by Constance Rose Weiss
born 9/1990, home 7/2004
The day when Jonathan and Laura to come to Bulgaria. I was scared and I think the American people fat, and make me scared. And I don't believe I be adopted by American people. I have a hard time to speak English to them. They tried speaking Bulgarian, it was hard for them. When they speak I can't understand anything. It's sound like funny. They speak Bulgarian silly.
When I was in my classroom, and the teacher came the school and calling me to the Orphanage Directors office. And I see Laura and Jonathan and I was scared of them. My advocate Toni took us to her apartment and we spend the night there together. We had pizza and Laura don't like the pizza because the pizza is goat cheese. Then after that I ask Jonathan for money. I go to store and buy bags of chips with toys inside. I didn't eat the chips, because I like the toys. And I did it ten times, and then he said, "No more".
The next day when to go to Sofialand Jonathan and me rode on a boat ride that went up and down. And after that we go to the haunted house. I rode on the swings that spin after that. And Jonathan takes my picture of that. He took lots of video also. Then they gave me a camera to take pictures with. I took lots of pictures of them and Sofialand on the Ferris wheel.
Later that day, we go to the theater, and watch a movie. X men 2. I liked the movie. After that Jonathan was laughing because on the men's toilets are little painted flies so the men don't pee on the walls. He think the fly is real!
We went to McDonald's and eat. I never get Mc Donald's so I ask for it. We eat at McDonald's every meal after that. After that we went to Toni's apartment and I go to bed. And I don't sleep, I pretend to sleep and I wake and I play and Jonathan come and call me into he and Laura's room to sleep next to them. And tell I bring my pillow and I sleep next to them, and I don't want to because I scared of them. And I said "no" and I said something in Bulgarian "ne ne ne" and I ran into my bed and went to sleep.
In the morning, we take a shower, dress and go to store, and buy clothes and music tapes. I feel happy and that is my favorite place to go shopping. Nobody had taken me out and I go shopping for clothes or toys or music tapes before. I was excited. Toni explained everything that Laura and Jonathan talk so I was not scared of them.
When I go outside me and Laura and Jonathan and Toni, to the store buy me long skirt. And my friend who works in the store was happy for me because I am adopted for American people.
The next day was a sad time. Laura and Jonathan went home to America and I had to stay in Bulgaria till my adoption is finished. I waited for 14 months. It was hard, and sad. I think they never come back to Bulgaria. One day Laura and Jonathan call me on the phone Toni is explaining everything what Laura and Jonathan talk to me. And English is hard to understand, what they said. They said, Hello, I love you and I miss you, and Laura cried. I tried to speak in English to them I said "Thank you people", and "I love you" to them, and had Toni ask them when they come for me.
On June 25th, I have a court date for my adoption day. My Birth Mom, and me had to see the judge. And she tell judge don't like me. And give me away for adoption and I was very sad and happy at the same time. I was sad because my birth Mom don't like me, and I like her so much, and she tell me I should die. And that make me sad because she don't like me. I was happy because I was going to America and have new family. I was scared Laura and Jonathan would not love me.
When Laura and Jonathan come to the orphanage to get me one month after, I run and jump into Laura's arms. And I think I hurt the baby, because when she come before she was pregnant and I think the baby was still in her stomach and I jump and scared I hurt the baby head and I was scared, After that I jump into Jonathans arms, and after that I turn around and hug Toni, and her father and I said thank you, and after that I turn around and I look in the car and I see a little baby. And I ask, "Who is that baby? "And Laura and Jonathan said "that's your little brother". And I see the baby and the baby is too white and I think the baby is sick and ask Toni "The baby sick?" And Toni said, "No, it's not sick, American people's baby are white"
And I give my friends juice and candy and we talk and some of the kids sang, and some cry. And I'm crying. When I leave my teacher throw water on the ground for me to walk on the stairs and said " May your travel be as easy as your walk across the water."
Then we go to the Hotel Odajyiski. And I order coke and jerk and cheese. I watch a lot of TV music shows and TV shows. I was happy, but I was afraid. They took me for my visa pictures and a doctor and shopping for clothes. Laura and Jonathan bring me clothes but they didn't fit so we had to buy all new ones in Bulgaria.
Then we go to Airport and Airplane for 29 hours on the plane. I was angry I could not talk anything in English, and I think my adoption day is Laura and Jonathan would come and live in Bulgaria I didn't understand I would go to America. I think American people are weird.
My new grandparents meet me at the airport. And my grandparents give me roses, and go to their house and spend the night and after that we go to the store and buy a lot a lot of new clothes. And I was excited because I never before see American stores or American people. And all the people talking American. And I'm one person who talking in Bulgarian and I can't understand anything where my grandma and my Mom saying.
When I go to my new house, my house is a big mess with a lot of toys. And I can't believe my Mom its' no clean the house when I come to America. I go to my own and I was happy because I never had my own room, my whole life I had to share my room with a lot of girls and it was a happy day to have my own room. And I had a lot of toys. And I had toys on my bed and I have a pretty scarf for my bed and I like my new bed and my new room. And the bed was comfortable. The orphanage bed is too small and dirty. When I meet my new brothers and sisters and I think my family is like weird, because I never before have a family. I thought Judy was a strange girl, when I see her the first day, and I think she was pretty and I like her, but I sometimes I don't like my family. When I am angry or scared. When I met Micah I think he was strange boy, because his room was lots of K'nex and I had never seen K'nex before and didn't understand they were toys. I just think he had lots of little sticks in his room. My little brother Izzy 2 years old run up me and said "That's my Kostadinka' and I pick him up. I like the baby, he is small and don't speak English and no speak Bulgarian, just baby, and he likes me.
My moms' friend Auntie Sandra babysat the children when Mom and dad come to Bulgaria to get me. Then she stayed for three months after to help with everything.
Now I've been in America almost one year. And I go to school. And I am happy, I go to school, it's interesting. School in Bulgaria was very different.
Sometimes I feel like my family doesn't like me and sometimes I feel mad or angry and I can't understand why I was adopted. I feel guilty I was adopted and more children are not adopted. I miss my friends in the orphanage but I'm happy to have a family.
[Note from Constance's mom: "I hope that other families thinking of adopting teens will get encouragement from this. When you decide to adopt an older child or, God forbid, a teen-ager, people are too quick to tell you how crazy you are. I want to encourage people to do it, because as tough as it is, it is just as wonderful! My daughter wrote this as an assignment in her ESL class. She chose to write her whole adoption story. I typed it for her as she spoke so it is in her broken English, but it is truly beautiful and very honest. I asked her if it was OK to send to you to share with other adopted families and she got really excited. I hope you enjoy it. Email Constance's mom, Lolo.]
http://www.olderchildadoption.com/international/comingtoamerica.htm
