Mr. Ross

Mr. Ross is truly an amazing guy; not only that, he is a very-very good friend of mine.

The encounter with Ross wasn't just a casual introduction or misshap; no, I know our meeting each other was deliberate and much needed.

Let me explain...

Back in October of 2001, I attended a Vietnamese conference in Seattle, sponsored by an organization called VAN - Vietnamese Adoptee Network. It was a chance for me to interact with other adoptees of my own age and from the same country that I came from. Never have been around a great number of adoptees at one time I didn't know what to think or what to expect.

My wife and I got to the venue and we were introduced to a couple of the leaders of the event. Kelly, who was one of the board members learned that I was adopted from FCVN and stated that one of the presenters for the conference used to work for FCVN. I thought this was great because I can finally meet someone who worked for the same organization that I was adopted through.

We had joined up with a couple of other people at a table and started to visit when Kelly had me meet someone. So I stood up and introduced myself and as we were shaking hands Ross said to me, "You know, something about you looks very familiar to me." I was dumbfound, I mean what could I say?

I told Ross that I had my adoption papers with me and he was welcome to look at them. As he was thumbing through my documents he was able to identify some of the information he was reading; such as locations and individuals who had left their signatures. He then came upon my passport and it was there when the revelation was revealed. He saw my passport picture and declared, "That's how I know you...I took that picture!" I quized him a couple of times to make sure but he was certain that he took that picture.

The flood gate of questions began to flow and I was probing for whatever answers I could find. Now keep in mind...I had never "officially" met Ross before, and so after 27 years, he was able to recognize me from a baby picture that he took at the FCVN house in Viet Nam; I was 2 1/2 years old back then.

From that single encounter with Ross, I knew that my life had changed forever. The weekend at the conference had brought a lot of closure for me. To this day I still stay in touch with Ross. I get to see him every now and then when we meet up at adoption events.

Mr. Ross will forever be a crucial part of my life!!!

Search of a lifetime...

Growing up I have always had the curiosity of wondering if I still had any biological family in Viet Nam. It wasn't a priority growing up but I had always kept it in the back of my mind. Now that I am older I want to have some of those unanswered questions...well...answered.

As of this year (2007) I have officially launched my search for my biological family. The first step is to see if I can find my mother; that in itself would be a great success. "If" I find my mother, most likely I would learn that I have step siblings, which I think would be just phenominal.

But first things first...

I have a couple of friends who are searching for me and they have personal information that will aid them in the search. One of my friends who is helping me came from the same province and was most likely in the same orphanage too.

The journey continues as this process unravels the mysteries of my life. I will keep you all posted.

And so it begins...

Hello out there!!!

As most of you know I was adopted during the Viet Nam war. That should come to you as no surprise and would explain to you why it is I am so different and crazy. But seriously, I was adopted back in October of 1974 and I grew up in a small town in southern Oregon.

I was born in Sai Gon, where the final days of the war took place. According to the information that has been given to me, days after I was born I was placed on the door steps of an orphanage in Vinh Long in hopes that one of the caregivers would find me and take me in. Indeed, I was found and was brought in where I was given a name and clothed.

I stayed in the orphanage for almost 2 years when a representative from Friend of Children of Vietnam (FCVN) came by and picked me up so they could get me ready to come over to the United States where I would be adopted by my new American family. For about 6 1/2 months the folks at the FCVN home continued care for me and got me ready to meet my new family.

When October 1974 came to pass I was on my way to the U.S. where I would have my first encounter with my family. On Halloween night of 1974, I was the treat when my family picked me up in San Francisco. After picking me up from the airport my family pulled an all nighter and headed back up I-5 towards Oregon. It was a long trip home and I don't remember a single detail about it. But somehow I knew that I would forever be in a family that is full of fostering, care, and unconditional love.

And so it begins...