QUICK TIPS FROM ADOPTION SOURCE FAMILIES FROM SAMARA


 1. Were there any stores (grocery/pharmacy, etc) nearby?
  • There is one grocery store and you have to ask your coordinators to take you there, you can’t walk. It may be easier to pack a little food to bring with you.

2. Did you find any good restaurants? Any bad ones?
  • Breakfast at the hotel is good; dinner was harder to find things on the menu that I would want to eat. Another American told us that Cucaracha is a great Mexican restaurant in town.

3. Is there anything you wished that you had packed or that you wouldn’t bring again?
  • I would either bring or buy a potty if your child is older because they are potty trained and this was an essential thing to have. I also would bring bath toys because the children have never been in a tub before and they usually are scared at first. Buy toys that are even for children a little younger than your child, many haven’t seen any toys before and our daughter liked the toys for younger children.

4. Any suggestions or comments on the hotels/host families? (Should you bring anything?) better towels, toilet paper, etc.?
  • If you have room you may want to bring more towels or ask at the front desk when you arrive. I also brought bottled water, books, sleeping pills, toilet papers, wipes, and Kleenex.

5. Were there any Internet cafes nearby?
  • The hotel has a business center with Internet and fax available.

6. Was there anything you did or saw in the region that you would recommend or discourage?
  • We didn't have much time for sightseeing while we were in Samara.

7. Any other general tips that you would like to share?
  • I would bring more household items for gifts for the coordinators, etc. Our daughter did not like the sippy cup; she drinks from a tea cup- so we bought a plastic one there for her.

8. Any comments about the orphanage or tips about speaking with the Minister of Education or Judge during court that could help future families?
  • The orphanage is ok, there is not much there for them and there are horrible mosquitoes in the summer- bring bug spray! The coordinators were very nice. The judge talked more to my husband than to me and asked things like how long would we take off before going back to work, how would we communicate without knowing the language, what our discipline style was…but overall it was an easy experience.