July 26, 2018
Dear Omma and Appa (엄마and 아빠)
Hello. I hope to find you well and in good health. I write my very first letter to you since I left Korea at age three. You gave me a start to this world and wanted to let you know I turned out well. I am happy and healthy and have a created a wonderful family with my husband of 36 years and three children.
I don’t remember my three years stay at Star of the Sea Orphanage in Incheon, although I’m being told I could speak some Hangul and my English name was Serena before my adopting parents renamed me Alana. I was taken care of well at the orphanage by the Sisters. I hope I played well with the other children.
For whatever reasons brought you to make the tough decision (now that I’m a parent I understand) to place me in an orphanage; you don’t have to worry about feeling sad or guilty. You will always be my true eomma and appa, even though someone else raised me to adulthood.
I always wonder if I am raising my children the way you wanted. I had no guidance when I started having children as I did not have a good relationship with my adopting parents. But with support of my wonderful husband, you will be very proud of your grandchildren who wish to meet you someday.
I want to thank you for bringing me into this world. I will continue to use all my resources to keep searching for you and hope we will meet again to show you no matter the difficulties you had to face so many years ago, I will always love you unconditionally, forever.
naneun neohui dul-eul neomu salanghae (나는 너희 둘을 너무 사랑해)
Alana [ 안 봉 희 ]