Stranger in my homeland
Instagram story
Adoption is a journey of love, loss, and identity. But what happens when you grow up knowing you were once left behind? How do you build new connections when the fear of being abandoned again never really goes away?
For the Instagram Story of Linda, I translated the main character’s experience into a documentary-style photo series. She was adopted from China at 1½ years old and has struggled with the feeling of truly belonging. Growing up in the Netherlands, she feels more social pressure than others around her. Building relationships is difficult because deep down, she carries the fear of losing people again.
The photos show her in familiar surroundings, alone. The cold, rural Dutch landscape contrasts with where she came from. The dark and muted colors reflect the emotions of uncertainty and isolation. Her expression raises the question: Am I truly happy?
Adoption is more than a new beginning, it’s a lifelong search for balance between where you come from and where you are now.
The photos show her in familiar surroundings, alone. The cold, rural Dutch landscape contrasts with where she came from. The dark and muted colors reflect the emotions of uncertainty and isolation. Her expression raises the question: Am I truly happy?
Adoption is more than a new beginning, it’s a lifelong search for balance between where you come from and where you are now.