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[Think of it this way. What sort of moment in your life could be so traumatic that you push all memories of it out of your mind permanently?]

I thought that this bit from AsianNation was right on the money with regards to the language loss:

http://www.asian-nation.org/headlines/2010/09/transracial-adoption-adoptee-point-of-view/

I’ve met many adoptees who were adopted later in their lives – some are four, five or even six years old when they are adopted. So many of them have completely lost all memories of their homelands. Most are completely devoid of any bilingual language capabilities that they once had. Think of it this way. What sort of moment in your life could be so traumatic that you push all memories of it out of your mind permanently? Adoption is no easy thing for an adoptee, regardless of age, I have to believe that even young children can sense these things in one way or another.

When I watched this I could not help feeling a bit angry at the mom. she was adopting an 8 year old child that has learned a language and begun developing within a very different culture. I thought that the mom was pushing way too hard right out of the gate and not meeting the child half way. The child was very overwhelmed and stressed and the family did nothing to try to communicate in her native language or otherwise ease her transition. I had thought that maybe this was the reason that the child had forgotten all her language skill in her native tongue so quickly and I found it upsetting. On one hand, the mom assimilated her child quickly which has its' own benefits given the child was 8. I would have tried to meet her in the middle more but it did turn out OK in the end.

I met an indian child adopted at 4.5 years old a few days after watching this video. I spoke with the mom and her DD had been in the US for 2.5 years. She was very fluent in english and could read very well now at 7 years old. She cannot remember any of her native language either.

I walked away from thta video wondering that if the parents had met the child half way and tried to learn the childs native language would the language block still have occured? Dunno. Maybe to a lesser extent at least.

I like this exchange.

MOM "what are you drawing"

DD "A butterfly.....pause...... YOU NO SEE IT!!!"   

I agree not all are happy about IA in China.  However, I should tell you that really not many people really know about IA in China even in Beijing (which was a shock to me as well).  My own personal experience in China this year when I went back with my seven year old is that everyone was accepting of IA, but that they were surprised why westerners wanted to pursue adoption, particularly those of non-chinese descent.  I have never been asked so many times why I 'just' didn't have my own child or given that I have a bio child, why I would want to adopt".  The concept of 'more than two children',in particular was not something most people I met 'got'...its just a different way of thinking and it might be the reason for 'some of the looks you received"...of course I don't know for sure...but its been my experience

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/Pilot-Project-Helps-Ethiopian-Orphans-Avoid-Overseas-Adoption-102394554.html

The Ethiopian government and a faith-based U.S. charity are teaming up on an experimental project to help orphans thrive in their home countries rather than be put up for adoption overseas.  From the town of Bantu, our correspondent reports that the U.S. government is studying the project as Ethiopia becomes the nation of choice for American families seeking international adoptions.

thank you walkingonthemoon

try this link:

here is a link that is from China to watch it online :

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjAzODU1ODA4.html

I knew I had seen Honduras on one of the agency's websites.  It took a little searching but I found it....TDH:  http://tdhontario.tdh.ca/honduras.html

I'm Shaggywing from NS. I'm in Cupcake's travel group with a May 2006 LID for China.

I hear on the other site that Honduras is open to singles. Is this available in Canada?

Oh my! Could this be a result of parents having less children? Often only one or two children so they are much less willing to "let go".