Someone recently mentioned their concerns over traveling home from Ethiopia with new little ones. I've made the trip twice without the benefit of other adults, once with 13 and 1 year olds, and once with a 14 yr old, 3 year old and a 6 month old. It IS a very long flight, made even longer if you happen to live at the western end of the US, but there are things you can do to make the flight more bearable.

TOTING YOUR STUFF

First of all, keep your carry-on luggage as minimal as you dare. The less you need to tote, the easier the airports will be to navigate. When I went, I wore a backpack, to free my hands for the children. Because of tightened... more

One of our evenings in Ethiopia we decided to go with another adoptive family and eat dinner at the traditional restaurant at the Ghion Hotel. The restaurant is a big round building with a grass roof. We were shown to a group of seats gathered around a ‘table’ for dinner.

The tables actually are just big flat baskets complete with attached pedestals to raise them a couple feet off the ground. We sat in chairs all around this basket-- it felt very cozy. We were very close to an upraised area which I assumed was where the dancing would occur.

We ordered doro wat (chicken stew) and a beef... more

Just today I got an email from Ethiopis.com announcing their fall airfare specials from the US to Addis. Flying Ethiopian Airlines, it looks like it is possible to get tickets from most major US airports to Addis for between $1225 and $1319. I personally know at least 3 people who have booked tickets using Ethiopis.com and were very satisfied with their service and excellent prices.

I also know many, many people who have flown Ethiopian airllines and been very pleased. However, it is very important to note that if you fly Ethiopian, you MUST RECONFIRM your tickets while you are in... more

I thought it might be fun to share the journals I've come across, written by people who have spent time in Ethiopia for various reasons. For each journal, I'll share the link, tell a little about the person, and then quote a few sentences from their journal so you can get a feel for their writing.

*****

Coco in the Field: Day Three -- On the Road to Jimma. Coco McCabe is an American woman working with Oxfam , gathering... more

I've already talked about some of the major hotels where people can stay when they are in Addis, including the Hilton, the Sheraton, the Yilma, and the Ghion. Another option to consider is one of several guest houses in Addis. Many people have said they felt a lot of support staying at a guest house instead of a hotel, and enjoyed getting to know others who were also adopting.

Your... more

When I first thought of writing a post about photography, I wondered if it was a little off-topic for this blog. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it is a very relevant issue for an adoptive parent.

Along with all the normal moments that parents treasure, like seeing our kids for the first time, catching first smiles, first steps, first ice cream cones, and first days of school, we're also visiting their homeland maybe for the only time in our lives, seeing their caregivers, and possibly even meeting members of birth family. Darn tootin' we want to get good pictures of these events.... more

One of the decisions that adoptive parents agonize most over is whether or not to travel to Ethiopia to pick up their child. Ethiopia is one of the countries that allows an escort to bring the child to the US, saving the adoptive parents the travel.

This is one of the things about Ethiopia that is initially appealing to many folks. Ethiopia, after all, is a long way away. Travel is expensive. And this is no plush Disney resort: Ethiopia is a third world country.

Many families also have other family members to consider, young children in the home who will miss mom and dad if they decide to go. Escorting seems like an idea option to many people, especially early on in... more

A frequent question from traveling families is in regard to shots. At this time there are no mandatory vaccinations to travel to Ethiopia. However, there are recommendations.

It is an excellent idea to make sure you've had a tetanus shot in the past 10 years. You may also want to get a flu shot. I did both of these shots on our first trip to Ethiopia, but opted to go without the flu shot the second time around. Some people opt to get their MMR and polio immunizations updated.

Another recommendation when traveling to third world countries is the hepatitis B shot. This is a series of 3 shots taken over a 6-month period. I am a nurse and had this series years ago at the... more

As you wait for your child to be ready to come home, now is as excellent time to get yourself ready for travel. First of all, you'll want to apply for a passport if you do not already have one. You'll need to allow at least 6-8 weeks for your passport to arrive.

If you've left it till the last minute, there is an option to pay a hefty 'expedite' fee ($60 PLUS overnight shipping)to get it in 2 weeks or so. Read How to Get A Passport in A Hurry for more details.

If you already have a passport, make sure it is not about... more

One of the most exciting parts of the adoption process is getting the call that your child will be ready to come home soon. Finally it is time to book airfare.

Expect to pay anywhere from $1500-$2300 for a flight from the USA to Ethiopia, including connecting flights. You will pay higher prices during the summertime. The most common airlines to fly include Lufthansa, British Airways, and Ethiopian Airlines.

Although it is possible to book directly through the airline of your choice, most people have found that the least expensive way to buy tickets is through a travel agent, preferably... more