[Jessi_76]

Hi Lisa!!

Welcome, and good luck! I think the answers will all vary depending on what region you go to, and probably to what agency you are using.

That said, I will share with you our experience.

1) Much to our disappointment we only got to see our children one time on the first visit, BUT that was because our orphanage was REALLY rural and remote - a 6 hour drive each way outside of the city we were staying in.

2) Both of our children came home with everything we left for them. We did not leave clothes, but a photo book, a blanket and a stuffed animal for each as well as a disposable camera for each (which returned priceless photos of our 2 months without them). We slept with the blankets and stuffed animals for a couple of months before going so they would smell like us. I truly believe this helped them remember us when we went back for trip 2.

3) We were able to take MANY pictures and video during our first visit. We would have taken even more had we known we wouldn't be going back for a second visit. Long story.

4) Yes. The director of the orphanage spent a LOT of time with us -- on all three trips -- answering a zillion questions. The translator and our facilitator/coordinator were present. We took many notes and they were very kind, honest, and patient. From another family who we traveled with using a different ageny, I learned this is not always the case though. They did not get to sit down with the orphanage director at all, and their translator was all business...ours was AMAZING!!! They actually told us they were jealous, which made our translator very happy.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!!!!! What a marvelous journey.


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