On September 25, 1987, while Jhonatan Jiménez, just three years old, was playing in the backyard with his seven-year-old brother Alfonso, he was robbed by a man who tricked him into going to buy candy. This was the last time he saw Ana Jiménez, his biological mother, until 32 years later, when, after a tireless search, his brother Joan found him in Norway.
On January 7, 2020, Jhonatan returned to the country and was reunited with his mother in the same house where he was abducted. TIME to talk to him.
(In context: ‘My baby was stolen in Bogota and I found it in Norway 32 years later’).
Do you remember your childhood in Colombia?
(…)
No. I don’t remember anything here in Bogota. The only thing I remember is that I was in the park, in Ibagué, with my adoptive parents. I remember the first night with them, and three kids from the orphanage.
How was the day they adopted him?
(…)
It was a long process for them to adopt me. They were in Ibagué for about three or four weeks. I remember they arrived at night; I was very scared, I was in a room ready to sleep and turn off the light. That’s all I remember.
Why did your parents want to adopt in Colombia?
(…)
I think for them it was not important in the country, but at that time it was common to make adoptions in Colombia. They wanted to adopt because they had trouble having more children.
How long was he in the orphanage?
(…)
I don’t remember. At the orphanage they said I was there for about two years. But this is not possible because my family in Colombia has photos of me from when I was about three years old; at the orphanage they said they found me on the street when I was about a year old. I was actually robbed in September and adopted in November.
How was your life in Norway?
(…)
I grew up in Stadlandet, which is a very quiet place. It was like a farm, without animals. I grew up with a lot of love, because I was like a special child to being adopted. But I also felt different because he wasn’t my parents ’biological son.
Do you have brothers there?
(…)
Yes, they have a biological daughter, who is seven years older than me, and I always felt that they had more love for her and she was more like them. I had a very different personality.
When did you know he was adopted?
(…)
I always knew I was adopted and from Colombia, but I don’t remember a specific day. I was told that he was very exotic, and that he danced very well because he was from Colombia. That’s why I felt so different, even though I wanted to be Norwegian, like the other kids.
I always felt that they had more love for her and she was more like them
(Read also: The countries that make it easier for Colombians to go and live).
How was your relationship with your parents?
(…)
In Norway they don’t talk much about feelings. I never had personal conversations with my parents. There, family relationships are cold; in fact, my parents never told me they loved me, because the culture is so different. While here in Colombia they tell you ‘I love you’ every day.
What did you study?
(…)
I was very sensible in school and that’s why I had so many opportunities. I studied law at university and had a very good job. There I had everything I needed, but I always felt this emptiness, I wanted to know about my family and find out why I was like that. I had a lot of questions.
Feeling different, did you start looking for your biological parents?
(…)
When I was between 18 and 20 I was thinking a lot about my family and this curiosity started, but I didn’t do much at the time because I was busy with my studies, and working. But when I was 30 I felt I needed to do something.
And what did he do?
(…)
I went to Colombia for the first time, I got this gift for my birthday. I knew nothing about my family, but I wanted to know my country.
Jhonatan returned to his country at the age of 30 and went to the same park in Ibagué where he had a photo taken of him by his parents when they adopted him. He wanted to meet the orphanage, but could no longer find it.
What was it like being in Colombia?
(…)
I was in Bogotá and Ibagué, because at that time I thought I was from Ibagué. I wanted to find the orphanage where I was adopted, but I was told it no longer existed. And I also went to Cartagena. In total I was in the country for three weeks.
Did he look for his family?
(…)
I asked my mom if she had any documents to help me find my family, but I only had one page with information. I felt super bad, because she was going to adopt a child and have only this document.
And what made him think that?
(…)
I thought he was suddenly hiding something from me or that he didn’t save the documents well. That’s why I had a difficult relationship with my Norwegian mother, because I felt disappointed.
(We suggest: This is the new Colombian passport rate in 2021).
My parents never told me they loved me, because the culture is so different
What happened next?
(…)
I did a DNA test on my 30s to look for my family, but found nothing. And when I was 34 I did a new test, but this time it was to know my health, because with this test you can have information about diseases that are at risk of suffering according to DNA. But if there is information in common with another person who has been tested at the same agency, that information is received.
And he received it …
(…)
Yes. When I received the results I was told that they had found a person who was my half-brother, uncle or nephew, for the amount of DNA in common. And here I sent an email to Joan, my brother.
How did you feel when you received a response?
(…)
I was in shock and I said, ‘It can’t be, it’s not true!’. I was also a little skeptical because I didn’t know who he was, but he sent me photos of me and my siblings, and we are very similar, here I learned that yes it was my family. I felt so happy, but in shock at the same time.
What was it like seeing your brother for the first time?
(…)
My brother came to Norway to surprise, because we had a plan that was to meet in Colombia. He was very emotional and I didn’t know how to feel because they always knew about me, but I didn’t know about them. They were a lot of feelings to process. And then we went to Colombia together.
And he saw his biological mother for the first time …
(…)
It was a great show. I got home on a goat where there was a red carpet, music and there was my whole family. I was very surprised, it was very beautiful. It was a little weird to see her because she was a weird woman, but she had a lot of love for me. I felt a little uncomfortable.
His mother was waiting for him with a sign that said, “I missed you so much my son. Welcome home. I love you.”
How do you feel now?
(…)
I feel super happy. With great gratitude to my brother John, who with his persistence found me. Because I did my part, but someone had to do the other part. He never lost his faith. And I am grateful to my family, who celebrated my birthday here in Colombia and I received a cake for every year we lost.
Has your life project changed anything?
(…)
Everything changed. I was living a life in Norway with a lot of privileges and I thought this was the normal world, but no, the world is very different. I’ve learned a lot about myself, about culture, and the things that really matter. In Norway I never had a close relationship with my family, but here in Colombia our family relationship is super different.
He even learned Spanish …
(…)
Yes. I feel very happy because I learned some Spanish and had always wanted to, but I didn’t have a motivation, like I have it now.
There I had everything I needed, but I always felt this emptiness, I wanted to know about my family
When will you return to Norway?
(…)
I quit my job in Norway, but I’m going to start a new one there in April.
But do you see a future in Colombia?
For my job it is easier to live in Norway, but my dream is to do something that will allow me to live in Colombia a few months of the year.
What does it say to those who want to find their biological parents?
(…)
That I have a very beautiful story because I found a very loving family, who were sorely needed, but that is not the case for everyone. So don’t look for your roots if you’re not ready to find anything, because maybe it’s not a red carpet with music and balloons. But if they have that desire, never lose their faith, and be ready to find anything.
LUISA MERCAT
POLITICAL WRITING
Instagram: @ luisamercado1
Twitter: @LuisaMercadoD
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