Reasons Why Being Adopted from China Rocks

1. China is a memorizing and beautiful country. They're often criticized about their city pollution, but there are so many hidden gems in China. I can't wait to explore their enormous mountains, lush fields and beautiful countrysides.

2. Introducing my family to the Chinese culture is really fun. It's nice to see my parents and other adoptees' parents getting involved by learning Mandarin, going to China or celebrating Chinese customs. They learn new things that they wouldn't necessarily get the opportunity to learn if they didn't adopt you. It's nice to be that link.

3. It's funny to see people's bewildered faces when you tell them your full name and they are confused as to why you don't have a 'Chinese' last name. "Shouldn't your last name be Hong or Wang?"

4. You're multicultural. You get to celebrate more than one culture! You can learn another language, wear beautifully embroidered clothing, celebrate Chinese New Year and the Lantern Festival. If your family has another background then you could be celebrating three or even four different cultures! You have so many different countries you identify yourself with.

4. THE FOOD! I love rice and noodles so I have no complaints. Also, dumplings, duh! Chinese cuisine is rich with flavour and is usually eaten with family and friends around large circular tables for maximized chatting.

6. China is a power country. We all know that everything is made in China, but so many innovative and creative ideas come from the Chinese citizens. They are reducing their carbon footprint by staying on track for their goal to get 15% of energy from clean resources (renewables, nuclear and hydro power) and reduce energy intensity by 40-45% by 2020.

7. PARENT. TEACHER. INTERVIEWS. Are the one night where I laugh in amusement as my teachers try to figure out my family for ten minutes. All Chinese adoptees remember the awkward moment when the teacher thinks the Asian couple are your parents.

8. Their transportation system is something out of this world! It travels at 250 km/hour on electricity which emits far less carbon dioxide and is faster than a car. China introduced high speed trains 10 years ago with 19,000 km of track and is preparing to double that amount by 2025. Their electric trains are incredibly fast and environmentally-friendly.

9. China encourages studying abroad for their students and are creating more opportunities for worldly students to study abroad in China. By 2020, they want to double the number of international students in China to 500,000. China also offers hundreds of degrees in English and are planning on increasing that number even more.

10. When you laugh out loud because the cashier at the grocery store puts a divider between you and your Mom's groceries because she thinks you aren't together (that actually happened to me).

11. The Chinese are extremely proud of their culture and country. I am proud too. I am so proud to come from a culture that follows traditions while creating new ones. I love the vibrant colours depicted in their clothing such as red, black, pink and blues. I enjoy that they are grateful for what they are given. I am proud to come from such a beautiful culturally enriched country that is propelling forward.

12. The astonished expressions when you introduce them to your family or show pictures of your family to them. Many questions such as, "Uhhhh... how does that work?" and "Are you a blended family?" and "I don't .....what??" Overall, you have some really good laughs at the confused facial expressions and eye twitches as you can see people's brains trying to understand what weird family voodoo happened.

Thank you to my fellow adoptees who contributed reasons reasons as to why they're proud to be adopted from China. Thank you China for being a country I can proudly say I am a part of.