It was worth a try...

On Jan 9th I received notice that they did indeed send a 2nd telegram to the woman believed to be my birth mother.  They wanted to wait until after the holidays to ensure they didn't cause this woman distress during the holiday season.

Jan called me this afternoon to give me an update that the woman responded to the telegram and spoke with Ms Park.  She is not my birth mother.  This is the end of the road, I'm afraid.  Jan was very kind and told me she wanted to call me personally to tell me this news and to tell me how she knows this journey has been an emotional roller coaster and that she's enjoyed working with me.  She's such a kind woman...and truly she was meant for her job.

Ms Park was very sweet to add a note that she is sure that wherever my birth mother is...she is sure she prays for my good health and happiness.  I'd like to hope that she has been as well.

Here is the correspondence from Jan...

Thank you so much for your time today, Jennifer.  It’s always so great talking with you.  Below is the update from Ms. Park and I have attached the website advertisement information.  Please let me know if you have any questions at all.

Dear Ms. Dunn,
 Finally I was able to talk to the woman who has the same name as Jennifer's birth mother.   But she was the another person who just has same name and same birth date as Jennifer's birth mother.   She said that she has never lived in Seoul and has not been related with adoption ever.The birth mother's name is quite common for her age group.   She can be the one who has same name and age but I think she is different person.Even though there is the birth mother's name and birth date in the file, it has not been confirmed as the legal document.  And we do not know her ID number.  We feel very sorry to say this but there is no way to locate the birth mother.If she is interested in putting on our website 'finding birth family' section, please let us know. I understand that many young generation in Korea is very good at computer.  But most of the people of  50s and over are not familiat with computer and e-mail.  Also it is very hard to find someone with just the name and birth date through the website.  Hard to explain, but it is big different with USA.  And more idenfied information has been closed these days because of the privacy law. Again I feel sorry to give this news.  I am sure that the birth mother has been praying for Jennifer's good health and happiness.Thanks for your assistance.  

Regards,Park, Yoon-kyungESWS

I won't lie and say that I'm not disappointed.  It HAS been an emotional roller coaster...but it is what it is.  And I guess I just have to be positive about the journey.  I tried.  I don't ever have to wonder.  I tried.  And when my kids start asking me more questions about my past... I can tell them that I don't know everything, but I tried.  And I really do feel like I found my Korean family.  They are maybe not my blood family, but they welcomed me in as if I was.  What more can I ask for?

Soooo...I learned more than I knew before and I know why I was put up for adoption...that was a big win for me to give me some closure on a question I think every adopted kid wonders at some point.

I guess my family legacy begins with me.  I have to make sure that I have a good story for my generations to come.  I have to make them proud of our history and where we came from.  My focus will have to move from the unanswered questions from my past...to ensuring our story...our future is positive and worthy of talking about.

As for the mention of the listing on the Eastern Social Welfare Society website... I will most likely do this. I've been warned that the chances of connection through this are very small, but I guess I feel that it can't hurt.

Dear Jennifer, Please find enclosed the consent form for advertisement.  If you would like to post on Eastern’s website, please complete the form and return it along with a current photo and a photo from your childhood.  Please also send us brief information about yourself that you would like to include in the advertisement.  We will forward the information to Eastern Social Welfare Society.  Please let me know if you have any questions.

 I need to think about what I want to say but like I said...I guess it can't hurt.

Thanks for all the support I've received along the way!  I was truly surprised at how many of you took so much interest.  Some of the people who I thought would read every word didn't and the people who I least expected to followed every step of the way.  Anyways...I'm very touched for those of you that took your time to read and support me.  Truly...I'm thankful for your support and friendship!

Love and Joy,
J

Here we go again...

I guess this is just a funny reminder of how when you think you have things figured out... life sometimes throws you a curve ball.

I guess the search continues.

I received a note from Jan at Dillon.  As previously mentioned, Ms Park requested that KAS (Korean Adoption Services) do another search on my birth mother with the limited information they have.

Apparently they found a woman matching the name and birthdate and sent her a telegram. The woman's husband signed for the telegram.  (see the update below)

While this update was a surprise for me... my first thought is with this woman.  Whether or not she is my birth mother... I hope the telegram did not create a rift in her life/marriage.  Ironically today I celebrate 14 years of marriage with my husband.  I hope she is in a strong marriage. I've heard too many stories of women who have lost everything when their husbands find out about the unknown child that was adopted out.  Again...this brings shame into a household.  My head is full of questions now.  I wonder if she'll ever even see the telegram.

Dear Ms. Dunn,

As you know that Jennifer visited Eastern on Oct. 8th.  She was with her friend (Korean adoptee) and friend's birth family members.  While Jennifer did the file review, her friend was there as well.  I explained her what has been done regarding the birth search and I told her that I asked KAS to re-try to search the birth mother.

I have received the reply from KAS this week.  I've got the one woman's registered address who has same name and same birth date as the birth mother.  I haven't confirmed yet whether she is the right person who we are looking for since the name is quite common for her age.  At the time of Jennifer's birth, the birth mother lived in Seoul.  But this woman lives in Gyeongsangbuk-do which is more than 3 hours away from Seoul to Southeast.

I have sent the telegram forward to the address I've got from KAS, and the mail man said that the husband received it.  His name is different as the birth father in the file.

I hope the telegram will pass onto the woman who we want to contact and will be able to hear back from her.   I will keep you updated on this.

Thank you.

Regards,

Park, Yoon-kyung

ESWS

I guess the search continues...and we wait.  But, this time my heart is a little more guarded.

Love and Joy,

J