Korean Heritage Camp

Korean Heritage Camp started today.  Our adoption agency, Dillon International, has been putting on heritage camps for the adoptees and their families for 25years.  This is a huge reason we selected Dillon International.  They are pioneers in post adoption work and are committed to the family throughout the life of the child.  Why heritage camp?  Well, we feel it is very important to not only honor, but learn as much as we can about Korean culture.  After all, every time Abby, Dillon, and Hudson look in the mirror they see a Korean face.  Sure, they are American kids, but they will always be Korean to the world who sees their features.  At camp, our family is "normal" instead of being the only family around with biological and Korean children.  At camp our Korean kids make friends with other adoptees who completely understand what it is like to have experienced great loss and turmoil in their young lives.  At camp, the moms can sit around and talk about their immigration nightmares and other people get it instead of always hearing birth and labor stories.   At camp, Carter experiences reverse minority--he's odd man out and understands what his siblings feel everyday.  They teach the kids language, cooking, music, taekwondo and other facts about Korea.  We don't go every year, it is a big trek and really expensive for our family.  But, we do try.

We checked into our hotel with many other Dillon Int. families.  The funny thing about being here is the "Asian Invasion"(to steal my friend Kathy's term)!!  In the pool, it is hard to spot your Korean kids for once.  Usually I can glance at a pool and quickly find my Korean kids.  Not so at heritage camps.  A sea of black haired/dark skinned kids were swimming. 

Our hotel is a nice one with a small indoor kiddie water park. We looked like the Beverly Hillbillies came to town.  There's nothing  like a large family toting in sleeping bags and snacks to make you think classy!  An example of how the world is so 2kids and a dog oriented--if you have more than 3 kids you have to reserve 2 hotel rooms.  Well, on our budget, there is no way.  So, we snuck Carter in later!  4 people on beds, 2 on the floor.  Hudson was clumsy and fell into the nightstand. 

A shiner for Hudson!  Funny cause before we left, my good friend from Tulsa told us to go to St. Francis Children's if we needed an ER visit.  She knows what the past 3 weeks have held for us.  Hmmm, that was close!

Dillon wasn't thrilled about beginning camp.  He doesn't adjust to new things very quickly and was overwhelmed.  Carter was his teen counselor so hopefully that helps.

All in a all, a successful day. Abby made friends with a girl her age and we hope they will be buds for years to come.

Mike, Hudson, and I ate a little Vietnamese restaurant for lunch today. I've always wanted to try a bowl of Pho noodle soup--yummy!