| Chelsea and Fred met many other people going | | | | Adopters should be prepared for the costs. Costs |
| through adoption when they were in the Ukraine. | | | | start out around $11-$12,000 and can be much higher. |
| One lady was returning to take a third child, the | | | | This includes your air fares, your lodging, and your |
| brother of two others she already had. When | | | | food (it is cheaper to eat in restaurants). You need |
| Chelsea and Fred found out that Nadia had a brother, | | | | to bring supplies with you and gifts. You will need to |
| Alexi, they decided to take him, too, and make their | | | | purchase clothing and toys for your new child (or |
| family complete. Part of their reasoning was that the | | | | children). Also, you will pay for passports and visas, |
| two would help each other adjust in the U.S. They | | | | home studies, adoptee dossiers, immigration fees, |
| also didn't want to break up what little family they | | | | medical fees, shots and vaccinations, city and country |
| had. | | | | documents required, fees for interpreters, fees for |
| With a Ukraine adoption, Chelsea and Fred flew over | | | | facilitators, attorney fees, and miscellaneous fees |
| to personally choose their child. Chelsea later told me | | | | such as passport photos, trips back and forth to the |
| that the trip itself was an insight into their new | | | | orphanage from the hotel, rental car or taxi, and a |
| children's lives. "They don't turn the heat on over | | | | few things I have forgotten (and, yes, there is the |
| there until January. The Government controls | | | | odd greasing of the palm....or expediter fee). |
| everything, electricity, heat, water, HOT water; you | | | | Once you have had your child's passport made |
| name it. Things we take for granted over here in the | | | | through the American Embassy in Kiev, you can |
| U.S. are nonexistent over there. "They stayed in a | | | | return to the U.S. as a family. Your child may not |
| small hotel room that was advertised as "four star". | | | | ever have learned to say mommy, daddy, |
| They had their own bathroom but no hot water. | | | | grandmother, grandfather. He/she will say these |
| Used to a king sized bed at home, they made do | | | | words for the first time to you. He or she may have |
| with a double bed in the Ukraine. It was cold in the | | | | spent most of his/her life in the orphanage where |
| room because the heat hadn't yet been turned on. | | | | there was little in the way of kind words, sweet |
| We learned to layer our clothes even as we slept. | | | | voices, loving hugs and kisses. It will be your job to |
| Both of us came back with bad colds." | | | | bring all of these things into this child's life. You will be |
| In the Ukraine, Adopters have to be married; they | | | | rewarded in return with smiles that will break your |
| don't place their children with single parents. The | | | | heart. Your child will learn English quickly and will begin |
| children in the orphanages range in age from 2-15. | | | | to make friends. You may find your child will have |
| There are rarely many infants available. These | | | | strange little habits caused by his/her life in the |
| children are of European descent; mostly Caucasian | | | | orphanage. He/she may hoard food or snacks or |
| or Romany. Both adopting parents have to agree on | | | | treats such as candy (remembering times of hunger). |
| the adoption choice. They both have to be present | | | | It may take the child a little while to trust adults or |
| at the first court hearing. There are pre and post | | | | new friends his/her own age but it will happen. Soon |
| adoption reports that have to be filled out. Reports | | | | no one will suspect they came from a third world |
| continue until the child reaches age 18 at intervals of | | | | country to live in the land of opportunity. |
| 2 -4 years. | | | | |