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When I was 10 years old, my parents told me we were moving to America. I was devastated. I was going to lose my home, my friends and family, my school, and even my country. I told them I would go, but I would not go to school there. (Like I even had a choice in the matter!)
We moved to Michigan in 1986. I was 10 years old and placed into the 4th grade. The school then switched me to the 5th grade after they did some testing on my educational levels. I remember making friends pretty easily.
One thing that stands out in my mind is that I didn't like the fact that I sounded different. I had an obvious British accent and used different words for things. Obviously I stuck out like a sore thumb. I remember how I didn't like the other kids teasing me about my accent and I think that is the main reason I worked so hard to lose it.
If you talk to me now, you will not detect any type of British accent. I do still use some British words that have stuck with me through the years, but I am Americanized. And I am fine with that. But I still know about my British culture and the holidays we celebrated. I know the food we eat is different sometimes. My family loves to have Yorkshire Pudding at the holidays. We also enjoy pulling Christmas Crackers on Christmas Day. If I ever go into a candy store in the mall that sells candy from overseas, it brings back lots of memories and I want to buy everything I can eat!
It was not until a couple days ago when I was talking to our social worker, that I realized, I am multi-cultural. I was taken away from my country, my home, food, sights and smells, and even though I had my family with me, I was still scared.
Think about Cameron. He is going to be taken away from his country, his home (orphanage), his friends, his culture, his language. Everything will be different for him when he comes to America. Even though we are going to Thailand to pick him up, he still won't know us. I don't know what his initial reaction is going to be. Will he cry, not want to go, or will he be happy? These are just some of the things I am learning about adoption. It is not all banners and celebrations at the airport. Sometimes it's a scared child who is leaving everything he or she knows and being placed in a whole new world with no one else that speaks his language. I didn't have to learn a new language, but now I know I can relate to some of the changes he will experience.
Right now and until Cameron comes home to us, I am going to do everything I can to make sure his adjustment is as smooth as possible for him. I will stay at home with him for 6 weeks. I will hold him if he wants held. I will try to learn some Thai. I know he will adjust in time, but I guess you don't always think about how much an adoption can initially traumatize a child. I know it is much better for him than living in an orphanage for the rest of his life, but it is important that I am aware that he may not want me to hold him or he may cry or be quiet.
Please pray for my family and for Cameron as we go through this process. I want nothing more than to be his Mom. But I want to make this transition as easy as it can be for him. (You can tell I've just spent all weekend at an adoption seminar).
Sometimes you don't realize why things happen in your life until you are a lot older. Who would have known that a 10 year old girl from England would move to America and then adopt an 8 year old boy from Thailand 23 years later.
God knew.