Posted by Christina (67.70.203.127) on March 22, 2004 at 12:35:56:
In Reply to: meaning of Meng Tong posted by Christina on January 02, 2004 at 18:26:16:
To Ruitao. Please know that I have the utmost respect for my daughter's Chinese heritage and it was not my intention to disrespect her lineage by dropping the surname of Cao. As Kevin has pointed out, my daughter was adopted and the surname of Cao was, in fact, the surname of the orphanage administrator. She had been residing in an ophanage since she was approximately two or three days old (estimated by the orphanage). We became a family when she was nine months old. I truly wish I knew more about her lineage as it would be wonderful to have kept her rightful name. Unfortunately no note was found with her when she was discovered abandoned. In keeping the name of Meng Tong, designated by the orphanage, as her middle name was my attempt at ensuring she maintains a link to her Chinese heritage. She is now four years old and extremely proud to be Chinese and loves to tell everyone her middle name. To Lisa, I have several adoption documents but unfortunately the Chinese characters don't seem to be the same in some of them. I've done further research on the ones in her Chinese passport and have discovered that Meng Tong likely means "dream child" (nice huh?).
I realize that this was probably not the appropriate forum to use, since it was not a surname I was researching, but appreciate the feedback just the same.
Thank you
Christina, proud Mom to Mackenzie Meng Tong Traynor