Tuesday, May 26th - Sunday, June 7th this blog is hosting a book discussion surrounding Taiwanese-American adoptee Mei-Ling Hopgood's memoir "Lucky Girl."
Author Mei-Ling Hopgood has volunteered to answer questions that you have. Please submit your questions as comments on this post before Sunday, June 7th. I'll collect your questions and submit them to her. I'm looking forward to reading your questions and hearing what she has to say. Feel free to leave comments with any messages that you'd like me to deliver to the author as well.
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I'd be interested in knowing what Hopgood believes the role of adoptive parents should be in helping children reunite with their original families. It will probably be many years before the ones who were adopted as babies express a desire to search for them, if they do. Until then, what would she recommend APs do to keep the communication channels active so that a reunion might happen?
ReplyDeleteIn our case, we've sent several letters to our child's Taiwanese family with the hopes of keeping lines open. However, we've never received any responses. At the same time, we want to respect their privacy and possible need to distance themselves from any pain resulting from the adoption. We don't want to be pushy, but we don't want the trail to go cold from time and distance. Any thoughts?
How does your Taiwanese family feel about the publicity surrounding your book now that it's been released? Has being public with your life story changed any relationships? Feel free not to answer this question if it is too personal. Of course we'll understand. We're greatful you've shared so much already.
ReplyDeleteAdoptees react to their adoptions in such varying ways. In your opinion, what makes the difference between an adoptee who is at peace with his/her adoption and one who is resentful of it?
ReplyDeleteDo you have any advice for adoptive parents, such as something your parents encouraged you to do while you were growing up?
ReplyDeleteI, too, would like to know the reaction Mei-Ling's birthfamily has had to her book, if she doesn't mind sharing.
ReplyDeleteDo you get any feedback, positive or negative, from other adult international adoptees for your outlook on your adoption experience and/or sharing your life so publically?
ReplyDeleteIn the promotional video for your book, you describe yourself as "just another one of the endless, unwanted baby girls born to and discarded by poor Chinese families." While being poor and female are big reasons for why many children in China are given up for adoption, the reasons are often different for Taiwanese adoptions (i.e, imprisoned parents, substance abuse, teenaged pregnancies, mental illness, etc.) In light of your statement and of Taiwan's (partial) push for independence from China, your statement makes me curious: do you view yourself as Chinese or Taiwanese?
ReplyDelete