I went on a visit trip to Guatemala in April to spend time with the 7 year old girl we are adopting. I was not personally harassed by the police, but during my stay, my daughter had a dental appointment, so I accompanied the adoption coordinator and my daughter to the appointment. At the clinic, a police officer approached the adoption coordinator in a way that was meant to be threatening, but our coordinator didn't flinch, so he left her alone. Our coordinator did tell me that foster parents are often harassed and afraid to take the children out in public. But my daughter and I walked in the neighborhood of our hotel without incident.

I recently spent a few days in Antigua with my baby. We walked all over the town without any problem. However, just in case, our attorney prepared documents giving us temporary custody. Happy to say we didn't need them at all.

I've been living in Antigua for 13 months waiting to complete the adoption of my 4 year old. I've never felt uncomfortable here. For the record, all the "locals" are very supportive of our situation. The street vendors even know our names and always want to know how things are with us. However, Guatemala City is a different story. I suggest anyone coming to visit should consider Antigua over Guatemala City.

We have been to visit our daughter 5 times with never one incident. We have stayed at three different hotels and have walked to the Mall, chucky Cheese, local restuarants, local shops and grocery stores.The police have always been polite and smiled at us. Our attorney always gives us temporary custody papers as well.
Audra

Umm...how do they know who to harass when they want to harass a foster parent....wouldn't the children look enough like them to not draw attention to themselves??

If you are JUST visiting, then I think it is strongly advisable to stay in the hotel with the child. Many agencies and attorneys have a policy of not leaving the hotel while visiting your child.

But then it makes sense to stay in a hotel that is very comfortable and has a nice restaurant!!

Just as a side note: The random harrassment is nothing new. However, it seems to go in waves. But just like criminals, they will more likely stalk those parents who seem less confident or appear nervous.

There have also been reported cases of individuals claiming to be officials and asking for adoption paperwork. If this occurs, kindly escort the individual to the front desk and ask the front desk for assistance. You should NOT hand over any adoption paperwork to any individual outside your agency/attorney.

Another piece of advice is that when you are in Guatemala, you should not discuss personal adoption information with anyone who is not directly involved in your adoption...not cab drivers, not restaraunt owners, not even hotel staff or other adoptive parents.

You will find all sorts of people who are very warm and supportive of your adoption...and that is always wonderful...but they do not need to know personal information about your child!

I have been doing a little poking into this since it has been quite a while since I have heard of families or foster moms being harassed.

The Embassy is in fact providing the letters mentioned in the post. But to be honest, I can't say whether it because of anything that has recently occured, or if is just the finally getting around to what they should have done about three years ago when it was a real issue.

Kelly's advice is of course wonderful and we should always use caution. Remember that the child you are adopting is not your child until the protocolo has been issued and registered. And also remember that once you enter ANY foreign country, you are operating under a different culture and legal system.

But equally important, especially for return visits after the adoption is completed, is that our children will always be guatemaltecas and that by default makes their parents Guatemalan as well. We should love, cherish, and support the country, the culture, and the 99% of its people who are among the most wonderful I have ever known.

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

Kevin wrote "But equally important, especially for return visits after the adoption is completed, is that our children will always be guatemaltecas and that by default makes their parents Guatemalan as well."

Boni asks: How can that be? Or were you speaking figuratively (rather than literally/legally)? Thanks for clarifying.

We went to Guatemala On April 30, 2006 and came home May 5, 2006. We didn't have any negative interaction with anyone, everybody was very nice and helpful. We stayed at the Grand Tikal Futura and went shopping in the mall down stairs. Everyone was very helpful. We even had one of the hotel staff walk my husband down to the food court and help him order since we don't speak spanish. We went to the artisan mall to shop and the hotel offered free transportation round trip.

I am speaking in both ways so far as our children are concerned. Only figuratively so far as we parents are concerned.

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

Has anyone had experience of visiting their children at the foster parents' home?

On my last visit, some agencies allowed this, but mine did not.
I am planning to visit again, but wish to avoid causing trauma to my child with the sudden transfer to me, a stranger, and my hotel (as happened last time). I would much prefer that we play and be together in the child's natural environment. It is too soon for her to know me as Mum, particularly since there is no end in sight to PGN delays.

I went to Guatemala city just a little over one week ago to visit my daughter, 7 months old. I also stayed at the Grand Tikal Futura, and like the others was told not to leave without an official escort. I was able, however, to go down to the shopping center. I never once experienced any hostility or negative sentiments from anyone I came into contact with. I speak spanish, and am familiar with some of the customs, so I felt comfortable for the most part. Most of the people that I came into contact with seemed very accepting of what I was doing, and told me that they thought it was great that I was adopting my daughter. The hotel staff was exceptionally nice and helpful, the wait staff in the restaurants was equally as nice. I was by myself, so I was a little nervous at first but the entire trip was without incident. And to my knowledge, the foster mother was not bothered either. She arrived at the hotel with an interprator and another woman from the attorney's office, but since I was able to communicate with her she came alone with her children the second time.

Going to visit my daughter was the best thing I could have done. We spent 5 days together getting to know one another, and I am able to rest easier knowing how much her foster family cares for her. Don't let fears of what "may" happen keep you from seeing your precious little one. It is all so much more real to me now, and I wouldn't have missed that opportunity for the world!

mary,

We have had this expereince. Moreso, on ever trip we made while visiting we would go to Antigua and have our kid's foster come stay with us. We were fortunate to not have to be incognito about it but most of the time it may need to be a covert operation - one that I highly recommend!

I think it is horrible that parents are generally not given the opportunity to spend time with their foster families. It is very important for everyopne involved - especially the child. And it can help to develop relationships that will be relevant to our children as they grow.

My daughter's foster parents are now considered grandparents to us and my son's foster mom is an aunt (she says she is too young to be a grandma). We very much cherish those relationships - though we could do without the phone bills :-)

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

Regarding Brook's post on July 20, I wondered the same thing. I think that police must know who is doing foster care in their neighborhoods. Our adoption coordinator told me a story of an adoptive family in a small town in Guatemala being beaten and burned, and since then foster mothers have been afraid to leave their homes. This supposedly happened in April. I never heard or read of this incident anywhere else, so don't know if it's true or not, or why she would tell me this if it wasn't true. All I know for sure is that there is a large police presence in the streets of Guatemala City, but they were cordial to us.

My husband and I just returned from a visit with our son. Our agency also has the policy of not allowing us out of our hotel during our visit. The hotel staff was very pleasant with us as was everyone in the restaurants and everyone we ran into in the hotels. It was especially nice to be seeing so many going home with the babies too it made it a little easier giving him back to his foster mom knowing that whenever God says it is time we will be going down and bringing him back home with us

When I visited GC the people were all very nice. I am getting ready for another visit this wkend. I hope they are nice like the last time. There was a police presence with rifles but I guess that is normal. I am not staying at the Marriott only b/c of all the negative I have heard about the police harassing the FM when they bring the babies. We are staying at the Intercontinental! I will give a report in a couple of wks.

I have visited 5 times and was told by my agency that it was safe to go out. Once I heard that two children were taken from a fm from my own agency for not having the papers I haven't stepped foot out of the hotel since.another mom was at the hotel visiting her second baby she is adoptoing and her first son's fm came to visit and was telling stories about how they are stopped and they even must carry proof of their own biological children. She said the reason they are being stopped is because people are stealing babies. Of course there is dna testing but stolen babies could be dropped off as abandoned babies. I met my attorney last week and he advised not to leave the hotel with the babies which is a contradiction from what the agency says. he did however say that it is okay to go to antigua with a facilitator.

Mary-

We had the opportunity to visit with our foster family in their home last month and it was wonderful. They made us a typical Guatemalan dish for lunch and gave a tour of their home which consisted of a small court yard, big kitchen, a living room, three small bedrooms and a really small bathroom. The house was immaculate and they were thrilled to show us where they live. They invited us while we were down there and I didn't bother to ask my agency for permission. They know I went to their house and didn't seem to have a problem with it.

Good luck!

Robin

we just returned from Guatemala City on 8-6-06 .this was our first trip to visit our daughter(she is 4 months old), we stayed at the Clarion and everyone was very nice to us. we even went to Antigua for the day and had no problems. FYI the airport is under consruction and a little confusing to navigate.

We have visited twice, the first visit we stayed at the Marriott, the second we stayed at the Westin. Both hotels are beautiful have wonderful food and most importantly are kid friendly and the service is first class. You will see more families and children walking around and gathering at the Marriott. If I had to choose one over the other it would be the Westin.

We just returned from visiting our son in Antigua. The people in Antigua could not have been nicer and we explored the city with no problems at all. We stayed at the Casa Santo Domingo-a fabulous hotel with very large and beautiful grounds.

We met many families at the airport that stayed at the Marriott and heard of no problems.

My daughter has been home since November of 2004. I visited her three times prior to her coming home. At that time, the State Department had issued a warning for visitors not to travel due to violence in the countryside. I spent all waking hours bonding with my daughter and didn't leave the hotel, or care to leave. The hotel had everything I needed and plenty of room to roam. I plan on returning when my daughter is older to explore her native country. My point, there is always going to be danger, just remember the most important thing is the safety of your child and yourself. Is it really worth the risk?! Let the foster mother and the adoption representatives deal with transporting your child to you. Don't make yourself a target.