My Root-Finding Trip

Hello everyone,

My name is Madelief, my Taiwanese name is Hu-Pin.  I was adopted to the Netherlands when I was 5 months old.  This year I went 18 and I got invited to make this roots-finding trip.

At first I was in doubt if I should go or not, this was because I never thought about the fact that I was able to meet my birth family so soon, although I always hoped that I could see my birth family one day.  I told my adoptive family, my friends and my boyfriend about the invitation for the trip and they were directly enthusiastic and very supportive.  After a little bit thinking, I signed up for going to Taiwan for the trip.  

I met the six other Dutch people, who were also joining the roots-finding, two months before the trip. We had dinner in a restaurant what was arranged through Meiling(the Dutch adoption foundation).  After the meeting, we had contact with each other through social media and also with the five other roots-finding members from the other countries. 

A few days before leaving the Netherlands I started to get a little nervous, but I just thought I just let it happen.  I guess that was the best thing I could do for preparing for the trip, I had no expectations.

On the 6th of August we left our country with the plane. After a long flight for 12 hours we arrived in Taiwan.  In Jonah House we were warmly welcomed through the social workers and the little boys.  All the social workers and children were so sweet and kind. The first days we did some activities like pottery and visiting a temple and Ximen.  I really liked the activities from the whole trip.  The group was also very kind and careful.  I never thought we would become so close to each other.  Unfortunately, I just did volunteering once.  The other times I was supposed to volunteer I had reunions with my birth family.  I did my volunteering work by the infants and I had so much fun, the babies’ were so cute!

The Thursday in the first week I met my birthmother and her husband.  I was not very nervous to be honest.  When she walked into the room, I thought I would burst out into tears but that didn't happen.  The first thing what was on my mind was “she doesn't even look like me”.  After I saw the pictures of us sitting next to each other, I saw that we look very similar.  We talked a few hours and after that we went to Holiday Inn for having lunch.  I was happy that my birthmother and my stepfather were so kind.

I had two meetings after the first reunion.  I also met my little half-brothers and my grandparents, grandaunt and her sons and my aunt.  One time I was going out with my birthmother, her husband and my little half-brothers, the social workers didn't stay with me during the meeting.  It felt comfortable and the communication was through Google translation, they took me out shopping and we ate sushi.  I also went another time to Taipei 101, I had really nice days with them!
In the last week we had a four days trip with the roots-finding group to the South of Taiwan, the landscape was so beautiful, what a difference between there and the capital of Taiwan, what is always busy.  These four days also felt like that I was on a real vacation. We went to Kenting Beach, Tainan and Sun Moon Lake.  All of them are beautiful places.

After returning back to the Jonah house it was already time to leave Taiwan. We had three days left, one of the days I had my last meeting with my birth family and it was hard to say goodbye to them.  I want to thank all the social workers for making this trip so amazing and also the group because of all the support.  Especially I want to thank my social workers, Yenchi and Alma for standing by my side during the meetings with my birth family and Lisa for planning all the activities and guiding us.   I'm very glad that I was able to make this roots-finding trip and that I could meet my birth family.

I'm never going to forget this trip.  It was an amazing experience!

Greetings,
Madelief (Hu-Pin)