We are constantly amazed at the wonderful feedback we receive from our East Meets West Conferences. Below you will find testimonials from our conference attendees that show just how amazing bringing families together from all stages of the adoption process and educating them can be!

Chicago 2008 Testimonials

The Jaconette Family:

Thank you so much for another wonderful conference in Chicago! My husband and I also attended the Dallas conference and my mother and I attended the Minneapolis conference. Each time I have learned new information, new ideas on addressing adoption issues, other adoptive families and my rollercoaster of emotions with the waiting. We have met lots of people and have shared ideas as well as email addresses.

We appreciate the time and the effort it takes to research and set up the different people that provide information for each session and find them very valuable resources. This weekend I especially was impressed Jacque Unzicker who presented the Inter-Country Adoption and Effects on Attachment. She provided a lot of great information and the powerpoint was exceptionally helpful. My husband really enjoyed the Support in the Community as well as Gotcha Day! presentations.

Thank you again for a great weekend!

The Lafata Family:

I just wanted to tell you that Ken and I enjoyed the conference. It was nice to finally meet you and the rest of Great Wall staff. I thought the orphanage director was just lovely and I felt better knowing that there are directors who care so much for these little ones. I thought the conference had a nice selection of break out sessions to choose from and it was wonderful to meet the other families. I must admit I was feeling a bit disconnected and this conference helped make me feel apart of the conference again.

Tampa 2007 Testimonials

The Crawford Family:

We just wanted to say how much we absolutely enjoyed the EMW Tampa! Susan Fremer and all of GWCA did an amazing job! The speakers were unbelievable and my husband enjoyed the "Dad Session". We look forward to attending the EMW again next year!

The most rewarding for us was to meet and talk with Snow, she truly cares about those of us waiting in the wings for our precious angel from China! Snow took the time to talk to both of us, listen to our questions and concerns, and showed a true love and compassion for what she does!

Thank you all for helping make us more informed, and for allowing us to network and make some lasting friendships! We even met another couple with our similar LID, who knows maybe we'll be traveling together some day! If we have to wait for our little baby girl, we know it will be worth it after seeing the light and joy those children have brought to their parents! We know we made the right choice by going through GWCA for our adoption.

The Moore Family:

I just wanted to take a moment, to tell you how very much my husband & I enjoyed the conference this weekend. It never ceases to amaze me just how passionate you are about helping families understand the full scope of adopting from China, from the process, to the challenges, as well as the joys that await us all.

We both felt that our time spent in Tampa this weekend, was very rewarding and worthwhile. The program covered a good breadth of topics in the sessions and we absorbed a lot of information.

We enjoyed both Dr. Chasnoff & Jeanne Laskas speeches, they were enlightening, & dosed with a nice touch of humor. Having both Mr. Yu & Mr. Hao, representing the Chinese Consulate from Houston, gave a face to the government. Sometimes I think that many of us are intimidated by their positions, and we forget that they truly have the good of their people at heart, in what they do. They were both so amiable and welcoming to each and everyone of us. Their sincerity to support and assist the families who are adopting children from China rang true, and we felt very honored to have been able to speak with them at such an open level. Olivia's Foster Family stole my heart. They were both so incredibly loving and doting to Olivia, and so obviously proud that they were able to help some of the children through their foster care.

Thank you for allowing us to help in some small way. It was a pleasure and a sincere honor for us to be included, and it was an experience we will long treasure.

The Boss Family:
We want to extend a heart felt thank you for this conference! It was a wonderful event and would like to have it come back to Florida on a yearly basis. It was also very special to have Snow Wu here! We thank her for making the trip and taking the time to be here. We also add our appreciation for all the staff at GW - and Leigh Anne! We also love and appreciate Susan Fremer!!!

More Tampa Feedback:
The conference speakers continue to educate and inform in a useful manner. As time passes, and my questions change, there is a session and speaker to encourage and facilitate the new learning I am ready for and need! We will see you all again in Chicago!

I think they should do this same conference two days in a row - I want to do it again so I can do the seminars that I missed. I wish I could have attended them all! Dr. Chasnoff was a WONDERFUL and FACINATING speaker!

This is our second EMW conference we've attended this year. Snow Wu and Great Wall do a great job organizing this great conference. Thank You!

Dallas 2007 Testimonials

Jason and Tera Chavez:

The sessions really did exceed our expectations. All of the session topics were extremely practical and useful and we had a difficult time picking out which seminars to attend. We were also very impressed with the GWCA staff members. We sensed that the staff members genuinely care about what they are doing...that working at Great Wall is more than just a job to them. The cost of attending the conference made us a bit leery at first...also, we traveled from Minnesota so we had the added expense of cross country travel. However, we would have paid the money all over again and we found that attending the conference was worth every penny.

Ann-Marie and Arex Avanni:

All of you were enthusiastic and passionate about the connections that you help make between parents and resources and, ultimately, between children and parents. Thank you for your commitment. Finally, the unexpected piece that made the conference more impactful was the presence of children adopted from China. When we registered, we anticipated participation by adults in various stages of the adoption process. What we did not expect, were the families who attended to meet and listen to Director Zhong. Truly, the icing on the cake.

Minneapolis 2006 Testimonials

Rebecca Mathers and Beth McInery:

We had such a good time at the East Meets West conference in Minneapolis! The staff of Great Wall Adoption was friendly and helpful and the attendees genuinely interested in what we had to offer. We'd love to do it again!

Leslie Bulluck:

Thank you--the one we went to in Minneapolis was so very fruitful! I'm very appreciative of your e-mail as I cannot imagine missing this next one in Dallas!