A day to celebrate roots

Zeng Hongyan, wife of Consul General of China in Houston Li Qiangmin, welcomed a group of special guests to their residence on Saturday afternoon.

Seven families that adopted children from China — some with special medical conditions — were invited to the residence to celebrate International Children's Day.

Deputy Consul General Wang Yu, Liu Hongmei and other consulate members and their children joined the guests for the festivities.

More than 30 children were treated to popcorn, stuffed panda toys, a bounce house and balloons.

After screening Born in China, a documentary about a female leopard and her two cubs, a golden snub-nosed monkey and a mother panda and her daughter, Consul General Li Qiangmin told the adopted children that "You are all born in China!"

"Many of you braved difficulties in early childhood and now live a happy life with your American parents. I am happy to be with you and hope you enjoy the love from China," Li said

Li called the children natural bridges of friendship between China and the US. He hoped the children will not only learn English but also Chinese to grow up to be the envoys of friendship between the two countries.

Li also thanked the American parents for bringing a new and happy life to the boys and girls.

Children of the consulate staff performed martial arts, sang and played musical instruments for the guests following the film.

Todd Huhn, a doctor from southeast Houston, said his family enjoyed the event.

The Huhn family adopted six year-old Meili about four years ago from Yunnan. She sported the same hairstyle as her adoptive older sisters Elizabeth and Catherine. "She wants to do everything her sisters do," said Huhn.

"I was born in China," Meili chimed in.

"She says 'I was born in China' every time she hears something about China," Huhn said with a laugh.

While Elizabeth said she liked the panda best in the film, Meili said she liked the leopards more because they were so cute.

Meili bonded especially well with her adoptive father, the family said. "Because she bonded to him so well so quickly, the orphanage director jokingly said, 'Oh, your biological father has come to get you now'", said mother Barbra Huhn.

The Huhns not only celebrate Meili's birthday every year but also the day she was adopted as "Family Day".

"I like my parents," declared Meili, holding on tight to her father.

Huhn said when Meili gets old enough to remember her experiences, they plan to take her to visit China to learn about her roots.

"We'll wait until she can carry her own suitcase," said Barbra.

"We call her our little sister. We are still teaching her stuff," said Elizabeth.

After dinner, the children mingled more and played games in the courtyard.