Info about the process

This info is borrowed from a fellow groupie who will be leaving very soon for their appointment. Thanks, A!!

Here are the answers to a few questions that we have had!

#1 - WHERE is Ukraine?
** Ukraine used to be part of the Soviet Union - they became their own nation in August 1991. Ukraine is west/southwest of Russia, south of Belarus, east of Poland and north of Romania and Moldavia. Directly north of the Black Sea as well! Just fyi - the name of the country is UKRAINE - not "the" Ukraine as many people say... it would be like saying that we were from "the" America!

#2- WHAT language is spoken?
** Russian and Ukrainian are spoken. Most everyone speaks both - and frequently they interchange a Russian word with an Ukrainian word.

#3 - HOW does this work?
** We do not have any idea "who" our child is until we get to our appointment. It is called "traveling blind". It is illegal to have a child pre-selected in Ukraine. At our appointment - we are given what are called "referrals" based on the criteria we have given them... ie boy/girl, age, health related, etc. We then get to choose our referral based on the background information of the child. After we choose our "child" we have to travel to where that child is currently living. For children under 4 - these are called "baby houses" or up to age 6 are called "detsky domes".
We travel to the "region" (similar to counties here - only larger!) where the child currently lives and we are able to see the child. We are allowed certain timeframes to meet and bond with the child before making a final decision on the adoption.
From there - its all paperwork baby! We have to go to court to be approved and then more paperwork!
The whole process can take 3 to 5 weeks...(we are hoping for 3!)