The Missing Piece of the Puzzle
Mallory of Grand Falls NB travelled to China with her parents in January, 2002 to adopt her sister Meili. She wrote a trip report that appeared in the Winter 2002 newsletter. This February, her mother and grandmother travelled to China, to adopt Tai, a 5 year old boy with a Cleft Palate condition who was registered with the Waiting Child program. Mallory did not travel this time but she did provide this report about a month after Tai joined the family.Mallory leaves this September for a year in Mexico on a Rotary Exchange Program. Next September, she enters Dalhousie University on an academic scholarship. Summer Newsletter 2003A month ago, the eleventh member of my family arrived from China. He was the missing puzzle to our family. Already at age five, there were many things he could do. He could speak Cantonese, make origami and eat with chopsticks.
Before he arrived, there were many questions I asked myself: “Will he have a hard time getting attached? Will he learn our culture and language quickly? Does he know he is being adopted?” These all depend on the child, but Tai himself adapted amazingly.
We learned about Tai through the “Waiting Child” program. My parents were very anxious about adopting for a second time. When Tai arrived, he had already been informed of our family and understood his adoption. He came here already knowing my name.
Seeing him play with my younger brothers and sisters seemed so natural, as if he had been here all along. We were lucky enough to see him enjoy many of his firsts like chips and soda pop.
It made me realize how such small things were so important to him, while the rest of us took it for granted.
Tai has only been here for a month, but it feels as if he were here all along. Although he is only five, he has his daily routines like making his bed and cleaning up after his toys. He’s no longer a guest in our home, but a member of the family. He also enjoys arguing with my little sister Meili and showing his mischi-evous smile. He was surely meant for our family as we were meant for him. He was a gift from God and I’m glad that he was carried to our hearts.
Tai
at his baptism Ceremony in Grand Falls NB