This is the question I ask myself often now. I was born in Eastern Ukraine in 1998 and then was adopted from there at 4 yrs. Old. Eastern Ukrainians often speak Russian but can understand Ukrainian as well.

I had recently been asked to speak on my story at an orphan care ministry at a local church and decided to use this as an opportunity to share my journey and perspective as an adoptee, as well as, a chance to inform adoptive and foster families about an array of various perspectives amongst adoptees that I’ve witnessed ever since adoptees started connecting online.

I bought this necklace as a gift to myself, as a reminder, and as a message with a meaning behind it that I’d like to share more of. Ever since I was adopted from Ukraine at four years old, people referred to me as Kati and my Ukrainian name was Americanized to this shortened form of Katarina. Taking this common name as my own was normalized for me.

There are many reasons why we as people make the many decisions that we do. As adoptees, some choose to search for their birth families and others choose not to or to only go so far in the process. Sometimes adoptees choose to reconnect with only certain aspects of their roots, while for others, what was left in the shadows is brought to light unexpectedly.

As a Ukrainian adoptee, I grew up in a loving family ever since I was adopted at four years old. I don’t have many clear memories growing up in the orphanage, but more will be shared about my adoption and years prior to being adopted in another diary entry.