On Saturday, June 4, 2011 Families with Children From China (FCC) learned about Chinese New Year traditions during their Chinese Culture Day held at West Hills Community Church in Chesterfield, MO. The theme was celebrating Chinese New Year in a village in China. 55 children adopted from China ages 3 to 15 wrapped dumplings, made paper cuttings, planted lucky bamboo, designed their new paper dresses, wrote basic characters, danced a folk dance, created a dragon for the parade, played with tangrams and yoyo's, ate dim sum, and learned how to deal with bullies.
The parents brush painted with Marilyn Mackris, learned tai chi from Subo, enjoyed Chinese music and the tea ceremony by students of St. Louis Modern Chinese school, and asked questions of the panel of experts regarding child development and adoption issues from Dr. Richard Lazaroff (pediatrician), Vicki Thurman (lower school counselor at MICDS), Shirley Crenshaw, MSW, LCSW (attachment and trauma issues), Alyson Aviv, PhD (learning issues), Geralyn and Maria Guiffrida (mother and Chinese adult adopted daughter).
Maria Guiffrida was adopted from China at the age of 5 over 15 years ago and is one of the first in St. Louis. She worked with the children by drawing the New Year's dress for them to design and color and she answered questions on the panel about her experiences growing up in China, being adopted and growing up in St. Louis for the parents. She talked about her feelings and her memories of living in China and the joys and challenges that she faced living a new life in a new country. Her mother Geralyn also spoke of these issues from an adoptive parent's point of view.
The Chinese community generously gave of their time and talent as the children learned Chinese language and traditions from teachers from the Confucius Institute, St. Louis Chinese Academy, St. Louis Chinese Language School, St. Louis Modern Chinese Language school. Students from the Chinese schools, Clayton High School's Chinese Club and Chinese students from the University of Missouri, St. Louis assisted the children as they visited each shop in the Chinese village learning the New Year's traditions and other activities throughout the day.
Everyone enjoyed lunch from Won Ton King and the snow cones from Kona Ice helped everyone cool off at the end of the day. Co-chairs Jackie Kam-Blackard and Mary Robinson would like to thank everyone who made this day so meaningful and successful in helping our children learn and appreciate a part of their Chinese identity. |
