The Things I Carry and My Journey to America
By Fēngxiān Yuàn
Adoptee, 29
From Nanning, Guangxi; Living in Portland, Oregon
I carry the two countries the one I call home when I go back to visit, and the country I was adopted to was America
I carried things from my culture to my new home with my adoptive parents
I carry the color red that’s worn on Chinese New Year it brought me good luck on my journey to America
I carry two different passports my Chinese passport and my US passport
I carry being in the lobby of the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, China it symbolizes a piece of my going home journey and the start of a new journey
I carry being on the grounds of the US Consulate in Guangzhou, China waiting for my visa to be processed so I can come to America
I carried my baby clothes that resembled a traveling theme and colorful colors I wore on my gotcha day and as well in my black and white referral photo
I carry my Chinese name the orphanage gave me, the name I will remember, and the name I identify with
I carry my baby photo album the orphanage made for me to document my time in the orphanage
I carry my silver pendant necklace with the Phoenix and the Chinese character for Fú 福(luck) with the 3 bells that’s worn for good luck
I carry my tiger shoes to ward off evil spirits and bad luck.
I carry eating longevity noodles on my birthday brings me long life and double happiness
I carry two languages my native language and my second language was English
I carry the Zhuang embroidery ball that hangs in my room
I carry the image of the person who found me, I want to know what became of them and the person they grew up to be
I carry the image of my finding spot and where I was once left and where I was found
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