Adoptive parents should be prepared for a very emotional experience in Ukraine and not just because of the adoption process.

Have you ever traveled to a third world country? Seen poverty up close and personal? Been/are connected with people who struggle to find food to eat? Lived in an area where clean water isn't easily available?

There is something known as "third world guilt" that many adoptive parents people in the land of plenty may feel. My younger brother has traveled the World. He first ran into true poverty in Turkey. His comment was, "American poor are very rich compared to the poor here."

Adoptive parents who travel to Ukraine see and live in a very poor country. 29% of Ukraine's population lives below poverty line. This is based on Ukraine's poverty line which I think is around $50 per month. But I cannot find a reference for it. The poverty line was about $24 per person per month in June 1995 for one study.

If you are interested in more information about Ukraine's poverty you could read this report.

I found an interesting blog on third world guilt. The blogger was backpacking through Guatemala.

I browsed the market for the rest of the afternoon, squeezing my way down impossibly narrow paths and dodging pesky little kids trying to sell me crap I don't need. I'm wearing my third world guilt like a heavy coat. I want to buy something and support the local merchants, but I can't justify carrying any extra baggage with me for the rest of the trip.

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I've devised a way to effectively browse the market and escape the pleas of the merchants at the same time. The key, I decide, is to walk by the stalls very slowly trying to look at everything without letting them see you focus on anything in particular.

If I see something I like, I make sure I'm out of their sightline by hiding behind a hanging blanket or a side of beef. Then I quickly steal a look at the item in question. If they catch you, you're toast.

Five women will immediately descend on you, squawking prices at you in Spanish, K'iche´, and pigeon English, draping fabrics on your back, thrusting artifacts into your hands, and showing you all manor of bric-a-brac. One woman handed me a live rooster.

From: Chichicastenango, (or How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Las Bombas)

Many, many adoptive parents have emotional meltdowns during their Ukrainian adoption trip. Families can be in country 5 or 6 weeks. You are surrounded by so much need. And nothing you can do will put a dent in what you see. The sadness physically hurts in your chest and stomach. I know one woman who couldn't stop crying for days.

Me? I yelled at my mother and cried. I am single and asked my mother to travel with me. I also yelled at airport security. Fortunately I wasn't arrested.

Have an agreement with your traveling companion on dealing with stress. Take walks. Get your rest. Use code words (orange means shut up before I explode).

Richest Ukrainian Series
Top 5 Richest Ukrainians
6th and 7th Richest Ukrainians
8th Richest Ukrainian
9th and 10th Richest Ukrainians

Ukrainian Poverty Series
Third World Guilt
Human Trafficking
What is Poverty?