[shmouse]

Hi Guys!

I've noticed a few long timers are now in the midst of China adoptions following Guatemalan adoptions. AS we start to contemplate another child, I wondered if you would share your thoughts on how you chose China this time. What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages?

We're very open to considering another country -- or Guatemala again. One concern I've thought of is how hard it will be to bring Guatemalan culture into our family's life -- are you worried that adding another culture will be more difficult, or just another wonderful thing to share with your kids? It seems like there are alot more cultural programs pre-set for kids from China, so perhaps that one is easier to deal with.

Thanks for sharing!

Shmouse

[MLRJ]

I was nervous to do two cultures when we decided to go for Guatemala- ( our two at home are from Vietnam) but now I am excited about it- I think it will be great for all! My guess is people pick China because the process is so standard. Guatemala adoption is so unpredictable- of course if you have a GREAT agency( we do not) it is a bit more predictable- but even then it seems there can be landmines ( losing referrals, embassy investigations, law changes) China is pretty set since they centralized adoptions and it is taking a much shorter time right now to get referrals from China than it has in the past. China is also much less costly. These may be some of the reasons. The major benefit of Guatemala to me is the fostercare though.

MLRJ

[Bassette]

I have considered it because of the fee difference.

[annaguat]

I'd say cost, more predictable program and the fact there are so many little girls available. Anna

[laura-jean]

after you factor into travel etc. that china is about the same price to adopt.

do you think that's true or not? what is the difference in fee then....

we are adopting our second child from guat and had considered china at first....we have not ruled out child number #3 so.....

as we understood it the whole process could take about 18 months. is that true or maybe changed?

what about the "hague thing" in china? did that happen and what would be the effect?

i do monitor that forum from time to time and have seen no talk about the hague though.

thanks for this thread... had some of the same questions myself.

laura jean
proverbs 22:6

[beachdreams]

Actually Laurajean we are friends with a couple who are picking up their dauhter from China next week and with travel they still spent less that $20,000. The rate you see with most agencies (good ones any way) includes all fees including travel for 2 (well 2.5 if you count bringing your child home). The total process is about 11-12 months.

We are doing China the next go round for many reasons:

1) we were torn between the two to begin with.
2) I have realized that my type "a" personality is much better suited for the China program because it is far more reliable (of course with their new signing of the Hague, I will have to wait and see what happens)
3) Our process has been frought with issues from day 1 mostly due to a horrible agency but it has still left us very frightened to do another adoption from here
4) our heart pulls us back to China like it pulled us to Guatemala.

[MLRJ]

I agree with you beachdreams- the process is so much less expensive- even with travel and no land mines- much more predictable. The only real drawback to China in my opinion is the large orphanages-They do have a small foster care program in some provinces but you cannot request it as the match is made from the Chinese gov.

MLRJ

[jennifervan]

I agree with beachdreams and MLRJ. If we adopt again it will be from China.
I don't think I could take another adoption from Guat. It has been very hard on me emotionally. We looked at China before we picked Guatemala but the three week pick up trip seemed too long and we wanted a younger baby. But, I have friends from Church who started the same time we did. They brought a baby home LAST NOV. and she was 8 months old. As you can see from our timeline we have been through a lot. Their baby will be 1 and we will have not brought our baby home yet.
If God blesses us with the finances we will abopt from China in the future.

[foxl]

Well ... multiple factors, including that we did not want two from one place and one from another ... China would be one of my first choices, actually.

I recently heard that parental age is not so big a factor in the age of the child you are given, but would not mind a somewhat older child. And of course, COST. Except, if we all travel, costs will be higher!

I do think China will be less dramatic of a process, which is both good AND less fun ...

I have been to China and I really loved the place and its people. And India. And Guatemala.

[Kesti]

The process is more streamlined without all of the ups and downs of what goes on with Guatemala and the ever changing laws. We still went with Guat. for our second adoption even though it is more expensive and has more ups and downs.

[jenniferw223]

If the finances allow we will adopt again. (well and if I convince my DH that one baby is not enough :-)) We will probably go with China because of the costs and we want a girl second time around. Another thing we will consider for the second time around is Foster to Adopt out of the state system. The only reason we did not do this the first time is because we did not want to wait forever for a baby. I feel like if we do this again we will be able to wait if necessary because we will already have our one precious baby boy. I know all of the risks involved but the rewards as you know will outweigh all of the risks and ups and downs if there is another child out there for us in a few years.

[dixiemom]

I could personally never go anywhere but Guatemala. I fell so in love with the country, people and culture. At first we thought about China as well, but after having Carmen home and having been to Guatemala I just couldn't go anywhere else. However, as I said, we won't be adopting again. We have our 2 bundles of love and couldn't be happier.

[resabelle]

We will probably never adopt again, but we would LOVE to if we could. The cost is just so high and we already adopted two at once, with the 2nd child being a "surprise." If we adopted again, we would consider China for the cost and for the more predictable process. Despite the fact that our adoptions and timelines went fairly smooth, it was still an amazingly emotional process, particularly worrying over two cases at once. However, if we had our choice and money were not an issue, we would definetly adopt from Guatemala again.

[babyjsmom]

How much less $$$$ is CHINA??
I always thought it was about the same.

[resabelle]

Hi Jenn... how's it going with your three, would love an update!

China is less expensive, but with the travel requirement, it may be closer to the same. I'm not sure about the exact costs... I guess I made my post before because I'm not ready to say no to a 3rd child yet... lol. (Though I am quite content with my beautiful little girls!)