[Eve W]

Hello,

My husband and I are investigating Bulgarian adoption. We are registered for China (LID October 2007), but with China’s waits we are considering another country. One of agencies (we are in Canada) is just starting Bulgarian program. We are both over 40 years old (I am 43 my husband is 48) and we would like to adopt a healthy girl up to 2 years old. Is Bulgarian program moving faster now? How long of a wait can we expect? We do not what to move to a country that will not give us shorter wait than China. Do we have a chance to get a proposal of a healthy 2 year old? We are very scared of FAS. Is Bulgaria one of ‘drinking” countries in Eastern Europe?

Thank you,

Eve

[amyfk]

I too second the question. Is there a high incidence of FASD in Bulgaria? This diagnosis frightens me as well unfortunately.(please no flames)
Amy K, NJ

[2Bulgarianbeauties]

I do not hear of FAS. The children are mostly Roma, and they are given up more due to poverty than anything else. I do not believe it is socially acceptable for the women to drink. If you want to be more certian, you could do a search on the Roma people.

Another country that I know has asmost 0 FAS is Kyrgryistan. (sp?) The women there do not drink. It is between Kazakhstan and China. From what I understand of the process it is much easier than Kaz, with much less travel.

[amyfk]

Thanks very much for your help as always Kay. My orphanage said that Roma women dont drink, except on holidays. I dont know how true it is, my child doesnt seem alcohol affected, but I havent found anything yet in the literature I have seen on drinking and the Roma.
Amy K, NJ

[Kayse]

Eve,

Also check out FRUA. It has info on Canada adoptions.

Kayse

[Gypsy740]

Hello Eve,
I am from Canada as well. We adopted a beautiful girl from Bulgaria 4 yrs ago. No FAS. Our experiance was that Bulgaria is not a "drinking" country-just very poor. We started a file for a second adoption, and have been registered in Bulgaria for 3 years this December past. In that time our foriegn fees have also increased considerably. Homestudy update needed to be done, again and the "new" minister in Bulgaria, while sounds promising- and we are hopeful- but reoraganization and appointing other new ministers all means more delays.
As for getting a 2 yr old, I only know that not many adoptions have taken place in the recent past. I get the impression there are now alot of older children in the orphanages.
I hate to say it but, if your agency is new to Bulgaria I fear you would have a long wait.
Best of Luck.
Dan

[mpdion]

Hello,

My husband and I are in our 40's. We have been registered with Bulgaria for 3.5 years. Due to the excessive wait and changes in policy due to the Hague Convention, we also entered the China program in 2006. Neither program appears to be any quicker than the other. I wish I had more encouraging words to share. All we can do is remain hopeful and take each day as it comes. Bright blessings to you and yours.