TRAVEL TIPS
1. Do NOT overpack. This will cause you many headaches along the way in more ways than one! See packing list.
2. Bring a few mix and match clothing and wear things several times.
3. If you are going to a major city (St. Petersburg, Moscow and other major cities), you do not need to bring an excess of baby food, water, and diapers. Anything you need can be purchased there.
4. By all means, go sightseeing. You will regret it if you don't. Research your destination ahead of time so that you can plan to see things most interesting to you. Some even go two or three days early to have more time to so sightseeing. You will be your child's memory of a homeland.
5. Try the local cuisine! Think of adoption travel as an adventure. You want to have lots of memories to share with your child.
6. Bring more film than you think you will need and snap pictures of everything (the orphanage, the orphanage address or street sign, a tree on the playground, artwork on the orphanage walls). You will be so glad that you did!
7. If possible, bring a video camera. Still pictures just cannot
capture the sights and sounds you will experience.
8. Go shopping and buy things to put in your home and to give to your child. You may even want to buy a few items for your child and put them away for special occasions throughout the years. One of the biggest regrets families have is not buying enough souvenirs.
9. Do not get upset if your first meeting with your child is not :"love at first sight". For most, it probably won't be. You need to know that this is normal. Love will come as you begin to interact and meet your child's needs.
10. Stay Organized! You may want to make a list of what you have in each bag so that you do not have to go through everything to find an item. Purchase money holders, passport holders, folders for your paperwork and a sturdy diaper bag.
11. Make copies of all your important documents such as your passport, visa, credit cards, etc. and keep them separate for the originals.
12. Visit the TSA website before packing to see what you can/cannot bring in your carry-on bags.
Russian Language Resources & Local Translators:
WWTI Services - Local Translating Service (if needed for post-adoption documents)
Translation and Interpretation
P.O. Box 2686
Harvey, LA 70059
(504) 393-0064
email: wwtis@aol.com
Angela Carvajal-Bartley - Director.
Victoria Burk - native of Belarus, fluent Russian speaker, graduate from the National Linguistic. Victoria lives in Slidell and offers private or group Russian classes for families preparing to adopt children. She also offers Russian lessons to children. For more information, you may contact Victoria - 985-643-5175. She lives in Slidell.
For families planning to adopt a toddler or older child, it is best to learn some basic phrases in your child's language. A new phrase book, with CD, is out and can be ordered at www.cybermesa.com/~fdd It was developed by an adoptive father and covers the
basic language that will help east the first few weeks with your child.
"Adopting From Russia, a Language and Parenting Guide" - Adoption-specific, 100 phrases and 200 plus vocabulary so that you can talk with your child right from the start.
"RUSH into English, Russian to English for Children" - for the adopted children to learn English.
Online Translators:
