International Adoption

[adpi*violet]

This is a very old thread... but am wondering if anyone else on GC, besides Carnation, has adopted internationally? Would anyone who has be willing to share your hints and tips?
Our home study was just approved and after we complete the Core Training now required by the Hague Convention, my husband and I will be eligible for a referral. We are on our agency's waiting list for a baby boy from Korea.

Please feel free to comment here or PM me. Thanks for all your help!

[dukemama]

Originally Posted by adpi*violet

This is a very old thread... but am wondering if anyone else on GC, besides Carnation, has adopted internationally? Would anyone who has be willing to share your hints and tips?
Our home study was just approved and after we complete the Core Training now required by the Hague Convention, my husband and I will be eligible for a referral. We are on our agency's waiting list for a baby boy from Korea.

Please feel free to comment here or PM me. Thanks for all your help!

I am an adoptive mom, but our son was born in the U.S. My niece, however, was adopted from China and will be 8 in July. I also have a friend who adopted a daughter from Korea about 5 years ago. She went through the Pearl S. Buck agency in PA and had a great experience with them.

I'm afraid I can't give you any advice on the international process since I haven't experienced it firsthand, but I wanted to congratulate you and welcome you to the rollercoaster ride called adoption!

Best of luck to you and your husband.

[BBelleADPi]

We adopted a baby girl from China. We began the process, which took a year, before she was born. We actually got her when she was nine months old. She is now twelve years old, in sixth grade, tall (very!), beautiful, straight A student, and the sweetest child I have ever known. We can't imagine life without her. We have two older birth children, a girl now in college, and our son just graduated.

We are like Carnation, in that we did our best to expose her to Chinese cultures in as many ways as possible, and living outside of Atlanta, we had, and have, a great many opportunities to do so. However, she and her other Chinese friends (three girls her age, and several others here in town ages 3-8), are appreciative of the fact that we respect their heritage and want them to do so, but they are basically just American girls. Texting, music, clothes, soccer games, tennis lessons, summer camp, whatever. It's all they've ever known, and China is just a far-away country that they'll visit someday. Maybe when they are older they'll have more of an interest, but they're too busy being American preteens right now.

I am sure the international process has changed greatly since we adopted. We had a huge emotional roller coater ride, to be sure, but well, well worth it. Hang in there!

[adpi*violet]

Thanks ladies! Yes- I've already experienced the emotional roller coaster and we just got started!
Anyone else with experience feel free to chime in.

[Munchkin03]

Awesome. Kudos to you all, especially the soon-to-be new parents!

[ForeverRoses]

My niece is adopted from Hunan province in China and I know my brother and sister-in-law try to keep her connected. They have children's DVDs that are in the dialect spoken in Hunan (I forget the name if it). Plus they have pictures and videos from when they went to get her.

But the biggest thing they have done is stay in touch with two of the couples that were in their adoption group. They have visited them several times since they returned 4 years ago. They even have a yearly reunion with all three girls. It is neat since all three of them came from the same orphanage and in some cases may have even been crib mates! But this only works if you like the other couples...