Today I am discussing the adoption roadblock of travel worries and fears, and in this post I am going to give you some tips to help ease your anxiety about your adoption trip and offer ways to make it smoother and easier, and in my next post, I will write about tips to make is as painless as possible to leave children at home while you travel.

Tips for smoother adoption travel (and ways to calm your fears)…

-When you are early on in the adoption stage and still researching agencies and programs, make sure you ask about travel time for each program/country/agency. Travel times definitely vary by country, and they can also vary between agencies. For instance, two agencies can both work in Vietnam, but if they work in different provinces, the length of travel may be different. If being gone from home, work or family is a big issue for you, then you will want to look for adoption programs with shorter required travel.

-If you absolutely cannot travel, consider programs that allow escorting.

-Find out if a long adoption trip can be broken up into two shorter trips (this is sometimes possible).

-Remind yourself that traveling to the country your child was born in, is a wonderful opportunity to get to experience their culture first hand. You will get to hear the language, taste the food, smell the smells, etc. that your child has been experiencing his whole life. You will be able to buy cultural items to decorate your home with and to have as treasured gifts for your child as he grows up. Even more importantly, you will be able to see where and how your child has lived, meet the people who have been caring for him, and take valuable photos for your child’s life book.

Our adoption trips have been some of the most amazing experiences of our lives, and well worth the hassles and stresses of traveling.

-When you have completed the paperwork stage of your adoption and you are stuck in the “waiting” phase, enjoy researching your trip. Read about the country you are going to. Talk to other parents who have gone. Learn about places to stay, places to eat, places to shop and places to see. Learn about cultural do’s and don’ts. Read travel books and find websites about the country you are going. Consider learning some basic phrases in the language that is spoken there.

Oftentimes, once you get your referral and your travel date, things are a blur and there isn’t always a lot of time to prepare. Take advantage of the “wait”.

Preparing in this way for your trip will also help you feel more comfortable when you get there. For example, we were prepared for what the process would be at the airport, and that there would be lots of men offering to “help” us with our bags, and that there would be a lot of poverty and people begging us for money. If I had had to experience all of that without any preparation after a 30+ hour trip, it would have been very difficult, but since I was prepared and knew what to expect, it was a lot more manageable.

-Have a great packing list. Don’t over pack, and don’t under pack. Either mistake can complicate your travels. Ask your agency and other adoptive families that have traveled for packing lists, as well as things they couldn’t do without, and things they wish they left at home. You can also check out my travel lists here.

-If you are afraid of flying and/or traveling, remember that air travel is extremely safe. The most dangerous part of your trip will most likely be your ride to the airport. Remember how very, very many adoptive parents have traveled for their children without incident.

-If food is your issue, remember that you can pack comfort food for yourself. Granola bars, Ramen noodles, oatmeal, candy, cereal and other such foods pack easily and are nice to have when you don’t get a chance to eat or aren’t enjoying the food on your adoption trip.

-For many families, traveling to get their child is an experience of a lifetime. Thanks to my children, I have been to Vietnam, South Carolina and Ethiopia. I regret that we used the escort option and didn’t travel to Korea (but we plan on doing that together as family some day). If you are feeling uneasy about it, I encourage you to read the travel stories of other adoptive families while you’re waiting. You can read some of our adoption travel adventures here.

Next post…tips on making it easier to leave kids at home while you travel.