“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.