Difference Doesn’t Always Mean Separate

There are a lot of negative adoption stories and experiences “out there”. I have been privileged in many many ways and that privilege carries over into my experiences with adoption. Although it hasn’t all been good, I can confidently say that I am glad I was adopted. I can’t really say I would prefer it […]

My File Part IV: In Lieu of Birth Certificate

“Affidavit of Abandonment In Lieu of Birth Certificate”. It’s not everyday that I read the above title. A few days ago I was cleaning my room and reorganizing my files and I came across a manila mailing envelope that read “Kumar legal documents” in my mother’s handwriting. “How’d this get into my file?” I thought. […]

My File Part III: Mouse Free

[This is a continuation of My File Part II: Bites Away] A few days after graduating from college and returning to my childhood home I found myself in our dirty cobwebbed basement rummaging through Tupperware boxes. These boxes were filled with contents from my childhood. Most of the contents of the hulking green metal desk […]

Family In Flux

A theme that keeps cropping up is this idea that adoptees, although I still don’t really like that title, are not really related to their adoptive families. It seems that underlying this argument is the assumption that family is defined by who is biologically related to each other. Obviously though, as I’m sure everyone acknowledges […]

No Typical Adoption

I started writing about adoption because I wanted to reflect on my own experiences. I wanted to explore them more thoroughly. I also wanted to hear what other people thought. I had a seemingly primal human inclination at heart. I wanted to know if there were other people “like” me, who had similar experiences. I’m […]

What’s It Like!?

People often wonder what its “like” to be adopted. They wonder what it feels like. I’d say it feels pretty much like being a human being living with a loving caring family. Its funny, or really ignorant,that people assume since I am adopted I’ve had a traumatic past. I am willing to bet there are […]

My File Part I: A Baby’s Biography

As a teenager I never paid much attention to the fact that I knew very little about my time in India as a baby. I was somewhat curious about my biological relatives wondering whose smile I had and more importantly (for a boy heavily involved in sports) how tall I would be. I figured most […]

Indian, But No Expert

To some it is fairly evident that I am from India. I should say that it is fairly evident to those who, for lack of a better term, share my “heritage”. To others it is a mystery that they nags them. When I was growing up it was not too uncommon for people, mostly my […]

No, I’m adopted.

“I grew up in Ohio” I tiredly reply hoping it will satisfy their nagging curiosity. After a short pause my acquaintance continues their quest to find out where I’m from and why my skin is dark, “oh” they reply disappointed, “well where are you parents from?” “They are American. They both grew up in Ohio” […]

Unsually Aware

I am an unusually aware person. Or at least I am unusually aware of how people perceive me. As a young adult most people have a strong understanding of how social norms work and thus know how to evoke a desired response in most situations. But as children we are less adept in picking up […]