How to plan for your 1st adoption trip to Korea

[@itsarpitatime]

You have shared really useful information here. It will really help more parents looking to adopt from Korea.

[@ohiograndma8655]

This was so fun to watch. So important. I’m not kidding, You need to write a book

[@anneharkin168]

Brilliant, thanks!

[@Garfield_cat393]

I am not adopting any child but I enjoy watching your videos. Maybe one day I will visit the places in Korea that you have mentioned.

[@jeniferenglish8832]

Okay, I don't know exactly where to proceed (after watching Levi's change of name) but I am just here for now (my 2nd view, while on a break)😊.

[@noskaadiego7978]

I have been a flight attendant for 50 years with 4 international carriers and comercial aircrafts do not have microwave ovens. We use large convection ones. Microwaves are not efficient to heat large number of meals at a time and are dangerous for people with heart pace makers.

[@Jessi4JC]

It is definitely not true that microwaves are contraindicated for people with a pacemaker. Not only do I work with special needs kids, but I also have a heart arrhythmia. Microwaves are fine with pacemakers.

[@koreanfamilyadventures8140]

Oh wow I had no idea! This whole time I thought all the flights had microwaves Bcus they would heat food for me so fast! Thank you for letting me know!

[@lilibayou]

So many videos this week, how nice :)

[@Danielleb723]

I really like the way you both explain things about the Korean culture. You make things both informative and interesting. And you both are so patient and calm about everything.

[@vcholog]

You're amazing! I'm sure there's so much going on but you're always seem so well grounded. This video was so informative and soo so valuable! I loved it even though I'm Korean and been there many times I couldn't hide a smile at all the things you introduced I would completely agree is worth sharing!! thanks!

[@margaretdonahue2471]

Thanks for sharing. Enjoyed learning about Korea.

[@hyukkichoi6468]

Anyounghaseyo? We are a korean couple in Australia . Recently, we got matched up with a baby girl through ESWS. Probably, half an year later would be the time for our first visit. We hope that Covid will have died down at that time. But, otherwise, it seems that one visit would take 5 or 6 weeks off the work for us and off the school for our highschool daughter (2 wks isolation in Korea, 1 or 2 wks for visit and etc, and 2 wks isolation in Australia). So, we are wondering how your friend is going ahead in Korea? Did she have to be isolated for two weeks in Korea? Many thanks in advance.

[@koreanfamilyadventures8140]

Hyuk Ki Choi hi! Yes their family had to be isolated for 2 wks. Korea has video cameras everywhere, so she said if they got caught going out at all, then they would get deported back to the states. Since she speaks korean, she was able to order food in all the time, but you know Korea has food trash, you have to get specific bags for food trash and throw out at a specific place. Since she couldn’t go out, she would just leave the food trash bags right outside her door, and her dad came to take those to throw out. For non Koreans I heard it’s much much more strict and they can’t really even choose where they stay and pretty much stuck in one room all day for 2 wks. She stayed at her relatives house so it was much better for her. Of course relatives had to go and stay somewhere else during that time. She is staying in korea till she can bring the baby home as well, and now staying at her dads place as her quarantine is over.

[@Anamica666]

I live in Australia and really love to adopt the baby from Korea. Not sure about the process...

[@hyukkichoi6468]

@@Anamica666 Hi, AnA. The process would be a little different state by state. For example, the State Department of Communities and Justice is the athorities concerened in the state of New South Wales. You can find all the information in their website. The process in NSW was roughly: asking for information package, attending to adoption seminar (3 days), submitting application form(health check, marriage certificate, etc), assessment with home visit (5 times over 3-4 months), psychological assessment, approval for adoption from the Department, send application to ESWS (korean counterpart), match with a adoptive child, send papers (marriage cerificate, etc) to ESWS. We are at this stage at the moment, awaiting for the first court date. We had the seminar in October, 2018. I hope the above is helping you to start the journey of adoption. Warm regards,

[@Anamica666]

@@hyukkichoi6468 thank you so very much 🙏🙏🙏. I just love Korea. So, I would love to adopt a baby when the time is right 😇

[@Anamica666]

Hyuk Ki Choi hi! All the best and congratulations....I've been watching a lot of videos lately and made me so emotional. I always love children.

[@rosenides6418]

I'm a new subscriber, unmarried and 37 years old, and make about 34k a year. I have always loved Korean culture from a very young age (about 13 years old from knowing Korean families in my neighborhood). My dream is to adopt a Korean baby someday to share both our cultures and lives. I love your content and thank you for posting. It is very informative and gives me inspiration, hope and peace in my heart. If I achieve my dream someday that would be wonderful, but just having this content to enjoy gives my heart peace. God bless you for trying to help others with your experience and expertise. Prayers for you and the whole Kim family. ❤️🙏

[@24apple25]

Looking forward to yummy Korean food.

[@AnaCerqueiraM]

Oh, thank you for this video! So much important information. I’m not adopting but now I want to visit Korea! Maybe one day. Fascinating.

[@marchiyac2254]

I love this. This is so freaking helpful. Thank you.

[@ramonahgaerin5136]

Not adopting but this is so helpful for those who are. Thank you Esther!

[@Alice12578]

Instead of a rice cooker, people who are not going to cook rice often can consider getting a multi cooker. It is good for making rice, porridge, and has other functions like slow cooker and pressure cooker for many other simple recipes. Can get it on Amazon at around $100.

[@cindaaayUlin]

Great video, so so so informative! I love your familiy, and enjoy every video!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@marig9236]

I use the DROPS app to learn korean vocabulary.

[@Jessi4JC]

I'm so excited for your recipes. 🥰

[@Maiju86]

So interesting, thank you! Stay safe! 💕

[@lihg3047]

If one parent is more than 50 years old, did he or she can adopt a child from Korea?

[@koreanfamilyadventures8140]

No, 45 is the age requirement. But they get lax on the law for Korean Americans and also korean adoptees, or people who have already adopted from Korea previously.

[@jessicap418]

Korean strawberry 😭 fruits in Korea are so much better. Thank you for the video. It was so helpful!

[@barbibutton9619]

Many of us look forward to reading your adoption guide book. Confident you could write one and it being a top seller.

[@leannbrower3152]

After watching you videos, maybe you can answer a question from me? Would it be better for the child and parents to adopt at a much younger child? Maybe a year or younger? Would they have an easier time adapting and grieving? I know in most cases it would not be possible with international adoptions but these poor babies and parents have such a hard time.🥲

[@koreanfamilyadventures8140]

Yes will answer that soon in one of my next 3 videos

[@kbprogamer8958]

Plz.post some videos of levi too, he is such a lovelyboy and you have a great family.

[@ytzelzapata8154]

i would pay 20 dollars more like you say safer lower risk cuz the bus cost 30 for both

[@noskaadiego7978]

With all due respect, the flight attendant may have heated the rice in the regular oven using a china bowl.

[@vilmavaldez2953]

I just encountered your site and enjoy watching your journey.

[@wasabisazzdafirst]

i wish my professors were as clear and patient as esther lol

[@redonmyhead]

Such a great and informative video ❤️

[@JASMIN-oq2px]

idk why im watching this im 22

[@barbibutton9619]

Cause I want to adopt one day

[@violinandflutejenniferhong896]

Da Si Ma Tui Gak(Fried Kelp)

[@minakim6317]

If you’re not shipping a large volume of stuff to Korea, usps flat rate international boxes are the way to go

[@koreanfamilyadventures8140]

I had no idea! Thanks for letting me know!

[@annelizzy83]

so informative.. thank you

[@manchitas3531]

Did you get the feeling the foster mom was a little too possessive when she met you? Just from the videos, I gather that she was not sharing Levi willfully. I was disappointed to see her tell him "mommy loves you" or something, even telling him "I don't know what I am going to do", "I am going to cry" before it was time to go... I thought that was a little manipulative. The kid ended up throwing a fit in the van. She has cared for 11 foster children, she should know the time comes when they are to go. I am sure you two were dying to grab him, hold him and start your lives with him, but the foster mom was also holding on to him. That was weird to watch.

[@blackieja]

She was a loving foster mum who had grown to love the child which in my opinion was a good thing, which made it hard to just let go. Of course, as a foster mum, she knows she will have to eventually hand her children over to parents who are going to adopt them. God bless her for loving Levi the way she did.

[@Jessi4JC]

Attachment is a good thing. Kids who have experienced a loving foster mom are more likely to avoid attachment disorders. Something to understand about Korean culture is the concept that the louder you cry, the more you grieve, and the more you grieve, the more you loved. For example, when a parent would die, children of the deceased used to be expected to live at their parents' gravesites for three years. When you see the loud crying, that is the foster mother communicating how much she loved the child, and to her, the louder the grief, the more she loved. In her own way, she is comforting the adoprive parents by communicating that she loved their child. While that may seem strange to us, it is very normal there. It is cultural. And I am certain that she will miss him very much. She cared for him for a long time.

[@itsarpitatime]

Asians cultures have different ways of showing affection than other cultures. I genuinely felt her love for Levi and it seemed genuinely hard for her to let go of a child she loved for so long. I feel Levi was blessed to have her love. It’s just a cultural thing. I do understand how it may be perceived differently.

[@annelizzy83]

No, she is not if you compare to Julian (Mel) foster mom than she is kind too attached to Julian up to the van she still holding him

[@manchitas3531]

@@blackieja Yes, it is a good thing that she cared so well for Levi. I was impressed to see how much Levi knew, at his age! This child was well nurtured. But she has been through this before. She knows the children will go. I saw her clinging to the baby too much... And I did not think it was proper to say those things to him before letting him go. Instead of encouraging words about the new family, she was dwelling on how this makes her feel. This produced a painful impact on his little heart, without a doubt. If I had been either of these parents, I would have been anxious about grabbing my baby and starting our new lives together instead. Foster moms, however good, should understand that they are preparing the child for a new family, not rooting themselves.