Why Kazakhstan?

There are only a handful of countries that are "open" to single, older women adopting. I considered China, Russia, Guatemala, Ukraine, and several other Eastern European countries. After doing tons of research, I decided on Kazakhstan because they have an established international adoption process (nearly 600 children a year are adopted by US parents), the orphanages are better than in many countries, the government requires a mandatory 2-week bonding period with the child before the adoption can be finalized, and you get to choose the child, rather than one being referred to you. I'll post more on this process as I prepare for it and go through it, but these things were important to me and felt right in comparison to my other options.