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This is an article completely about personal opinion. An opinion that will differ among each of you who have adopted children from Guatemala. For those of you thinking about it or already in the process, this article is something to think about as you have yet to take your trip to Guatemala.
My question is whether you and your familes are planning on going back. When I ask that question, I don’t mean just the polite “Yeah we’d love to go back someday!” but instead a definite plan to return to Guatemala.
In our household, this has been a difficult subject for a long time. My wife of course wants to return to Guatemala “someday” but through our experience, her emotions are still so raw toward many individuals there even a year later. However, plans are being set in place to return sometime in 2007. I will be leading a group of teenagers and adults on a mission trip there this August.
There are many places around the country that offer a Latin culture experience or a Latin culture camp to help our kids learn their heritage so they are well rounded and adjusted when they grow up and start seeking their own identity. However, there is something about being there that can’t be recreated here. So my wife and I decided that as I return each year to assist our friends with their work there, that she will bring the kids and of course her beautiful self to visit the land of Mia’s birth. There is nothing more that I want than for the smells, the sounds, and the culture of Guatemala to be a part of who Mia is.
What are your plans?
Yes! We definitely want to go back! Our fostermother is a wonderful, caring woman and has loved our daugther so much ! She’s had her since she was only 3 days old and at 6 months, our daughter is so healthy and happy! We want to go back every year or two and visit her fostermother and allow them time to catch up and bond! I think it would be wonderful for our daughter to know the one who loved and cared for her when she was a tiny baby! Maybe we’ll see you there!
Not only do we plan on going back, we are back! As I write this, it is a beautiful, sunny day in Antigua, Guatemala. This is a nice change from all of the rain we have been having lately.
Our duaghter came home in 1993. WE brought her and her 2 older brothers (not Guatemalan) back for a vacation in 2001 (we went on the Guatemalan Ties homeland tour) and are now in the midst of a 4 month stay here in Antigua. We are learning some Spanish, doing some volunteering, and generally just soaking up the culture as a family. We’ve done quite a bit of traveling around the country, and have loved every minute of it. I highly recommend returning to this country!
Wow! How cool. Hey, stop by Chimino’s .com restaurant in Central Park and try the tiramazu for me! (of course if you like great stuff like that
Are you guys going to be there in August? We will be in Antigua early in the month.
Sorry, but we leave July 15th, so won’t be here when you are. Too bad, I would love to meet you! I really enjoy all of your posts! We haven’t been to Chimino’s yet, but my son loves Triamasu, so we’ll try it before we leave.
thanks for all of the work you do on this site,
karen