NHFC Training

What an emotional day! It was so wonderful to meet all these people who will be sharing this amazing experience with us. When the training began, we each had to stand up and tell a little bit about ourselves, etc. As people began to speak and tell their stories, I became more and more emotional. As they were speaking and holding up the large pictures of their host child, it was so neat to see that most of these children look like their host families and visa versa. I said this to the couple sitting next to me, and she said she agreed and that she said she was thinking the same thing when she saw me and Yelena's picture.

By the time it was my turn to speak, I was a blubbering mess. I wasn't sure exactly why, but I was feeling happy, sad, excited, overwhelmed, love, fear...again, a blubbering mess. I did break down and cry, and luckily one husband was ready and prepare and handed me a whole pack of tissues!

They did a lot of exercises to help us realize that all though these children may be excited about the trip, they are very frightened. They are leaving their home country, language, food, friends, authority figures behind, and spending 5 weeks with complete strangers who can't speak to them (at least not in full sentences). It was eye opening because I had the fantasy that they/she would be as excited as we were. We are so in love with her already, will she feel the same way? Reality is, probably not. Trust is a huge issue with adopted children, this we learned from Jeremy.

I also met someone at the training who went with NHFC to Russia last winter to help take pictures and talk to the orphans who may be hosted this summer. She told me she met Yelena and that although she was quiet, there was a depth in her eyes. I agree. She also said she was very sweet. I almost cried again, I can't wait to meet her!

They had couples talk about their hosting experiences, and it was funny/sad/heartbreaking/heartwarming all at the same time. They spoke of their experiences with the children, about the ones who had a hard time trusting and opening up, and living conditions in some of the orphanages. There was even one older couple, were already grandparents, who were in the process of adopting three siblings, ages ranging from 6-14!