FIRST GENERATION OF VIETNAMESE ADOPTEES COMMITTEE would like to invite you to spend a September Labor Day weekend in the Colorado Rockies with other adoptees from Vietnam, family members, former care-givers, and Vietnam Vets.

(If you are interested in registering for this event, please contact the committee at the email below.  Or email Sonya Oh, Secretary of AAAW at yoonjaw@gmail.com, who can provide you with the registration form.

August 31-September 3, 2012

WHO:

1.) ALL Vietnamese adoptees from 1960-1975 (First Generation)
2.) Their family members: spouses, significant others & children
3.) Adoptive Parents
4.) Adoption Agency workers/volunteers (in Vietnam and abroad) who cared for us/orphans during 1960-1975
5.) Volunteers/Foster Families (in Vietnam & abroad) who cared for us/orphans during 1960-1975
6.) Vietnam Vets: Who have reconnected with their Vietnamese children or who spent some of their free time visiting, playing and volunteering at various orphanages while serving in Vietnam.
7.) Vietnamese Birth parents and relatives who have been reunited with their children

WHEN: August 31-September 3, 2012 (Labor Day Weekend)Friday evening thru Monday morning.

WHERE: YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado75 miles Northwest of Denver International Airport. Shuttle service will be available.

WHY: This will be an opportunity to renew old friendships, meet new friends, reflect on our past, celebrate our present, and gain insights from each other. The weekend will offer time for casual conversation as well as informative programs for both adoptees and family members, young and old, and fun activities set for adults, children and families. One favorite activity is the cooking and enjoying of Vietnamese food under the direction of Mrs. Xe Tran. The mountain setting promotes both quiet reflection as well as fun activity. As we have not yet finalized the program, the planning committee of adoptees, spouses and former volunteer care-givers welcome your ideas so that we might plan a great time for all!

REGISTRATION FEE
$30/Person
$40/Couple
$50/Family up to 4
$60/Family 5-6 Person
$75/Family of 7 or More
*Registration fee will be applied towards the total balance of your reunion order. You may cancel your reunion registration at any time. Prior to June 15, you will receive a full refund of your fees, with the
exception of a $50 processing fee.

Registration Starts: January 10, 2012
Registration Deadline: April 1, 2012

FIRST GENERATION OF VIETNAMESE ADOPTEES COMMITTEE
5630 E. Fair Ave. Centennial, CO 80111
firstgenofvnadoptees@live.com
303-995-5169

Our friends to the south, Adult Korean Adoptees of Portland (AKAP) will host a special event – the Pacific Northwest premiere of the film, “Wedding Palace,” with special appearances by actresses Joy Osmanski and Nancy J. Lee.  For full details, please visit the AKAP website.

WHAT:  “Wedding Palace” film screening and Q&A with Joy Osmanski & Nancy J. Lee

WHERE:  Rec Center Auditorium, Portland State University, 1800 SW 6th Ave, Portland OR

WHEN:  Saturday, November 19, 2011.  5:30-7:00pm (film screening); 7:00-8:00pm (Q&A)

COST:  $10 (plus processing fee).  Tickets can be purchased here.

LODGING:  AKAP has graciously secured a friends & family rate of $79/night (plus taxes/fees) at Portland State University’s University Place Hotel.  In order to secure the rate, please call the hotel & mention the AKAP event.

CARPOOL FROM SEATTLE:  If you are interested in carpooling with other AAAW members down to Portland, please contact Sonya Oh at yoonjaw@gmail.com.

About the film, “Wedding Palace”:

Pressured to get married by family and friends, 29-year-old advertising executive Jason Kim finds the woman of his dreams in cyberspace, 9000 miles away in Seoul, Korea. Complications arise when his bride to be arrives in Los Angeles for the first time.

Jason Kim (Brian Tee) is struggling to overcome the dreadful fate of an ancient family curse that threatens his very life if he is not married by his 30th birthday. The drama takes off when the picture perfect girl, Jinnie Park (Joy Osmanski) abandons Jason at the altar of the Wedding Palace. With Jason’s 30th birthday or death fast approaching, bridal replacements are quickly interviewed. To the horror of Jason’s parents (Stephen Park and Jean Yoon), Jason rejects them all, insisting he believes more in love than some ridiculous family curse. On a business trip to Korea, he finally meets the girl of his dreams, Na Young Song (Kang Hye-jung). They embark on a long distance cyber love affair fueled by imagination and 24/7 video chats. Jason proposes to Na Young and his family is delighted. But when Na Young arrives in Los Angeles, what Jason soon discovers is that a relationship can sometimes be deeper online than in real life. Can Jason find the courage to defy his parents and bridge the gap between family expectations of beauty and true love? With all of her shortcomings, is Na Young the special girl with the power to break his family’s ancient curse forever?

On Friday, July 22, 2011, join in celebrating the opening of Korean adoptee artist, Nari Baker’s new art installation at the Jack Straw New Media Gallery.

TALKING TO GHOSTS:
WAITING IN THE RIVER BETWEEN WORLDS
An installation by Nari Baker
July 22 – September 16, 2011

WHERE: Jack Straw New Media Gallery
4261 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105

PUBLIC OPENING
Friday, July 22, 2011
7:00pm

“Talking to Ghosts: Waiting in the River between Worlds” is a collection of messages from Korean transnational adoptees to their imagined birth families. Viewers are invited to listen through rotary telephones to these intimate messages recorded in South Korea and the United States at hospitals, homes for single mothers, door steps, and other personally significant locations. Through this community process, Nari Baker and 11 other adoptees reach beyond language barriers, geographic distance and time past to explore the intersections of truth and fantasy, the human and spirit world.

AAAW is proud to be a Community Endorser of this fun, annual event!

If you think you’ve got the winning recipe for the best kalbi, don’t miss your chance to enter this cook-off for the title, “Baddest Kalbi in the Northwest” or the “People’s Choice Kalbi.” Confirmed judges include Lori Matsukawa, KING TV Anchor; Matthew Amster-Burton, Food Writer for The Seattle Times and Gourmet Magazine; and Jae So, Owner of Palace Korean BBQ.

The event takes place Saturday, July 16 (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) at Luther Burbank Park in Mercer Island (Area B).

The competition guidelines are as follows:
1. Each entrant must prepare at least 5 lbs. of kalbi.
2. Must bring own grill and supplies.
3. Check-in for competition is 10:00 a.m.; tasting begins at 11:00 a.m.
4. Scoring will be based on both taste and texture.
5. Winners will be announced at 1:00 p.m.

Plese RSVP for the event by July 12 at bbq@kacwashington.org (and indicate whether you will also enter the kalbi competition).
Suggested donation is $15, and includes kalbi tasting and lunch hosted by KAC-WA, KABA & KAHPA.

International recording artists Niko & Toby, and from Kollaboration Seattle, GOWE and The Melancholics will perform on Sunday June 19th at 7:30pm at The Vera Project at Seattle Center (Warren Ave N & Republican St).  Tickets are now available online.  Pre-sale is $15 and at the door is $20 (if tickets remain).  Tickets will go fast so get yours today!

Niko & Toby are two Korean adoptees that met in early 2010 and decided to collaborate, performing rap and hip-hop.  They have performed in Denmark numerous times, including opening for American rapper The Game, and at the IKAA Gathering 2010 in Seoul, Korea.  Since 2005, Niko has performed in Europe and Korea as part of the rap duo Alliancen.

Gowe is a hip-hop artist from Seattle who brings something new to the table.  Gowe believes that music is a great medium that can connect people of all different backgrounds and beliefs.  He is not afraid to push the boundaries of hip-hop while remaining pure to his lyrical complexity and staying true to himself as a person.  Gowe has been writing/performing for 6 years and recently performed at Kollaboration 2010.

The Melancholics, a pop/rock band, formed of Jesse, Kweonmin, Fred, Harmony, and Michael came together in 2010 and also participated in Kollaboration 2010.

Check out more on Facebook/Live in Seattle!

Our fellow adult adoptee organization in the New York area, Also-Known-As, Inc., is also celebrating its 15th anniversary this year!  Please consider joining them in New York City for their 15th Anniversary Celebration over the weekend of April 29-May 1, 2011.

From their website:
“We want to extend a warm invitation to all Also-Known-As members, families and friends to celebrate our 15th Anniversary with us from April 29, 2011to May 1, 2011! For those from out of town, this is a great opportunity to see old friends and meet new ones while exploring New York City. For those of you who are in the area and may have been out of touch, there’s no better time than now to reconnect with Also-Known-As! For 15 years, Also-Known-As has provided services to international Adoptees, their families and friends, and we could not have continued to develop our diverse programs without your endless support.”

For full details, and to register (please note that early-bird registration ends on February 18), please visit their anniversary website at http://15thanniversary.alsoknownas.org.

If you find yourself in Paris on February 26, 2011, consider joining Racines Coréennes for their annual Sollal (Lunar New Year) celebration.  Racines Coréennes is the adult Korean adoptee group in France, founded in 1995, and is also a founding member of the IKAA network.  Bonne année, Sae-hae Bok Mah-ni Baht-u-se-yo, and Happy New Year!

Dear AAAW Members,

The Asian Adult Adoptees of British Columbia (Triple ABC) invites you two exciting events. The first is our second annual Family Day event. This event is free to attend. There will be some great performers, delicious Korean food, and prizes to be won. This event would be a great opportunity to visit Vancouver for those who have not yet seen the home of the 2010 Olympic Games! This event will take place November, 6th, 2010 from 10:30am to 1pm. In attendance will be adoptive families and adult adoptees. Please RSVP (info@aaabritishcolumbia.ca) if you are interested in attending. Additional details below.

Triple ABC is also happy to partner with the Vancouver Asian Film Festival (VAFF). Two films about international adoption will be presented, Wo Ai Ni Mommy and Resilience. Wo Ai Ni Mommy chronicles a Chinese adoptee’s experience in the US. Resilience documents the reunion between a Korean adoptee and his birth family. Between these film screenings, Triple ABC will also be hosting a panel discussion with adult adoptees. This discussion will take place between 5:00pm to 5:30pm. This event is also on November 6th, taking place in the evening.

These events, in conjunction with other socials throughout the weekend, will surely make for a fun trip North of the border. Triple ABC looks forward to welcoming you here either in November or another time in the future!

~Leah Buchholz
President & Founder of AAABC

Events & Details

Event – Family Day!
Date: November 6, 2010
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Time: 10:30am – 1:00pm
Audience: Adult adoptees and adoptive families
Please RSVP to info@aaabritishcolumbia.ca in order to receive information/directions on the event’s location.

Event – Film Festival
Date: November 6th, 2010
Movie Run Times: Please see the VAFF schedule (www.vaff.org)
Panel Discussion: 5:00pm-5:30pm
Location: Tinseltown, Vancouver
Audience: General public and adoptees

Carpool Information:
If you are interested in carpooling and/or sharing lodging with other AAAW members, please contact Sarah Kim Randolph at sarahkim@aaawashington.org.