Matthias, Sarah and Johanna Labee went looking for their roots

Sarah Labee_ Johanna and Matthias- Veenendaal- series adoption (2)

Johanna had been talking about Colombia ever since she could talk. Sarah was afraid she wouldn't find a family. And Matthias felt less need to go looking for his biological family. Nevertheless, the entire Labee family went on a roots trip in 2016.

Are there any topics that have not yet been discussed that they would like to mention? At the end of the interview, Matthias, Sarah and Johanna Labee look at each other for a moment. “Yes,” says Sarah. “I wish everyone a roots trip, but let it be a well-considered choice. You have no guarantee of a good outcome. The foundation that was looking for our families in Colombia explicitly warns against this. You may want to contact your biological family, but you do not know whether they are open to that.”

itchy

The Colombian flag is on the cupboard under the stairs in the hall of the Labee family in Veenendaal. In the living room, photos recall the roots of Matthias, Sarah and Johanna. It is therefore not surprising that they are interested in news about adoption. But it is certainly not the case that it immediately dominates the conversations at the table, the three of them agree in unison.

Sarah: “And I don't even want to delve into the adoption stop that now applies. I know bad things have happened with files in the past. I certainly don't say that right. As a family, for example, we talk about how bad it is for the people that this has happened to. But a lot can also go wrong in the upbringing of biological children.”

Matthias: “When people tell inaccuracies about adoption, I get itchy. Then I will respond.”

Johanna: “Our files are just right.”

Do you often get reactions to the fact that you have been adopted?

Johanna: “Not in general. Usually I have to start it myself, then a conversation starts.”

Sarah: “Our parents have three adopted and three foster children. Not everyone knows the difference. I was also regularly abused. We have moved a few times. My skin color wasn't an issue at the secondary school I was in before. When I first drove out of the school yard after the move, a boy shouted, “This school is for whites only.” Then I ignored it, I think I would react differently now.”

Johanna: “I often got comments about my height, Matthias and Sarah about their skin color.”

What question can you no longer hear?

Matthias: „Is it your real sister? Or: are they your real parents? Even adults calmly ask that.”

Sarah: “I just answer, but it always feels a bit uncomfortable.”

How old were you when you came to the Netherlands?

Matthias: „I was 2 years and 8 months. Sarah 2.5 years and Johanna 13 months. I went along to pick up Sarah first, and a few years later Johanna. I was terribly jealous, suddenly I had to share all the attention. She looked quite special. She had five of those buns on her head.”

Sarah: “No, it was only three!”

Matthias: "Six I think."

Sarah: "Three right, Mom?" Triumphantly to Matthias: “You see, three. Yes, you had to get used to me and you had the bad luck that I knew very well what I wanted.”

Matthias: “The smell of Colombia stayed with me. A sweet air. It was a bit like bubblegum. Or a kind of smoothie of coconut fat, banana and a hint of petrol. When I came back five years later and got off the plane, I recognized it immediately.”

This is the end of a triptych about adoption. Read the entire interview in Terdege (no. 23, August 4, 2021).

Author

Gisette van Dalen-Heemskerk