[IH8MEAT]

Originally Posted by Devora

In terms of Spanish-speaking countries, have you looked into Colombia and Peru? They both have stable programs, although the age restrictions may mean you cannot adopt an infant. (Infant international adoption is increasingly limited to just a few countries.)

As for having multiple countries, you might want to consider other ways that the whole family can participate in some aspect of the children's homeland culture. I know someone who has three children from Guatemala, China and India. She has described how she can see all three children going to: Spanish language classes, martial arts, and Indian dance classes. It's an image that has stuck with me. Her family does many things on an everyday basis to connect all of their children to all three cultures (making day-to-day connections to the countries' histories, reading books set in the different cultures, etc.). Language is important, but not the only way to make connections. It makes a lot of sense for our Guatemalan children because of the predominance of Spanish in US culture and the fact that it will allow them to move between the cultures more easily. But depending on where you live language may not be the most meaningful cultural connection for an Ethiopian child, for example.

I do think it's important to create ways that all of the children can explore all of the relevant cultures, not just the one they came from. That's why I like how my friend talked about all of the kids being involved in all of the activities. Obviously, as children grow they will develop their own interests. It may be that your Guatemalan child takes up Chinese dance and your Chinese child wants to learn languages including Spanish but has no interest in dance. So at some point they are going to make their own decisions. But I do agree with you that we as parents need to help foster those cultural connections. Otherwise the chances of the connection being important or meaningful to them is less likely.

I can't even think of better things to do!! Celebrate ALL the cultures!!