Scattered Memories - Kim's Story
My name is Kim and my adoption took place overseas, back in August of 1965, I was 18 months old. I have a few memories of what I will call "flashbacks" from when I was in the orphange. I don't know really how old I was when I arrived at the orphanage in Taipei, Taiwan, or the circumstances around my bparents situation. My flashbacks are of sitting in a crib by myself crying and with my arms up wanting someone to come pick me up; I was in what they called the special needs room. I couldn't keep any food down and was very sick. With these flashbacks, I remember no one come to pick me up. I believe this went on for months. No one really knows who took to the orphanage. I have heard conflicting stories, one being dropped off by my grandfather, the other dropped at the door step of the orphanage by and old man, that found me abandonded in the street. My adopted mom had read a book by Pearl S. Buck, about Amerasians, and had decided to adopt one of these children. She went as far as writing the Priest and letting him know when she would be in Taiwan, my adopted dad was in the Air Force and stationed in Okinawa at the time. Taiwan was not that far away, when she and my adopted dad arrived, the priest had forgotten they were coming. It really didn't matter, as there were no amerasians available. It was then when they were sent to the Orphanage I was living, Yi Kuang Orphanage, which at the time was run by Superintendent Hu Shih Ching. A little background on my aparents, my amom is the mother of four natural born children and my dad had three children from his previous marriage, so in all total for my adad he already had eight children. I would be and I am number 8 for him. I am the youngest and the only asian in the family. My adopted mom is Swedish and my adopted dad is Norwegian they all have blond hair and blue eyes. It was no secret that I was adopted. My adopted parents, were made to be this famous "American Family" rescuing this sick child, this is how I perceived as a child. My adoption only took about three months from start to finish, as my adopted dad was getting ready to retire and move back to Washington state. This process had to be completed before he left. Back in 65 China was very poor, so families that had more than three children could put one in the orphanage, but were not deemed adoptable, due to have birthparents alive. I was not aware of this until recently, August of 99, by my adopted mom. This is when she proceeded to tell me, she believes my birth parents are deceased. The process was, they met me in May of 65 and they didn't choose me the orphanage chose me for them, (I felt like I was this burden being pawned off on this family). They went back to Okinawa, and sent a check back to Taiwan for me have physical at a Military hospital. My adopted parents traveled back and forth a couple of times before I they actually had all the paper work completed. It was official on August 8, 1965. It was such a big deal, my parents were interviewed as well as the orphange, about this poor sick child that this american family was taking. When, I arrived in Okinawa, I was immediately put into the hospital with pneumonia for a few days. We left Okinawa, not long after I was released from the hospital. We traveled back to Washington state, where again, I was placed in the hospital for another six weeks with pneumonia. The fevers where so high, I actually put on ice, to cool me off. I learned how to walk in the hospital. My first baby pictures are from my hospital bed. After the six weeks, I showed very little improvement. My adopted mom was frustrated with my lack of progress, she requested that I be sent home and she would take care of me. The hospital allowed me to go home and I improved twice as fast. My beginning with my family was rough due to all of my illnesses and needing to stay away from my family of destination. Again a separation for me, it was ok, as I had already closed myself up from people as a protection from ever being hurt again. It wasn't until December of 98, that I realize that my adoption had really affected all aspects of my life. I used to think I was crazy for feeling the way I did, and the lack of connection. Looking into the mirror and seeing no one look back at me. I am currently searching for my birthfamily, relatives of any kind.
© 1997 If you have a question or comment for Lee, please leave
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