Adoptee Story: Mariela Andersen

November 25, 2020

Adoptee Story:

Mariela, born in Colombia, adopted to the United States.

INTRO: Fellow adoptee Mariela, shares her story with us, in her own words. She found her first family in Colombia and journaled throughout the whole process. Since then she has written and published her story in a book called ‘Home Sweet Casa’. We get a glimpse into her story here today.

“I FOUND HER

To my surprise, at the age of 21, after multiple failed searches and lots of disappointment, I finally made contact with the woman who gave birth to me. She wasn’t who I imagined, but what she and the rest of my newfound family taught me about life, relationships, and myself was much more precious than her fitting the mold I had made for her in my head.

VISITING FOR THE FIRST TIME

After months of planning and saving money, I made the anticipated trip to Colombia to meet my big new family for the first time! I went solo (and with no translator), a recipe that made for an interesting concoction of fear and excitement. When I arrived, I was stunned to see 30 plus family members all waiting to greet me at the airport. (see picture below)

AND SO, MY JOURNEY BEGAN

As you can imagine, spending two weeks with my biological family for the first time with no translator and a cultural barrier to get through was quite an experience. While I was finally able to fill the missing pieces of my personal history, I simultaneously learned how to appreciate life in a brand new way.

ALL THE FEELS

Documenting my entire experience in this small blog space isn’t realistic. However, I did journal during my entire trip in Colombia. My journaling continued once I was back in the U.S. and trying to process the many layers of emotions this experience brought up for me. I even went back to visit with my adoptive parents during my second trip to Colombia. My journaling continued to capture all the feels! I used my journal to write a book, which was recently published. If you would like to hear about my life changing journey, check out my book “Home Sweet Casa: A Journey to The Universal Heart” at the link below.

TO MY FELLOW ADOPTEES…

We are bonded under the strength of one uniting experience–an experience that shapes us all differently, but that nonetheless leaves its unmistakable mark. I see you and honor you.”

Amanda Medina

I was adopted from Medellin, Colombia to Sweden in 1985. I was about a year and a half when I started my life as an adoptee, and it would take 32 years until I was ready to face what that means, what that has always meant, and what that will always mean.