The following was taken from a family who has adopted three older children from Ethiopia, as well as one domestic and one adoption in Haiti as well as raising their four grown bio kids and helping with their seven grandchildren five of which were adopted from Ethiopia as well… they are amazing… calm.. and happy!
They just got their two kids home today from Ethiopia. I am so happy for them, they were the start of our inspiration for our adoption when they adopted their first two sons many many years ago, my sister used to watch them when they were little, it planted a little seed in me for adoption:

“We know from experience that the next year will be filled with the following:

Grieving…It is an incredible loss to a child to be pulled out of one culture, people, way of life.
Celebrating…They are overwhelmed with the opportunity America creates. They are overwhelmed with a sense of “family” again.
Guilt…There is a profound struggle to be faced with the fact that they have so much opportunity and those they left behind don’t…helping them reconcile that is huge.
Learning…There is so much change. Most of us would fall apart if we had to face the amount of change they are being asked to face…
i. Language
ii. Customs
iii. Food
iv. Personal Care
v. Loss of Culture
vi. Forming new relationships
vii. Much more….”