[sands]

Since Russia has the Europe/Asia border running through it, have any of you seen children at the orphangaes (or adopted children) that look Asian? What regions is that more predominantly seen in?

[dlhall]

Blond hair, blue eyed children is what I think people expect when they hear Russian children, but in reality they come in all shades. We saw many Asian looking children when we were there. We also saw a red hair child who looked more Irish than Russian and the Gypsey (sp?) influence is huge also. I have a friend whose child looks more Hispanic than Russian. So just like in America, Russia is made up of many ethnicities and there is not just one look.

Liz

[CherAbb]

Yes, there was the cutest little Asian girl in my daughter's group at her orphanage. She is from Khabarovsk which is only 15 miles or so north of China. My hubby and oldest son fell in love with her. They both asked "why can't we take her too" :-) Everyone that sees this little girl on our video says the same thing.

-C

[Abdulina]

Our son came from Orenburg region. A town called abdulina. But he was born in Orsk which borders Asia. So hence, he's Kazah. I can send you picture of him pm. Still can't figure out how to get the stupid pictures to fit on here. Thanks. And yes, there are kids of all shades in Russia.

Stephanie.

[MyHeartsDesire]

We received our son from a region called Astrakhan which has a heavy asian influence because it borders Khaz. We were told we had a 50% chance of receiving a child with Asian features. Our little boy has a dark skin tone and looks slightly Asian which we love! I do think that southern regions that border the Asian countries will, of course, have a higher percentage of children with Asian features in their orphanages.


Lisa

[Dobby]

I would say in our son's "pod" of 10 children in Ekaterinburg, a region bordering Kazakhstan to the north, there were 2 kids who had Asian-influenced features. But whether they were available for adoption or not, is hard to say.

Our child's BFather was actually more middle-Eastern in appearance we were told, and we can see shades of that sometimes in his face (and definitely skin tone).

[marjo]

Stephanie - I never knew your board name Abdulina was a region in Russia. Now I feel really stupid.

Our friends have a daughter who is Tatar with dark almond shaped eyes, she is the cutest thing you have ever seen.

[tschuitema73]

Hi Sands,

Even though you are traveling blind, I'm sure you were able to give a profile of preferences about your child. Some people are very specific some are not. Either way, I know that the facilitators in the regions do take this into an account

Our preferences were very basic a boy and girl under 2 yrs. Our agency sent our dossier to a region bordering China and Mongolia with the knowledge we were open to any ethnicity. Our little girl is half asian half russian and absolutely adorable. And our son is full russian blonde and blue eyed. Needless to say we feel very blessed.

[LHecht]

What cure kids tschuitema! Too funny, because our two from Khabarovsk are similar - big sister has some Asian features and dark hair and eyes, and little sister has blond hair/blue eyes. Even so, the family resemblance is very strong!

[leeinmemphis]

We adopted two little boys from Russia, in the Saratov region, about 500 miles south of Moscow. One of them is dark complected with dark hair and brown eyes and the other one is part Kazak with Blondish hair and brown ASIAN looking eyes.

I would have thought the darker "looking" child would have had the more asian eye features, but ours did not turn out to be that way!

I went into the process not looking for a child with Asian features... I wanted blonde and blue so he'd look like my DH, but my lifelong diversity lesson is that neither of them look a thing like us but they are ours nonetheless!

alli

[LHecht]

They all sound so cute! Did y'all post on the "before and after" thread?

[tschuitema73]

Thanks LHecht . Yes our children are on the before and after thread.
You know people find it amazing how much our son looks like my husband. Even my DH's mother thinks so.
Tamara

[Military Momma]

Also Tulva. It's on the border of Mongolia! They have a lot of Eurasian children in their orphanages.

A single mom adopted a daughter from China. When she wanted another one, China was no longer accepting single mothers. SOOO, she went to Russia and got an asian daughter from Tulva and to tell you the truth....you can't tell they one is from China and the other from Russia! They look soooooo similar!

Hope this helps,
Lisa

[GoCathy]

We are (hopefully) adopting a little girl who appears part Asian (she has golden skin and her eyes tilt upward like many Asians). We don't really know what she is a mix of - maybe she is Tartar - but she's adorable. We chose Russia because we thought we wanted a blue eyed blonde, like my bio kids, but this is the referral we got and she looks great!

[hockeyMom]

Our son is also asian looking. He is Khanty/Russian. He was born in the Khanty Masiek region in the city of Nizhnevartovsk. I can't believe that I can still spell that after 5 years! LOL>

The little girl adopted at the same time was also Khanty/Russian. She looks more asian than our son beause he has reddish hair and fair skin with brownish red eyes. She has black hair very fair complexion and very dark eyes. They waited for a very long time for families because they were asian. Thankfully for us because we can't inagine our lives w/o him!!! And this afternoon he reminded me that he still, after 6 years of precious life, intends to marry his beloved Anastasia (the little girl mentioned above) because she "understands him." Kids say the darndest things sometimes!!!
He has talked of marrying her since he could talk. Too amazing it will be if it actually happens...