Ties Travelers: Meet Wen
Wen and her family at the Temple of Heaven during the 2024 China Ties trip
Hi! My name is Wen Wadsworth-Curcuru, and I’m from Kalamazoo, Michigan. I traveled with China Ties in July 2024. This fall, I’ll be starting my junior year at Albion College, majoring in biology and music after spending two years at Wayne State University. When I’m not studying, I’m usually poolside—I work as a lifeguard at my local YMCA and coach diving as well. Outside of that, I love to read, cook, and crochet!
Why I Chose the Ties Program
Going back to China had always been something I wanted to do. I started becoming more curious about where I came from as I got older—dabbling in DNA testing and small searches for birth family during middle and high school. My parents had always planned for us to return to China when I was 15 or 16, but like so many things, that trip got delayed because of COVID.
Eventually, they suggested the Ties trip, and I agreed. It offered a combination of sightseeing and heritage learning that really appealed to me. As time went on, my interest in going grew deeper—not just as something we’d planned, but something I needed to do for myself.
Visiting My Birthplace
Wen visiting her orphanage in Ningdu
One of the most meaningful parts of the trip was visiting Ningdu, the place I’m from. To actually walk and drive through it—to see the real-life version of the place I’d only ever been told about—was incredibly grounding. It brought a new depth to my understanding of where I came from. I may not have grown up there, or spent a lot of time there, but this experience helped me feel a connection to China that was real and personal. It started to feel like a second home.
Confidence, Identity, and Belonging
This trip also helped me grow in confidence—not just in where I came from, but in who I am. Growing up, no one ever told me it was a bad thing to be different. But the self-consciousness of not looking like your parents or your friends, of always feeling a little outside the circle—that stuck with me. Being in China, and being with others who understood that feeling, helped chip away at some of that. It reminded me that my story is mine to own, and I’m proud of it. This trip made me love where I came from even more and more confident in who I am and was.
What Makes Ties So Special
Something I think makes the Ties Program so special is the way it brings people together. You get to be in your birth country with your family, but you also get to share the experience with other adoptees—people who get it. We got to explore cities, do fun activities, and build friendships that felt really meaningful. If we had done a different kind of trip, I think it would’ve felt a lot more isolating. Instead, I came home with a deeper connection not only to China, but to the people I traveled with.
To me, that’s what Ties is about—learning more about yourself, your birth country, and creating connections that simply can’t be replicated.
Advice for Future Travelers
In reflecting on the experience, I’d tell future adoptees or families thinking about going back: be open-minded. China looked completely different than I imagined, and my parents even said it had changed so much from when they first came to adopt me almost 20 years ago. You might get some weird reactions, or even have your photo taken, and yes—it might be uncomfortable. But soak it all in. You’re only there for a short time, and there’s something really powerful in just letting yourself be in it, even if it feels unfamiliar.
“At first I felt unsure, even a little weird about going back—even though it was something I had always wanted. But once I was there, doing all the things, it made me love China even more. My advice? Just go.”
Feeling inspired?
If Wen’s story resonated with you—or sparked curiosity about your own journey—we invite you to explore what a Ties trip might mean for you or your family.
Whether you're ready to travel or simply starting to ask the big questions, there's a community here for you.
Learn more about our 2026 China Ties Heritage Journey. Request the info packet to explore the itinerary, pricing, and what makes this trip so special.
