Notice how there is a sacred chinese flower on the atlar that she is not allowed to touch and then at the restaurant a gimmicky one on her birthday cake.
They never mentioned "why" she was not allowed to touch the flower. It looked to me like it was simply fragile..made of very thin glass. Why are you assuming things? Sometimes assuming is way off, especially if you have a cynical mind. So...now it's been called a gimmick, and the latest is it's an idol. I heard none of these in this story. Maybe it's simply beautiful art🧕
Actually, there are so many "gimmicky" Chinese things in China, that the restaurant one is probably not something bastardized for westerners. You can see that the family had never seen one of those before (unlike the chow mein). The lotus was sacred as it was part of an altar. In the restaurant, it was a fun birthday cake thing. It is like the difference between a candle set up as a memorial where you are honouring someone who died, and a candle on a birthday cake. They are both candles. One you respect and don't play with. The other is a fun celebratory thing. I think the point is that Esther didn't recognize an altar in a Chinese home, and didn't understand it was special and not just ornaments.
@@kalstonii well for me and all my friends and family i grew up with, we were always taught to take our shoes off when going in a house. Thats why i always find it disturbing when people wear shoes in their own rooms in movies
@@GunnyDuns we dont live in 1854. We have vacuums, mops, brooms. As an adult, its rare that Im not walking on concrete or asphalt. As a kid, sure, because kids play in grass and dirt. But as an adult, i have separate shoes for separate needs. Yardwork shoes come off upon entry, dress shoes or sneakers come off after i get to my room. I dont think its cultural. I know some blacks who prefer people take their shoes off, usually seems to go with them having carpeted floors.
I feel like the food in a way represents her. She is neither fully Chinese nor fully American. She is a unique combination of the two. Just because the food isn't fully Chinese doesn't make it less good or interesting. Same with her.
i get that this video is about this girl's identity issues, but i just wanna say american chinese food comes from generations of chinese americans. i always hear people talking down on chinese food that it's not authentic to china. it's not less than, it has a divergent history from china's cuisine and has become its own thing.
People don’t understand American Chinese food is not ment to be authentic I’m pretty sure there American Chinese people living in China who miss American Chinese food
@FiatDuster I know there’s a very popular Japanese Italian food chain in Asia. I also like it more cause real Italian pasta is to chewy and under cooked for my liking it’s just people making the cuisine to the local markets taste. If you ever try Philippine spaghetti it will shock you more it’s loaded with ketchup and sugar
@@Spearca I know, when I went to Italy on business and had lunch with Italian colleagues (all the food there was delicious) I asked them about "New York Italian cooking" and they said something polite like "it's good, but it's different from our cooking".
@Tyeumm hi did you ever try the Chinese Muslim hand pulled noodles beef soup it’s something rare outside of mainland China that’s one dish I miss it’s not expensive but fixes hang overs good. That broth is good👍
As a black girl raised in a white community, I somewhat get this but on the other hand, we cant forget that as adoptees, we were loved and chosen by people who wanted to care for us. (At least I was, I'm not saying every adoptee has that experience)
@Black stallion were you bullied in the community cause I was a white male raised in a black community and for some reason most of the kids hated me literally for no reason I had a few freinds maybe like 11 or 12
The point is that she has just discovered that what she’s been eating up until now isn’t as close to her culture as she was told/she had thought. The movie is showing a pivotal moment where an adoptee discovers what it truly means to be home. On one hand you are home and are grateful, but on the other hand, you might never truly feel at home. It’s a day that will likely change her perspective forever, and this is the story of that moment.
@FiatDuster absolutely she is referring back to the mother... that was the pivotal moment, when the mother said “some day I’ll make you real Chinese food.” I understand what you’re saying about 9 year olds, but this story wasn’t written by 9 year olds and it also wasn’t specifically made for 9 year olds. Most short films are made to be thought provoking. This is how this film provoked my thoughts, I’m not reading into it too much, I watched the filmed and thought about what it might be telling. Films, books, basically all art, is subjective and meant to be experienced by the viewer.
FiatDuster Are sushis Chinese? Are Chinese using forks traditionally? After being exposed to her native culture for the first time, she began to understand that it isn’t really what her adoptive parents told her.
Agreed. Its the beginning of her awareness of the cultural difference she represents but has never consciously known. And 9 is certainly old enough to start to awaken to that. 9 year olds are not blind. My guess is that things will really get rough by 12/13 when adolescence really kicks in but she'll come around to appreciating her american family again by the time shes in her later teen years and done lots of self discovery. And hopefully she will come to embrace her identity as neither fully chinese nor fully american. especially as she meets others who share that same experience...
When you feel out of place, you feel out of place for a long time, but not everyone understands each other's culture. She obviously began to accept her adopted environment in the end.
@@uber_eats_official9977 well she lucky she has a Chinese family as a friend and being so young at less she will not be lost for long. imagine living in a little town and she has no other Asians around she going to grow up lost
@@sko1beer What a parochial thing to say. All it takes is for those around her to love her, listen to her and answer her questions. It's no different from raising any other child.
As an Korean boy raised in the Netherlands with two white parents and a brother adopted from Poland, I am very grateful for this video. Adoption is still a very unspoken subject and this video is a good example of how it feels to feel out of place. Growing up my brother has always been part of the family and people even thought he was my parents real son which only made me distancing myself further from them. I'm very thankful for everyone who worked on this video as it almost feels like it was made after my life.
I can totally relate to this. I am a Peruvian girl adopted by two white parents. They have given me a very good life but I felt so outcast especially when out with the rest of our family. I was the only coloured girl there and I just felt different all the time thus I distanced myself a lot from them as I felt different and strange right from the very beginning
Yo Han Park, hoe oud ben je nu? Ik ben Poolse vrouw en ik woon in Nederland 18 jaar. Vind ik zeer interessant om meer te weten over je leven hier, omdat adoptie lijkt me super moeilijk voor kinderen en zeker als je komt uit Azië naar Europa. Sterkte
Damn man you all are breaking my heart , since 11 years old I wanted to adopt children from countries like Syria , India, China and now seeing so many adoptees feeling like not at home even with their adopted parents is worrying me . I am really worried about how my adopted children might feel, it’s gonna be my worst day ever if I ever come to know that my children who I wanted to give the best home experience and the best parental love doesn’t actually feel at home . Can you all help of how this experience can be eliminated and they feel more at home , I really do not want my children to not feel at home due to being adopted from a different country, please do help me out because I am really really very eager for adoption.
@@elsa_lost_1614 not sure I can help but I’ll tell you a bit of my experience. Being the only brown face in a sea of white faces at school and especially with my family just made me feel so ostracised and different. I craved to fit in and despite my family being great and loving I just felt weird. I don’t have any if these feelings now as a young adult but growing up I did. I think a lot of it was because my parents never once talked to me about it or even acknowledged how I might feel different cos of being a different colour. I knew they “didn’t see colour” which is a good thing in a way but I think it stopped me talking to them as I feel they would say “colour is not important”. Race was never discussed and as it is as a young adult I am talking to someone who is like an uncle to me about it and I have so many questions and thoughts and not once does he lose patience or seem disinterested despite how much I talk about it. By the way, my parents have friends who adopted two kids of different races to them and it all worked out so well. Only you can judge and decide if you want to adopt but IMO it could work out really well 😊
@@elsa_lost_1614 nah please go ahead, its better than the bad conditions they usually are living under, and any such feelings you can help them naviagte or get a therapist now that youre aware of it. Dont not adopt cuz there they may be in similar surroundings but they may not have good food or a happy childhood or a good future once they grow up. Though Id also advice to focus on the orphans in your country first.
Adoptive (white) mom here. This hits so close to home. We're all soaked in the 'lucky' narrative that completely overlooks (if not denies!) what adoptees have lost, from blood relations to heritage. As adoptive parents, we need to take responsibility about our own role in this loss, not as a guilt trip but as fuel to motivate ourselves to have an open dialogue with our children, to hold, no, create space for them to have conflicting feelings about their adoption and to experience grief, and to mitigate where we can this loss, by exposing our children to their birth culture and to genetic mirrors (as opposed to plan whitewashing).
Thank you for saying this. A child not being exposed to their genetic mirrors and culture is very devastating to the overall growth and development. I wasn't even adopted but being a black child with a white mother who knew nothing about Black culture meant that I learned nothing too because she knew nothing. Her ignorance became my ignorance. To the point of me being whitewashed beyond belief, terrified of people of my own race, because I knew nothing about them. All the while I was severely oppressed and abused because of my color. I dealt with racism each day but my mother turned a blind eye because she was living in a white world and believed that not seeing color served me.
@@thegiftofmyfaults Thank you for sharing this personal story. It must have been so difficult and confusing to live through these conflicting feelings and experiences as a child and teen. Young people should receive guidance and support from adults, and especially from parents. Sending love your way.
On the phone, the neighbor lady tells her friend they'll catch up at Chinese school. It would be so nice if this girl's adoptive parents could enroll her. They are trying but not really even aware that she needs authentic experiences.
Esther's family just arrived and settled down next door. The moms will talk about this and Esther will be able to go to the Chinese school if she wants to.
@@davids3539 Exactly. She wasn't standing with her family, so why would the girl at the desk think she was with them if she more resembled the Asian couple who she was standing right next to?
my partner is romanian. a couple of years ago, I went on a trip to romania with his family... we were entering into a tourist area and before us was a group of Japanese tourists... when I was following behind my partner and his family, the security guard asked them if I'm with them. it felt awkward and unnecessary. it may have been different if I looked like a mother with children and they may understand without asking but I looked a bit young (like a teenager).
As a Chinese adoptee, I have never seen myself represented in any form of media, until now. I remember going to Chinese buffets as a child and never meeting a non adoptee Chinese person until I became an adult. I think the text captures so perfectly the experience. Since although I was surrounded by a world that provided for my needs, there was a part that didn’t see quite who I was and was minimised, erased, left me somewhere between and navigating racism all by myself. All topped off with the narrative that I should be grateful, despite me having to loose my culture, my language, my birthday, my name and my family to get to a position that many are born into. Thanks for capturing the adoptee experience in a way that makes us feel seen ❤️.
china's one child policy made many girls orphans have you been able to travel back to china to meet your birth parents? the stories that break my heart are the ones about twins who are split up
Wow, how ignorant and insensitive these responses are. This is the country she was brought to. Having to navigate people like you all by her own because her family was blind to her emotional needs. That's child abuse no matter how well-meaning adoptive parents are. Children are people with the same needs and desires as the rest of us and her pain should have been validated and addressed long before she was an adult. EDIT: I should have said neglect as abuse insinuates that the individual intended to cause harm. Neglect, however, is not interpreted any differently by the body and can have the same devastating effects as abuse. If, in 2021, we are still adopting children without pause to their emotional and cultural needs are we not, by default, intending to cause harm? Especially when discussing countries as rich and diverse as the US. 🤔
the 1 child policy had nothing to do with twins being split up I don’t know who told you this. This movie told me something that never crossed my mind that Chinese people don’t go to Chinese buffets learnt something new
@@rosebud0391 child abuse is a bit strong most Asians children growing in the west had very busy parents growing up and not much culture is taught is that also child abuse?
@@bena577 Basically just italian food, a lot of pasta, typical italian sauces, a lot of meat stuff, regular bread, salad and icecream. The only Indian thing there was basmati rice lol I guess that was their only qualification for naming it an indian restaurant haha
As an adoptee this video is so relatable and now as a teen it's like I'm playing a frantic game of catch up to understand my home language, culture, history and arts. Luckily my adoptive parents are very supportive in my endeavors.
I felt very empathetic towards the lil girl but guyz the parents were trying...I mean coming from an Asian family... we know how strict our parents are!!!..I mean they could have just celebrated it in their own way but still tried to do what they could so that she could feel connected to her ethnicity.... can't fault no1!!!!
It's not trying if you are not connected to people from that culture and asking them for their input. I disagree completely. The fact that she has never had authentic Chinese food or even really spent time with ppl from her culture tells me they felt justified and giving her a water-downed version of her culture because it was easier and more convenient for them. That is not enough for me and should not be enough for an adoptee.
@@TheTillmanSneakerReview not the Chinese family as a whole I ment the Chinese friend more as she would help her deal with living in the USA as a person with a different colour skin. The Chinese parents would help her see how strict Asian parents are tho but I’m sure her friend will tell her that over time
@FiatDuster Yes, she is an American citizen but you are absolutely defined by your ethnicity in America to a certain extent. No one on the street will assume she was an adoptee. People will look at her and think she is some type of Asian. I’ve had friends who are 3rd generation Asian American and people still ask him how long he’s been in the United States. I think the commentary here isn’t to provide her an emulated version of Chinese culture by making her authentic Chinese food, giving her a Buddha to put in her bedroom, or suddenly making dumplings together as a white American family. Rather, it’s to help her understand where she came from in the most authentic way. No one is denying the fact that she shouldn’t be raised American.
I've always thought it must be tough for a child to be placed in a completely different environment than their birth culture. And the sad part is, people are trying to make them feel included and sometimes it makes them feel more excluded.
I did think the family were going a bit too far, until I saw the birthday balloon. then it turns out it was a gotcha day which just seems weird to me. Why would you keep on reminding your kid that they're adopted?
@@davids3539 I don't think the child needs to be reminded they were adopted, they will never forget that even without celebrating the adoption date. Adoptive families celebrate a child's adoption date because it's a very special day for them, the day when they became a family. Like somebody else said, they may not know her exact birth date.
With today's racism rearing its ugly head, I'm sure it's hard to be of some other race or culture the way everyone is expected to just like everyone else. I must say I do see a lot more open-mindedness amongst the youngest of us though, so I guess there is hope.
This felt so uncomfortable-the visuals especially at the restaurant felt... claustrophobic. It was anxiety inducing and such a great way to convey how the girl felt. I wonder if the ending was symbolic of something? I thought maybe she was trying not to blow too hard on it because it was mentioned earlier that lotuses were sacred? Also, I love in the car the radio says “God adopted us all in his family.” I’m not religious but I think it’s a cool, subtle way of summarizing the message of the film-that people are people. Yes, cultures are important and we shouldn’t be “colorblind” but rather accept and try to learn from/understand other cultures. I can’t imagine the difficulties of being adopted from another country; it’s hard growing up as is! I think, however, anyone who has been adopted has felt lucky and thankful for finding a home, although they will probably struggle with finding their identity-especially in a mixed family or with parents that aren’t from the same country. Loved the film, please make more!
I felt the same way about the restaurant and how they presented it. And I agree about the last bit. My parents are from 2 different cultures and I only live with one. I've experienced bits and pieces but I'll never have that full culture and it kind of makes me sad.
I think it is interesting how countries take and adapt cooking. For example, the same thing goes on here in Japan. There are "Chinese food" restaurants which are Japanese-style Chinese food and actual Chinese food restaurants. They do the same thing with western food, probably half of the places are just Japanese-style western food with many things that were actually started here.
Same, in my country japanese food not really taste real different. You cant sold em in other country with the origin taste since every have different taste buds
Yes, all restaurants in all countries must adhere to what White people think they should be cooking Except for White people, who can cook whatever they want. Typical
She is fully Chinese and fully American. She is the bridge that connects us, and also the tide that erodes the lines we draw in our minds. Let's hope she receives the opportunities to live an amazing life that inspires many, as all children should.
What makes her fully Chinese? Some DNA? Culture is a societal construct. If she doesn't have Chinese society around her, she's not Chinese culturally. And there's nothing wrong with that. Blood is not as important as some people think.
I feel that since my parents are salvadorian and for the longest time up until 1 year ago I couldn't have a conversation in spanish, I felt like an alien when my family would have get togethers. I felt whitewashed.
Exactly. I was the only one in my family who resembled my father, who passed away when I was 5. I guess my mother had issues with my father, so she was always accusing me of being like "them", even though I had no recollection of ever being around them.
The young girl is an amazing actress. There is no thought for the adopted child that only wants to be accepted and loved. If you truly love her, it's not about the ethnicity of your child, it's about your child.
I’m sure the family loved her as if she were their own. But, the sad part about adoption, is she isn’t their own, and love her as much as ever, it will still not be their own. Love is never enough, Adoption is about loss. A loss for her the family she should have been raised in, a loss for her ancestors, a loss for her country, for its customs, a gnawing loss for the adopted are never ending questions that will probably not come with answers. When the waitress whispered the child needs to be grateful.....grateful for what? For all she has lost? It is a complicated I have several adopted Chinese children. The best, most secure love adoptive parents can give their children is to draw out their feelings of grief and let them know, that no matter what .........they will love them and will constantly be that unconditional, non judgmental mama who will always be there for them and support their search for their birth family.
@@marahmillicentbalarny8447 She should be grateful that she is with a loving family instead of in a worse place. Ever consider why she may have been adopted? Nobody else may have been able to care for her, maybe her birth family no longer existed, or they weren't fit for a child. Adoption isn't about loss, it is about gaining another family member to care for.
@@strangeanimations588 adoption can be extremely hard, especially if you don’t know anything about your background. It can be confusing. And adopt us hate hearing the term “you’re lucky to have a loving family “etc. now, this is what the film is about. I’m the part “be grateful” when the waitress is telling Ester that.. you can she is unsure.
I totally understand. I was raised by my Grandma (she did a fabulous job) but I never really fit in. I was always reading, writing short stories and creating D&D campaigns when I got a little older. I was in many sports that I love, but never had the same interests as my other relatives (cars, motorcycles, real gear head stuff). At least I did have a Grandma who let me explore what made me happy and not push what the rest of the family was doing. But I never truly felt like I belonged, was at home until I left the state to go to college. Like so many others, that was when I started to discover myself, to feel like I was home.
Heartbreaking. The family is trying so hard to be the family this girl needs, but she feels so alien and distant because of it. The family is doing nothing wrong, all the while doing everything wrong. How can they know what they don't even know they don't know? The girl was adopted when she was 1, her culture is the same as her adopted family. Unfortunately, she looks different enough that she is not accepted with them without effort from others. Even though they share the same home, can she ever truly feel like part of the family? How much of her 'culture' can they incorporate into their lives without being a different family altogether? Can it ever be something outside of platitudes and tokenism? Will she ever feel like she fits in with her family? Tough questions, many more than these, that will never even be breached. Hope she gets signed into that Chinese school at some point and gets to make friends of all types, it helps a lot. Great video.
I sympathize with your sympathy. However, "how can they not know what they don't know?" They were literally the ones to choose to adopt from China. Their ignorance is their own. Why China? Why did they choose China? If it was simply luck of the draw - yeah, that's literally ignorance. If they had a personal connection to China, that would be a legitimate reason and they wouldn't have chosen from ignorance.
@@Dayvit78 Sometimes the adopting family has no say over who is adopted, or they feel an overwhelming sense of protectiveness for the adopted child, or they have to adopt quickly or risk the safety of the child. Could also be that they did it for genuine care but with that 'white guilt' thing going on. Not sure, and it's really hard to make a short film from all sides. I don't think people of a certain ethnicity have some magical understanding of the cultures connected to said ethnicity. Had the girl been raised in a mostly white community with no contact to Eastern culture, she would have been no different from her mostly white friends. Think Ariel in The Little Mermaid before she started collecting things from the surface world. This was a lot like that, except her family tried to be reasonable and help her be happy. They can't know that they don't know what they don't know sometimes.
I think she would grow up learning Chinese from her neighbors, and would speak it with the neighbor lady, something that her Chinese daughter didn't want to do.
Even people in China have different dialects and food preference. This video is made in perspective of a mainland Chinese immigrant mostly likely from Northern China. That flower thing is definitely not Chinese.
This was a well done short film. I think when you adopt someone of another race/culture you take on the responsibility of learning about it, teaching it and making it available to them, but realizing that you will not truly be apart of it and accepting it. Realize that people's assumptions and behaviors will not affect you in the same way as your adopted child and be ready to answer hard questions with real answers.
Notice how there is a sacred chinese flower on the atlar that she is not allowed to touch and then at the restaurant a gimmicky one on her birthday cake.
Why is this hitting me so hard? My parents are Haitian and not having their cooking is something I took for granted. It’s a small piece of culture and history. Granted, I believe she’s loved and she’s still growing up with culture it’s hard when everyone treats you a bit different but you’re not quite sure why.
When I saw the family photo on the shelf with a baby obscured by flowers, I really thought they were going to go the route of this family being the birth family of the little girl. I'm glad they went for something more personal and quiet, as it made for a much more empathetic story.
All I see is a girl who is loved and when she gets older she can make her own decisions. She is fortunate to have chinese neighbors so she will experience both cultures. BUt in the end she is loved.
I'm a Korean but I have a white family, so I can really relate to this video. I have no knowledge of the heritage I have. I tried Korean food for very the first time in my life a year ago. It had me thinking about what it would have been like if I knew my culture except what I see from the media. I have to deal with my race all the time, I'm not white, but I'm also not asian. I have to deal with not feeling accepted anywhere I go, and trying to figure myself out all on my own. It's not like I can say I dislike the comments thrown at me because a lot of the time I feel like I shouldn't be allowed to since it's not my place, and I can't go to anyone else about it either. I don't blame my family for it at all, even though there have been a lot of times where I've been sent comments by them and felt out of place with them and not being fully accepted by everyone, I don't think I could at all. They are my only family, and I'm more than grateful to have them in my life, for having (most) accept me, raise me, and provide for me. Especially my parents and my siblings. I know it's not an easy topic to talk about, and we pretend I'm fully related even though it's super obvious, I'm so happy that they are my family and no one else.
I've been going to authentic Chinese restaurants with my family since I was a kid. The day my aunt took my parents to a Chinese buffet, they were like kids in a candy store. I never seen my mom have so many chicken balls & spring rolls on one plate. My dad was so impressed with the sweet& sour spareribs, he went into the kitchen and asked the cooks how they make it.
Asian guy holding 2 nationalities here 👋! One Asian and the other European (not adopted though). This video is exactly my story growing up in Europe as an Asian kid, but blown up a thousand times. Really enjoyed it and thanks to all the creators! 😁
My grandma was Vietnamese, born there and lived there for about 30 years. Then she met my grandpa and moved to the US with her son (his bio dad died in the Vietnam war when he was two). They lived in a TINY town in a Southern state in the 70’s and almost everyone was racist. Even my grandma’s mother in law was racist. She once refused to give my grandma a ride when she was walking five miles in the snow and pregnant with twins (my mom and uncle) along with her two other kids. She made some stereotypical joke about my grandma being a terrible driver so she should just walk instead. They had a hard time there for a while. They stopped speaking Vietnamese in public bc they were ridiculed. My uncle who came here from Vietnam when he was little, didn’t speak AT ALL until he was 5 bc he knew little English and didn’t want to speak Vietnamese bc he was ashamed. Because of all that, none of the kids knew Vietnamese. My grandma never taught them, instead they knew English. They also never learned how to cook Vietnamese dishes. It’s made my mom feel really confused about her culture. Thankfully, decades later, my grandma felt safe enough to practice her culture. She ended up teaching ME how to make pho and wonton soup. I wish I could’ve learned more but sadly she passed when I was 10. My uncle also relearned Vietnamese and is now fluent. He also happened to marry a Vietnamese girl and now they have two kids. My mom had me and my three brothers and now we all LOVE Vietnamese food. I prefer it to pretty much anything else. My brothers definitely look more Vietnamese than me (ik ik I just look white but 25% is a lot) but I still relate to that part of me. We definitely have a melting pot like family. Sorry for spilling my life story but thank you to anyone who read it!
I was adopted and nobody in my family told me a single story about it. My adopted parents were died and the secret sealed in their grave. Despite on how lucky and lovely my life with them, the lost memory about my old culture has been leaking through my tastebud and the way I cook. And from tastebud, it leads to many layers of story and history. It is always be a mistery for me, but strangely, some strong taste are giving me a subtle sign. About home,;a vanished culture and neverending love. I will keep continue walking on this path. I opening my own small restaurant now in Bali, and I cook all the food that I felt 'into it'. God is really a brilliant masterplan. Thank you for this good movie!
What a lovely film! While it is true that the description doesn´t do the film justice by misrepresenting her adoption timeline, it doesn´t erase what the film is saying. Her encounter with a Chinese American family led her to question her own identity as a Chinese American and highlight the way her adoptive family may have overlooked that part of who she is. No shade to the family but this is clearly something that she has to come to terms with. Her silence or reluctance to speak seemed to be more out of shock rather than "lack of English". It was clear that she was trying to reconcile what she just experienced with who she is. I have a couple of Asian adoptee friends who had a similar journey. It was nice to see some aspect of their story brought to life. Thank you! I hope to see more films like this in the future.
In reality when kid's like these get adopted it's hard to adapt but once they are grown up they would understand and be thankful they had an amazing adopted parent's and grew up been loved.
She was fortunate to accidentally have her parents introduce her to a family who welcomed her into their home and began teaching her motherland culture.
This is a lovely film, quiet and low key, but sensitive and thought provoking. A friend of ours adopted a baby girl from China years ago, probably saving her from a miserable childhood if not death; she had some delays and health issues, but has since grown into a highly accomplished teenager excelling in school and likely to achieve great things some day. Tens of thousands have been adopted from Asia, and it's long overdue for films like this to expose and discuss their experiences. Bravo!
I feel like I just watched my childhood. Adoptee from India to Caucasian family, raised American. It took me along time to accept my Indian culture but no matter how much I try to learn, I always feel like an outsider to both cultures. Adoption is something I don't let myself think about or get lost in but when I do, I see how crazy and complex it really is. Soo soo grateful but still always feel lost.
I’m Chinese and my fam and I still eat at a Chinese buffet quite often pre-COVID!!! And we love it (except the cheapest ones). We also eat “real” Chinese food and other culture’s food. The adopting fam does looks so nice and kind. She should be happy around them. That is what I say too
@@prezadent1 Its the tone in which its said, and there's no need to act like a baboon I hope you know. Just like your sarcastic tone of "Apprently . . ." Tone is a very important thing in speech(es) and in textile(s).
@FiatDuster What I meant "as being insulted is;" its very common, sadly so, for Americans, or well anyone with enough money really, to adopt a child of ethnicity and bring them into their home while "attempting" to treat them with their "traditional things," which are knock-off, while disrespecting the culture along the way. Its an insult to who they are and where they come from. The sheer fact they indulge in such things is whats so insulting, "Ignorance Is Bliss" as they say. Surely they don't really understand that's what they're doing, but at the same time.. it is what it is, Regardless of thought or intent. I mean sure call me a sensitive Sally or whatever you see fit to make you sleep at night, but truly it is a spit in the face to them and their culture. All for the face, the face they portray for themselves, what everyone sees them as. A happy white family with a lovely Chinese adoptee, a successful Chinese buffet, but what are they really? A white family who with an "interesting family" and an "Asian Style American Buffet."
Noone 's talking about the restaurant Owner / hostess she knew that it was not authentic Chinese food so she told her to be grateful for having a family..her acting was good ,it made me a bit angry ( idk if others see it this way)
The little girl is so cute. I think they set up the scenes, where it was meant to seem like they weren't filming a movie short, because her reactions seem very real. .. This movie is making me crave Chinese food!
If you are going to engage in cross-cultural adoption, you must be open to getting out of your own safety zone to expose your children to their native culture. This is not to beat up on adoptive parents but to ask them to be aware of their additional responsibility. There will come a day when your child will feel the need to explore this other aspect of their identity.
There are many parents who belong to certain cultures that don't bother to expose the children. I think adopted parents get lot of sluck. Love used to be the most important thing seems like things have changed.
You say not to beat up on adoptive parents, but let's say another white couple with their own kid adopted a Chinese kid, and brought that kid up exactly the same way as they had their eldest. What more are you asking them to do? Only eat Chinese food, all convert to Buddhism, move to China? I cannot see any warranted criticism in bringing up an adopted child as your own. None whatsoever. And indeed, I would commend anyone for actively adopting a child to do so.
@@davids3539, there is a lot of black and white thinking in your response. What I said was that the parents have a responsibility to expose the adopted child (and in your case) all children to the culture of the adopted child. This is not to say that this exposure is to the exclusion of all other cultures. They, of course live in one culture and they will be exposed to that and have an understanding of how things are but to not give this child and the other children in the house an opportunity to learn about the history and experiences of the people from which the adopted child comes is a miss opportunity to expand cultural knowledge and understanding.
@@ferlinmcgaskey8388 The point is, you say you're not going to beat up on adoptive parents, then proceed to do just that. That they 'must' do something and you impose 'additional responsibility' on them. It is indeed very black and white. To open up your home to a child and lovingly raise them as your own is a *good* thing. Sure, they can always do a bit better here and there, same as any parents with their own biological kids, but it's unwarranted criticism which only deters people from doing this *good* thing. Some nitpicker is always going to find something wrong with what you do even if you're trying to do the right thing (oh no, the Chinese restaurant also serves sushi!), and it isn't as if parents need a PhD in their own culture to raise their biological children.
If you take on the responsibility of a child, you sign up to do all that you can for their well being. You assume that exposing them to their culture is some undue burden. My friend who adopted a child from China does this all the time. She sees it as important and her child benefits from this. Other friends who have transracially adopted have done the same thing. This idea that it is enough that you adopted them is disturbing. It positions the parent as if they are some kind of savior and the child should be grateful. It also implies that the parent need only do the bare minimum in parenting. It the child had a condition, wouldn't you expect the parent to seek out treatment to ensure that the child would have the best quality of life. This is no different.
I'm truly amazed at the professionalism of this young Chinese actress. Her acting skills are phenomenal. She truly stands out and brings an extraordinary touch to the film.
I think the food is made for Americans to enjoy! The little girl looks like she was adopted into a very loving family. Thank God the people are not abusive. She will learn to blend the Chinese and American culture together. This was a great short film.
They should teach her that there are just different kinds of food. Food in a fast food restaurant is different from home-made. Street food is different than from what u get in a hotel or a plane. In China its not different in that. Yea in China u have distinct regional cuisines, and different cultures associated with food, and probably alot more diversity than in the US by far, but when u go there to a restaurant u expect some different food than ur mom makes at home. This is everywhere the same, all over the world
This video hit a lot of different levels for me. I studied in China for three months in undergrad, having studied a couple years of the language (Mandarin, specifically) prior to going. Hearing the Chinese mother talk made me smile, and seeing them do things like take off their shoes and put on the house slippers, especially the food prep... Special place in my heart for sure. I am a white person, and there are things that have attracted me about Chinese (Han) culture. Seeing a young girl pretty much figure out that she has this beautiful heritage and being attracted to it (symbolized by her wanting to touch the blossom, and not wanting/not able to blow out the other blossom at the end) very much hits some layers of feels. I kinda get the takeaway that the heritage is never actually erased, but is also something she is unable to touch. Which is sort of a panging longing, sort of akin to homesickness.
reminds me of grandma making cuban food then seeing not so authentic cuban food bieng sold at restaurants that closed later. i dont think thats exactly related to this kind of story i feel bad for this girl i hope she got to have some dumplings from her neighbor at least and got to learn about her heritage as i did from my pop and grandma edit: btw in Pennsylvania they have real chinese food restaurants its good food
@@loveluna777 for me my mom is mexican and my dad cuban, i look anglo so everytime i break out with spanish the mexican person i end up talking to gets super suprised like: "YOU SPEAK SPANISH!?!?" thats whats wierd for me that and my dad's lineage going back to spain france and possibly Scottish we got some red hair in our beards and everything even silver and gold
Here in Alberta, Canada, The Chinese Community who built the railroad invented western chinese cuisine as we all know it. They are very proud of both the Chow Mein & Fried Rice restaurants & the Dim Sum Restaurants that cater mostly to Chinese folks. As an outsider, I would never dream of calling Dim Sum more "real" because Chinese people cooked it all just the same so it is authentic to me. ❤
I can’t say I fully relate to this, but growing up as a first generation from an immigrant family in a different country really makes me question who I am at times. I feel there’s a fundamental part of me that is missing. I don’t really have an identity I can connect to and I often feel lost. Seeing my family and siblings having this element makes me jealous at times because it’s something I want and feel like I should have but it’s so new to me. I hope in the future as things progress I can find what I long for, whatever that may end up being.
As a Christian white woman who hopes one day to adopt a Chinese girl, this video terrifies me. The family is perceived as weird and insensitive to her feelings. When in reality they wanted her and loved her and are doing their best. Yes the little girl might feel a little displaced but rather than demonizing the family the video should concentrate on the love they’re trying to give the little girl. I’ve always wanted to adopt but I’ve always been scared that once I do what will it be like for her? Will she feel confident and comfortable? Sometimes no matter what you do adoptive children can feel out of place. But I raised my nieces as my own and I love them as my own so I know I will love her as my own. This kind of video doesn’t fairly show adoption and I think it can do damage to people that are thinking of adopting. Adoption is a wonderful and beautiful gift for both parties.
Everyone except the Asian neighbors spoke to her like she was 3. And that father. Honestly....irritated me beyond words. That being said....well done. Really beautiful short film.
What a wonderful film with so much going in such a small amount of time. Everything else aside, I am always floored by what young child who act can do.
"Esther knew..." Omg'sh, she knew.. Ever since this awkward birthday.. Omg'sh.. ;( Esther's blessed with a loving family. She's multi cultured; and (I'm sad) some of her chinese culture is being filtered out like a water eroding process.. However, she has a special situation. She can adapt. (I'm glad) She's a (and many viewers of this film are all) little pioneer(s). :) "Ultimately, your state of mind determines your circumstances. To realize the outcomes you want, it is critical to recognize and experience the transition from our present thoughts, habits, and actions to new thoughts, habits, and actions." Darren L. Johnson
Aster is so pure sweet, very gentle, and pure cute. How old is she...about 7 ??? How can she know if a fragile glass piece of art by the busy vulnerable front door is some person or groups "luck protecting fragile sacred glass?" She's like, 6? 7? She's an innocent little child. Helping her with confidence is important. And not chastising her, is important. Like some of us watching this, we find ourselves pouring our love to Ester. She's so gentle, and pure innocent. She is a real and gentle Angel. I can't help myself...I'm pouring my inner spirits love to her🧕 The Central Americans use teal paint, very safe from "breaking like a fragile piece of thin glass art" by the "busy vulnerable door" and the teal around windows and doors is super safe. Who's correct? Everybody watch out for the fragile thin easy breakable piece of glass by the busy fragile doorway in and out of the building, and where people congregate coming in and out...or, teal paint around the windows and doors??? I'm just looking at this with "common sense.". It's basically a common sense thing with using crafty useful forks or spoons, verses two pieces of wood, to eat with. Two sticks...yeah if your in the woods with no spoon or fork, sure. I'm just looking at this with "common sense" not traditional. In some native ways of thinking, sacrificing cute girls was a tradition. Chop sticks...tradition. Fragile thin piece of glass by the busy front door. Who's got common sense? What is important, is what would God almighty might really think about who's using their brains in the most common sense way??? Who's scolding little innocent shy kids over a misplaced fragile piece of thin glass by the front door no less? Come on! Where is common sense in all this "sacred" thinking. Maybe...just maybe God even thinks this is way off track for common sense to put a fragile piece of thin glass by the houses busy vulnerable front door..
Notice how there is a sacred chinese flower on the atlar that she is not allowed to touch and then at the restaurant a gimmicky one on her birthday cake.
Was it gmmiky? I thought it was a celebration filled with creativity, light, and joy🧕
bro that flower is an offering to your ancestors, its there for good luck.
They never mentioned "why" she was not allowed to touch the flower. It looked to me like it was simply fragile..made of very thin glass. Why are you assuming things? Sometimes assuming is way off, especially if you have a cynical mind.
So...now it's been called a gimmick, and the latest is it's an idol.
I heard none of these in this story. Maybe it's simply beautiful art🧕
@@KN-pn2lt they said it’s sacred like the cross
Actually, there are so many "gimmicky" Chinese things in China, that the restaurant one is probably not something bastardized for westerners. You can see that the family had never seen one of those before (unlike the chow mein). The lotus was sacred as it was part of an altar. In the restaurant, it was a fun birthday cake thing. It is like the difference between a candle set up as a memorial where you are honouring someone who died, and a candle on a birthday cake. They are both candles. One you respect and don't play with. The other is a fun celebratory thing.
I think the point is that Esther didn't recognize an altar in a Chinese home, and didn't understand it was special and not just ornaments.
Just the shoe scene is a hallmark of the cultural difference of the two girls.
Not really. I know some people who do that, some who dont. Growing up, we only did that if the shoes were wet, muddy, or snow.
@@kalstonii well for me and all my friends and family i grew up with, we were always taught to take our shoes off when going in a house. Thats why i always find it disturbing when people wear shoes in their own rooms in movies
@@GunnyDuns we dont live in 1854. We have vacuums, mops, brooms. As an adult, its rare that Im not walking on concrete or asphalt. As a kid, sure, because kids play in grass and dirt. But as an adult, i have separate shoes for separate needs. Yardwork shoes come off upon entry, dress shoes or sneakers come off after i get to my room. I dont think its cultural. I know some blacks who prefer people take their shoes off, usually seems to go with them having carpeted floors.
@@GunnyDuns yea, I never understood ppl wearing their shoes inside their homes.
@@demijour1234 Same I always thought it looked uncomfortable.
I feel like the food in a way represents her. She is neither fully Chinese nor fully American. She is a unique combination of the two. Just because the food isn't fully Chinese doesn't make it less good or interesting. Same with her.
I like that...I like happy endings.
Damn that was deep....
How I feel about it too
I thought so. The food somehow represents the identity that is 'modified' when in other country/place.
"She is neither fully Chinese nor fully American." LOL
i get that this video is about this girl's identity issues, but i just wanna say american chinese food comes from generations of chinese americans. i always hear people talking down on chinese food that it's not authentic to china. it's not less than, it has a divergent history from china's cuisine and has become its own thing.
People don’t understand American Chinese food is not ment to be authentic I’m pretty sure there American Chinese people living in China who miss American Chinese food
@FiatDuster I know there’s a very popular Japanese Italian food chain in Asia.
I also like it more cause real Italian pasta is to chewy and under cooked for my liking it’s just people making the cuisine to the local markets taste.
If you ever try Philippine spaghetti it will shock you more it’s loaded with ketchup and sugar
@@Spearca I know, when I went to Italy on business and had lunch with Italian colleagues (all the food there was delicious) I asked them about "New York Italian cooking" and they said something polite like "it's good, but it's different from our cooking".
@Tyeumm hi did you ever try the Chinese Muslim hand pulled noodles beef soup it’s something rare outside of mainland China that’s one dish I miss it’s not expensive but fixes hang overs good.
That broth is good👍
@FiatDuster I thought your wife's spaghetti recipe was from the Phillipines. I have seen something like that.
As a black girl raised in a white community, I somewhat get this but on the other hand, we cant forget that as adoptees, we were loved and chosen by people who wanted to care for us. (At least I was, I'm not saying every adoptee has that experience)
@Black stallion were you bullied in the community cause I was a white male raised in a black community and for some reason most of the kids hated me literally for no reason I had a few freinds maybe like 11 or 12
@Digby Dooright yea out of like 6,000 kids tho
Good to hear, it’s not one we hear often.
as a white boy raised in a black community its helped me understand black people and not be racist
I cant speak to the foreign experience but every child loved and cared for should be shown in a beautiful light
The point is that she has just discovered that what she’s been eating up until now isn’t as close to her culture as she was told/she had thought. The movie is showing a pivotal moment where an adoptee discovers what it truly means to be home. On one hand you are home and are grateful, but on the other hand, you might never truly feel at home. It’s a day that will likely change her perspective forever, and this is the story of that moment.
@FiatDuster absolutely she is referring back to the mother... that was the pivotal moment, when the mother said “some day I’ll make you real Chinese food.”
I understand what you’re saying about 9 year olds, but this story wasn’t written by 9 year olds and it also wasn’t specifically made for 9 year olds. Most short films are made to be thought provoking. This is how this film provoked my thoughts, I’m not reading into it too much, I watched the filmed and thought about what it might be telling. Films, books, basically all art, is subjective and meant to be experienced by the viewer.
FiatDuster Are sushis Chinese? Are Chinese using forks traditionally? After being exposed to her native culture for the first time, she began to understand that it isn’t really what her adoptive parents told her.
Identity is such a divisive idea.
@FiatDuster How many kids have you met? 9 year olds totally think about culture.
Agreed. Its the beginning of her awareness of the cultural difference she represents but has never consciously known. And 9 is certainly old enough to start to awaken to that. 9 year olds are not blind. My guess is that things will really get rough by 12/13 when adolescence really kicks in but she'll come around to appreciating her american family again by the time shes in her later teen years and done lots of self discovery. And hopefully she will come to embrace her identity as neither fully chinese nor fully american. especially as she meets others who share that same experience...
When you feel out of place, you feel out of place for a long time, but not everyone understands each other's culture. She obviously began to accept her adopted environment in the end.
I'm not adopted so I don't know what it feels like
But this must have been hard for the little girl
@@uber_eats_official9977 well she lucky she has a Chinese family as a friend and being so young at less she will not be lost for long.
imagine living in a little town and she has no other Asians around she going to grow up lost
@@sko1beer What a parochial thing to say. All it takes is for those around her to love her, listen to her and answer her questions. It's no different from raising any other child.
@@TheAstroflight this baby had a strong connection to Buddha
["began to accept her adopted environment"] ===> No. Just NO.
Absolutely, utterly, totally, completely, unquestionably l >>> N O ,
As an Korean boy raised in the Netherlands with two white parents and a brother adopted from Poland, I am very grateful for this video.
Adoption is still a very unspoken subject and this video is a good example of how it feels to feel out of place.
Growing up my brother has always been part of the family and people even thought he was my parents real son which only made me distancing myself further from them.
I'm very thankful for everyone who worked on this video as it almost feels like it was made after my life.
I can totally relate to this. I am a Peruvian girl adopted by two white parents. They have given me a very good life but I felt so outcast especially when out with the rest of our family. I was the only coloured girl there and I just felt different all the time thus I distanced myself a lot from them as I felt different and strange right from the very beginning
Yo Han Park, hoe oud ben je nu? Ik ben Poolse vrouw en ik woon in Nederland 18 jaar. Vind ik zeer interessant om meer te weten over je leven hier, omdat adoptie lijkt me super moeilijk voor kinderen en zeker als je komt uit Azië naar Europa. Sterkte
Damn man you all are breaking my heart , since 11 years old I wanted to adopt children from countries like Syria , India, China and now seeing so many adoptees feeling like not at home even with their adopted parents is worrying me . I am really worried about how my adopted children might feel, it’s gonna be my worst day ever if I ever come to know that my children who I wanted to give the best home experience and the best parental love doesn’t actually feel at home . Can you all help of how this experience can be eliminated and they feel more at home , I really do not want my children to not feel at home due to being adopted from a different country, please do help me out because I am really really very eager for adoption.
@@elsa_lost_1614 not sure I can help but I’ll tell you a bit of my experience. Being the only brown face in a sea of white faces at school and especially with my family just made me feel so ostracised and different. I craved to fit in and despite my family being great and loving I just felt weird. I don’t have any if these feelings now as a young adult but growing up I did. I think a lot of it was because my parents never once talked to me about it or even acknowledged how I might feel different cos of being a different colour. I knew they “didn’t see colour” which is a good thing in a way but I think it stopped me talking to them as I feel they would say “colour is not important”. Race was never discussed and as it is as a young adult I am talking to someone who is like an uncle to me about it and I have so many questions and thoughts and not once does he lose patience or seem disinterested despite how much I talk about it. By the way, my parents have friends who adopted two kids of different races to them and it all worked out so well. Only you can judge and decide if you want to adopt but IMO it could work out really well 😊
@@elsa_lost_1614 nah please go ahead, its better than the bad conditions they usually are living under, and any such feelings you can help them naviagte or get a therapist now that youre aware of it. Dont not adopt cuz there they may be in similar surroundings but they may not have good food or a happy childhood or a good future once they grow up. Though Id also advice to focus on the orphans in your country first.
The little girl looked so uncomfortable and confused towards the end it made me want to cry a little.
Me too, I felt like I just wanted her to be comfortable
I'm in therapy and I cried twice. I thought there was something wrong with me. These short vids make you think in new ways. Thank you for sharing.
I thought from the start she looked very unhappy r should say sad,
Same :(
I teared up. The sense that she never knew what she was missing until that moment and then in one day it hit her. Very well done.
Adoptive (white) mom here. This hits so close to home. We're all soaked in the 'lucky' narrative that completely overlooks (if not denies!) what adoptees have lost, from blood relations to heritage. As adoptive parents, we need to take responsibility about our own role in this loss, not as a guilt trip but as fuel to motivate ourselves to have an open dialogue with our children, to hold, no, create space for them to have conflicting feelings about their adoption and to experience grief, and to mitigate where we can this loss, by exposing our children to their birth culture and to genetic mirrors (as opposed to plan whitewashing).
Thank you for saying this. A child not being exposed to their genetic mirrors and culture is very devastating to the overall growth and development. I wasn't even adopted but being a black child with a white mother who knew nothing about Black culture meant that I learned nothing too because she knew nothing. Her ignorance became my ignorance. To the point of me being whitewashed beyond belief, terrified of people of my own race, because I knew nothing about them. All the while I was severely oppressed and abused because of my color. I dealt with racism each day but my mother turned a blind eye because she was living in a white world and believed that not seeing color served me.
@@thegiftofmyfaults Thank you for sharing this personal story. It must have been so difficult and confusing to live through these conflicting feelings and experiences as a child and teen. Young people should receive guidance and support from adults, and especially from parents. Sending love your way.
Thank you 💕
On the phone, the neighbor lady tells her friend they'll catch up at Chinese school. It would be so nice if this girl's adoptive parents could enroll her. They are trying but not really even aware that she needs authentic experiences.
What do you mean exactly by authentic experience. Are you saying her life is false?
@@newtronix Hi. No. When I say authentic, I mean authentic to the culture from which she was adopted. 😁
When you're a trans-racial adoptee, yeah, your life may very well be, in a sense, false.
Yes, even Angelina Jolie has language teachers for her adopted children from Asia and Africa, I understand.
Esther's family just arrived and settled down next door. The moms will talk about this and Esther will be able to go to the Chinese school if she wants to.
The “table for 3” part punctured my soul 🥺
It would be pretty awful for the kid if it happened the other way round. She was literally standing with two people who could have been her parents.
@@davids3539 Exactly. She wasn't standing with her family, so why would the girl at the desk think she was with them if she more resembled the Asian couple who she was standing right next to?
my partner is romanian. a couple of years ago, I went on a trip to romania with his family... we were entering into a tourist area and before us was a group of Japanese tourists... when I was following behind my partner and his family, the security guard asked them if I'm with them. it felt awkward and unnecessary. it may have been different if I looked like a mother with children and they may understand without asking but I looked a bit young (like a teenager).
As a Chinese adoptee, I have never seen myself represented in any form of media, until now.
I remember going to Chinese buffets as a child and never meeting a non adoptee Chinese person until I became an adult. I think the text captures so perfectly the experience. Since although I was surrounded by a world that provided for my needs, there was a part that didn’t see quite who I was and was minimised, erased, left me somewhere between and navigating racism all by myself. All topped off with the narrative that I should be grateful, despite me having to loose my culture, my language, my birthday, my name and my family to get to a position that many are born into.
Thanks for capturing the adoptee experience in a way that makes us feel seen ❤️.
Ok go back to China and it's abuse lol ungreatful
china's one child policy made many girls orphans
have you been able to travel back to china to meet your birth parents?
the stories that break my heart are the ones about twins who are split up
Wow, how ignorant and insensitive these responses are. This is the country she was brought to. Having to navigate people like you all by her own because her family was blind to her emotional needs. That's child abuse no matter how well-meaning adoptive parents are. Children are people with the same needs and desires as the rest of us and her pain should have been validated and addressed long before she was an adult.
EDIT: I should have said neglect as abuse insinuates that the individual intended to cause harm. Neglect, however, is not interpreted any differently by the body and can have the same devastating effects as abuse. If, in 2021, we are still adopting children without pause to their emotional and cultural needs are we not, by default, intending to cause harm? Especially when discussing countries as rich and diverse as the US. 🤔
the 1 child policy had nothing to do with twins being split up I don’t know who told you this.
This movie told me something that never crossed my mind that Chinese people don’t go to Chinese buffets learnt something new
@@rosebud0391 child abuse is a bit strong most Asians children growing in the west had very busy parents growing up and not much culture is taught is that also child abuse?
I Love the awkwardness Esther had when she came over the house, it feels natural.
Agreed
This reminds me when I went to an indian buffet in Italy and there wasn't a single Indian food there
@@OkarinHououinKyouma I mean,it happens in a lot of places.
What food did they serve..
@@bena577 Basically just italian food, a lot of pasta, typical italian sauces, a lot of meat stuff, regular bread, salad and icecream. The only Indian thing there was basmati rice lol I guess that was their only qualification for naming it an indian restaurant haha
@@Poppyfreeza that's literally so sad omg
@@Poppyfreeza that's not good.
As an adoptee this video is so relatable and now as a teen it's like I'm playing a frantic game of catch up to understand my home language, culture, history and arts. Luckily my adoptive parents are very supportive in my endeavors.
Please don't put that pressure on yourself. Just be you and whatever makes you happy!
This is really nice 🌸wish you a happy future dear🌼🌹
69
Good luck
I have the same problem trying to understand my home language, culture, history and art and I am an American.
I felt very empathetic towards the lil girl but guyz the parents were trying...I mean coming from an Asian family... we know how strict our parents are!!!..I mean they could have just celebrated it in their own way but still tried to do what they could so that she could feel connected to her ethnicity.... can't fault no1!!!!
It's not trying if you are not connected to people from that culture and asking them for their input. I disagree completely. The fact that she has never had authentic Chinese food or even really spent time with ppl from her culture tells me they felt justified and giving her a water-downed version of her culture because it was easier and more convenient for them. That is not enough for me and should not be enough for an adoptee.
@@TheTillmanSneakerReview the Chinese neighbours will help her learn from both cultures it’s a blessing for her
@@TheTillmanSneakerReview not the Chinese family as a whole I ment the Chinese friend more as she would help her deal with living in the USA as a person with a different colour skin.
The Chinese parents would help her see how strict Asian parents are tho but I’m sure her friend will tell her that over time
@FiatDuster Yes, she is an American citizen but you are absolutely defined by your ethnicity in America to a certain extent. No one on the street will assume she was an adoptee. People will look at her and think she is some type of Asian. I’ve had friends who are 3rd generation Asian American and people still ask him how long he’s been in the United States. I think the commentary here isn’t to provide her an emulated version of Chinese culture by making her authentic Chinese food, giving her a Buddha to put in her bedroom, or suddenly making dumplings together as a white American family. Rather, it’s to help her understand where she came from in the most authentic way. No one is denying the fact that she shouldn’t be raised American.
@@buckcheep thankz...I always thought it was just the goddess name....
I've always thought it must be tough for a child to be placed in a completely different environment than their birth culture. And the sad part is, people are trying to make them feel included and sometimes it makes them feel more excluded.
I did think the family were going a bit too far, until I saw the birthday balloon.
then it turns out it was a gotcha day which just seems weird to me. Why would you keep on reminding your kid that they're adopted?
They might not know her exact birth date, and they want her to feel valued but they have done the opposite. Possibly
@@davids3539 Yeah, way to make them feel like a pet store-bought puppy...
@@davids3539 I don't think the child needs to be reminded they were adopted, they will never forget that even without celebrating the adoption date. Adoptive families celebrate a child's adoption date because it's a very special day for them, the day when they became a family. Like somebody else said, they may not know her exact birth date.
With today's racism rearing its ugly head, I'm sure it's hard to be of some other race or culture the way everyone is expected to just like everyone else. I must say I do see a lot more open-mindedness amongst the youngest of us though, so I guess there is hope.
This felt so uncomfortable-the visuals especially at the restaurant felt... claustrophobic. It was anxiety inducing and such a great way to convey how the girl felt.
I wonder if the ending was symbolic of something? I thought maybe she was trying not to blow too hard on it because it was mentioned earlier that lotuses were sacred? Also, I love in the car the radio says “God adopted us all in his family.” I’m not religious but I think it’s a cool, subtle way of summarizing the message of the film-that people are people. Yes, cultures are important and we shouldn’t be “colorblind” but rather accept and try to learn from/understand other cultures.
I can’t imagine the difficulties of being adopted from another country; it’s hard growing up as is! I think, however, anyone who has been adopted has felt lucky and thankful for finding a home, although they will probably struggle with finding their identity-especially in a mixed family or with parents that aren’t from the same country.
Loved the film, please make more!
Good observation on the lotus! I didn't catch that
@@Celestetanrq I kept thinking, why she blowing it like that. Then I remembered how she wasn't suppose to touch it.
I felt the same way about the restaurant and how they presented it. And I agree about the last bit. My parents are from 2 different cultures and I only live with one. I've experienced bits and pieces but I'll never have that full culture and it kind of makes me sad.
The egg rolls were not that good
I think it is interesting how countries take and adapt cooking. For example, the same thing goes on here in Japan. There are "Chinese food" restaurants which are Japanese-style Chinese food and actual Chinese food restaurants. They do the same thing with western food, probably half of the places are just Japanese-style western food with many things that were actually started here.
Same here in India, we get chicken tikka pizza at dominos :P
I have heard of the Japanized pizza.
Same, in my country japanese food not really taste real different. You cant sold em in other country with the origin taste since every have different taste buds
@@harleyquinn5774 well honey, pizza is westernized Chinese food, so what the honk do you want?
Yes, all restaurants in all countries must adhere to what White people think they should be cooking
Except for White people, who can cook whatever they want.
Typical
She is fully Chinese and fully American. She is the bridge that connects us, and also the tide that erodes the lines we draw in our minds. Let's hope she receives the opportunities to live an amazing life that inspires many, as all children should.
What makes her fully Chinese? Some DNA? Culture is a societal construct. If she doesn't have Chinese society around her, she's not Chinese culturally. And there's nothing wrong with that. Blood is not as important as some people think.
People can feel this way even in their genetic family.
I resonate with that
I feel that since my parents are salvadorian and for the longest time up until 1 year ago I couldn't have a conversation in spanish, I felt like an alien when my family would have get togethers. I felt whitewashed.
Exactly. I was the only one in my family who resembled my father, who passed away when I was 5. I guess my mother had issues with my father, so she was always accusing me of being like "them", even though I had no recollection of ever being around them.
@@amywalker7515 why "them"?
Especially when your family is kind of detached from your culture I think yes.
The young girl is an amazing actress.
There is no thought for the adopted child that only wants to be accepted and loved. If you truly love her, it's not about the ethnicity of your child, it's about your child.
They did truly love her
I’m sure the family loved her as if she were their own.
But, the sad part about adoption, is she isn’t their own, and love her as much as ever, it will still not be their own.
Love is never enough, Adoption is about loss. A loss for her the family she should have been raised in, a loss for her ancestors, a loss for her country, for its customs, a gnawing loss for the adopted are never ending questions that will probably not come with answers.
When the waitress whispered the child needs to be grateful.....grateful for what? For all she has lost?
It is a complicated
I have several adopted Chinese children. The best, most secure love adoptive parents can give their children is to draw out their feelings of grief and let them know, that no matter what .........they will love them and will constantly be that unconditional, non judgmental mama who will always be there for them and support their search for their birth family.
@@marahmillicentbalarny8447 She should be grateful that she is with a loving family instead of in a worse place. Ever consider why she may have been adopted?
Nobody else may have been able to care for her, maybe her birth family no longer existed, or they weren't fit for a child.
Adoption isn't about loss, it is about gaining another family member to care for.
@@strangeanimations588 adoption can be extremely hard, especially if you don’t know anything about your background. It can be confusing. And adopt us hate hearing the term “you’re lucky to have a loving family “etc. now, this is what the film is about. I’m the part “be grateful” when the waitress is telling Ester that.. you can she is unsure.
love how this one looks right from the start
Me too.
People can feel this way even in their genetic family. I did.
I totally understand. I was raised by my Grandma (she did a fabulous job) but I never really fit in. I was always reading, writing short stories and creating D&D campaigns when I got a little older. I was in many sports that I love, but never had the same interests as my other relatives (cars, motorcycles, real gear head stuff). At least I did have a Grandma who let me explore what made me happy and not push what the rest of the family was doing. But I never truly felt like I belonged, was at home until I left the state to go to college. Like so many others, that was when I started to discover myself, to feel like I was home.
Did anyone notice how the girl talked about Christianity, then in the car the radio talked about Christianity and adopting someone into the family?
And the part
"Hey Dad you got mushroom?"
"Yes I got the cheese one"...
"mom, where'd you put my stuff again?"
- mom "Eh?"
Classic
Anyway it is a very good film. Esther's silence was worth a thousand words!
Heartbreaking. The family is trying so hard to be the family this girl needs, but she feels so alien and distant because of it. The family is doing nothing wrong, all the while doing everything wrong. How can they know what they don't even know they don't know? The girl was adopted when she was 1, her culture is the same as her adopted family. Unfortunately, she looks different enough that she is not accepted with them without effort from others. Even though they share the same home, can she ever truly feel like part of the family? How much of her 'culture' can they incorporate into their lives without being a different family altogether? Can it ever be something outside of platitudes and tokenism? Will she ever feel like she fits in with her family? Tough questions, many more than these, that will never even be breached. Hope she gets signed into that Chinese school at some point and gets to make friends of all types, it helps a lot. Great video.
I sympathize with your sympathy. However, "how can they not know what they don't know?" They were literally the ones to choose to adopt from China. Their ignorance is their own. Why China? Why did they choose China? If it was simply luck of the draw - yeah, that's literally ignorance. If they had a personal connection to China, that would be a legitimate reason and they wouldn't have chosen from ignorance.
@@Dayvit78
Sometimes the adopting family has no say over who is adopted, or they feel an overwhelming sense of protectiveness for the adopted child, or they have to adopt quickly or risk the safety of the child. Could also be that they did it for genuine care but with that 'white guilt' thing going on. Not sure, and it's really hard to make a short film from all sides.
I don't think people of a certain ethnicity have some magical understanding of the cultures connected to said ethnicity. Had the girl been raised in a mostly white community with no contact to Eastern culture, she would have been no different from her mostly white friends. Think Ariel in The Little Mermaid before she started collecting things from the surface world. This was a lot like that, except her family tried to be reasonable and help her be happy.
They can't know that they don't know what they don't know sometimes.
For the record, I'm a Buddhist monk and I don't care if someone touches my Kuan Yin. Especially someone who doesn't know what it is.
...Or an ornamental lotus flower...at worst it might give them blessings.
I think she would grow up learning Chinese from her neighbors, and would speak it with the neighbor lady, something that her Chinese daughter didn't want to do.
Even people in China have different dialects and food preference. This video is made in perspective of a mainland Chinese immigrant mostly likely from Northern China. That flower thing is definitely not Chinese.
Yes she will learn to make dumplings
Strawberryknight the neighbor in the story with dumplings are originally culturally from mainland northern China for sure.
@@Strawberryknight It's a lotus flower.
This was a well done short film. I think when you adopt someone of another race/culture you take on the responsibility of learning about it, teaching it and making it available to them, but realizing that you will not truly be apart of it and accepting it. Realize that people's assumptions and behaviors will not affect you in the same way as your adopted child and be ready to answer hard questions with real answers.
The gotcha day stuff tore me up, my adopted parents used to do that
Did you like it?
This short film depicts sense of self for a person living amongst a different culture and/or race perfectly. Loved it 😊
that awkward moment when you know the restaurant they eating at personally... hahah
Wait what
Where is it?
Where
I went to a Chinese restaurant in Italy and they used spaghetti pasta for the noodle dishes 😭
LOL
There is a Chinese buffet in Mesa, AZ that uses spaghetti noodles too, I thought it was gross
That's an amazing surprise from the restaurant
true.
First time I've seen you without so many likes.
Notice how there is a sacred chinese flower on the atlar that she is not allowed to touch and then at the restaurant a gimmicky one on her birthday cake.
Very good. Provokes lots of thoughts about the young girl, her experience, the good people think they are doing etc, etc. Thanks.
Why is this hitting me so hard? My parents are Haitian and not having their cooking is something I took for granted. It’s a small piece of culture and history. Granted, I believe she’s loved and she’s still growing up with culture it’s hard when everyone treats you a bit different but you’re not quite sure why.
My son-in-law is Haitian and he and my daughter (not Haitian) both cook Haitian food.
The little girl is so cute. I have 2 cute sons but I also yearn for a daughter.
Reminds me of my mother. 4 boys 1 girl as of recently.
When I saw the family photo on the shelf with a baby obscured by flowers, I really thought they were going to go the route of this family being the birth family of the little girl. I'm glad they went for something more personal and quiet, as it made for a much more empathetic story.
All I see is a girl who is loved and when she gets older she can make her own decisions. She is fortunate to have chinese neighbors so she will experience both cultures. BUt in the end she is loved.
I'm a Korean but I have a white family, so I can really relate to this video.
I have no knowledge of the heritage I have. I tried Korean food for very the first time in my life a year ago. It had me thinking about what it would have been like if I knew my culture except what I see from the media. I have to deal with my race all the time, I'm not white, but I'm also not asian. I have to deal with not feeling accepted anywhere I go, and trying to figure myself out all on my own. It's not like I can say I dislike the comments thrown at me because a lot of the time I feel like I shouldn't be allowed to since it's not my place, and I can't go to anyone else about it either. I don't blame my family for it at all, even though there have been a lot of times where I've been sent comments by them and felt out of place with them and not being fully accepted by everyone, I don't think I could at all. They are my only family, and I'm more than grateful to have them in my life, for having (most) accept me, raise me, and provide for me. Especially my parents and my siblings. I know it's not an easy topic to talk about, and we pretend I'm fully related even though it's super obvious, I'm so happy that they are my family and no one else.
I've been going to authentic Chinese restaurants with my family since I was a kid. The day my aunt took my parents to a Chinese buffet, they were like kids in a candy store. I never seen my mom have so many chicken balls & spring rolls on one plate. My dad was so impressed with the sweet& sour spareribs, he went into the kitchen and asked the cooks how they make it.
i remember your dad.. great guy brian
Can we just notice how beautiful the little girl is 😌🤍
Yep! 💝😊
Thank u!
Asian guy holding 2 nationalities here 👋! One Asian and the other European (not adopted though). This video is exactly my story growing up in Europe as an Asian kid, but blown up a thousand times. Really enjoyed it and thanks to all the creators! 😁
i would love to see more films like this
The clip at the end made me tear up.
My grandma was Vietnamese, born there and lived there for about 30 years. Then she met my grandpa and moved to the US with her son (his bio dad died in the Vietnam war when he was two). They lived in a TINY town in a Southern state in the 70’s and almost everyone was racist. Even my grandma’s mother in law was racist. She once refused to give my grandma a ride when she was walking five miles in the snow and pregnant with twins (my mom and uncle) along with her two other kids. She made some stereotypical joke about my grandma being a terrible driver so she should just walk instead. They had a hard time there for a while. They stopped speaking Vietnamese in public bc they were ridiculed. My uncle who came here from Vietnam when he was little, didn’t speak AT ALL until he was 5 bc he knew little English and didn’t want to speak Vietnamese bc he was ashamed. Because of all that, none of the kids knew Vietnamese. My grandma never taught them, instead they knew English. They also never learned how to cook Vietnamese dishes. It’s made my mom feel really confused about her culture. Thankfully, decades later, my grandma felt safe enough to practice her culture. She ended up teaching ME how to make pho and wonton soup. I wish I could’ve learned more but sadly she passed when I was 10. My uncle also relearned Vietnamese and is now fluent. He also happened to marry a Vietnamese girl and now they have two kids. My mom had me and my three brothers and now we all LOVE Vietnamese food. I prefer it to pretty much anything else. My brothers definitely look more Vietnamese than me (ik ik I just look white but 25% is a lot) but I still relate to that part of me. We definitely have a melting pot like family.
Sorry for spilling my life story but thank you to anyone who read it!
Thank you for sharing. Just know, there are others who share your story. Hope more people can understand what your family went through.
Beautiful,you guys are one of my favorite channels. :))
I was adopted and nobody in my family told me a single story about it. My adopted parents were died and the secret sealed in their grave. Despite on how lucky and lovely my life with them, the lost memory about my old culture has been leaking through my tastebud and the way I cook. And from tastebud, it leads to many layers of story and history. It is always be a mistery for me, but strangely, some strong taste are giving me a subtle sign. About home,;a vanished culture and neverending love. I will keep continue walking on this path. I opening my own small restaurant now in Bali, and I cook all the food that I felt 'into it'. God is really a brilliant masterplan. Thank you for this good movie!
What a lovely film! While it is true that the description doesn´t do the film justice by misrepresenting her adoption timeline, it doesn´t erase what the film is saying. Her encounter with a Chinese American family led her to question her own identity as a Chinese American and highlight the way her adoptive family may have overlooked that part of who she is. No shade to the family but this is clearly something that she has to come to terms with. Her silence or reluctance to speak seemed to be more out of shock rather than "lack of English". It was clear that she was trying to reconcile what she just experienced with who she is. I have a couple of Asian adoptee friends who had a similar journey. It was nice to see some aspect of their story brought to life. Thank you! I hope to see more films like this in the future.
In reality when kid's like these get adopted it's hard to adapt but once they are grown up they would understand and be thankful they had an amazing adopted parent's and grew up been loved.
She was fortunate to accidentally have her parents introduce her to a family who welcomed her into their home and began teaching her motherland culture.
This is a lovely film, quiet and low key, but sensitive and thought provoking. A friend of ours adopted a baby girl from China years ago, probably saving her from a miserable childhood if not death; she had some delays and health issues, but has since grown into a highly accomplished teenager excelling in school and likely to achieve great things some day. Tens of thousands have been adopted from Asia, and it's long overdue for films like this to expose and discuss their experiences. Bravo!
I feel like I just watched my childhood. Adoptee from India to Caucasian family, raised American. It took me along time to accept my Indian culture but no matter how much I try to learn, I always feel like an outsider to both cultures. Adoption is something I don't let myself think about or get lost in but when I do, I see how crazy and complex it really is. Soo soo grateful but still always feel lost.
Excellent, thoughtful and sensitive.
I relate to this so much as an adopted chinese person. Its spot on!
I’m Chinese and my fam and I still eat at a Chinese buffet quite often pre-COVID!!! And we love it (except the cheapest ones). We also eat “real” Chinese food and other culture’s food. The adopting fam does looks so nice and kind. She should be happy around them. That is what I say too
u missed the point
I couldn't finish. It hurt my heart to see her insulted in such a way.. even by "one of her own."
@@prezadent1 Its the tone in which its said, and there's no need to act like a baboon I hope you know. Just like your sarcastic tone of "Apprently . . ." Tone is a very important thing in speech(es) and in textile(s).
@FiatDuster What I meant "as being insulted is;" its very common, sadly so, for Americans, or well anyone with enough money really, to adopt a child of ethnicity and bring them into their home while "attempting" to treat them with their "traditional things," which are knock-off, while disrespecting the culture along the way. Its an insult to who they are and where they come from. The sheer fact they indulge in such things is whats so insulting, "Ignorance Is Bliss" as they say. Surely they don't really understand that's what they're doing, but at the same time.. it is what it is, Regardless of thought or intent. I mean sure call me a sensitive Sally or whatever you see fit to make you sleep at night, but truly it is a spit in the face to them and their culture. All for the face, the face they portray for themselves, what everyone sees them as. A happy white family with a lovely Chinese adoptee, a successful Chinese buffet, but what are they really? A white family who with an "interesting family" and an "Asian Style American Buffet."
@@prezadent1 Clearly you were never taught propper mannerisms because this is no way to behave, youre acting like a child. Go take a nap
What a great way to call out that family is still family, no matter how you got them.
Noone 's talking about the restaurant
Owner / hostess she knew that it was not authentic Chinese food so she told her to be grateful for having a family..her acting was good ,it made me a bit angry ( idk if others see it this way)
The little girl is so cute. I think they set up the scenes, where it was meant to seem like they weren't filming a movie short, because her reactions seem very real. .. This movie is making me crave Chinese food!
If you are going to engage in cross-cultural adoption, you must be open to getting out of your own safety zone to expose your children to their native culture. This is not to beat up on adoptive parents but to ask them to be aware of their additional responsibility. There will come a day when your child will feel the need to explore this other aspect of their identity.
There are many parents who belong to certain cultures that don't bother to expose the children. I think adopted parents get lot of sluck. Love used to be the most important thing seems like things have changed.
You say not to beat up on adoptive parents, but let's say another white couple with their own kid adopted a Chinese kid, and brought that kid up exactly the same way as they had their eldest. What more are you asking them to do? Only eat Chinese food, all convert to Buddhism, move to China?
I cannot see any warranted criticism in bringing up an adopted child as your own. None whatsoever. And indeed, I would commend anyone for actively adopting a child to do so.
@@davids3539, there is a lot of black and white thinking in your response. What I said was that the parents have a responsibility to expose the adopted child (and in your case) all children to the culture of the adopted child. This is not to say that this exposure is to the exclusion of all other cultures. They, of course live in one culture and they will be exposed to that and have an understanding of how things are but to not give this child and the other children in the house an opportunity to learn about the history and experiences of the people from which the adopted child comes is a miss opportunity to expand cultural knowledge and understanding.
@@ferlinmcgaskey8388 The point is, you say you're not going to beat up on adoptive parents, then proceed to do just that. That they 'must' do something and you impose 'additional responsibility' on them.
It is indeed very black and white. To open up your home to a child and lovingly raise them as your own is a *good* thing. Sure, they can always do a bit better here and there, same as any parents with their own biological kids, but it's unwarranted criticism which only deters people from doing this *good* thing. Some nitpicker is always going to find something wrong with what you do even if you're trying to do the right thing (oh no, the Chinese restaurant also serves sushi!), and it isn't as if parents need a PhD in their own culture to raise their biological children.
If you take on the responsibility of a child, you sign up to do all that you can for their well being. You assume that exposing them to their culture is some undue burden. My friend who adopted a child from China does this all the time. She sees it as important and her child benefits from this. Other friends who have transracially adopted have done the same thing. This idea that it is enough that you adopted them is disturbing. It positions the parent as if they are some kind of savior and the child should be grateful. It also implies that the parent need only do the bare minimum in parenting. It the child had a condition, wouldn't you expect the parent to seek out treatment to ensure that the child would have the best quality of life. This is no different.
the reveal of the lotus flower candle made me gasp
The day Ester rips the band-aid off.
I'm truly amazed at the professionalism of this young Chinese actress. Her acting skills are phenomenal. She truly stands out and brings an extraordinary touch to the film.
I think the food is made for Americans to enjoy! The little girl looks like she was adopted into a very loving family. Thank God the people are not abusive. She will learn to blend the Chinese and American culture together. This was a great short film.
They should teach her that there are just different kinds of food. Food in a fast food restaurant is different from home-made. Street food is different than from what u get in a hotel or a plane. In China its not different in that. Yea in China u have distinct regional cuisines, and different cultures associated with food, and probably alot more diversity than in the US by far, but when u go there to a restaurant u expect some different food than ur mom makes at home. This is everywhere the same, all over the world
That awkward moment when you can’t blow out the candles....
really a great short film I love Chinese culture :) very cute actor
This video hit a lot of different levels for me. I studied in China for three months in undergrad, having studied a couple years of the language (Mandarin, specifically) prior to going. Hearing the Chinese mother talk made me smile, and seeing them do things like take off their shoes and put on the house slippers, especially the food prep... Special place in my heart for sure.
I am a white person, and there are things that have attracted me about Chinese (Han) culture. Seeing a young girl pretty much figure out that she has this beautiful heritage and being attracted to it (symbolized by her wanting to touch the blossom, and not wanting/not able to blow out the other blossom at the end) very much hits some layers of feels.
I kinda get the takeaway that the heritage is never actually erased, but is also something she is unable to touch. Which is sort of a panging longing, sort of akin to homesickness.
reminds me of grandma making cuban food then seeing not so authentic cuban food bieng sold at restaurants that closed later. i dont think thats exactly related to this kind of story i feel bad for this girl i hope she got to have some dumplings from her neighbor at least and got to learn about her heritage as i did from my pop and grandma
edit: btw in Pennsylvania they have real chinese food restaurants its good food
gosh growing up cuban in a white household was always so weird, cause i was never hispanic enough but never white enough. it was weird for sure
@@loveluna777 for me my mom is mexican and my dad cuban, i look anglo so everytime i break out with spanish the mexican person i end up talking to gets super suprised like: "YOU SPEAK SPANISH!?!?" thats whats wierd for me that and my dad's lineage going back to spain france and possibly Scottish we got some red hair in our beards and everything even silver and gold
This video has so many subtle yet powerful messages in it.
I love Chinese food
Hey Ray :) How are you?
same
the screen looks awkward like it it was recorded in a cinema
saviour complex vibes
Here in Alberta, Canada, The Chinese Community who built the railroad invented western chinese cuisine as we all know it. They are very proud of both the Chow Mein & Fried Rice restaurants & the Dim Sum Restaurants that cater mostly to Chinese folks.
As an outsider, I would never dream of calling Dim Sum more "real" because Chinese people cooked it all just the same so it is authentic to me. ❤
This is kind of like when I moved away from Chicago, and discovered that Pizza, in the new city, wasnt
Man I’d kill for a Gino’s slice right now.
when the food tastes like war crimes and manslaughter
I can’t say I fully relate to this, but growing up as a first generation from an immigrant family in a different country really makes me question who I am at times. I feel there’s a fundamental part of me that is missing. I don’t really have an identity I can connect to and I often feel lost. Seeing my family and siblings having this element makes me jealous at times because it’s something I want and feel like I should have but it’s so new to me. I hope in the future as things progress I can find what I long for, whatever that may end up being.
As a Christian white woman who hopes one day to adopt a Chinese girl, this video terrifies me. The family is perceived as weird and insensitive to her feelings. When in reality they wanted her and loved her and are doing their best. Yes the little girl might feel a little displaced but rather than demonizing the family the video should concentrate on the love they’re trying to give the little girl. I’ve always wanted to adopt but I’ve always been scared that once I do what will it be like for her? Will she feel confident and comfortable? Sometimes no matter what you do adoptive children can feel out of place. But I raised my nieces as my own and I love them as my own so I know I will love her as my own. This kind of video doesn’t fairly show adoption and I think it can do damage to people that are thinking of adopting. Adoption is a wonderful and beautiful gift for both parties.
My great niece Jada is awesome!
❤
Wow! That made me cry. A very powerful statement. Excellent work. And the young actor was and is a gift. Thank you for your work.
Thank you much appreciated
She isn't wrong about Chinese buffets here in America lol but I mean there still good!
Tbh if she wanted dumplings, I'd be surprised if that restaurant didn't have any.
You ever notice when a Chinese restaurant opens up, all the stray dogs, and feral cats in the area disappear within a month or two?...
@@aryanson racism isn’t humor
This world is so complex and beautiful thanks for the perspective
Everyone except the Asian neighbors spoke to her like she was 3. And that father. Honestly....irritated me beyond words.
That being said....well done.
Really beautiful short film.
What a wonderful film with so much going in such a small amount of time. Everything else aside, I am always floored by what young child who act can do.
"Esther knew..." Omg'sh, she knew.. Ever since this awkward birthday.. Omg'sh.. ;( Esther's blessed with a loving family. She's multi cultured; and (I'm sad) some of her chinese culture is being filtered out like a water eroding process.. However, she has a special situation. She can adapt. (I'm glad) She's a (and many viewers of this film are all) little pioneer(s). :)
"Ultimately, your state of mind determines your circumstances. To realize the outcomes you want, it is critical to recognize and experience the transition from our present thoughts, habits, and actions to new thoughts, habits, and actions."
Darren L. Johnson
I love this one. Shes so cute. Very real. Always be grateful.🌹
Just watching this makes me miss the buffet I used to frequent lmao
Same!😆 Here in Fl buffets are open but to go to one these days is just asking to get sick so I'll pass.
this is what mariah carey's "Outside" is about. Go listen to that song now after watching this.
This is just such an amazing work of art
Amazing!
Always when i watch omleto i forget that they are actors
Aster is so pure sweet, very gentle, and pure cute. How old is she...about 7 ??? How can she know if a fragile glass piece of art by the busy vulnerable front door is some person or groups "luck protecting fragile sacred glass?" She's like, 6? 7? She's an innocent little child. Helping her with confidence is important. And not chastising her, is important. Like some of us watching this, we find ourselves pouring our love to Ester. She's so gentle, and pure innocent. She is a real and gentle Angel.
I can't help myself...I'm pouring my inner spirits love to her🧕
The Central Americans use teal paint, very safe from "breaking like a fragile piece of thin glass art" by the "busy vulnerable door" and the teal around windows and doors is super safe. Who's correct? Everybody watch out for the fragile thin easy breakable piece of glass by the busy fragile doorway in and out of the building, and where people congregate coming in and out...or, teal paint around the windows and doors??? I'm just looking at this with "common sense.". It's basically a common sense thing with using crafty useful forks or spoons, verses two pieces of wood, to eat with. Two sticks...yeah if your in the woods with no spoon or fork, sure.
I'm just looking at this with "common sense" not traditional. In some native ways of thinking, sacrificing cute girls was a tradition. Chop sticks...tradition. Fragile thin piece of glass by the busy front door. Who's got common sense? What is important, is what would God almighty might really think about who's using their brains in the most common sense way??? Who's scolding little innocent shy kids over a misplaced fragile piece of thin glass by the front door no less?
Come on! Where is common sense in all this "sacred" thinking.
Maybe...just maybe God even thinks this is way off track for common sense to put a fragile piece of thin glass by the houses busy vulnerable front door..
Mums food cannot be compared with comercial food. 🤷♀️
The description is a very very interesting read.
She just left her kid there like yeah sure bah