Global Adoptee Talk

Melanie Nichols and Marcie Moller are twin adoptee sisters from Taiwan. They were born at Puli Christian Hospital in Puli, Nantou County. Melanie and Marcie talk about what it was like growing up in Indiana, then Texas and eventually, how they were able to find and reunite with their birth mother in Taiwan.

Ma-Li Calder, born Ma-Li Shu 舒 瑪 利, is a 50-year old adoptee from Taipei, Taiwan. She was adopted from the Family Planning Association of China, a missionary-based orphanage, at the age of 3 by a British couple who lived in Wales, U.K. She was raised in Wales and England. Ma-Li talks about the multi-layered and complex issues surrounding the development of identity as an internationally adopted person and how she has integrated an overall sense of self and identity into a whole.

Lilly Schmaltz is a 23-year old adoptee from China. She was born in Nanning, Guangxi, and adopted through Mother’s Love and Holt International at the age of 6 months. She is now 23-years old and pursuing a PhD in Molecular Biology. Lilly talks about starting a Youtube video series in an effort to open up the discussion about adoption and adoption-related issues such as race, cultural identity, micro-aggressions, and emotional pain.

Caleb Yee is a 24-year old Korean adoptee and artist who was born in the city of Guri, Kyonggi-do (Gyeonggi-do) Province, in S. Korea. He was diagnosed with hearing loss at an early age and talks about how hearing delay and being adopted impacted his identity. Caleb began using art as a way to start conversations with others. A trip back to his homeland inspired his artwork, which continues to bring greater insight and understanding to the adoption experience.

Show Notes

Caleb Yee is a 24-year old Korean adoptee and artist who was born in the city of Guri, Kyonggi-do (Gyeonggi-do) Province, in S. Korea. The city is located just outside of Seoul. He grew up in Oxnard, CA with his adoptive family. Caleb was diagnosed with hearing loss at an early age and talks about how hearing delay and being adopted impacted his identity. He took a strong interest in drawing and began using art as a way to start conversations with others. At the age of fifteen, he made a trip back to his homeland. This life event inspired Caleb's artwork, which took on new meaning, one that continues to bring greater insight and understanding to the adoption experience.

Connect

Be sure to check out Caleb's artwork at Vivid Imagination Artworks! To connect with him and view his art gallery, visit his Facebook page and Instagram. Contact Caleb directly at [email protected].

Link to Facebook: https://www.facebookcom/VividImaginationArtworks/

Link to Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vividimaginationartwork/

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Music Credits

Artist: Jahzaar, Song Title: Schmaltz, Album: Come

Artist: Rambler 1976, Song Title: Under a Sky Which Was Never As Black, Album: Rambler 1976

Artist: Podington Bear, Song Title: Smooth Actor, Album: Soul

All music courtesy of Free Music Archives, http://freemusicarchive.org/

Photos courtesy of Caleb Yee, Vivid Imagination Artworks

Special thanks to Tuan Nguyen for technical support