About

Hello, and welcome to Musings of a Taiwanese American Adoptee. So glad you’re here. I created this blog in January 2010 after setting out to find my birth family in Taipei, Taiwan. I never imagined searching for my birth family until a single, significant event occurred that changed everything in my life. After three years of searching and with the support of a social worker from Taiwan, I reunited with my first/birth family in Taipei during the Lunar New Year of 2012. If you’d like to read about my adoption story, please check out my book, Beyond Two Worlds: A Taiwanese-American Adoptee’s Memoir & Search for Identity. If you’re visiting for the first time, I recommend starting here then continue reading from oldest to newest post (February 2010-present).

When I’m not blogging, I’m likely drinking coffee, hanging out with my beloved dachshund, listening to music, looking for a new dessert to enjoy, drawing, renovating my home, watching YouTube, HGTV, movies or the Derry Girls (love this show), and/or reading. To get in touch, please go to the Contact link at the top of this page or click here. Thanks for stopping by.

25 thoughts on “About”

  1. Pingback: What’s in a Title? | Voices from the Margins

  3. Mj Post author

    Jean, amazing, amazing! What a wonderful way to experience life and to see so much of the world at such a young age, as well as learn what sacrifice means. Such a trip will impact those kids the rest of their lives. I’m not sure that every family could do what this family is doing, but it’s pretty cool nonetheless.

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    1. Marijane Post author

      Anne, Thank you very much for passing the Liebster Award on to me! I feel honored that you thought of me. I will happily pass along to other bloggers and visited your blog for the details. Thank you for reading beyond two worlds. It means so much to have others read my blog and about things that are so close to my heart.

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  7. AdoptedKeralite

    Hi,
    The name of our blogs represents similar feelings about culture and identity. I like yours. You write some thought provoking stuff, I’m looking forward to reading more.

    I’m also a pianist, who took lessons for years, but don’t have access to the ‘ivories’ as I live in a studio apartment now. I hope to get back to that creative outlet again in the future. In the meantime it’s just me and words.
    Again, thanks for visiting me.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Marijane Post author

      Thank you for visiting. I have enjoyed reading your posts, which very much resonate with me. I look forward to reading more of your writing as well. You are a gifted writer. Lately, school has taken up much of my focus, so I’ve had little time to write. I hope to get back to it soon though.

      I rarely play the piano anymore. I should make time for it, as my piano just sits there. One day I do hope to study again. In the meantime, I listen to a lot of classical piano! Take care.

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  8. Marijane Post author

    Hi Oscar,

    Thank you for reading my blog. I sent a message to you direct via email. I’d be happy to talk with you more over the phone. Looking forward to speaking with you soon.

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  9. Oscar

    Hi,
    I just read some of ur stories.It’s very touching.I’m a Los Angeles correspondent of the Central News Agency of Taiwan.If it is possible,would u mind me making a short phone interveiw with u?
    I think ur story will inspire some Taiwanese or adoption children.

    Thanks.

    Oscar Wu

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  10. Brett Hinman

    Hi. I read your blog about growing up in Sun City (Bossier City), LA. You mentioned living on Pluto Drive. I grew up in Sun City and also lived on Pluto Drive. I think our house number was 2025 Pluto Drive. I went to Sun City Elementary from K-4th grade. I think I would have started school in 1973-1974. Just to make the math easier I’m 43. We moved to Bellevue, Nebraska in 1978 (Offutt Air Force Base). I’ve talked about driving down to see where I grew up for years but have never made it down. I would love to hear any stories you have about growing up in the neighborhood. Several years ago I actually called the elementary school and asked if they had any year books. They were kind enough to send me photocopies of some of them from the years I attended.

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    1. Marijane Post author

      Hi Brett, thanks for taking the time to read my blog! Wow, what a small world. My family and I lived on Pluto Dr. from the time I began 1st grade through high school. We sold the house a couple of years after my adoptive mom’s death in 2010. It was very sad, and I wish that we could have held onto the home quite honestly. Unfortunately, I don’t have any of my yearbooks from my Sun City Elem days. I’m not sure what happened to them. I loved growing up in Sun City when I was a kid. It was, of course, much safer to play outdoors until dark with the neighbor kids at that time. I have very fond memories of those days. I think the neighborhood still looks the same after all these years. Families have come and gone, but some of the families whose kids attended Parkway High School still live in the same houses down the street and across the street from our old house. I haven’t been back to Louisiana since 2008 during the time of my mom’s funeral. I still have an older sister and her 2 kids who live there. I hope to go back in the near future, but it’s not on the top of my husband’s vacation spots. For me, it would be fun to visit old friends, as well as visit my parents’ gravesite. Let me know if you would like any more specific info about the old neighborhood. Thanks again for stopping by!

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  11. Anna Chang

    May I have your permision to use your article in NATWA fall magazine
    Please email me as soon as possible.
    I sent you an email earlier.

    Anna Chang

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    1. Marijane Post author

      Anna, hi there. Just sent you a direct email, and yes, go ahead and publish in the NATWA fall magazine. Thanks for asking! Hope all is well with you.

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  12. Beth

    So glad to find your blog – what an experience. I’m a fellow Asian Adult adoptee myself (from Korea), and I can relate to the experiences of growing up in a nondiverse area. I’m so happy you were able to connect with your family here and embrace the culture you come from. I’m currently in Taipei, teaching english here. Aside from all else, Taiwan is an amazing country! Feel free to email me: annevans02@gmail.com

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    1. Marijane

      Hi Beth, I’m so glad that you found my blog. Wow, how exciting to live in Taipei. I would love to hear of your experience living and teaching in Taiwan and of your adoption story. I’ll be in touch.

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      1. Catherine

        Hello,

        My name is Catherine and I am writing to ask if I might correspond with you regarding Taiwanese adoptions. We adopted our beautiful daughter from Taiwan in 2009 and currently live in California.
        I received your name from Suzy Betzer, but I’m not sure if you know her personally or not. My family and I will be meeting with a journalist from the Central Nes Agency of Taiwan next week and I think you might have also spoken with them at some point.

        If you don’t mind, would it be ok if I asked a few questions regarding your interview experience?

        Thank you very much,
        Catherine
        キャサリン

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      2. Marijane Post author

        Hi Catherine,

        Thanks for contacting me. I would be happy to talk with you about the interview I had with the journalist you spoke of above. I’ll send you an email with with direct contact info.

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  13. Keith

    In regards to Dec. 17, 2011 posting, I often wonder how my life would have been, if I wasn’t adopted. I’m sure my daily life wouldn’t be full of work calls, meetings and smart phone updates. I often buy a lottery ticket, thinking my life could be a bit better, but then I just know it already is thanks to my adoptive parents.

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    1. Marijane Post author

      Hi Keith, I know what you mean about wondering what life would be like if you hadn’t been adopted. I wonder sometimes as well about where I would be. But then, I’m also very grateful to my adoptive parents and what seems like the very short time I had with them. Thanks for visiting.

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