Comments on: Improved WiFi at the Skif Hotel http://www.kzadoption.com/2009/04/18/improved-wifi-at-the-skif-hotel/ Our Kazakhstan Adoption Epic Tue, 05 Apr 2011 05:28:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Aimee http://www.kzadoption.com/2009/04/18/improved-wifi-at-the-skif-hotel/comment-page-1/#comment-146 Aimee Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:22:26 +0000 http://www.kzadoption.com/?p=237#comment-146 I am not disputing that there may be infrastructure problems or that things might be very different than they are here in the US. Every country and culture are different. My point was that (and any adoption agency would tell you this) negative comments reflect poorly on potential adoptive parents. If every American writes about "suffering through their time in country," how does that make us sound? I'd also like the Kazakh government to think I'd speak favorably to the child of his/her native land as he/she grows. I am not disputing that there may be infrastructure problems or that things might be very different than they are here in the US. Every country and culture are different. My point was that (and any adoption agency would tell you this) negative comments reflect poorly on potential adoptive parents. If every American writes about “suffering through their time in country,” how does that make us sound? I’d also like the Kazakh government to think I’d speak favorably to the child of his/her native land as he/she grows.

]]> By: Chris http://www.kzadoption.com/2009/04/18/improved-wifi-at-the-skif-hotel/comment-page-1/#comment-139 Chris Mon, 25 May 2009 11:24:16 +0000 http://www.kzadoption.com/?p=237#comment-139 Kazakhstan is a former Soviet republic that is slowly crawling its way back from years of underinvestment. Luckily they have significant natural resources and oil deposits so unless the government self destructs they are very likely going to pull off their transition to a first world country. That being said, Petro is a former munitions town that has not seen nearly the investment that has happened in the south so if for anyone that is thinking about traveling there for an adoption they'd better go in with their eyes open and be ready for the reality of spending upwards of twelve weeks living there. It sounds really easy until you try and do it - especially with other young children along as we did. So I'd suggest you save your "spoiled Americans" comments until you've actually completed your adoption and integrated an institutionalized child into your family - and suffered through your time in country. Then you might appreciate the information I put up here on this blog - it is all the truth. They are entrusting their children to us as they have no internal adoption culture and the alternative is institutionalizing them until they are 18 and then putting them on the streets to fend for themselves (a few of whom we met). The orphanages seem to be well run and well maintained but they are still institutions and the chances of a 2+ year old getting placed in a Kazak family are very low. Kazakhstan is a former Soviet republic that is slowly crawling its way back from years of underinvestment. Luckily they have significant natural resources and oil deposits so unless the government self destructs they are very likely going to pull off their transition to a first world country. That being said, Petro is a former munitions town that has not seen nearly the investment that has happened in the south so if for anyone that is thinking about traveling there for an adoption they’d better go in with their eyes open and be ready for the reality of spending upwards of twelve weeks living there. It sounds really easy until you try and do it – especially with other young children along as we did.

So I’d suggest you save your “spoiled Americans” comments until you’ve actually completed your adoption and integrated an institutionalized child into your family – and suffered through your time in country. Then you might appreciate the information I put up here on this blog – it is all the truth. They are entrusting their children to us as they have no internal adoption culture and the alternative is institutionalizing them until they are 18 and then putting them on the streets to fend for themselves (a few of whom we met). The orphanages seem to be well run and well maintained but they are still institutions and the chances of a 2+ year old getting placed in a Kazak family are very low.

]]> By: Aimee http://www.kzadoption.com/2009/04/18/improved-wifi-at-the-skif-hotel/comment-page-1/#comment-137 Aimee Mon, 25 May 2009 00:47:30 +0000 http://www.kzadoption.com/?p=237#comment-137 Hi there, I am reading your blog because my husband and I are in the adoption process. I appreciate that you are in a different culture/country, but talking disparagingly about their country and infrastructure doesn't seem the way to go. Don't you realize they can read your blogs too? Americans already have a reputation for being spoiled and intolerant. This country is generous enough to entrust us with their children. I think we should try to be appreciative and make a good impression. Hi there,

I am reading your blog because my husband and I are in the adoption process. I appreciate that you are in a different culture/country, but talking disparagingly about their country and infrastructure doesn’t seem the way to go. Don’t you realize they can read your blogs too? Americans already have a reputation for being spoiled and intolerant. This country is generous enough to entrust us with their children. I think we should try to be appreciative and make a good impression.

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