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Identity crisis after girl's custody battle

By Tan Yingzi (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-01 10:17

After several months out of work, Anna's father finally found a job as an English writing teacher at a private foreign language training school in Changsha. Although he and Luo are divorced, he says: "I really want to take care of Luo and my three kids. As a family, we should rise and fall together."

Luo says she is trying to help Anna understand she is American-Chinese. She wants her to speak Chinese and learn to love the country's history and scenery. "But I don't want to force Anna Mae to do anything," she says. "If she doesn't want to speak Chinese or eat Chinese food, that's fine. I know it will take a long time for her to feel like a Chinese."

Anna Mae He practicing piano with her teacher. [China Daily]

As for the country where Anna spent the first eight years of her life, Luo says: "Frankly speaking, the US is a heaven for children thanks to its great education and social welfare systems," she says, "but children should be raised by their own parents. When they turn 18, I will let them decide where to study or live."

In the meantime, Anna Mae has kept in touch with her former foster parents, the Bakers, and talks to them on the telephone every Friday night.

"We were distraught when we watched the local news showing Anna boarding the plane for China," they told China Daily by e-mail.

A few months later, the two families began regular contact for Anna Mae's sake.

Related readings:  It's a family affair, period.  Chinese couple regain custody of daughter  Girl in US back in custody of Chinese parents  Girl, 8, back with Chinese parents

"At first Anna was very hesitant to speak about her life in China," say the Bakers. "With the passing of each week she has now opened up with everyone in the family. She is laughing and teasing with us all. We have mixed impressions of her life in China. She speaks of being very unhappy at school."

The Bakers hope that Anna Mae will be able to visit them during a school vacation some time in the future.

"Our love for Anna grows each day," they write. "She is thought of and prayed for every day. She is a very special little girl that has two families who both love her very much."

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