Rowena (43) was taken from her mother as a baby - now she flies back to Bangladesh to meet
It came out of nowhere at the end of December: the announcement that Rowena van der Wekken was not voluntarily donated as a baby, but was taken from her mother in Bangladesh. And that she is now looking for her. It turned the life of the Vlissingen upside down, but at the same time she sees it as an opportunity. The suitcases were packed, and today Rowena flies back to Dhaka after 43 years to meet her family.
A photo album is ready on the kitchen table of Rowena's house in Vlissingen. Mother Rezia should soon give an impression of how Rowena (43) has fared in all those years. Photos of her childhood, holiday snaps and photos of her two daughters and other family members. In the hall there is a large suitcase and there is also an empty one. "For all the souvenirs," explains Rowena. "Because this is going to be the trip of a lifetime."
She made that journey in reverse as a baby, but never took a step outside Europe after that. "It is a fifteen hour flight. I've never been on a plane that long. When we go on holiday with the family, we fly to destinations such as Ibiza and then we prefer an all-inclusive beach holiday. But this is different. This is not a vacation. In a week we are dragged from hot to red by Shapla, a foundation for adoptees from Bangladesh. The visits to my family have been carefully planned. In addition, jet lag and culture shock, because Bangladesh is a very poor country. Moreover, I am very nervous. After all, you don't know if it clicks. You just have to wait and see. ”
Painful