[hnordman]

Hi to you all in adoption land. My family is in the process of adopting from Samoa and was wondering if there are any more families out there doing the same? We live in Ohio and are looking for fellow Samoa lovers and soon to be families. Hope to meet more people soon. Heather

[hybiskuz]

I have just started looking into adopting from Samoa. My husband is full blooded Samoan and we would like to raise a child in his culture. Tradionally when a family member cannot have children they are given a child by a cousin, friend, etc. However, this is a very OPEN adoption with the child knowing his birthparents. I do not mind this part, but the feeling of obligation (financially and otherwise) to someone my entire life would be a hard thing. So we are weighing our options at the moment. What means have you gone through to adopt a Samoan child and what are your plans on teaching them their culture? I have a lot of opinions on non-Samoans (assuming you arent Samoan) adopting Samoan children.... but I would like to hear your story first... as to why you decided on adopting from Samoa and what not. Thanks!!! and good luck! I look forward to your reply.

[hnordman]

Well our story is this. We have three natural angels of our own, but we know we would like to make our family bigger. Adoption was always talked about even when my hubby and I were dating. We did alot of research on what area of the world we should adopt. After alot of prayer the Samoan program came to us and we have done our bes to learn as much as we can about the cullture. We loved that the country is alll about family, as we are too! We have read many books that have said they are strong christians, as we are too! We have decided that we will do our best to infulence our child from his culture and do what it takes to do that. We intend on buyiny and bringing him as much as we can back to our home from the island. We are planning on bringing our child back to where they came from in the future too. We are going to do what ever our child needs to make sure that they know our feelings are open to there culture and we are open to learn new things along the way. I am not sure what you have heard about non-samoan people adopting from there, but I assure you we have only heard great reviews and we intend to be great parents to our little angel!

[hybiskuz]

Thanks for the reply! I actually have never heard about non-samoans adopting samoan children (until recently of course) that are actually from Samoa. It is tradition in the culture that children that are not kept by the biological parents are given to family members (cousins, parents, brothers, sisters, etc.) Most children are not raised within just one family anyways, they are raised by the whole village. This is not just in the Islands, it is generally how it is in the states also. It is the culture. My husband, for example, was raised by his mother, but lived with his sister, his mother's cousins who he considered his grandparents, about 10 cousins around his age, and other people that moved in and out while he was growing up. I just think that Samoan children that are not exposed to this are at such a disadvantage in understanding their culture. I know that Samoan (in general) people do not accept white (or palagi) people raising "their" children. In some ways I agree, in some I do not. I understand their want for keeping children within their own culture. I do not blame them for that. ANYWAYS.... I encourage you to submerge yourself in learning about the Samoan culture.... there are so many things to learn and understand. There are many great books (some fiction) that will help you on your journey. There is even a children's book that helps kids learn basic words in Samoan. I will email you the names of them if you would like.
I have been struggling with the decision to adopt from Samoa because I hate to take children away from their country. However, my husband and I do have the opportunity to raise our children within the Samoan culture with Samoan cousins, grandparents, aunties, uncles, etc. They will better identify with their culture than a child that has been raised with a different race, no matter how much they learn or read about it. I believe the culture has to be lived to actually understand it.
I hope in no way does this come across rudely, rather just an opportunity for you to learn more about the culture. I would love to continue this conversation in email. I have the names of some books and other websites that might interest you. Let me know and thanks for reading!!

[fiasili]

I Am An American Woman Married To A Samoan Man And We Have A Child . I Am Very Interested In The Books And Emails That You Have Please Respond. Ps I Agree If You Want Your Child To Understand Their Culture They Have To Live And Be Around It.

[serenarikki]

Hello,I was reading the forums,I am a mother of two children my husband is of samoan origin,He was raised in New Zealand with his maori mother,He has never meet his full blooded samoan father.Although he regards himself as samoan.We have for some reason been unable to have any more children,so we have been wanting to look into adoption,we would like a child from the same origin as our other 2 children,was just wanting any infomation You might be able to give me,on whereabouts we could go from a thought to an action into starting the process.Thank you Serena from Australia