Inquring minds want to know
Hi All,
A friend (lena_a_mermaid) of a friend (solies) asked some pretty good questions about our adoption process and I said, "Hey, I bet others have the same questions." So here is my understanding of what will happen:
Poland is a two trip process. The first trip is 2 to 3 weeks. This is what I've been calling the "meet and greet" trip. It is sometimes called "the bonding trip". First there is a brief court appearance where you formally say "may I meet the children". Then that day or next, you meet the children, after that you see them daily. How long you see them and what you get to do with them varies from Orphanage to Orphanage. Our Polska trio is at a Catholic Orphanage where the "Sister Director" is their legal guardian. She calls the shots.
Near the end of the 1st trip, is the longer court appearance where you'll be interviewed at length about your fitness for parenting Polish children. I've been told that they grill the Mothers more than that. Since I bring the Polish Genetics to the table that is a good thing. However, I have to say that L has some interesting and true stories of how his father served with brave Polish troops in WWII.
Things that they want to know are: Will have Polish traditions in the house? Keep the kids Catholic? Will they be lovingly accepted in to your extended family? And the answers are yes, of course, and you betcha.
At the end of this second hearing, after the judge, the guardian, and other officials confer, you then become the legal parents of the child. However, because of legalities that don't make sense, you can't take the child out of the country for a 2 to 10 week period. Also at the end of this court appearance, you'll get what I call the "neat trick" birth certificates. They will ask you for their new names and you'll be issued birth certificates as if you were in Poland giving birth yourself. So to answer lena_a_mermaid question, "Have you been to Poland?" Shortly, I will have official looking paperwork that says I've been there three times before. But in reality, no, this my first trip.
And, no, *sigh*, we do not know yet when the return trip aka "pick them up" trip is.
A friend (lena_a_mermaid) of a friend (solies) asked some pretty good questions about our adoption process and I said, "Hey, I bet others have the same questions." So here is my understanding of what will happen:
Poland is a two trip process. The first trip is 2 to 3 weeks. This is what I've been calling the "meet and greet" trip. It is sometimes called "the bonding trip". First there is a brief court appearance where you formally say "may I meet the children". Then that day or next, you meet the children, after that you see them daily. How long you see them and what you get to do with them varies from Orphanage to Orphanage. Our Polska trio is at a Catholic Orphanage where the "Sister Director" is their legal guardian. She calls the shots.
Near the end of the 1st trip, is the longer court appearance where you'll be interviewed at length about your fitness for parenting Polish children. I've been told that they grill the Mothers more than that. Since I bring the Polish Genetics to the table that is a good thing. However, I have to say that L has some interesting and true stories of how his father served with brave Polish troops in WWII.
Things that they want to know are: Will have Polish traditions in the house? Keep the kids Catholic? Will they be lovingly accepted in to your extended family? And the answers are yes, of course, and you betcha.
At the end of this second hearing, after the judge, the guardian, and other officials confer, you then become the legal parents of the child. However, because of legalities that don't make sense, you can't take the child out of the country for a 2 to 10 week period. Also at the end of this court appearance, you'll get what I call the "neat trick" birth certificates. They will ask you for their new names and you'll be issued birth certificates as if you were in Poland giving birth yourself. So to answer lena_a_mermaid question, "Have you been to Poland?" Shortly, I will have official looking paperwork that says I've been there three times before. But in reality, no, this my first trip.
And, no, *sigh*, we do not know yet when the return trip aka "pick them up" trip is.