A few years back I made a submission to Downhome about how my birth mother had gotten in touch with me, and we kept in touch via telephone and Skype ever since. <br /> <br /> I was born in Newfoundland in 1981 but until my mother got in touch I didn't know exactly where on the island. As I now know my birth family are all from La Scie, on the Baie Verte Peninsula and I was born in one of the local hospitals.<br /> <br /> After I was adopted my family moved to Ontario and then several years later to Northern Ireland. Ever since my mom, Diana, got in touch with me I have always wanted to travel back to Newfoundland to meet her and all my other family there. Finally, in 2014 I was able to full fill my dream and along with my wife and children, travel across the pond for our big reunion. Luckily for us Westjet had just started a new route from Dublin to St. John's so we were in Newfoundland again after just a short four and a half hour flight. After a further flight to Deer Lake I finally had a very emotional first hug with my mom. Something I will definitely remember forever. She had also brought along several other family members to make up a large welcoming committee. <br /> <br /> The next two weeks were full of many memorable events. I met my brothers, Nik and Tim and sister, Kristi as well as many other relatives, too many to count as it turns out. It was definitely a bit of a culture shock when we first arrived in La Scie but we soon adjusted to it and I felt like I was right at home. We sampled everything that our great island has to offer and even fit in a short trip to St. John's for a bit of shopping.<br /> <br /> I have always considered Newfoundland to be my home even though I only spent the first five years of my life there. I could even see myself living there again some day. Unfortunately, our two week adventure was soon over and we had to say our very emotional good-byes. It's their turn to come over and visit us next time but I do plan to go back again some time in the future and definitely for more than two weeks.<br /> <br /> This trip served many purposes. I got to meet my mom for the first time and all my family. I got to show my wife and children where I come from as well as learning more about this myself. We all experienced the friendliness of the people and everything else that makes Newfoundland and its inhabitants who and what they are. It makes me very proud of where I come from and I know that I will always be a bayboy at heart.   Submitted By: Andrew Willans