2nd day of Conference

Today was the 2nd day of the 3rd International Meet on Adoption.

Child Protection was one of the topics of discussion. From the conference I learned the following:
In 1974 Indian national policy began to focus on strengthening family ties and reviewing emerging needs and issues.
By 2005 India's Child Protection Scheme centered around legislation to proctect children from:
Child trafficing for commercial sexual explotation
Child labor
Gender based sex selection
Child marriage

Educating the public was a challenge. While Hindi is the main language, there are actually about 22 languages in India and 8 diffferent dialects. Not only is language an issue but there are many different cultures, religions and social economic issues as well as population variations - big cities and rural villages.

India's Child Protection Scheme created 32 State Child Protection Agencies and 25 State Adoption Resouce Agencies.
At the district level there are 568 District Child Protection Societies and there are over 10,000 child protection personal in place.

An Emergency Out Reach Service was established with a 24 hr phone helpline #1098
Across India there are 267 childline services

Shelters were opened - 163 safe spaces for children in need in urban and semi-urban areas.

Goals include strengthening the family through education and financial support
Connecting services: health, sanitation and education

During tea breaks today, I meet up with representitives of two RIPAs who are caring for children that EAC families have been matched with.

To the Left: Executive Director Mary Paul
To the Right: Associate Director Sherly Thomas
Vathsalya Charitable Trust

Sister Sagayamry of Cluny Sishu

This evening on the way to dinner, I saw Dominos Pizza Delivery. I've seen pizza delivered by bike in downtown Cleveland, but to see a Pizza Delivery man zooming between cars and people on the road was a little unnerving. Mini said that Dominos has a 30 minute or it's free promise. Uh this is something Dominos did 15-20 yrs ago in the U.S. until speeding drivers caused too many accidents. So I did an internet search & sure enough Dominos drivers in Asia are causing accidents.

Tomorrow another full schedule: Meeting with CARA director Dr. Pati and visits to two New Delhi orphanages.


 

1st Day of the Conference

Today was the first day of the international adoption conference which is being attended by represenatives of 22 countries. CARA's last international conference was about 5 years ago. Conference attendees include representives of many countries' Central Authorities, Recognized Indian Placement Agencies (RIPA - Indian orphanges approved for international adoption), Specialized Adoption Agencies (SAA- Indian orphanages approved for domestic adoption), Foreign placing agencies, Foreign Embassies, State Governments, State Adoption Resource Agencies, and Older adoptees.

India is a Hague country and the government is committed to following the Hague Convention guidelines which is always to conduct policy in the best interest of the child. First and foremost is for children to remain with their biological parents whenever possible. At the local (state) level, resources are going towards educations and support. If biological parents are unable to provide for the child, family members are the next best option, followed by domestic adoption. An Indian child should be raised in India by an Indian family whenever possible. When all avenues have been exhausted domestically, international adoption becomes an option.

I had a chance to meet some RIPA and SAA directors. In general there is a high ratio of caregivers to children. Everyone has the best interest of the children at heart.

The CARINGS system (CARA's adoption data base) is about a year old. As a new system, there is discussion on how to improve it as well as to be sure that RIPAs, SAAs and placing agencies understand the adoption process and the computer system so that the adoption process can flow more smoothly.

Today was a long day with the conference running over because of everyone anxious to share their ideas.

The Tea Breaks were only supposed to be 15 minutes. Ashok staff would walk through the crowds ring bells or buzzers to signal the break was over & time to take your seat.

I've found that tea in India often means Chai: tea with milk or cream added to it. Mini said the British liked to add cream to their tea and so Indians picked up the custom and begun adding milk. I normally have tea straight - no sugar and never really cared for Chai. Now I've learned the secret to enjoying Chai - add a sugar cube. I haven't seen sugar cubes since I was a kid. We used to make igloos out of the sugar cubes. I don't even know if grocery stores still carry boxes of sugar cubes.

Although officially English is used, the national language is Hindi. 41% of people speak standard Hindi but then with in each state there are other languages and each language has a different written form. Most Indians can communicate with each other if they know Hindi. Not everyone speaks English. Some of the people attending the conference today felt more comfortable speaking Hindi rather than English.

When families receive their referral, most medical information will be in English but sometimes the doctor's reports will be in Hindi. If they are in Hindi, the RIPA will translate to English.
  
Sometimes the English is different from American English and more British. Both in speach and in the written language. For example, the conference's formal title is:
3rd International Meet on Adoption

We call this a meeting. They call it a meet. (and for months I thought it was a typo on CARA's website)

A better or funnier example would be the big banner I saw on a building after dinner on the way back to the hotel.  HORDER SPACE FOR RENT.  I asked Mini if the sign meant an ad for renting a storage room as I was sure no one would want to rent a room from a horder. He said that the banner was showing the spot on the building that could be rented to put a business sign or ad.

Tomorrow is day 2 of the conference.



 

Day 2 in New Delhi

Today I met with US Embassy staff including Nathan Tidwell Consul, Second Secretary. The US Embassy communicates with CARA several times a week.

After a family has received provisional approval and the Article 5 has been issued, the US Embassy can contact CARA on a family's behalf if the court case seems to be stalled.

Currently, the India adoption process varies a bit from state to state. Some states take 4 days to issue the child's passport. Other states take 30 days or more to issue the passport. The majority of courts are now issuing the adoption decree to families but the Embassy said about 20% of courts are still issuing guardianship to families.

After the meeting, Mini showed me around New Delhi. EAC families traveling to India will be greeted at the airport by Mini. He will handle the logistics of getting you to the embassy and to your child's medical examination.

In many ways New Delhi reminds me of Washington D.C.
The majority of embassies are in one area, like Embassy Row in D.C.
In D.C. there are hotels near Embassy Row. In New Delhi, the Ashok is a government owned hotel right by the embassies. The Ashok is where I'm staying and it's also where the conference is being held.
Here's a link to the hotel site: http://www.theashok.com/

From the India Gate you can see straight to the Presidential Palace and vice versa; just as you can see the Washington Monument from the U.S. Capitol.

The India Gate is located in the center of New Delhi. It was built in memory of the
 Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the British Army during World War I.

The Presidential Palace

 

Families from all over India visit New Delhi just like Americans travel to D.C.


The woman, left of me in the picture, insisted that I stand with her for the photo. So many people where taking pictures of the American with the Indians in traditional costume that I didn't know which camera to look at.

 

Last year on spring break, my family went to Washington D.C. There were vendors on just about every street corner and near the monuments. We bought icecream from an icecream truck.
In case you're wondering, yes, there are icecream trucks at the India Gate. (But I didn't buy any icecream...took close to diner time)

Going to a resturant with a buffet is a great way to try a little of a lot of different things. I don't like hot spicy food but I'm willing to try a bite of some things. Every morning the Ashok has a breakfast buffet. This morning I had vegetable cakes that tasted just like crab cakes without the crab and pancakes that looked and tasted more like a crepe. No maple syrup so I poured honey on it.
The resturant Mini & I went to for diner was also buffet style. The fresh salads looked so good but I stayed away from those because fresh fruit and vegetable are rinsed with tap water. When ordering a lime soda, I asked for no icecubes because we all know what happens when ice melts. I'm even brushing my teeth with bottled water.

Tomorrow is the first dayof the conference. Many RIPA directors and assistant directors are attending at least one day of the conference.

I'll end this blog with two more photos:
Just like the YMCA's in the US, the New Delhi YMCA has signs for the different sports; however, I don't think any Y's in the US have "no spitting" signs. This sign was posted on the Y's CCL building which has a library and conference room.

Arrived in New Delhi

After over 17 hours of travel, I arrived in New Delhi, India. This was my first international flight. It was also my first domestic flight in 12 years.

My flights were Cleveland to Newark; Newark to New Delhi. I had a late afternoon flight out of Cleveland which gave me about 1 1/2 hours before the flight to Delhi. The weather in Cleveland was just starting to get bad so my flight wasn't delayed by much. The international flight was very smooth and was an hour early arriving at the gate.

The international flight was completely booked. At the gate, we were told that the only carryon we could take on the place was the one that can fit under the seat. Many people including me, checked in a bag at the gate. Make sure to travel with snacks in your bag in case you don't like the food offered on the plane. It's a long flight to go hungry. You have a choice of meat or vegetarian but that's it. The meal is a mystery until they hand it to you.

Originally I thought having a window seat would be nice for the international flight. I liked the idea of looking out the window.  I ended up with an isle seat which turned out to be better. The crew said to keep the window shades closed so people could sleep and watch movies. My isle seat allowed me to stretch my legs out and it was easier to get to the bathroom.

The crew will ask you to fill out your customs paperwork before the plane lands. You'll need a pen, your passport and trip itinerary. There were lanes for Indian nationals and people of Indian origin. There were plenty of gates for foreigners too. Customs was very organized. The airport is very clean. Mini said the international section of the airport is fairly new.k

When we left I saw the largest parking garage that I have ever seen. Driving is like in England...steering wheel on the right, driving on the left side of the road. The hotel is about a block from the American Embassy. Very close to the British embassy.

Many of you fly often and some have made the trip to India several times. Some of you have never traveled outside of the U.S. For the next week I'll write about my experience in India as well as what I learn at the conference. I hope you all enjoy the blog.