Coming to America

Elena talks about the recent second hurricane that hit Florida and visiting local shops in support and an event that occurred that created a compound effect, how one action by someone can create additional actions of others. The compound effect works in how people parent their kids and the impacts and day-to-day activities beyond adoption.  elenalee.net 

Elena talks about how dreams can change as we change and grow as people. Elena also goes over her speeches at schools inspiring kids to pursue their dreams  elenalee.net 

Elena talks about what she dreamed of doing and becoming vs where she is now.  Elenalee.net 

Elena talks about recent Hurricane that went through the United States but how her life's circumstances helps deal with unsettling times like preparing for chaotic times such as a hurricane  elenalee.net 

Elena talks about nearly being involved with a car accident that could have turned deadly and how it helped her reflect on life.  elenalee.net 

Elena talks about adoption and foster homes and how adults get to create a checklist for what kid they want but kids don't. And how parents select kids without challenges so their parent life can be easier.  elenalee.net 

Elena talks about people stating that she should be grateful for being adopted. She discusses the assumption adoption is always a good thing but putting perspective that not every adoption is a better situation.  elenalee.net 

Elena talks about the typical family tree assignment kids do when younger. The assignment is hard for kids who don't know their family history and can trigger memories and hard conversations for families.  elenalee.net 

Elena talks about a question she gets from people, "how much did you cost?" when finding out she's adopted.  elenalee.net

Elena talks about the letter she wrote to her adoptive mom to help rebuild their broken relationship.  elenalee.net 

Elena talks about her back surgery and her relationship with her mom during her recovery. She discusses getting life threatening blood clots and learning to re-walk. 

Elena talks about being compared to her siblings growing up and being told she wasn't good enough for a certain university. 

Elena talks about her memories from Russia going to ballets and being taken to places kids shouldn't see or experience. And while trying  trying to communicate it to her adoptive mother, she got told she was remembering wrong. Lack of communication resulted in frustration and resent growing up. 

Elena continues to talk about her strained relationship with her adoptive mother. She goes into how she got disciplined by her mother and her Outbook paddle story. 

Elena talks about the power of words on people's lives and her rough relationship with her mom, growing up.  Website: https://www.elenalee.net Book:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena goes over recovering from COVID and how Americans prioritize health in comparison to other countries.  Website: https://www.elenalee.net Book:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena talks about meeting someone through work who wore  a rare three ring interlock band, tying to Russian and European culture which led to conversation about adoption.  Website: https://www.elenalee.net Book:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena talks  about language barrier and how to not use it as a crutch https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena discusses her fear of dogs when she first came to America and how her adopting her dog was a mirror of how she was adopted. https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena talks about 4th of July/Independence Day memories and how she celebrates along with how 9/11 impacted her adoption and her fortune of being able to be in America and celebrating the 4th of July holiday.  https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena talks about her lack of resources to turn to and how one source as an adult helped her forgive herself and her mother and begin her journey of creating adoptee resources to help others.  https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena talks about her experience of others knowing adoptee parents and their information and whether they should let the adoptee know their parents and their contact information  https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena discusses her zen as a child and adult and how her adoption helped her find it.  https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena talks about people calling her communist because of her background of being adopted from Russia.  https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena talks about not having much of a medical history being adopted and how it impacted her growing up. https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena talks about her recent first class flying experience and remembering her first trip on an airplane when getting adopted from Russia. https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena talks about Easter and Russian traditions  https://www.elenalee.net https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09GXK8PCX

Elena talks about how we are taught to fear along with the Russian vs Ukraine war. 

Elena talks about the American Dream that society pressures many into. elenalee.net

Elena talks about her Christmas break looking at her adoption pictures and forming habits vs resolutions. elenalee.net 

Elena talks about her meetup with her adoptee friend and significance of the Russian vodka

Elena talks about opening her Russian vodka her dad bought her from Russia when her parents came to adopt her. elenalee.net

Elena talks about the common questions she gets since she was adopted and came to America. elenalee.net

Elena talks about the perception of how adoption is an easy decision in the news and media oulet. elenalee.net

Elena goes more in depth of her adoption story. Check out my webiste: elenalee.net 

Elena discusses how holidays can be hard for adoptees as it triggers reminders of missing out on family.  Check out my website: elenalee.net 

Elena explains how she ended up writing a children's book. She provides insight to her coffee shop writing process and her JK Rowling moment of writing out her story line in a simple but profound way that led her to her book publishing. www.elenalee.net

Welcome to my podcast, Coming to America by Elena Lee. I was adopted from Russia to American parents. For the longest time, I hated acknowledging i was adopted but as I got older I realized how important it was for me to discuss it and how little help there is out for adoptees. I wrote a children's book about my journey to help start the taboo conversations regarding adoption. Following my book publishing, I started a Podcast and blog so listeners could get insight of my journey and the impacts adoption has on adoptees and adopters.  Check out my website: elenalee.net