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.
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.
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