptees calls themselves the Dinner Bunch, and pre-college they would come together each month for dinners and sleepovers. But to Zoey, the Dinner Bunch isn’t just a cool name. In fact, they credit having this core group as being instrumental in helping to normalize adoption.

Inspired by the lush greenery of the Pacific Northwest suburb in which they grew up as an only child, Zoey also uses their voice to speak on behalf of the environment. Today, they're just two weeks away from graduating from Whitman College with a degree in biology and environmental studies with a sociology minor. No matter where they go, I’m confident that Zoey will make their voice heard.

Humans of CCI published on Facebook in 2017.