[nowfamilyof6]

I am an adoptive parent. We travelled in Sept. 05 and Oct. 05 to bring home our son from Russia. We had a wonderful experience.

Now my oldest son and his wife are adopting from Russia (the same orphanage that our son is from). They will be leaving on June 3rd for their first trip. Although they are adults, I still see him as my baby and I want everything to be perfect for them.

So here are my questions. If there is anything that you wished you knew before you travelled, what was it? What would have made your trip easier? What was the most intimidating part of your stay in Russia?

When we travelled, another family had trouble with their credit cards. They ended up in a big bind because their credit cards wouldn't work in Russia. I am sure they wished they knew this ahead of time.
I know there is a wealth of knowledge among this group and I am sure that your thoughts will help someone else along the way including my son.

The process really isn't easier as a grandparent but it is definitely just as exciting and emotional.

Thanks for your help. We look forward to your comments.

Tanya

[MamaChinch]

Hi Tanya ~ Thanks to my agency and this group, I felt really well prepared for our trips. I used a credit card ONLY for the hotel Mosocw and exchanged enough before heading to the region so I would not have to worry about finding a place to do so there. The 2 main things I wish ~ 1) That I learned more Russian and 2) When you think you've packed light, unpack and take more stuff out! I had to pay in-country on both trips for being over weight with my luggage.

[beckyww]

Amen on the packing light. And also that St. Pete and Moscow were so expensive - I wish we'd take more/wider variety of snacks.

Becky
The Woodworth Family in Beautiful San Antonio TX

[Ebadge90]

I agree with all that has been said.
Make sure that you exchange money in Moscow before you go to another region.....there may not be the option to exchange there.
Bring food that you can eat in your hotel room in region........instant noodles came in handy more than once when staying in a hotel where nobody speaks english.
Tell the airlines that you are adopting and get a seat for your child for the trip home......3 seats for two adults and a 14 month old were very nice for a long flight.
And very definately PACK LIGHT.

[cmmandjam]

We just got back a few months ago. I wish we had known how kind everyone would be to us while we were in Russia. It would have alleviated a lot of stress. Every Russian person we came in contact with, whether while dealing with the adoption or just walking through the city, was pleasant and helpful.

[julianva]

I wish someone would have told me how hard it would be to leave the child. I cried for 3 straight days. So much so that one of my eyes was swollen shut.
I think everyone should know that it is okay to hurt once you leave....

[MissDaisyofTexas]

That's neat that your son is adopting from the same orphanage!

We wished we would have brought rolling backpacks as our carry-ons for trip #1. We had to walk far in 2 airports for layovers with heavy duffle bags, and we struggled. Next time...rolling!!!

[Mykidsmom]

I agree, that is so cool about the same orphanage.

One thing about the credit card, this happened to someone else that travelled from our agency. Husband and wife travelled with each of them having a credit card to the same account. The wife misplaced her card at the beginning of their trip and they had to cancel the cards. So they did not have a credit card to use for hotels, etc. My DH and I were told this story and made sure we each had a credit card from a different company , example one mastercard and one visa. so if something happened there would not be a problem with cancelling the wrong card.

[votemom]

be sure to have them call their credit card company before traveling to alert them that there will be charges made in whatever countries they are traveling thru.

also - when we couldn't make phone calls (whether land line or cellular), our text-messages always got right thru. and it wasn't too costly - just 50 cents per message, no matter how long. (we have cingular)

take dramamine if you are even mildly prone to motion sickness. i used it almost every day when we were being driven places.

have them trace their child's feet on paper. that way when they travel back they will have an idea of what size shoes to bring.

lastly, find out if their translator does email. if they establish a good relationship with him/her, then when they get home they can email any questions they have later.

[amyfk]

1 dont drink the water, no matter how desperate you become. I got a stomachache on the flight home and it was horrible.

2. try to find someone educated to find you a good electrical adapter. When we tried the power adapter in the hotel in Russia that we bought for the trip, it didnt work.

Amy K, NJ

[DoreenG]

Sleeping pills. I would say sleeping pills. And a travel wind-up alarm clock.

I could not ever fall asleep while on either trip. I would lay awake all night, then nap during the day. Spent the whole trip groggy and out of sorts.

Research the correct phone cards from people that had recently been in your region. Tario were the only ones that worked in my region and I didn't learn that until I got to the region. Hard to travel alone and not be able to make any calls home.

Really good shoes. I walked alot in my down time. I was very happy for really good comfortable walking shoes.

My very best wishes for your son's trip to bring home your grandchild. Godspeed.

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Amy K---

Our adapters also did not work! And we just bought 2 the week before our trip with the help of an "expert" from a major electronics store. Luckily, one of our hotels had some we could borrow...the other hotel did not.

Go figure!

[mcanvasback]

I'm sure they already know this, but I think it bears repeating. My situation was different as I traveled alone, to a country where only 6 adoptions had ever been completed - but I flew off like a warrior, and was not prepared for the huge emotional roller coaster it would be, and it was really hard because of that. So - I say, adjust your mindset to the fact that things can/will go wrong - expect the unexpected and go with the flow.
Mostly, you may not feel what you think you will/should feel, and you may feel things you think you shouldn't and that is ok!! Be easy on your selves.

I hope everything goes like clockwork, but if not - remember it always gets sorted out in the end!

[nowfamilyof6]

Thanks so much for the suggestions!! I didn't realize I had forgotten so much. They have never travelled internationally so yes they are intimidated. I had travelled and I was comfortable but there was still so much I wished I would have known.

Does anyone have any customs/airport suggestions!

Thanks again for your help.

Tanya

[angelkisses0102]

I wish we would have known that we could have gotten a hotel room for the day at the airport when we took trip #1 for DD....10+ hours hanging out in a Moscow airport was not the highlight of our trip.

I wish we would have known how cheap and easy it was to get a cell phone that worked in Moscow and the region. Also we got very cheap calling cards. PM if you would like the name of who we used for these items in Moscow.

I wish we would have enjoyed our time more while in DD's region for trip # 1 and even #2. We enjoyed so much more with our second adoption.

Leave a couple of disposable cameras for between trips...those pictures are priceless.

Take pictures of everything...not just the child...but everything. Once you get home, no matter how many pictures or how much video you have, it will not be enough.

Expected the unexpected, go with the flow, and ENJOY IT!!!