[angelkisses0102]

Personally I would NOT even think about it. Our daughter was only home 20 months and just 2.5 years old when we left her to travel for DS. But after having been to Russia for her adoption, I would not have even considered taking her. And we had never left her prior to that.

No the water is not safe to drink, the food is very different. People smoke everywhere. Medical care is nowhere near the same as here. Outside of the main cities, Russia is extremely poor compared to our standards. There are not car seats, people are crazy when driving. The roads outside of the cities leave much to be desired. It is hot in the buildings and cold outside in the winters. In the summer, our daughters region had no hot water, (had to save fuel for the winters), there was no AC, no screens on teh windows and moquitos that were HUGE.

The travel is tough...in country...different. For our 90 minute return flight from Samara to Moscow for DS's adoption...we were stck on the runway for over 6 hours...people we drinking and smoking...they even fueled the plane with us on it.

Some orphanages will not allow the child in...some agencies do not allow children to travel.

Personally as much as I would love to adopt from Russia again, we probably won't...because we could never leave DS home and I would not take him or DD to Russia until they were older. And probably never on an adoption trip. A couple we traveled with took their preteen son with them on trip one and while he was a great kid...he was bored out of his mind.

Some people have done it but I just don't think it would work for us. There is too much that I would need to focus on while deciding if I am willing to add a PI child to my family and the time is so limited while in Russia and in the orphanage I would need to focus 150% on that...not my existing child.

Good luck...