For a lot of adoptees who were adopted from overseas, we know that making the decision about revisiting your birth country always takes its own time. I wanted to share my advice from what I have learnt about revisiting my own birth country, Russia as an adoptee.

I just got back from revisiting my birth city, Arkhangelsk in Russia. For myself this is always important. It is part of my life. I don’t remember this place when I was young as I went to New Zealand when I was two years old. I have been back to Arkhangelsk now four times and this time, I finally got to go there when it was a bit warmer.

I wanted to write about my recent experience with me recently visiting my Birth Mother in Russia. I have been in Russia for quite sometime now, learning more about the Russian culture, the language and of course, my Russian birth family.

Hello everyone! Sorry about the delay with my updates. It always takes me a while to adjust to the Russian timezone. I am still struggling with it a little bit at the moment myself.

Several things have been happening in the background, for the project and also for me personally.

I know I am a few days late but what I would do normally is go through a review of the year that had just ended. We all can agree that 2020 was a completely different year for everyone and I am sure it’s not one that we want to look back on. I know that despite the pandemic we all did do some incredible things.

I will never forget revisiting Russia to meet my birth parents for the first time. To me that day is always a strong memory in my mind. I remember getting to Moscow from Auckland, New Zealand and throughout the entire time on the plane, I just kept on replaying emotions in my head. I really know exactly what to think.

Now that we are right into National Adoption Awareness month, I wanted to share what this month means to me. I have always talked about that connection and with my relationship with my New Zealand family which will always be strong. I reflect on this month always with really understanding how everyone has a different story.

We can all agree that this year has been different. I remember at the start of the year, probably like many of you, about what 2020 might bring us. I am talking about our goals, plans, and what we would like to achieve.

I first met my birth father Mikhail at the end of 2013. 2013 was also the same year he knew of my existence. I reached out to him through Social media, right after my birth mother told me his name. I was born in Arkhangelsk, Russia and placed into the Regional Baby Home after my birth mother had me.

In 2013 when I first met my birth parents for the first time, I really didn’t know anything about the Russian language. I only knew a first words and the language barrier was defiantly there. Over the years since then I have been working my levels up with the Russian language, starting over and just reading and reading.

Are you adopted? But not sure what is the best age to start your search?

Many adoptees have sent through stories to share on the I’m Adopted Facebook Page with most of them in their late 20s. Again, it is up to yourself if you want to start your own search.

I wanted to talk about a few reason as to why I wanted to help out my old orphanage by sending gifts and supplies. I left my orphanage in Russia in August 1994. - Alex Gilbert

One thing that I have always found a little different is the relationship with my birth mother Tatiana. I remember getting in contact with her for the first time at the start of 2013. I knew that something was not quite right with our communication from the beginning. - Alex Gilbert