Hello Also-Known-As Community,
I’ve just returned from South Korea and China and in reflecting on what I wanted to share with you all, I was met with feelings of trepidation and apprehension; but overall I think it’s important to briefly touch on because I feel my experience as a Chinese adoptee is enmeshed with international affairs and systems. During my time in China I saw the daily bombardment of news in siloed echo chambers between both countries that I have attributed the meaning and feelings of home to. Meanwhile in my US locations of home in NYC and VT, I read about people who were being sent back to countries of origin that they do not or cannot seek to call home. The whole experience kept bringing up themes of agency, fear and lack of control. I imagine that my own angst was but a fraction of what many folks I was reading about in the news were experiencing. I thought about my younger self and what I might say if I had had the language to vocalize what I was embodying many years ago.
I was also met with US government officials making headlines for generally labeling ‘peasants’ to those in China. In my opinion, a diminished and suppressed view of not seeing citizens with a resilient 5,000 year history as anything more than peasants, versus their own unique multi-faceted selves. These are my and my ancestor’s history — I felt defensive, proud, complex grief and shame all compounding in my own adjacency to what I often imagine is my own Chinese family’s origins. Two countries with my roots, my stories and people I deeply care for at odds with one another… two countries that depend on each other, and that I depend on. Where is home with poignant fractured feelings of acceptance and belonging?
The paradox of an adoptee’s experience – it is perplexing and a cyclical dissonance that I’m still trying to unpack, navigate and rationalize. It sounds cliché and naive to say, but with recognizing limitations in my own positions of power, I simply just manifest and hope that there’s a world in which there’s more peace, respect and reparations for both nation’s histories, interactions, transactions and present day lives of the people who make up both country’s rich cultural tapestry; and especially for those who at times may feel they exist in the in-between.
At the end of this trip I also had the opportunity to attend the 3rd Chinese Adoptee Symposium put on by inspirational adoptee leaders based in China. It was a special opportunity to travel there and be in community with ~30 adoptees as we embraced the theme of 叶落归根 (yè luò guī gēn) or “Falling leaves return to their roots” encapsulating the multi-dimensional and often bittersweet themes of homecoming, reunion, and connection to our Chinese heritage. It was a unique and layered experience to see where different facets of my life in NYC converged with my life in China. I was reunited with connections I have made through Also-Known-As, past trips to China and new friends as we participated, listened and learned together. I am looking forward to seeing the evolution of this symposium and ways that more Chinese adoptees may return to their origins.
In community,
涂婷婷 Lindsay Geier
Photo from the 3rd Chinese Adoptee Symposium
Also-Known-As made it to Queens. April’s Happy Hour was enjoyed with delicious barbecue, competitive trivia, and great company. 🍻
“Sharing Your Story Creatively”
with panelists Sullivan Summer, Yang Cheon-Shik, and Ed Pokropski.
Get ready to hit the trails with our Also-Known-As community! 🌲👣
Join us for a memorable day on the trails, with former president and an avid lover of hiking, Mike Mullen.
📅 Date: Saturday, May 10th
⏰ Time: 9:45am
📍 Trailhead: Reeves Meadow Visitors Center (100 Seven Lakes Dr, Sloatsburg, NY 10974)
✔️ RSVP: Required
We'll be hiking Pine Meadow Lake, a beautiful 5.7 mile loop (approx. 1,000 ft of elevation gain).
Please RSVP so that we can coordinate with you in case of changes, weather, issues on the trail, etc.
Has becoming a parent allowed you to reevaluate what it means to be an adoptee? How has parenthood affected you on your own adoptee journey? What does parenting as an adoptee mean for your children, the future generation? Come with an open mind and bring your own questions as our very own Heather Gittens, Also-Known-As Advisory Board Member and founder of Huh Healing Hub LLC, Certified Usui Reiki Master and Lecturer at Baruch College leads a insightful panel discussion with fellow Transracial Adoptee Parents.
📅 Date: Thursday May 22, 2025
⏰ Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
📍 Location: NYC location TBC
👤 Who: Adoptee and adoptive parents (current and prospective) only
💰 Cost: $5-15
✔️ RSVP: Required
Come celebrate in the park as we wrap up our 2024-25 term with catered eats, adoptee friends old & new, and great raffle prizes! One of our biggest events of the year, all adoptees, friends, and family are welcome.
📅 Date: Saturday, June 14
⏰ Time: 11:00am - 3:00pm
📍 Location: Prospect Park (SW Corner across from TD Bank)
💰 Cost: Free to attend
More details to come.
🎓 The 2025 Also-Known-As Adoptee Excellence Scholarship is now live! One individual will be awarded a $1,000.00 (one-thousand dollars and zero cents) scholarship to support their full-time study at an accredited institution.
🎓 International adoptees are invited to apply if they are U.S. citizens; age 25 or under; and plan to enroll full-time in 2025 at an accredited college, university or vocational-technical school in the United States.
🎓 Financial need and merit will be considered; scholarship will be awarded in June 2025.
🎓 For more information, FAQs, and to apply, please visit https://www.alsoknownas.org/scholarships
Past scholarship winners Darci, Fikirte, Allemu, Jin, Maya, and Anderson
Can you believe it? The BIG 3-0 is just around the corner! 🥳 We’re gearing up to celebrate 30 years of building community, sharing stories, and honoring the incredible voices of international adoptees everywhere. Get ready for an unforgettable celebration filled with joy, connection, and the powerful voices that make up our ever-growing family. This milestone is extra special as we bring you 30 Years, 30 Stories—a heartfelt theme spotlighting the diverse experiences of adoptees from across the globe. 🌍✨
Stay tuned for more details, including registration info, exciting programming, and how YOU can be a part of this historic celebration. We can’t wait to see you there!
📅 Mark your calendars, spread the word, and let’s make it a weekend to remember! 🎉
Seeking Seeking Input from U.S. Korean Adoptees
A journalist from The Korea Herald is looking to speak with Korean adoptees in the United States who would have submitted cases to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission but were unaware of the opportunity. Of the 367 cases reviewed, only about 40 came from U.S. adoptees, despite this group representing a significant portion of overseas adoptions. The commission suggested that fewer submissions may indicate fewer irregularities in U.S. adoptions—a conclusion that many adoptees believe does not reflect the full reality. If you are interested in being interviewed, contact Moon Joon-hyun at mjh@heraldcorp.com. You can also support a petition advocating for adoptee rights, including citizenship and assistance with birth family searches.
“Healing, Communication, Vulnerability”
🌟 With a rich 16-year career spanning journalism, nonprofit comms, and higher ed, Heather empowers students at CUNY Baruch to find their voices and speak with confidence. Catch her TEDxCUNY Talk live on May 2nd at John Jay College—this is one you won’t want to miss! 🎤✨ Purchase tickets here.
Film Screening: Tasting Heritage
The short film Tasting Heritage will screen as part of the Foundation for Asian American Independent Media (FAAIM) Shorts Program during the 28th Annual Asian American Showcase.
📅 Monday, May 19, 2025 – 8:30 PM
📍 Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N State St, Chicago, IL 60601
Learn more and get tickets: faam.org/shorts-far-and-away
