tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914042629686495898.post2431660038796372132..comments2023-02-07T06:17:33.533-05:00Comments on A Philippines Adoption Story: Crossing Cultures: A Great Weekend!Amberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03821014622765695024noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914042629686495898.post-53108958379032550992009-08-08T00:31:54.936-04:002009-08-08T00:31:54.936-04:00When people ask me the money question I tell them ...When people ask me the money question I tell them the answer because I know it. Of course the whole adoption process isn't a fixed price for anyone because there are several variables involved. I just like to answer questions about adoption. Of course we are not buying our children but actually paying for a service - like when a mother gives birth there are sevices involved that must be paid by someone. Like most services there are some profits involved, but my experiences with adoption agencies and their networks shows me they aren't getting rich with the fees we pay. They are often just getting by - especially in the Philippines.Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11628962601520751880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914042629686495898.post-51589186851415945632009-07-20T00:20:16.228-04:002009-07-20T00:20:16.228-04:00Did he sing Bahay Kubo for you? I sing that with m...Did he sing Bahay Kubo for you? I sing that with my daughter and she loves it -- plus it's a good way to learn some of the vegetable names in Tagalog :-) The money question still seems intrusive to me, but I try to tailor my answer depending on who's asking. With family, I tend to be more explicit, making sure they know there are costs associated with the various aspects of the process (pre-adoption required classes, homestudy, fingerprinting, psych eval, etc etc, post-placement evaluations and reports etc). I'm sure some were sorry they even asked. he he. With people I don't really know, I try to politely ask why they want to know, then give more or less of an answer depending on their response. I agree with you though...it's a hard question to get used to. btw, I have not heard of any extraordinary focus on abductions of foreign children. Kidnapping for ransom is not unheard of there, but I wouldn't say a foreigner with a child shouldn't go walking by themselves so long as they take the usual common sense precautions :-) I am glad you are finding ways to connect. I take many things for granted and it is a good reminder that some things are not a given.emiliehttp://trueloveandhomegrowntomatoes.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914042629686495898.post-14792241694967372282009-07-16T17:28:34.218-04:002009-07-16T17:28:34.218-04:00Wow, you sure learned alot about the Philippines d...Wow, you sure learned alot about the Philippines during your visit with your friends family. There is just so much to learn that I don't know where to start.<br /><br />I don't get the money question as much as I get people tell me that I'm adopting so that I can be like Angelina! Because that's the only reason anyone would want to adopt! Crazy!Renee and Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03774085866599912553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914042629686495898.post-59069604370553929092009-07-16T16:33:30.343-04:002009-07-16T16:33:30.343-04:00Ugh, the money question. I have found that most p...Ugh, the money question. I have found that most people are just curious about the adoption process in general and most have no idea how expensive it is. Most people I just flat out tell them a ballpark figure when they ask. I figure this way, they know how serious we are about expanding our family. You always hear the stigma, "people adopt internationally to get cute kids and because it is the trendy thing to do". In the early stages of our adoption we seemed to get that a lot because people couldn't understand why we would want to adopt because we had two girls of our own and I had "easy" pregnancies. If anyone was just in to the trend of adoption, I doubt they would be forking over the amount of money that it takes to complete an international adoption. Coming up with the adoption finances has been a prayerful journey along with the test of how frugally we can live in order to save the amount of money needed to bring our son home. In all honesty, the sacrifes that we have made financially seem small when we look at the big picture and the amazing miracle of how we are going to be a family through adoption. <br /><br />PS- sorry, I was completely rambling. :)Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12289755798961856657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1914042629686495898.post-82419132112314510932009-07-16T10:36:50.154-04:002009-07-16T10:36:50.154-04:00"The Filipinos love music." - SO true. I..."The Filipinos love music." - SO true. I swear they are born loving music. Ezekiel sings his heart out any chance he gets. He'll be a karaoke superstar someday.<br /><br />The money question. Ugh. I still never know how to handle it. A couple of days ago, the doctor's nurse asked us, but it turns out she was asking b/c she's interested in adoption. Even in that case, I still just give a vague answer about the financial assistance you can find for adoption, because adoption costs vary SO much. But I feel the exact same way as you - it makes my stomach drop when I know someone is going to ask that question. It makes me feel weird talking about it with people I don't know.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12444867490924661521noreply@blogger.com