Hi Lana,
A very small minority of adoptees are not told as young children that they were adopted. Those who found out as adults are usually very angry and confused and hurt. There is a group of people in your situation that you might want to connect with by email. They call themselves the LDA's (Late Discovery Adoptees). You can email Ron Morgan, LDA, for information about this group and their issues. His email address is:
rhyzome@best.com.
You should request your adoption paperwork from your adoptive parents. That paperwork might possibly have the name of your birthparents and/or your name at birth before your name was changed through the adoption.
To search for a family member in any country contact the nearest chapter of the RED CROSS near you. They have a person experienced in international traces and international messaging. Your request will be sent through Red Cross channels to the appropriate overseas office for processing.
The American Red Cross Headquarters
431 18th N.W.
Washington, DC 20006 USA
Phone 202-737-8300
or
The Red Cross Overseas Association
POB 7406
Benjamin Franklin Station
Washington, DC 20044 USA
Also, there is a Russian-American Genealogical Archival Service (RAGAS) that should be helpful in resolving your search. Contact:
RAGAS
POB 236
Glen Echo, Maryland 20812
USA
Phone: 202-501-5206
The cost for a birth, marriage or death certificate is $20. By an agreement between the United States National Archives Volunteer Association and the Archives of Russia Society, RAGAS receives and processes requests for vital records in some of the former Soviet replublics, mainly russia, Belarus and Ukraine. There is a $2.00 shipping fee per document.
Colleen Buckner