Heritage Trip’ 101” Planning: Emotional and Practical Considerations

The workshop focuses on helping families create their “toolkit” for planning a pivotal birth country visit, with flexible discussions tailored to participants. The focus is on anticipating the practical and emotional components to consider when planning a return trip and how they intertwine. Below is a sampling of questions addressed:

• What age or maturity level should I consider for taking this trip with my child?
• What can I expect during the visit to the orphanage?
• How can I prepare my child for the visit to the orphanage?
• What are some key cultural differences to be aware of prior to your trip?
• What are the advantages of traveling during different times of the year?
• What can we do to prepare our child emotionally for the trip?
• What has been the outcome experienced by other families taking such a trip?
• What can we do to keep our trip at a reasonable cost?
• What projects can help a child become comfortable with China before we travel?

You will understand timing considerations, how to decide what budget level to travel at and more!   You will walk away with many questions answered and prepared to understand what else to ask! This workshop is highly educational and packed with personal illustrations to help you develop your own plan.

“Search from your desk & other ways to maximize in-country visits for birth family search.”

This workshop covers how to combine travel to lesser-known sites in China and plan a province visit so it can yield maximum information regarding one’s earliest days. It includes practical plans to start the search “from your desk”, combined with activities tailored to the clues potentially available from an adoptee’s individual circumstances. The training also uses a framework from cold case investigative work as a reference. Included are examples of small details that have provided insights, such as: original paperwork, geographic considerations, trends, specifics of one’s hometown and more. Included are practical ways to make connections with local residents that are doable and easily overlooked.

Discover China “Off Path”

Attend this workshop and you’ll discover some of China’s lesser-known treasure spots to visit. Have you done a heritage trip and now looking for something more “off the path” for next time? Maybe you’re a seasoned traveler and just want to do something “a bit different” for your trip.  This session focuses on exploring beyond traditional spots or delving deeper into major sites and experiencing a genuine “slice of life” during your visit to China! We cover several lesser-known gems of China and learn about some of the best places to experience the country’s variety and vibrancy.