Returning to the SARRIA'S....

UNO MES!!! aka...ONE MORE MONTH!!!!!


In only one month I return HOME to Chile. I cannot wait! My excitement level is HIGHLY elevated. I am so excited to return to the SARRIA family that I left sooooo long ago. TOO long ago. This adventure is well over due.


My parents have taken me all over the world. I have been so fortunate to travel to incredible places during my young life thus far BUT I honestly have always wondered why they never took me back to Chile? Just to SEE it...the same way they felt it was so important for me to SEE Israel, I feel like I always wanted them to take me to SEE Chile. It is part of my history too and I love Chile just like I love Israel.


My return home to LA FAMILIA SARRIA is thanks to two very special friends of mine. I will devote an ENTIRE post to them but I couldn't mention going home without saying a SPECIAL THANKS to Mr. Duke and Grace :)


When I walk off the plane...only one month from now- I will be greeted by my whole family! What a scene it will be! And you can be assurred I will post pictures as soon as I get my computer set up in my hotel :)


My family history is strange in Chile. Although everyone will be gathering for my arrival- they don't all have the best relationships with one another. My mom does not have any relationship with my oldest sister. My Aunt took my older sister in years ago when my mom and sister had their "falling out." My Aunt sided with my sister in the drama and she too, became quite distant from my mother.


My Aunt's family is pictured (in her home) below...starting from the left...my cousin older GONZALO...my little cousin SINAID...MY TIO GRUNON, EFRAIN (my grumpy uncle, Efrain)...my Aunt GLADYS (my mothers sister)...my cousin EMMA aka EMITHAX!...my brother-in-law, ISAIS...and his beautiful wife- my big sister, SCARLETT...








And below are LAS MUJERES SARRIA...the Sarria women...minus my mom and my little sister. Again starting from the left...my Aunt Gladys...my cousin Emma...my sister Scarlett...and my little cousin Sinaid.

(ISAIS likes attention and felt the need to pop his head in the background of this photo).







I am excited to see all my family of course but I am especially excited to see my big sister. Sometimes people just "click"...well my sister and I, we "click." Because of the problems she has with my mother, we were not able to communicate for the first few years I knew my mother. With my trip fast approaching my mom has given Scarlett my phone number and email address and we have been in constant contact with one another.


My BEAUTIFUL sister is pictured below. I love her VERY much and I miss her every hour of every day.

My sister recently got married :) Below she is pictured on her wedding day...my mom was not invited to my sisters wedding which I feel is rather unfortunate. Luckily my cousins were all there and they took plenty of pictures to send me...I can't wait to meet my sister and brother-in-law!!!!

My mom also has a brother. He has THREE little children...two of them are pictured with my mother below. Starting at left...my cousin CATALINA...my mom :)....and my baby cousin RICARDO aka Ricardito (little ricardo in spanish).

I feel a little guilty posting this entry without pictures of ALL my family members but I can't seem to find the disk with pictures of my moms husband, Erik...my little sister, Silvia...my uncle, Jorge...and his wife, my aunt Maria.

I am also sad to say that I have never seen pictures of two of my younger siblings and I will not meet them when I go to Chile. My brother, Gabriel and my sister, Katy live with their father. My mom has yet to tell me the whole story of their lives BUT she has not seen or spoken to them in years. They are in the custody of their father and are not allowed to have contact with my mother. It is very unfortunate and very sad. My mother struggles with the fact that she does not see or speak to them, and to some extent- I think they have probably struggled as well. Who knows? I just know I have not forgotten about them...they are my siblings and although I do not know them- I think of them, quite often.

I will be back to post those pictures of my other family members as soon as I find them! I also want to share the VERY special story of the VERY special people that are sending me on this journey...so stay tuned for that.

That is all for now...I wish you all a good one.

PEACE!!!!!!!!!

HOPE for Young Mothers...

i posted this on my "facebook" earlier in the week...it has gotten a lot of comments and attention on there so i figured i would post it on here. hope you enjoy it...just a different way of looking at things within this election and how this moment, personally continues to change my life :)

...I don't think I will ever forget all the critism that swarmed my life when I announced my pregnancy to my family and friends. As I stepped into the roll of a "teenage mom," people didn't have many nice things to say.

My own mother disowned me for a 5 month time period. Some of my "best friends" told me I was not equipped to be a parent and stopped being my "friend." My own doctor told me that the baby may do better if he were raised in a more "stable home." Meaning a home without an 18 year old mom like myself. And God love my mother-in-law who never failed to remind me that I was "a baby having a baby." (Now that's despite the fact that SHE was even younger than I when HER first baby debuted into this world). Well, whatever- that's besides the point.

The point is that the scrutiny that surrounds teenage mothers is just disgusting to me...honestly. WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO JUDGE A MOTHER JUST BECAUSE SHE IS YOUNGER THAN THE "AVERAGE" MOM?

Nobody...now.

PRESIDENT ELECT BARACK OBAMA WAS BORN TO A "TEENAGE MOTHER." Does anybody have any critism for the way in which she raised her son? She became a mommy to Baby Barack at age 18. Was she not "equipped" to be a parent to her child? Perhaps things were going to be more difficult for her (especially during that time period) but did that mean she COULDN'T do it?

In the public eye, you hear so much about what this election means to everybody. I haven't heard anything about what this election means to the young mothers out there that are told they "can't be good mothers" etc. That's still an issue of the private eye. An issue that many people have not even thought to look at.

So check things out from a different view. You will see even more reason as to why this election is so historic. Pull this quiet issue out into the public. Don't be shy to mention the HOPE Obama brings to teenage mothers around this nation. It doesn't mean promoting high school girls to go out and make babies but reassuring those already in this situation that they CAN be great mothers if they work hard. They CAN love and encourage their children to do whatever they set their minds to.

To my few "teenage mommy" friends...our kids have grown SO much but I have soooo much respect for you guys for making the choices you made, sticking in there and handling business- no matter how difficult it has been.

Shot out to Jamie Lynn Spizzzearsss and Big Bristol Palin...people really need to stop talking so terribly about those girls. They have it hard enough already...leave em alone!

To Barack Obamas Mom...wherever she may be- THANKS for believing in yourself at such a young age. YOUR dream helped to make a dream come true to so many American people.

May the torch of HOPE continue burning for generations to come.

PEACE.

ANDDDD as an addition to this i would like to add a link in which you can read more about Barack Obamas mom...specific details about her life, mistakes she made, things she overcame, and pictures. Just click the link below...

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1729524,00.html

ENJOY! GOODNIGHT! AND THANKS FOR READING :)

Te Gusta?

Do you want to FETCH a shirt like this?!?! It reads...

"Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Obama could run. Obama is running so our children can fly."

Pretty freakin' DEEP if I may say so myself but what does everyone else think? If you like this shirt and want to FETCH one...just visit the link below, duhhhh! (They have many variations as well).

http://www.zazzle.com/rosa_martin_obama_shirt-235997350696184509

OOOOOK....that is all the election stuff I will be posting- I think?!?! I will return to adoption stories one day soon but for now, I am off to relax by watching the WASHINGTON WIZARDS play basketball in overtime!!!!! YIKES!!!! Another VICTORY?!?! Perhaps NOT...oh well! You just cannot win them all :)

GOODNIGHT...

TASTE THE CHANGE!!!!

WELL, I had taken a break from blogging for a week or so...to be honest sometimes it gets difficult to continue opening yourself up- some days I just want to wrap up the wounds without talking about them or addressing them. I hope any readers I may have can understand this.

With a new 44th President of THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA- I decided I would come on here and post a few thoughts about how this election has personally changed my life.

All my life I have been considered white because I was adopted by a white family. Although I was occasionally teased in Hebrew school for looking "different", I did not really get discriminated against as a child.

My parents had literally CHANGED my identity when I became their baby and I was viewed as white. My father still argues with me to this VERY day that I AM WHITE.

The ONLY time my parents have really recognized my hispanic background was when I was trying to transfer schools when I was 15 years old. At that point, it all of a sudden became "okay" to refer to me as "latina"...for a BRIEF moment until the transfer was complete.

Now I am a grown up. I am a "big girl and have a voice of my own" as my psychiatrist often tells me. So with that being said, in my adult life I have begun to develop my OWN character and sense of being.

I AM HISPANIC and NOBODY will continue to convince me or TRY to convince me otherwise. I am actually angry with my father for the harsh critisism he continuously throws at my life. Especially the fact that he tells me that "I will always only be seen as white in his eyes" OR the fact that he refers to the first time he met my husband as "look who came to dinner." My husband is black. Perhaps I have yet to mention that. Well whatever. You get the idea?

The point of this story is that last I heard, 69% of the Hispanic vote went to Barack Obama and Hispanics had a HUGE impact on this election. "Look who came to...be our next President" :) Please check the link below for a short article on hispanic voters....

http://www.newsweek.com/id/167746

I AM REGISTERED in the State of Maryland as ONE of the Hispanic voters. I am now old enough to register my OWN ethnicity without my father (or mother) speaking for me. It feels SOOOOOO good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My voice is being heard!!!! I LOVED seeing my ethnicity marked as HISPANIC when I casted MY ballot. I LOVE the fact that THAT part of ME got statistically recorded. I sit and cheer at my television when I hear them talk about the overwhelming turn-out of the YOUNG HISPANIC VOTERS!!!!!!!!! I cheer because I AM ONE OF THE YOUNG HISPANIC VOTERS ;) I am screaming "VIVA CHILE" louder and harder then ever before.

I LOVE AMERICA- please do not misunderstand that BUT I will never forget where I came from...

I am PROUD to be a HISPANIC JEWISH AMERICAN and I am so PROUD to have voted in this election.

And finally, I am SO PROUD to post the letter that was given to me in March of 1985...marking my citizenship in this country....

UNITED STATES SENATE

March 2, 1985

Dear Rachel:

As a member of the United States Senate from the State of Maryland, I want to congratulate you on becoming an American citizen. Both of my parents were immigrants to this country and became American citizens so I believe I have an understanding of what your new citizenship means to you.

One of the greatest strengths of this nation is the splendid contribution which has been made by those born in other countries. I am certain you will continue that fine tradition and help to make the United States a better home for all her people.

I hope you will let me know your views from time to time on issues pending before Congress. You have my very best wishes for a happy and rewarding life in the years ahead. With best regards....

Sincerely,

Paul S. Sarbanes

United States Senator

This letter has never felt so important to me. Touching it, reading it, talking about it- brings tears of joy to my eyeballs. THANK YOU MOM, for saving it for me...it is a posession I am really happy to have :)

GOD BLESS AMERICA. GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU- no matter which way you voted. VIVA CHILE!!!!!!!!!! And to all a FINE NIGHT!!!!

Adios! PEACE! Chaooooo!

Becoming Cooper...

22 years before the picture below was taken, my paternal grandmother traveled with her son to pick up his new baby. My dad had received a phone call that a baby girl was available in Chile...my mother was not home at the time. From what I understand it was a "need an answer right now" type situation and naturally my excited dad (without much thinking) said YES!


There was not much time before I came to my new country, my new family, my new home! So my brother and mom stayed home and awaited my arrival while my grandma and my dad came to fetch me.


My grandma Cooper was the first woman in my new family to hold me :) This is always a bond that I have always treasured with my dear grams...Pictured below are Aaron, Myself, Grandma Cooper and Grandpa Cooper- may he REST IN PEACE :(





After I arrived home the whole court adoption process started. Apparently you do all the home studies, get approved, organize lawyers in BOTH countries, pick up your baby and THEN petition to the courts. The whole thing seems odd to me to be honest. I wonder if they consider the interest of the baby if the judge were to deny the petition? Take the baby from the original family, send it off with a prospective adoptive family- "hoping for the best"...but what if "the best" does not happen? What a devistating loss for the prospective parents and yet ANOTHER loss for the innocent infant.


ANYWAYS....here is how I came about! Below, I have posted my adoption petition...to officially become Rachel Cooper....

Petition For Adoption

To The Honorable, The Judges of Said Court:

Comes now your petitioners, Rebecca S. Cooper and Gary D. Cooper, by and through their attorney, Leslie Scott Auerbach, and respectfully represents unto this Honorable Court as follows:

1. That your petitioners reside at....(Address in which I am not posting).

2. That your petitioner Gary D. Cooper is an adult, white male, and is currently employed as an executive for his own corportation.

3. That your petitioner Rebecca S. Cooper is an adult, white female, and is not eomployed.

4. That your petitioners were married on (Date in which I am not posting).

5. That your petitioners have one other child, Aaron, who was adopted by the parties and finalized in 1981.

6. That the adoptee herein is a female infant, born July 2, 1983 in Chile (South America). The biological mother of the adoptee voluntarily consented to the guardianship and adoption of the adoptee by your petitioners by personally appearing in the Second Court of Minors on July 18, 1983.

7. The adoptee had been placed with foster parents since the adoptees birth and until the adoptee was placed in the care and custody of your petitioners, which occurred on August 1, 1983.

8. The name and location of the biological father is unknown, the adoptee being the product of rape.

9. That the petitioners were awarded temporary guardianship if the adoptee by the Second Court of Minors in Santiago on the 22nd of July 1983. The petitioners are finacially able and willing to provide for the support, welfare, and education of the said adoptee. They are of good moral character and are qualified persons to have the care, custody and control of the said adoptee, and the petitioners further desire to adopt the said adoptee as their own child, to make the child their heir at law, and to have conferred upon the said adoptee the same status as if she had been born unto the said petitioners.

Wherefore, your petitioners pray:

1. That the petition be granted and a decree be issued establishing the adoption of the said adoptee by your petitioners Gary D. Cooper and Rebecca S. Cooper, and making her their child. The same as if she had been born unto them.

2. That the adoptees name be changed to Rachel Ellen Cooper.

3. And for such other and further relief as to which this Court may seem fit and just.

Everything was signed and approved. And then I became the second little established Cooper. My parents had two children of their own...and we grew! and we GREW! and we GREW!

Aaron and I were both converted to Judiasm as infants. We were both BLESSED to have traveled to Israel twice in our lives thus far....Below we are pictured standing infront of the Western Wall in Israel. I was 8 in this picture and Aaron was 11 :)

We were both Bar and Bat Mitzvah'd at the age of 13...For those of your who aren't familiar with the Jewish religion, A Bar Mitzvah is the Jewish right of passage into adulthood. (BAT Mitzvah is for women, while the BAR Mitzvah is for men)....Pictured below is me reading from the torah, at my Bat Mitzvah...age 13 :)

And then the "COOPERS" split up. Our parents divorced when I was 15 and Aaron was 18. BLAHHHHH.

My dad remarried and there became a new "Mrs. Cooper." I didn't really like that at all but what was I to do. Nothing but TRY to embrace my new family that came with my fathers new wife.

My husband, son, fathers wife, myself and my dad are pictured below.

My mom changed her name...back to her maiden name. I HATED the fact that she had a different last name then me. I did not like the separation of our family in the first place but the different last name thing REALLY threw me off guard...it made us REALLY seperate :(

Luckily, my mom found herself in a happy relationship years later :) My mom, brother and my moms boyfriend are pictured below...

I will be back soon to talk about "Returning Sarria"...which is almost as odd as "Becoming Cooper."

I used to think I needed all the answers...I used to think people owed me some type of explanation. I have come to LEARN that all of that is not my problem. I have come to a place where my parents history is just that...their HISTORY--- long gone.

Despite any abnormalties, THIS is my life. THIS is what I have grown to somewhat understand. Although I am NOT alright with my families disconnections and imperfections, after 10 long years I am proud to say we can all sit connected together around a dinner table...putting aside the breaks between us.

Espero que duerma bien = I hope that you sleep well :)

And to you all...A GOODNIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

To Dominick...

I have mentioned my son briefly in previous messages. But with my trip fast approaching I feel the need to talk about him more.

Dominick will not be making the trip to Chile with me. My husband and I have decided that he does not really need to be subjected to the uncertainty of emotions that may be experienced on this journey. He will be 6 years old at the time of my travel. I don't feel it is "age appropriate" right now to bring him BUT I look forward to having him come with me on future visits.

Anyways, I have had thoughts racing through my head...what if something happens to me while I am away? I hate flying and am terrified of a plane crash...well, what if my plane crashed?!?! Am I being a bad mom to take this experience for myself? Ughhh, I can't even begin to explain the concerns I have about leaving my little boy at home...DESPITE the fact I know he will be well cared for by my mother :)

Meet my son...this is Dominick as an infant...FRESH out the womb!!!!




And below is Dominick with my husband at only ONE day old! He was so alert, even as just a little guy...

And finally, I am going to post what I wrote for Dominick today while my thoughts of my and my love for him were racing through my mind all day long.

I decided to call this "Years Gone By"...

Because one day you will read this...

I remember the first day I found out about you. You were a surprise, the most pleasant surprise I have ever received.

I remember watching you grow through the eyes of medical technology. I loved hearing your little heart BEAT...I loved watching you on screen in the doc's office.

You were such a STAR- always showing off and flashing the fact that you were a male to the camera...or perhaps I should say sonogram machine.

I remember watching my belly roll around as you moved so tightly inside. I HATED how everyone always felt a need to give your little domain a "pat" but I poked at you ALL DAY LONG...just so I could see you squirm :)

And there began our relationship. You would kick me in the rib, and I would poke you in your little gut...or whatever part of your body it was. We played like this for a few months.

You grew to the point that I could no longer fit in my desk at school. Your kicking got to the point that it was painful...but I still poked you back- softly.And then you were born.

On Friday the 13th...and your enterance was just as frightening as the day itself. After 13 hours of labor and pushing, you managed to tangle yourself in your annoying umbillical chord. I was forced to get an epidural and birth you via c-section. I didn't like being sliced opened or being num from my neck down BUT once I heard you screaming...nothing even mattered.

And so began our lives together...out in the open- out in public. You weren't hidden under my clothes, you were no longer a "bump." You became visible. Not only to me but to the world.

You were handsome. You were beautiful. You were my baby.

I LOVED the way your eyes would light up as I nursed you. I loved the fact that your only food source was ME. I loved crying because my breasts hurt SO bad. I loved fighting through my pain and your frustration together. I loved it when our nursing routine became "routine."

I remember how you would cuddle close to my heart. I LOVED your toothless little grins. I remember how you always would kick your feet at the sound of my voice. I loved every inch of you. I loved every minute spent with you.

I remember your first birthday. You came walking down the hall. I had never seen you walk before...you were so proud of yourself. Your toothless grin had turned to a 4 tooth smile. You were so darn precious.

I remember the days when we counted your age by weeks. I remember the first time I said, "he's 18 months." It sounded so old. I cut you off from nursing...our relationship changed, and although you didn't depend on me for food, I loved you even more.

I remember watching you walk to restaurants for lunch dates with my friends. You were always so happy. I remember how hard it was to watch you cry the first time you fell down on the sidewalk.

You never drank from a bottle, never wore "pull-ups" and you never went pee sitting down. Thanks to your twin cousins, and your Aunt Kira's investment in your potty, you were potty trained by age two.

And then you started school. You wore a uniform everyday. You LOVED the montessori program...and the montessori program loved you. You learned so much. You had blossomed beyond my belief, reading and writing after only 2 years in the program.

I remember your first picture. I remember your first project. I remember that you drew make believe siblings for yourself in EVERY single picture you created.

I love your imagination. I love your sense of self.

You are about to turn 6. You have been a dream come true. You saved my life from darkness as I made vows to myself the day you were born.

You challenge me to be more than a better mother but to be a better HUMAN...to have compassion for ALL people because everyone has a mother, somewhere, that loves them just as much as I love you.

You have transformed from my little peanut, into my Big D-Rock. I love the way you argue with me and I love the way you look in your REDSKINS jersey.

I love the jokes you tell and I love the way you call me "Babe."

I love explaining things to you. You listen so cautiously to everyone and everything. You ask so many questions.

I love how you are so inquisitive.

I love YOUR love for others.

Recently you questioned about illness and death. I explained that medicine does not have a cure for everything. I LOVED THE WAY YOU ASKED ME, "Hey babe- why does it have to be like that?...it does not seem fair."

At only 5 years old, I love YOUR vision to want better for the world. I love the way we pick children to sponsor together. I love the fact that you ASK to give up a Hanukah gift so we can repair the cleft pallet of a child less fortunate.

I love that you see past just yourself.

The years have gone by and I just continue to love you more and more each day. I love you so bad it hurts. I am scared of not being with you. We have always been so "together."

But one day you will read this. One day you will remember all our memories and the first time I really traveled without you. It will be nothing but just another memory.

I am so looking forward to the rest of our lives together. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you.

You bring smiles to the saddest days and you shine light on all dark voids that exist within my life. I am appreciative for the memories we have created and the ones we have yet to create. I love you with all my heart, soul, and of course-- with all the gushy guts in between :)

Ohhhhhhh Dominick...Mommy loves you more than you will ever know!!!!!

Mi angelito...mi vida..mi hijo = My angel...my life...my son :)

Buenos Noches Y Cuidese!!!! (Goodnight and take care).

A Note From Aron...

Meet my brother Aaron...for all intensive purposes we shall call him "Aron" !!! And it is also ok to yell out..."ARON, ARON, VENGA, VENGA"...when you want to call for him to come.

My brother is a MASSIVE pillar in my life. He has been the ONE stable thing in my world and for adoptive children, stability is crucial.

With no further to do...here is ARON! He is pictured below...

Aron just recently returned from Costa Rica. He spent 3 weeks there studying and learning to speak Spanish. My brother is a NYU grad. student pursuing a Masters Degree of Social Work. I have no doubt in my mind that my brother will make an incredible social worker. He is almost a year and a half into his program and doing great. I couldn't be more proud and excited...my brother is the most unique and caring individual I have ever met in my life.

While studying in Costa Rica, my brother learned a lot. Pictured below, you can see my brother interacting with some children but the program he was a part of was more about learning things himself...

My brother learned a whole bunch of stuff in Costa Rica, all of which I was eager to hear about. But there has been one thing that has really caught my eye.

Aron learned about the Hauge Convention. He taught me about it and I think you all should learn a little bit about it too! Check out the link below to find out more about how the Hauge protects intercountry adoptive children.

http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.text&cid=69&zoek=adoption

ALSO!!! My brother wrote a fantastic paper on the hauge and its details. I have posted the paper (with my brothers permission) below.

A Note from Aron

The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-Operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, to which the United States became a party on April 1, 2008, is a powerful international policy that has had rattling effects on all parties involved in international adoption. The convention endeavors to consolidate international policies, creating standards and accountability. This is not a small undertaking considering the involvement of over 70 countries. Additionally, the underlying issue of children needing care draws an emotional tie the convention, that is not conflict free. In this paper I will examine how and why the convention was created and outline its goals. Using several case studies from different countries I will also highlight some effects, negative and positive, of the Hague convention, on children, families and countries.
The Hague convention on intercountry adoption is one of over 30 conventions the Hague Conference on Private International Law has adopted (www.hcch.net). Other conventions adopted by the Hague Conference include the Conventions on the protection of minors and the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (www.hcch.net). The Hague Conference first convened in the Netherlands in 1893, aiming to “work for the progressive unification of the rules of private international law” (www.hcch.net). To achieve this goal, the conference negotiates and drafts multilateral treaties or conventions. Hague has established and maintains relationships with other international organizations, including the United Nations, UNICEF and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (www.hcch.net). These associations solidify the Hague Conference as an encompassing international group.
How do counties become involved with the Hague Conference? According to the Hague website, “States which have already participated in one or more of the earlier Sessions of the Conference may become Members of the Hague Conference by accepting its Statute. Other States must be admitted by vote,” a right executed by a majority of Member States (www.hcch.net). According to these rules, a state (country) can follow or be affected by a Hague Convention, but not be a Member of the Conference. India, for example, has participated in Hague Conventions, including Intercountry Adoption, for decades but only became a Member of the Conference in 2008 (www.hcch.net). While Hague seemingly aims to achieve cohesion, there is inevitable confusion and lack of conformity or universal participation by many countries. Still, as is the case with the Convention on Intercountry Adoption, Hague treaties affect these countries.
Beginning after World War II and up through the 1970’s, there was an international adoption boom, brining international babies into the U.S. (Summerhill, 2008). It wasn’t until 1993 that Hague responded to the international complexities and human and legal problems that this boom created. According to the Outline of the Intercountry Adoption, the 1993 Convention aims to make, “the rights and interests of the child paramount and to respect and protect the rights of the families of origin and adoptive families.” The “best interests of the child” is listed first in the principal features of the Convention. Furthermore, the Convention describes the “Subsidiary Principle”. This principle sates that a child “should be raised by his or her birth family or extended family whenever possible” (www.hcch.net). This idea, while it may have the child’s best interest at heart, may impede the adoption process, leaving children in institutional care. Or, it may prevent willing and suitable parents from adopting children in need.
Another operative of the Convention is to promote “Co-operation between States and within States” (www.hcch.net). This aspect of functioning is easier said than done for many states. States that already have the private sector involved in intercountry adoption may have complex bureaucratic systems already in place. Existing political or social relationships between states might also interfere with co-operation on an international agreement. If a relationship between two states changes, it affects other relationships involved in the Convention.
The Hague Convention also calls for “competent central authorities and accredited bodies” (www.hcch.net). While this aspect of Hague creates standards and accountability, is not an easy switch to implement. Confusion has been created with changing policies that are far more complex than older standards. Also, many agencies have had to face overhauls to comply with Hague standards.
The Hague Conference seems like a suitable agency, with its multi-lateral approach, to handle and effectively regulate intercountry adoption. However, different countries have different strengths and weaknesses. Developing countries have different needs and resources than established countries, yet they all must comply with a single convention and Hague places a heavy burden of responsibility on the states. Hague did consider this issue of diversity by implementing The Intercountry Adoption Technical Assistance Programme, which employs international consultants and experts dedicated to needy states. But what other needs, economic and social, do states in developing countries have, that Hague had not addressed? With the U.S. only fully adopting the current Convention in 2008, only time will reveal how effective Hague really is at unifying international policy and addressing individual countries needs.
To understand what intercountry adoption was like prior to Hague, I examined an article from Business Week, When It Come to Adoption, It’s a Wide, Wide World, published in 1988. The author, Suzanne Woolley describes concerns that are indicative of how different intercountry adoption was before it was regulated by Hague, “Rather than wait years for a U.S born infant parents are looking overseas…many adoptive parents can get babies a year after applying, less than half the average wait for a U.S. born baby.” Woolley also gives prospective parents a heads up that in some countries orphanages may “ask that you bring gifts, ranging from cloths to microwaves when you pick up your child.” Under current Hague regulations, both of these aspects of intercountry adoption are completely different. Intercountry adoption can take several years to complete with waitlists and much complex paperwork involved. Today, the presentation of gifts during the adoption process may be seen as payment or even coercion, both documented corrupt practices that Hague fights against.
So what is intercountry adoption like today, under brand new Hague regulations? In an article published in the New York Times in June, Mireya Navarro notes that experts have described the process as, “tortuous to pursue.” Navarro documents the process through the experience of the Casserlys, a family from Minnesota waiting to adopt a girl from Guatemala. Julie Casserly explains that her first adoption, in 2005, was easier than the current one, “this time it is a matter of ‘if’ not ‘when’.” Navarro lists child trafficking scandals and Hague as the reasons why countries such as China, Russia and South Korea are turning toward domestic adoptions instead, making international adoptions harder to complete for couples like the Casserlys. Guatemala is an extreme example of this difficulty in complying with standards. Although Guatemala signed the Convention treaty, they have not yet established federal control of adoption leading to a temporary moratorium on adoptions (Summerhill, 2008). Navarro also reports on another family from Minnesota who has been trying to adopt a Vietnamese child for 2 “gut wrenching” years. Vietnam stopped accepting adoption applications in 2008 after an investigation by the American embassy found that poor birth parents had been paid or deceived into placing their children in an orphanage (Navarro, 2008). The media is another hurdle, not related to Hague, that prospective adoptive parents face. Publicity surrounding celebrities like Madonna, who did not go through the proper process, leave people assuming that Americans are coming in and taking kids from their parents (Navarro, 2008). Because the Casserly's began the adoption process 11 months ago, prior to the U.S. implementation of the Hague Convention, it should theoretically not affect them. Nevertheless they fear the fate of the girl they wish to adopt if the process continues to be delayed or does is not completed.
Similar complications are described by Kirk Semple in, A World Away, New Rules Put an Adoption on Hold, published by the New York Times in 2008. Semple reports on the miraculous case of a Latvian immigrant, Ilze Earner, to the U.S. who was contacted by a social worker in 2005 and informed that a baby had been abandoned in Latvia who was linked to the immigrants U.S. phone number. The abandoned child was Earner’s 3rd cousin. Earner, an assistant professor at Hunter, decided to adopt the child, who is now 5 years old. Earner complied with all international adoption regulations current at the time. However, when she traveled to Latvia with her family to retrieve her adopted cousin, she was denied by American consular officials who told her that international adoption regulations had changed that that she would have to return to the U.S. to restart the process (Semple, 2008). The Earners were unaware of the changes and had not filed a document before April 1, 2008 that would have allowed them to adopt under old regulations. Semple deems the Hague Convention as the “crux of the Earner’s problem.” Only after much press coverage of the story and the Earner’s own lobbying to the Latvian and American governments, were they granted an expedited adoption (Semple, 2008). At the end of the article, a spokesman for the immigration agency admits, “Given the complexity of immigration law… policies are not simple, the omission of one piece of information can result in the wrong answer.” Since the ordeal, the Earner’s have switched to al licensed adoption agency, leaving a social worker they had originally contracted (Semple, 2008).
In, Doors closing on foreign adoptions; As China pulls back, families look to countries such as Vietnam and Ethiopia, published in the Toronto Star in 2008, Leslie Scrivener documents Chinas tightening adoption policies and the resulting effects on other countries. In the past China had a “golden standard” of adoption because of how it expedited healthy children through the adoptions process (Scrivener, 2008). The wait in Canada to adopt a baby from China has increased from approximately one year to between five and seven years (Scrivener, 2008). The effect this has is felt in countries like Vietnam, Ethiopia and South Africa, where international adoption has increased. Scrivener blames partially attributes this change to “increased compliance with the Hague Convention and its slew of mandated documentation… a burden in impoverished countries.” This phenomenon reflects how a powerful nation, like China, that has the ability to change their policies to suit their changing needs, effects other countries that may or may not be able to cope easily becoming intercountry adoption hot beds.
Ethiopia is an example of a country experiencing backlash due to an increase in adoptions. Jane Gross reports on Ethiopia’s current adoption system in, Surge in Adoptions Raises Concern in Ethiopia, published in the New York Times in 2007. Since 2000, Ethiopia has moved from 16th to 5th place in number of adoptions by Americans (Gross, 2007). Due to this popularity there has been an influx of new agencies to in Ethiopia to facilitate the growing number of adoptions. Gross quotes the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, which oversees adoption, as saying, “We don’t have the capacity to handle all these new agencies, and we have to monitor the quality, not just quantity.” The head of child protection at Unicef in Ethiopia has also voiced his concern with the growing number of private companies that are not properly regulated by the government (Gross, 2007). While Ethiopia may be a popular and effective alternative to countries that have tightened their adoption regulations, will they be able to maintain Hague standards amidst an international adoption surge?
The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption is clearly well intentioned. As an organization, the Hague Conference has a history of experience with multi-lateral projects to protect human and specifically children’s rights. But is the Convention prepared to deal with potential bureaucratic pitfalls? How can such a large-scale endeavor cater to the needs of its many diverse constituents? How will the differing economic and political powers of the states involved in Hague balance out? In order to protect children and put their best interests first, Hague must face these questions and be prepared to modify if necessary. If there is too much red tape exists, even if it’s due to tightening procedures, perhaps children’s interests will be compromised. If a child’s adoption is put on hold and they spend time institutionalized, are their interests being met? I believe the Hague Convention is a very important step in combating atrocities like child trafficking. But the Conference must be prepared, and perhaps they are, to deal with the many effects of such a large and ambitious international policy.






Sources

Conners, W. & Gross, J. (2007, June 4). Surge in Adoptions Raises Concern in Ethiopia.
The New York Times.

The Hague Conference on Private International Law (2008). Outline of the Convention.
Retrieved on September 20, 2008, from www.hcch.net

The Hague Conference on Private International Law (2008). What is the Hague
Conference on Private International Law? Retrieved on September 20, 2008, from www.hcch.net

Navarro, M. (2008, June 5). To Adopt, Please Press Hold. The New York Times.

Semple, K. (2008, June 17). A World Away, New Rules Put an Adoption on Hold.
The New York Times.

Scrivener, L. (2008, September 13). Doors closing on foreign adoptions; As China pulls
back, families look to counties such as Vietnam and Ethiopia. The Toronto Star.

Summerhill, Laura (2008). Lecture, New York University.

Woolley, S (1988, June 20). When It Comes To Adoption, It’s A Wide, Wide World.
Business Week, p. 164

...thanks Aron. For the information and for being the best brother anyone could ever ask for :) And to all--- a goodnight! PEACE!!!!