Emily playing soccer on the beach in Vladivostok with her dad, John, and her sister, Annie

[This week Emily writes of “Firsts” that happened as she was adopted].

First time I went to restaurant and make me so happy. Also I got popcorn. Before I never got popcorn before like the first time. [The first time Emily and Annie had ever gone to a movie, eaten popcorn, drank soda pop, or went to restaurants was when we visited them in Russia in preparation for their adoptions. At that time Emily was fifteen and Annie was fourteen.] And I went to a movie and I had so much fun. First time I got soda. I got so happy about soda. And I went to the beach and play soccer with my dad and my sister, Annie and I am so happy. I love do something fun because make me so happy. Also I went to Moscow, I never been before, and also so much fun. I don’t like when we don’t have bags and I throw up in your [dad’s] jacket in taxi. I got first time in New York in the restaurant, ice cream. And I thought America/Russia and I ask Russian in the American food. And I feel so happy about first time American food. My family make me happy. They adopted me, give me freedom. In New York I was mean to Black people and I say bad word to him. I have been glad that I came to America. First time I meet my grandparents and my mom and my sisters and my brothers. I never thought I have things before like home, food and clothes. [All clothes in the orphanage were community property. When the clothes came out of the laundry, the kids would get something that fit them. One of their peers would be wearing those clothes a few days later.] Thank you so much. I am so grateful.

[I recently wrote a blog about Emily’s experience with the restaurant and bad word in New York. You can read it here.]

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