A few years ago, posters listing 12 values started popping up all over China. The 12 sets of 2-characters were then added to the front of buildings and everyone was encouraged to memorise them. School children would have spot checks to make sure they could recite them.

The 12 values are the core values of socialism. We believe that showing love and respect for people and places means taking notice of the things that make up their everyday lives and that they value — even [and especially] if those things represent a very different political ideology from our own. read more

We love hearing the voices and stories of others in the China adoption community, so we love to publish blogs from professionals/adoptees/their families about their experiences of Chinese culture.

Eva H has lived in China for more than 10 years and has both personal and professional experience of China adoption. Raising a China-born child adopted from China while living in China can result in some unique experiences. In this blog, she shares a meaningful example: read more

We love hearing the voices and stories of others in the China adoption community, so we love to publish blogs from professionals/adoptees/their families about their experiences of Chinese culture.

Eva H has lived in China for more than 10 years and has both personal and professional experience of China adoption. Raising a China-born child adopted from China while living in China can result in some unique experiences. In this blog, she shares a meaningful example: read more

We love hearing the voices and stories of others in the China adoption community, so we love to publish blogs from professionals/adoptees/their families about their experiences of Chinese culture.

We moved here before our eldest daughter was born, so she’s spent her childhood so far here. Because her community is Chinese but her family is Western, Ayla has an interesting perspective on some of the quirky things about being a kid in China. She’s excited to share some of those with you! read more

Nic, a transracial adoptee and an transnational/transracial adopter speaks from his personal experiences about the importance of creating balanced narratives.

We love hearing the voices and stories of others in the China adoption community, so we love to publish blogs from professionals/adoptees/their families about their experiences of Chinese culture. read more

We love hearing the voices and stories of others in the China adoption community, so we love to publish blogs from professionals/adoptees/their families about their experiences of Chinese culture.

Carol B lived in Yunnan Province for over 20 years and is now involved in the business sector in Asia. When she was first involved in one of China’s Children’s Welfare Institution, there were 96 healthy baby girls in the Infant Care Room aged 0-9months. Here she shared a little what it’s like today: read more

This blog post is the second part of our look at life and culture that can easily be seen on the streets of China. You can see pt 1 here.

The most insightful thing we ever heard about China was something we were told before we even set foot IN China.  We were told;

“Everything you ever hear about China will simultaneously be completely true and completely false.” read more

The most insightful thing we ever heard about China was something we were told before we even set foot IN China.  We were told;

“Everything you ever hear about China will simultaneously be completely true and completely false.”

This helpful statement wasn’t an abstract, post-modernist philosophical reflection of life [what even is ‘truth’?], but a recognition of the reality of China. read more

Back in January 2019, Homeland Ties was in the early stages of being founded as a registered company.  At that time, I wrote one of the first blog posts introducing some of the ‘why’s’ to parents of children adopted from China; why am I asking you to add another time and financial demand to your family?  This is an updated version of that blog. read more

We love hearing the voices and stories of others in the China adoption community! So this year we’re publishing blogs from adoptees/their families about their experiences of Chinese culture and their connections with China.

Brittany is the Mama of a little one adopted from China but lived as an expat in China before bringing her son home. She was kind enough to share with us her experience of celebrating the lunar new year in China. read more