I always pack food when I travel on long flights. I get something nice from the city we are leaving and ask for a tray on the plane(mostly to use the utensils) and when dinner is served, and my fellow travelers are eating so called "food" on the plane, I am enjoying a gourmet sandwich, some good cheese, and pastries or whatever. Life is too short to eat plane "food".
I know you are supposed to wear khaki colored stuff on safari, because you don't want to stand out and draw attention from the animals. I thought safari goers always wore khakis and stuff because it looked so cool

Hey, Midtown Girl -- we're neighbors! I'm from Lititz. What do you think of that?

THis is a question for Lynn's husband the pilot or anyone who's traveled -- but what about Ukraine?

Looks like in about 1/2 a year we may be traveling there to p/u 2 more of our wayward children (the little rascals were born to someone else and have taken a number of years to find us -- their intended parents!

I found a site to learn a little Ukrainian and it sounds like muttering! Ha! I'm sure English sounds the same to others.

I've lost my previous love for flying so this will be a challenge. I HAVE traveled quite a bit prior to marriage though this'll be my husband's first trip out of the country.

He has, however beaten me by a L_O_N_G shot on number of flights cause he travels monthly with work! He's flown hundreds of times and I've only flown about a dozen. But I've jumped outa planes and he hasn't done THAT! Ha!

Anyway, I've been to Japan, Greece, Crete, Spain, Egypt, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Taiwan, and was a foreign exchange student to France in highschool.

I would love yet to see Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Greenland, England and Ireland, among others. But it looks like The Ukraine it is.

Any info out there? Tips? The loan of a dog-eared Ukrainian-English dictionary?

I have not asked husband about the Ukraine yet but will. I know a few people who have adopted from there and said the trip was not bad. But to carry plenty of cash. Your agency should be able to help with details like this.

It is also a stressful trip in that you will be focused on those beautiful kids instead of sightseeing. Bonding and making the little ones comfortable is #1 priortiy compared to a fabulous dinner out.

My husband and I had a trip planned to China for adoption when our son (Korean heritage) was born in Baltimore. Trip wsa off although it was a place I always wanted to go. But the stress of flying halfway around the world with my new baby outweighed everything else. My son, Nathan, found us in the nick of time and we are so glad. Now I think a trip to Korea will be in the future instead.

Congratulations and keep us posted as time goes along. We all want to know how you are doing.

Hey Garrie that is cool that you are closeby. My boss went to the Ukraine to pick up his new daughter. The trip was rough in that it is like being in a third world country as far as amenities and/or facilities. Do take a lot of cash, preferably crisp bills. There are internet cafes, but if you want to call home, switch to international cell service. Make sure your contacts in the Ukraine and clearly known before you go, as he or she will be your guidance. Personally, I would take some extra bottles of water and lots of packaged snacks (granola bars, trail mix type things).

You will need cash to "grease the way" as you go. That's just how it is done.

Hopefully, these travel tips helped and your trip will go well. If you have any more specific questions, please feel free to ask.

Midtown:

Thanks for the tips. I'd really be interested in chatting up your boss if he or she's the type of person to converse with a stranger (I mean -- not like any of us, right?!).

I have lots of questions and most people I've encountered have adopted from Kazakhstan -- very few with info on Ukraine so far.

Do you happen to know if they used an agency and who that might've been? Well, tell your boss about me and give your boss these e-mails if (s)he wants to drop a line: JSolus@hotmail.com or garriekeyman@yahoo.com

Thanks!

Garrie, I gave him the message, so maybe he will email you. He is a very helpful person generally. Hopefully he can help. Did you say you are getting two children or one? My boss went with the idea of an infant/toddler, but found a lovely girl 8 years old. When do you leave? I don't know if he needed a Visa or not, but for sure a passport. Is yours up to date?

..."Looks like in about 1/2 a year we may be traveling there to p/u 2 more of our wayward children (the little rascals were born to someone else and have taken a number of years to find us -- their intended parents!"...

Gerrie - I LOVE the way you put this! How beautiful! Congratulations on your little rascals finding their way home.

We've had visitors from the Ukrain, Kazakhstan, Tasjikistan -sorry for the spelling, Russia, Norway. They are in an exchange program with Bluefield State College in WV and visit Thistle Cove Farm to learn how we market, promote and sell our farm, products, other traditional artisans and crafters. I talk to them about local and regional tourism and how to promote their offerings. I'm excited that I have a possibility of going to Albania this year to discuss tourism and how it can work for them.

Best,

Sandra
www.thistlecovefarm.com