Well, that's not exactly accurate, but several of you are getting ready to travel in the next few months. Airfare is a quirky thing. The same seat can be assigned five price tags depending on when it's purchased. Like buying a house or a new computer, you'll likely never time it exactly right, unless you happen upon a promo as I did on Ethiopian Air on my last trip. Please take a second to re-read some air travel options and advice in the travel packet, but also note that there are many more airlines flying to Ouaga than one would think. A quick Google search turned up at least 10 from SeaTac, my home airport.

Remember that flying to Ouaga can be a "creative adventure," but you probably don't want to take the scenic route home with your new child. Get home as quickly and easily as you can and remember that stop overs in some places can cause visa hassles for your child (and you!).

Regardless of program, post placement reports seem to be one of the most confusing issues facing adoptive families. Burkina vies with China for "World's Most Enigmatic Post Placement Process." That is because, unlike other, more "lock step" schedules, Burkina has a "two in the first two years"(not specifically defined) sequence. But back to the subject.

All Burkina families have both agency as well as family reports. Several documents you have received and/or will receive describe the process, but I know there is a lot of information that is, understandably, lost in the shuffle. Here's the streamlined version (you might want to clip this and attach it to your refrigerator with a magnet from your favorite pizzeria):

AGENCY REPORTS: Ones written, in most cases, by the same person/agency who did your homestudy. These are due the first month after placement, six months after placement, and twelve months after placement. These do not include photos and, when the first year is over, so is this requirement.

FAMILY REPORTS: Ones written by you, the adoptive family. For a sample or to use our online version, go to our website and  click on the green Post Placement Reports button. You don't need to use our online template, but this is the type of information that countries typically want to see. You should include at least six good (clear, happy, "normal" - you'd be surprised!) photos of your child, alone, with you, with siblings, doing "something." These are the reports that are due two in year one and two in year two and then one, annually, after that. I usually suggest that families use a date already significant to them - a birthday, a holiday, the first day of school - to help them remember to complete these reports. They need only be a page or two long. They needn't take a lot of your time away from your family and they are very important in making sure the Burkinabes know that we make good on our promises to take good care of their children and to let them know how things are going. Thank you!

Can you match these words/phrases with their English translations? If not, better hit the books!