I think it’s fantastic that we adoptees are becoming more aware of how important it is to explore our histories in order for us to become more integrated and well balanced…

Name:

Lynelle Beveridge – Vong Ung Thanh

History:

Left Vietnam in 1973 and was adopted into an Australian family. Resides in Sydney, Australia and is currently 30 years old. Returned to visit Vietnam in 2000 for the first time.

Occupation:

Service Delivery Manager – IBM Global Services. Founder & Director, Vision for Life and The Inter-country Adopte Support Network – www.icasn.org

On Being Vietnamese:

I love the fact that I look younger than I am! I love having a small nose so that when I kiss it doesn’t get in the way. I love having a small petite figure as I never have to worry about being overweight. I love these things that I’ve inherited no doubt from my Vietnamese parents. I love being a part of two cultures – Australian and Vietnamese.

I think it’s fantastic that we adoptees are becoming more aware of how important it is to explore our histories in order for us to become more integrated and well balanced. I can’t wait for the day when adoption is by and large a mostly positive experience for all – this will occur as society becomes more aware of what it means to be inter-racially adopted and how we can best provide support and understanding to those involved.

Happy To Have Achieved:

Inventor of a Patent; Contributor of book “The Color of Difference”; Founder of “Vision for Life” and “ICASN; success in overcoming the personal issues in my life that once hindered me; to have travelled the world and taken some amazing photos; to have financial stability & educational success.

Dreams:

My hopes are to make a positive difference in the lives of as many as possible. My dreams are to live a fulfilling life with people I love around me. My hope is one day I will go back to Vietnam and make a positive contribution to the lives of the Vietnamese people, especially the kids.

Vietnamese Mentors/Inspirations?

My favourite Vietnamese people are the many adoptees from Vietnam who I am now good close friends with. These people are part of my extended family for we all have survived and turned our lives into a positive experience.