0:00:02 > 0:00:03PHONE RINGS
0:00:05 > 0:00:07Hello?
0:00:07 > 0:00:09Hi.
0:00:09 > 0:00:10Hi.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Happy birthday.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Yeah, happy birthday.
0:00:14 > 0:00:15Thank you.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17Um, I like your gift.
0:00:19 > 0:00:20What?
0:00:20 > 0:00:23I like your gift.
0:00:23 > 0:00:24Er, wait.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT IN CHINESE
0:01:54 > 0:01:55It is beautiful.
0:01:57 > 0:01:58Angela, wave.
0:02:02 > 0:02:04That's where we're headed, up there.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10'One of my dreams in life and one of my strong desires'
0:02:10 > 0:02:12was to be a mother,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15and since I hadn't had that happen yet,
0:02:15 > 0:02:17it was still something that I really, really wanted.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22It came up very, very early in our relationship
0:02:22 > 0:02:25that I wanted children and that was non-negotiable.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28So, he knew right away that that was part of the deal,
0:02:28 > 0:02:30it was a package deal!
0:02:30 > 0:02:34Angela had this way of looking at me and...
0:02:34 > 0:02:38she would say something and she would turn her head and smile,
0:02:38 > 0:02:42and it would just melt me, and it just cracked me up at the same time.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44So, she would do this and...
0:02:46 > 0:02:48You know, I just fell in love with this woman.
0:02:50 > 0:02:51Unfortunately,
0:02:51 > 0:02:56we didn't have a child and so she gave me her second option,
0:02:56 > 0:02:58which was to adopt.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03When they finally sent us the picture of this little girl,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06all of a sudden, you know, there she is,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08"OK, you've got to be in China in a month."
0:03:08 > 0:03:10It's like, "Wow. OK, here we go."
0:04:29 > 0:04:31SHE SINGS IN CHINESE
0:06:16 > 0:06:18There she is, the new mommy,
0:06:18 > 0:06:20she's going to go get her.
0:06:21 > 0:06:22Up here.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25On the one, two, third floor.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Somewhere in this building,
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Mia waits.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33OK, come in and take your seat.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38I remember walking in, and there was so much going on
0:06:38 > 0:06:40and I didn't know what to concentrate on.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43Then there was a lot of officials, a lot of nannies,
0:06:43 > 0:06:44a lot of crying babies -
0:06:44 > 0:06:46a LOT of crying babies.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48It just got really chaotic.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50Everybody started looking for their child,
0:06:50 > 0:06:53and I remember trying to focus on Mia,
0:06:53 > 0:06:54"Where is she?"
0:06:57 > 0:06:59And, finally, I looked over and I spotted her,
0:06:59 > 0:07:01so I said to Angela, I go,
0:07:01 > 0:07:03"Hey, Angela, there she is."
0:07:05 > 0:07:06Aw...
0:07:09 > 0:07:10It's OK.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16MIA CRIES
0:07:18 > 0:07:20When Angela grabbed her and...
0:07:20 > 0:07:24It was like, "Wow! "Wow, this is my daughter."
0:07:24 > 0:07:26BABIES CRYING
0:07:33 > 0:07:35What's wrong, Mia?
0:07:35 > 0:07:37- It's all right.- We're here now. - That's Daddy.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40- We're going to take care of you. - That's Daddy.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Yeah, we're going to take care of you for the rest of your life.
0:07:45 > 0:07:46You're so beautiful.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Getting Mia ready that first night,
0:07:58 > 0:08:00it was a very special moment.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05You know, she's mine now, I have to take care of her
0:08:05 > 0:08:09and, somehow or other, guide her through life.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11Finally, I became a mother.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22The next morning, we went back to do paperwork.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26We got off the bus and we all went upstairs.
0:09:26 > 0:09:28Angela was holding Mia.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32There was a lot of other people,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35a lot of activity going on.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37I was holding Mia and walking around,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39and something caught my attention,
0:09:39 > 0:09:40and I looked over.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02It was just incredible.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08And she's wearing the same red gingham dress that's Mia's wearing.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10I just couldn't believe it.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- What are the odds? - Yeah, what are the odds of that?
0:10:15 > 0:10:19What are the odds of me buying the dress here and Wenche,
0:10:19 > 0:10:23the same thing - she had bought her dress for Alexandra in Norway.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26And then the fact that we both had them
0:10:26 > 0:10:30wearing those dresses the day we met, that was pretty incredible.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52I said something like, "Oh, the girls look so much alike."
0:10:52 > 0:10:57And we started talking and I asked when her little girl's birthday was
0:10:57 > 0:11:02and it was the same day, and a few other details were the same.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06Then we asked our guides to ask the orphanage director
0:11:06 > 0:11:10if they were twins but they said no, they're not.
0:11:18 > 0:11:23At that point, to be honest, I was in shock.
0:11:23 > 0:11:27I really did not know what to do at that moment. I mean, what can you do?
0:11:27 > 0:11:31You're in communist China. I mean, who do you tell?
0:11:31 > 0:11:34At that point they told us the girls were not twins.
0:11:34 > 0:11:36China said they're not twins.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38So of course you think, "Maybe I'm imagining this.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41"Maybe they don't really look that much alike."
0:11:41 > 0:11:44That's Alexandra right there.
0:11:45 > 0:11:47Mia right there.
0:11:49 > 0:11:54- Yep, they're sisters.- You tell me. - What do you think about DNA testing?
0:12:12 > 0:12:15'I had given Wenche all of my information.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19'Every way of contacting me I could think of, I gave to her.
0:12:19 > 0:12:20'But she was having trouble
0:12:20 > 0:12:23'translating her contact information into English
0:12:23 > 0:12:27'so when we left China, I really didn't have any way to contact her.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31'You know, we took a bunch of pictures of the girls and then,
0:12:31 > 0:12:33'you know, then they were gone.'
0:13:50 > 0:13:54# Twinkle, twinkle little star... #
0:13:56 > 0:14:02'She's just the most wonderful gift ever.'
0:14:05 > 0:14:08And it's, you know, it's something that's made me
0:14:08 > 0:14:10as happy as anything could make me.
0:14:17 > 0:14:22'And then about a month later is when Wenche called.'
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Ba, ba, ba, ba!
0:14:25 > 0:14:29Ba, ba, ba! Ba, ba, ba!
0:14:45 > 0:14:46MUSIC PLAYS
0:14:46 > 0:14:49Are you dancing?
0:14:49 > 0:14:52'It was great news for Mia cos most of those girls
0:14:52 > 0:14:55'adopted from China will never have that biological connection
0:14:55 > 0:14:58'with a sibling or parents.'
0:14:58 > 0:15:01From the minute we got Mia's referral
0:15:01 > 0:15:03and we got that picture of her, she was our daughter.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05And I'm sure they felt the same way.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23There was no conversation with Wenche and Sigmund
0:15:23 > 0:15:26and us about the girls living together
0:15:26 > 0:15:30because by the time we found out it was six months after we'd been home
0:15:30 > 0:15:35and both girls were, you know, part of their own families at that point.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37And we just felt very,
0:15:37 > 0:15:40very lucky and fortunate to have found Alexandra.
0:15:40 > 0:15:45- Mia has a brother that lives with his mom.- I have a son, Stephen.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49So she's kind of used to having a sibling that doesn't live with her.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Very pretty!
0:16:50 > 0:16:52BELL RINGS
0:16:52 > 0:16:57She wants some more lemonade cos the pot is empty.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00Let's practice the wave again and walk this way.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03Keep it in a straight line.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50I live in Sacramento.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54It's a big city with lots of people so you have to watch out.
0:17:56 > 0:17:58'We live in a nice neighbourhood
0:17:58 > 0:18:00'but my parents don't let me go out on my own.'
0:18:00 > 0:18:02I'm cold, Mom.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07We always take her to the places she needs to go.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15It's just not worth taking a risk.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19She is our angel. She's...she's our little girl.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21You know, it's America.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25You never know who's out there. You never know what's going to happen.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22OK, open. You look cute!
0:19:22 > 0:19:24# To the left
0:19:24 > 0:19:26# Take it back now, y'all Go back!
0:19:26 > 0:19:28# One hop this time... # THEY CHEER
0:19:33 > 0:19:36You look fabulous. Stop right there. Let me take your picture.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Oh, so cute.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41Blow me a kiss.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Give me some diva arms.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46Gimme five!
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Make sure you get between them and the ball. OK, you're out there.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27- Let's go.- It's time.- It's time.- You can have this later.- Good hustle.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Lots of hustle!
0:20:29 > 0:20:33SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
0:20:37 > 0:20:41- Good shot, Mia. Good shot, Mia. - Oh, good ball, Mia.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Pass it! Pass it!
0:20:44 > 0:20:46'Life can be very competitive
0:20:46 > 0:20:51'and we want to give her the ability to be able to do a lot of things.'
0:20:51 > 0:20:56'In the States it's very competitive. The colleges take the top kids.'
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Go, go, go, go!
0:20:58 > 0:21:02'You have to give your child the best opportunity they can to succeed.'
0:21:04 > 0:21:08ALL: Two, four, six, eight! Who do we appreciate? Cheetahs!
0:21:19 > 0:21:24- There.- What you're going to do is when people come out of the stores,
0:21:24 > 0:21:26you're going to walk past and what are you going to say?
0:21:26 > 0:21:29"Would you like to buy some Girl Scout cookies?"
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Make sure your thumb is right there.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49Thank you very much. Looks great.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53OK. Smile.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32There's a big ocean between us.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Alexandra keeps sending me cards and letters.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43I always get happy when I hear from her.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56SHE READS CARD ALOUD
0:27:08 > 0:27:12There are times when she'll say something.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15For instance, she recently talked about getting her hair cut
0:27:15 > 0:27:17and then she said, "No.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20"I can't get my hair cut cos then I won't look like Alexandra's twin."
0:27:20 > 0:27:24So I think she thinks about it maybe more than we realise.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27She doesn't verbalise it that much, though.
0:27:27 > 0:27:31- She has a lot of distractions, too. - Yeah, that's true.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36You know, normal things in her everyday life that keeps her
0:27:36 > 0:27:41distracted, with school and violin and Girl Scouts and...
0:27:41 > 0:27:44- Playdates.- ..playdates and so, um...
0:27:46 > 0:27:49I think she just has more distractions to keep her mind.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36I have a doll and it's called a Look Like Me doll.
0:29:37 > 0:29:41She's got long black hair, just like me.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46And we have the same dresses.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49My mom fixes everything for Christmas.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52She just gets the Christmas tree from the garage.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55I guess it's plastic.
0:30:55 > 0:30:59Plastic, I... I don't really know exactly what it's made of
0:30:59 > 0:31:03but they do a pretty good job of making them look real.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06Comes in three different pieces and it's really easy to manage because
0:31:06 > 0:31:10it's got all the lights already attached so it's really nice.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15- Turn this one over.- Got it, Mom.- OK.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17Let me get you some tape.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41What does it say?
0:31:41 > 0:31:44It's mine! Oh, wait. It says Mia.
0:31:47 > 0:31:50- Shall we take it home?- Mm-hmm.- OK.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55Wonder what it is. Can you smell it?
0:31:55 > 0:31:58- Smell like anything? - Smells like Norway.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01Like Norway?
0:32:01 > 0:32:03I want to run.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19"To Mia from Alexandra."
0:32:19 > 0:32:21SHE SQUEALS
0:32:46 > 0:32:48Oh, look at Mia!
0:33:37 > 0:33:41Good morning, Mia. Time to wake up.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44Good morning!
0:33:46 > 0:33:49Good morning, Mia.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53Time to rise and shine.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14OK, can you hand me the rubber band, please?
0:34:16 > 0:34:18Thank you.
0:35:05 > 0:35:07OK, what time is it, Mia?
0:35:07 > 0:35:107...7:05, right?
0:35:10 > 0:35:12- Tick the time off. - Yep, 7:05.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14Bye.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42My name is.
0:35:56 > 0:35:57And one, two, three!
0:36:02 > 0:36:06# Happy birthday to you
0:36:06 > 0:36:10# Happy birthday to you
0:36:10 > 0:36:16# Happy birthday, dear Mia
0:36:16 > 0:36:19# Happy birthday to you. #
0:36:19 > 0:36:22MANY: Cha-cha-cha! Hi-ya!
0:36:23 > 0:36:25THEY CHEER
0:36:26 > 0:36:28- Blow 'em! Blow 'em! - THEY LAUGH
0:37:02 > 0:37:05PHONE RINGS
0:37:07 > 0:37:11- Hello?- Hi.- Hi.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13Happy birthday.
0:37:13 > 0:37:17- Happy birthday.- Thank you.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22- I like your gift.- What?
0:37:22 > 0:37:25- I like your gift.- Wait.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37- Hello, Mia. Happy birthday. - Thank you.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40What are you saying to Alexandra?
0:37:40 > 0:37:44I said I like the gift that you sent.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52Me too.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55- She wants to tell you something in Norwegian.- OK.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04What?
0:38:07 > 0:38:09Oh, thank you!
0:38:11 > 0:38:15I can't wait to see you in July.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24- Me too!- Goodbye.- Goodbye.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48No.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57So you want chicken nuggets, Mia?
0:39:00 > 0:39:03I think maybe Mia's a little apprehensive.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05It's hard for the girls to communicate
0:39:05 > 0:39:10because of the two languages so I think maybe she's a little anxious
0:39:10 > 0:39:13about how it's going to be when she sees her sister.
0:39:13 > 0:39:19And it's hard. I don't think they have a real bond quite yet.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47So, this is for Alexandra.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51We got her a licence plate for her bike, if she has a bike.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54It says "California girls rule".
0:39:54 > 0:40:01A lip gloss, a headband, a lollipop - a jellybean lollipop -
0:40:01 > 0:40:05and another headband. I have the same one.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09Mechanical pencils for her notepad and then a shirt.
0:40:12 > 0:40:17And then to carry all this stuff in is a purse.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22So, yeah.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30It's just really exciting to think that we're finally getting
0:40:30 > 0:40:33to go to Norway to see them and see how they live.
0:40:33 > 0:40:35That's going to be just incredible.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59- I'm done.- You're done? OK. Go ahead and close it up and zip up your bag.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01Oh, gosh.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07All right. I hope you guys have got everything.
0:42:05 > 0:42:09- Look! Look at that waterfall, see?- Oh, yeah.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17Fresvik.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37- I see Alexandra, up on the hill! - Look at her jumping!
0:42:37 > 0:42:39SHE SQUEALS
0:42:46 > 0:42:49SHE SQUEALS
0:42:56 > 0:42:58- Hi!- Hi!
0:43:24 > 0:43:26OK.
0:43:33 > 0:43:35OK.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38OK.
0:43:38 > 0:43:41Erm...
0:43:41 > 0:43:42yeah.
0:43:46 > 0:43:47Erm...
0:43:59 > 0:44:01THEY SQUEAL
0:45:00 > 0:45:05- I have to tell you this is very beautiful, Sigmund.- Yes.- Yeah.
0:45:05 > 0:45:09Back home, this would be a national park.
0:45:09 > 0:45:11You'd have to pay to come in here.
0:45:14 > 0:45:18I find it very breathtaking.
0:45:18 > 0:45:23It reminds me of the movies with the clouds on top. It's very nice.
0:45:23 > 0:45:27- I think it's the most beautiful place I've ever seen.- Wow.- Yeah.
0:45:29 > 0:45:34Cos the mountains are so tall then you've got the beautiful fjord.
0:45:51 > 0:45:55'Oh, yeah. It's beautiful here. It just looks like a storybook town.
0:45:55 > 0:45:59'Like a town you wouldn't think even exists any more.'
0:46:01 > 0:46:04OK, smile.
0:46:04 > 0:46:06Look up here, Alexandra.
0:47:08 > 0:47:12Best friends. Swap places.
0:47:12 > 0:47:13Oh.
0:47:15 > 0:47:17Barely connected.
0:47:18 > 0:47:20It's very small.
0:47:39 > 0:47:45- Brush.- Where's your brush? - I'm brushing your hair.
0:47:45 > 0:47:46There is yours.
0:47:48 > 0:47:53Alexandra! I don't want to use my brush.
0:47:53 > 0:47:55Don't bite. I'll kill you.
0:48:07 > 0:48:08Ow!
0:48:14 > 0:48:16You can do it harder than that.
0:48:18 > 0:48:21- I didn't mean that hard. Ow!- Sorry.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28THEY GIGGLE
0:48:40 > 0:48:42Good night, sis.
0:48:49 > 0:48:50Ew!
0:48:52 > 0:48:54SHE SPLUTTERS
0:48:58 > 0:49:00Eugh!
0:49:00 > 0:49:02Stinky!
0:49:03 > 0:49:06- Are you used to that smell?- Yeah.
0:49:25 > 0:49:28How many pieces of equipment do you own?
0:49:28 > 0:49:31Oh, I'm not sure about that.
0:49:34 > 0:49:38- Cos this is cool.- Maybe I have more than I need.- More than you need?
0:49:38 > 0:49:42- You can never have more than you need.- No, no. I can't.
0:49:45 > 0:49:49So, you're going to sell one then use the money to come to America?
0:49:49 > 0:49:51Maybe. Maybe.
0:49:52 > 0:49:55- Wenche have to decide that.- Oh.
0:49:55 > 0:49:58- Yeah. I've got a boss, too.- Yeah.
0:50:00 > 0:50:04- But here in my garage I am my own boss.- You're the boss. OK, cool.
0:50:04 > 0:50:08- Pull the reins up, Mia. - I'm trying to.
0:50:16 > 0:50:18Pull it. Pull it. There you go.
0:50:18 > 0:50:20There you go. Good, Mia.
0:50:34 > 0:50:40Just, like, seems like every house is set up for people just to relax and,
0:50:40 > 0:50:44you know, just sit around together and enjoy each other's company.
0:50:45 > 0:50:50Us, we're always on the go. Always going someplace, doing something.
0:50:50 > 0:50:54Here they just seem to, like, sit around and enjoy each other.
0:50:55 > 0:51:00- I like that.- They don't really worry about us too much.
0:51:00 > 0:51:03- They're just busy doing their own thing.- They have each other now.
0:51:03 > 0:51:05They're off in their own little world and...
0:51:05 > 0:51:08- Mom and Dad don't matter any more. - Yeah.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15Mia!
0:51:32 > 0:51:38'I really like biking around Fresvik with Alexandra all by ourselves.
0:51:38 > 0:51:40'No parents.'
0:52:00 > 0:52:03Sometimes it's hard to understand her.
0:52:03 > 0:52:09Sometimes, like, when I say to her, like, something, she'll say, "What?"
0:52:09 > 0:52:13And then I'll say it again and she's like, "What?"
0:52:13 > 0:52:14And I'll have to act it out like...
0:52:17 > 0:52:19Why are you doing that?
0:52:33 > 0:52:36Oh, it's a little big.
0:52:55 > 0:52:58It is very interesting cos even though they're being raised
0:52:58 > 0:53:02in different parts of the world, totally different environments,
0:53:02 > 0:53:05their personalities are very, very similar.
0:53:05 > 0:53:10They're very outgoing and they both have a very strong will.
0:53:10 > 0:53:14I would see Alexandra doing things, little mannerisms,
0:53:14 > 0:53:16the way she would say things, expressions,
0:53:16 > 0:53:19and I thought those were things Mia had picked up
0:53:19 > 0:53:22from kids at school but when I saw Alexandra doing that,
0:53:22 > 0:53:27that's when I really knew that that genetic part of it
0:53:27 > 0:53:31is really a strong part of who they are.
0:53:31 > 0:53:34Environment can't change a lot of things.
0:53:44 > 0:53:48'I guess it was just meant to be for us to find each other
0:53:48 > 0:53:52'and for these girls to, you know, eventually bond
0:53:52 > 0:53:55'and be together, somehow.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01'There was something that brought us together.'
0:54:08 > 0:54:11'This is fate. This had to happen. This had to happen.'
0:54:21 > 0:54:23THEY LAUGH
0:55:05 > 0:55:08- Say the alphabet, OK? Ready?- What?
0:55:08 > 0:55:12Say the alphabet, OK? Slow. A, B...
0:55:12 > 0:55:15- OK.- One, two, three.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17- A, B... - PHONE BEEPS
0:55:19 > 0:55:21So stupid.
0:55:22 > 0:55:24SHE RECITES THE ALPHABET
0:55:42 > 0:55:44All right, Wenche.
0:55:48 > 0:55:51- We'll see you again soon.- Bye!
0:55:54 > 0:55:56Bye, Andy. I love you.
0:55:57 > 0:56:01I hope to see you soon.
0:56:01 > 0:56:03Bye!
0:56:05 > 0:56:08- I love you.- I love you. - I love you too.
0:56:39 > 0:56:41I love you too!
0:57:22 > 0:57:26'After we left I think of Alexandra more often.
0:57:26 > 0:57:28'Almost every day.
0:57:36 > 0:57:38'I don't know when I'll see her again.'
0:57:46 > 0:57:49# My bonnie lives over the ocean
0:57:49 > 0:57:53# My bonnie is over the sea
0:57:53 > 0:57:57# My bonnie lives over the ocean
0:57:57 > 0:58:01# Oh, bring back my bonnie to me
0:58:01 > 0:58:03# To me... #