I came across this blog today. It is the personal blog of the Horne family- a family who has adopted children from Haiti. In this blog, the Hornes tell the story of their adoption process and, despite my slight feeling of voyeurism as I was reading it, I really found it quite fascinating.
The blog has been maintained since November 2007. It begins when the Hornes began their adoption process by sending their dossier to adoption agencies in Haiti. In 2008, the Hornes were approved to adopt Steevenson, a baby boy from Haiti. Most of the blog posts from 2008 describe the Hornes experiences as they wait for Steevenson to arrive from Haiti. The posts include the pictures of Steevenson and updates on his well-being which were proivded to the Hornes by the adoption agency. The blog also contains posts written by Dixie Bickel- seemingly an adoption worker in Haiti. Bickel's perspective is an interesting compliment to the Hornes' voices.
These types of posts continue throughout 2008 and into 2009. In February of 2009, the Hornes reveal that they are planning a trip to Haiti to see Steevenson. They describe this trip and their first interaction with Steevenson in posts from March 2009. Later that year, the Hornes are approved to adopt another Haitian child, a girl, Roselaure.
With the onset of the January 2010 earthquake the Hornes are worried about their children's well-being, but mention in the blog that both children survived the earthquake. Like many adoptive parents who had pending Haitian adoptions, the Hornes adoption was sped up following the earthquake. They travelled to Miami in late Januray of 2010 and met with their children there. They outline their stay in their blog. It seems that both children were suffering from some health issues and the Hornes were obligated to stay with Steevonson and Roselaure at a hospital in Miami for almost a month.
It appears that the Hornes were able to take their children home sometime in the mid-February 2010. The blog posts from this point on are reminiscent of the thoughts one would imagine any new parents would share with the world. In a proud and happy tone, they include an entire story of Steevenson's "pooping." They post many pictures of their children playing. They discuss Steevenson's favorite new shoes. In all, the Hornes are beaming new parents.
Yet, there are also clear allusions to their status as an adopted, and specifically internationally adopted, family. They include stories of the Haitian potluck they attended in February 2010 and they discuss their follow-up interviews with the adoption agencies.
In many ways, this blog is at the heart of my trouble writing about Haitian Adoption. When I write about Haitian Adoption I write about it as an outsider. I have no personal experience with adoption or with the country of Haiti. I typically look at the issue from a structural standpoint: "why adoption and not development? how does international adoption affect social institutions? how is adoption a political metaphor? is adoption ethical?"
However, by looking at families such as the Hornes, I am reminded of the deeply personal relationship that many people have with adoption. I am challenged to see the "macro-issues" on a "micro" scale. I look at the Hornes and ask questions about their family. Why do the Hornes have this blog? Is this a form of display or just a way for the Hornes to keep in touch with their loved ones in the technological age or is it more specifically related to the politicization and display of adoption? or of race? Why did the Hornes adopt? Or more specifically, why did the Hornes adopt from Haiti? What will become of Steeveonson and Roselaure? How is what becomes of Steevonson and Roselaure related to their adoption?
I do not have the answers to these questions, but these are questions that relate to all adoptions. Although I have not stated this on this blog, I am becoming increasingly convinced that adoption is a truly powerful force in the world. It can be a political metaphor, it can cause a re-conception of the family and it deeply affects people lives. With these questions of the Hornes' adoption, I wonder if there are universal answers to these questions. If there are, I believe that these answers may be a part of the process that will lead to the sort of social progress and development that I have argued for on this blog already.
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I am curious as to whether or not you have seen Angelina's interview with Christiane Amanpour regarding adopting from Haiti. I posted it on my blog, but since your blog is on the subject of Haitian adoption, I am curious as to how you feel about the idea (my own theory) that celebrities are holding off from adopting from Haiti because they don't want to seem trendy. Angelina seemed almost taken back when Amanpour asked her about the possibility, saying this was not the time to do such a thing. What are your thoughts on this?
ReplyDeleteI have seen part of the interview, but not its entirety. I actually posted a clip of it on this blog for my first entry.
ReplyDeleteI think that is a very interesting theory. I could definitely see celebrities such as Jolie trying to avoid being labeled "trendy" and adopting from Haiti would surely be a way to gain that label. I think that this explains the lack of a rush of celebrities awaiting Haitain adoptions.
However, I think that Jolie's response was actually legitimate. As someone who is truly active in activism and relief work, I think she really did have concerns about trafficking and child welfare.
I still wouldn't be surprised to a see a Haitian child added to the Jolie/Pitt family (and other famous adopted families) in the future, especially if the story of Haiti remains in the news.