I had mentioned to you on the phone how I had such an profound experience taking the trip to Korea to meet our daughter Sophia.  Our other two children, Jacob (9) and Samantha (7) are also from Korea however they were very special delivery "packages" at our local airport.  Back when we adopted Jacob we were not encouraged to travel at any level.  If anything, we were discouraged to make the trip.  When it was time to meet Samantha we were told we could travel to meet her, but Jacob was only 1 1/2 years old and leaving the country seemed overwhelming at the time.

Sophia and I arrived home together on her airport day, November 10, 2005.  What a trip we had!  It was so moving to meet her foster mother up close and personal.  I found it to be such a gift to be able to thank her in person and to see for myself the love she had for my new daughter.  It was a thrill and an honor to be invited into Sophie's Korean home.  We had tea, took pictures, and truly enjoyed each other's company.  Because the foster mother and I had time together I feel like I found out so much more information about Sophie's first months.  (Especially compared to our other two children.)  Our child's foster mother and I discovered that we went to the same type of church.  This information I would have never known without our random conversation during a van ride.   Religious affiliation did not matter much to me, however I could tell it was helpful information for the foster mother as she was having to relinquish this beautiful child to an almost stranger.

I found Seoul to be very westernized and safe.  To my disappointment it wasn't as "foreign" as I had hoped it would be.  I was able to connect with Jacob and Samantha's foster parents.  At that meeting I again was able to find out more information about Jacob and Samantha's early months.  My children were thrilled to have another connection to Korea.

I look forward to taking our children to their homeland; in truth that is a good 10+ years away.  Now I have familiarity, comfort, and confidence in my exposure to the Korean culture - I can't help but believe that is going to help me with some of those tough questions that come up.  In fact, it already has.

Thank you for your sincere encouragement to make the trip to Korea.  I regret that my husband and I didn't get to share Sophia's and my travel experience together.  They say time flies and 10 years will be here before we know it.  Until then I have plenty of photos, a little bit of video, Korean children's books, chop sticks, Korean money (for one of those school projects that are bound to come up), and a little bit of Korean this-and-that.

Susan Spence