TRIP TO TAIWAN FOR 2013 ROOTS FINDING

 

My trip to Taiwan was more than just finding my roots and knowing where I was from. It was about finding myself and knowing what I want in life-Taiwan or America. So I can move on from the past. 
I got to spend two months in Taiwan-two weeks with Cathwel and a month and a half with my family. During the two weeks in Cathwel I got to see Taiwan from north to south. We went all over Taiwan guided by Lisa and Franky. I have made new friends. Most were from Holland. 
My favorite part of the root finding trip is volunteering with the kids. Because I was one of those kids ten years ago. I knew what the feeling was to have a visitor or a big brother to me. It was a special moment for the younger kids. I may have seen Cathwel through a different point of view from other root finding members. I have friends there that I knew from ten years ago when I was at orphanage. It just broke my heart to see that I was lucky to have a second chance in life but some kids did not. But I also see hope for the kids that did get adopted and start a brand new life-a new hope and a better future. 
For me, the most memorable part about the root finding trip was just the smiles on the kids’ faces when you play basketball with them or hold them in your arms. Playing baseball with them and just put love on those kids. Seeing their smile and laugh was an extra blessing to me. 
After the root finding trip, I stayed with my family for extra six weeks. I got to see all my family and got to know my family really well this time. There were family members I never knew I had. I saw familiar sites and ate my childhood favorite food and drinks. Most of all, I got to see my grandmother, my mother, my grandfather, my aunt, my cousin, my uncles, my god mother and my god siblings. I met some new Taiwan friends and even picked up the language a little bit. 
I am happy that I made the choice to come to Taiwan. It was a trip to never forget. It has a special place in my heart. I cannot wait for the day to go back to Taiwan again. I want to thank all the staffs in Cathwel for making this special trip possible for me with no issues at all. From the time I stepped off of the plane in Taiwan to the time I stepped off of the plane in Florida, the two months trip to Taiwan was the most amazing time of my life yet. I am looking forward to a day of return. Thank you all again for everything！ I love you all.  

By Josh

 

This year I have attended the Roots-finding trip from Cathwel. It was an amazing experience. 
We did fun things every day, but we also had enough time for our own. Volunteering was an amazing experience. It is good to see how much love the kids receive from the staffs.  I have learned a lot from this trip. To be grateful for the things we had, the opportunities we got and the love we received from the Jonah House staffs.  I hope the next group will enjoy it as much as I did！

By Hsiao Mei

 

Hi, first, let me introduce myself ; my name is Chuang-Ming. 
I am an adopted child, who returned to Taiwan just a couple of days ago. I was given away at the age of six months and from that moment was not able to contact any of my biological family at all.  
When I first got the invitation for the Roots-finding trip I was a little anxious to go. I didn't know what to expect but then I was told that this could be the once in a life time experience to see the country where I used to live, the once in a life time experience to see where I stayed during my life in Taiwan, and most important, the once in a life time experience to meet my biological mother. In all of a sudden, all my doubt disappeared. 
With much gratitude towards everybody whom I met at Cathwel, I can say I regret nothing of my choice of going back to Taiwan. Everybody who worked at Cathwel was great, treating all the children with such love, making their unfortunate so much much better. It was immense to experience this and I was relieved to know, that the place where I used to be treated, surpassed every expectation of it.
And the little children were not the only ones who were taken care of well, also we, the ones who returned to find their roots, were treated with all the care we needed. Whether it was about finding and meeting our biological family, or taking us to a variety of trips through Taiwan, the staff was always able to help you, to talk to you, or even to escort you to various places in Taiwan.  Not only did we enjoy Taipei with all his, art, monuments and countless suburbs, but also we were to experience the south of Taiwan which gave us, again, a different image of Taiwan.
It was a journey to never forget.  I want to encourage whomever is adopted and to whom a letter of invitation was sent to take this change. You will not find another trip that can possible surpass this one. Don't be afraid of your own country, and if the anxiety of the overwhelming city of Taipei takes the better of you, there will always be staff members to take care of you.

By Chuang-Ming