by Melody Zhang

Marissa-Li Garrett is 8 years old. She had a plan for this year’s reunion. She wanted to interview an older child from China who remembers orphanage life. Marissa misses her birth mom a lot lately and wants to know more about China. When she asked her mom why her birth mom left her in the orphanage, they both ended up in tears. Marissa was adopted at 6 months old and very little information is available about her birth mother. So her mom encouraged her to find a way to learn more about China and her life there. Marissa interviewed two older girls, 12-year-old Tia Potts and 14-year-old Alexis Wilson, at the Big Kids’ Bash during the 10th CHI reunion this year.

[The CHI reunion is a great place for both parents and kids to renew old acquaintances and find new ones. It is also a wonderful opportunity for them to explore their roots. Ed note]

Marissa:  What does the orphanage look like?

TiaMei: It’s like a big room as big as this hotel hallway. We had many beds in it and we all shared the room.

Marissa:  Did you have to work in the orphanage?

TiaMei:  No, I went to school there. But we washed our own clothes after we turned 7 years old. Even the heavy pants and jackets. In winter time, the water was so cold but we had to do that. Not enough aunties to do it all. We also helped out cleaning our own room.

Alexis: I lived with my foster mom and dad, and they spoiled me.

Marissa: Do you miss your birth mommy?

TiaMei: No, I don’t; she left me because my sickness so I don’t miss her!

Alexis: At first I did, but later I learned she didn’t want me so I gave up. I like my mom and daddy I have now better because they love me and want me.

Marissa: Mom said we should not hate our birth mother because she loved us a lot to put us in a place to be found so we will have a family!

TiaMei:  My mom said the same, and she taught me to forgive her, too.

Alexis: I don’t hate her, it must be hard for her. That’s why I came here to my family now.