Japan and adoption

Please bare in mind that I am no expert just an ordinary young adopted woman.

Japan has not been spared from overseas adoption but they are by far not giving up as many children as Korea. In fact it is quit complicated to adopt a Japanese child. For instance you must have been married for a minimum of 3 years and the prospective parents cannot be over 40 years old. Single parent adoptions is only considered after careful examination of each case. The most likely children to end up with adoption parents are children of 4 years or older and also children who require special care.

There is not much information on domestic adoption in Japan available at the moment. Yet it seems they are better of taking care of their children in need. Domestic adoption is only possible to be accepted if the parents live in Japan… There seems to people of other nationalities moving to Japan in order to qualify for domestic adoption in Japan and once they are accepted and offered a child and process has ended. The parents usually moves back to their native country. Generally speaking prospective adoptive parents (if they are married) might be able to apply for adoption if one of them is a Japanese citizen with a long-lasting connection to Japan.

US couples are able to apply for adoption of children up to six years given that they can fulfill all the needed requirements. Adoptive parents must be at least 25 and have a stable employment and stable financial situation as well.

There are two types of adoption for overseas adoption in Japan. They are regular adoption and special adoption.

• Regular adoption is when the adoptive child is related by blood to their new parents and continued contact with the birth parents or family is not hindered.  The prospective adoptive parents are granted fulltime custody.
• Special adoption is cases where the adoptive parents have no biological connection to the child in question. This usually means that continued contact with birth family is cut off.

If you are granted temporary custody of a child you are required to be able to stay in Japan for at least a year to sort out all judical requirements. That is why I suppose international Japanese adoption is less common.

Who are the Japanese children that are most likrly to be adopted?

According to Japanese law any child that are left unprotected by for instance being an orphan. Abandoned at birth or as an infant. A child born out of wedlock or a child with parents that are unable to provide for them. It also includes children that are being abused. In the 90s about 400 children was apted by US citizens, wereas 104000 children was internationally adopted in 1986 just the US.

What do you think of the requirements? Would you consider adopting a Japanese child? Do you favor and support adoption?

 

 

Green Rose [Korean drama]

Green Rose is a drama about family, forbidden love, revenge and sorrow. Go Soo is the protaganist Lee Jung Hyun. The talented Lee Da Hae is Oh Soo Ah. This drama is very unique since it does not resemble any other drama I have watched so far. The two leading characthers are portrayed by two talented actors. . Almost everyone seems to have a hidden agenda and a secret motiv behind every action or decision they make. If you watch it bring some tissues. Despite this fact this drama manages to give me hope.

 

Swedish Christmas threatened

It is true it seems that our ancient Christmas traditions are no longer sacred. First of all I am sure there are a majority of people still will be chosing Donald Duck on Christmas Eve. Please, let it stay that way. Why? Beacuse of another “Duck” or Anka which I am not particularly happy about. Let’s just say that Swedes will have a choice of what Duk to watch the traditional Donald Duck or the more contemporary Duk… I will still refuse to say exacly what the other Duck is…

 This years it seems like we might not get saffron for our beloved Saffron buns. And now it seems our favorite chocolate Aladdin has chosen to modernize by creating one new flavour and removing another. There has also been an official statement urging people to recycle their glass bottles in order to save the Swedish Julmust.

Recent reports stated that the traditional Christmas ham might contribute to the dreaded H1N1 virus. More recent reports about the regulations on Swedish pig farms states that a majority of them are poorly maintained. People are recommended not to buy any pork or pig meat from suspected pig farms.

How will you be celebrating Christmas this year?

 

H1N1 (Swine flu) part II

I know there are many reports and articles out there about the H1N1 (Swine flu) virus. I will try to be as objective and critical that I can.

Sweden only prescribes Tamiflu and similar medications under strict control it is possible for people in Norway to get it for free. In Sweden they are afraid that to excessive usage will make a possible virus immune. Sweden also lowered the lowest age from 3 years to months old babies as the youngest people are the one most likely to get the virus.

In Canada the swine flu vaccine was re bought after which I suspect are series side effects

Two people has died in France from the H1N1 virus. While in Sweden 14 people has died from the Swine flu. One elderly man has died after having the vaccination shot. He was apparently a very unusual case… He had gone through a transplant a few years ago… Now there has been a second case where a person with transplanted organ lost function of the transplanted organ shortly after the vaccination.   Even though the Swedish swine flu vaccine contains egg, many egg allergies is still recommended to get the vaccination… And there has apparently been one egg allergic person that died after the vaccination…

The youngest people who so far has died in Sweden are two 3-year-old children. The virus mutated in Norway and shortly after Sweden. But people in Sweden are despite all this still told to get a vaccination. And now I am one of the many people who are supposed to have 90 % protection against the disease. At this point Norway has decided to order 1000 doses of a swine flu vaccine for all its egg allergies. This is something Sweden could do as well but like many times there seems to be a fear of who is going to make that decision. The two authorities claim that the other is responsible and able to do it… Ring a bell? Well to me it seems like a similar event occurred during the tsunami of 2002.

Are there any side effects?

Yes, there are many to be quite frank. Since the shot is injected into muscle you will feel sore for some time. And you might discover difficulty to move your arm around freely. You could also suffer from a fever, get a reaction similar to a flu. A few pregnant women have endured a miscarriage in connection to shot. There are many more side effects but they are believed to be less frequent.

Pregnant women and people with severe disease was able to get vaccinated first. Sweden quickly decided to offer a free vaccination for all citizens. That includes foreigners that lives, work or studies in Sweden. Why should only the Swedish citizens be protected?

However there is one thing I wonder about is if I am supposed to get a second shot in January or February. On the health cares website they say that it is enough for healthy people over 13 to get only one. On an information sheet it says that I am not fully protected after only one and should take a second shot after at least 3 weeks. What am I supposed to do with that? I am at least 90% protected against the virus which is better than nothing.

What does the virus contain then?

Well it is produced out of egg or at least it contains eggs. It also includes a very small percentage of mercury.

Another thing I have discovered is that the vaccination procedures are handled differently around the country. In the northern parts there are several hours que even for getting inside to fill in a form. In some municipalities you have to get vaccinated at the local health care centre and after the health care center choice you automatically need to register in a health care centre or else you will not receive the shot. In a few other places the shot can be received in churches or other big places. For example opening hours in some municipalities might be very restricted while it is more flexible in others. One good thing is that children from age 6,7 to 16 get the shot in school while younger children, younger adults has to go the general vaccination.

If you want to take the shot or not is up to you, but I cannot afford to become sick even if it might not lead to my death. And I know garlic is supposed to protect you from serious viruses yet I am not convinced that garlic will be enough to protect you from getting the virus. But apparently Chinese garlic is selling like crazy…

Famous people who so far has had the virus;

• Marylin Manson
• Teri Hatcher
• Brian Littrell

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Full House 1 [Korean drama]

Full House is once again a drama which features marriages without love this has made me wonder if marriages in Korea still happens this way… I both dislike it and kind of like it (but only in dramas) since it creates a nice plott. The main protagonist is Han Ji – Eun portrayed by Song Hye Kyo and the male leading role Lee Young – Jae by Jeon Ji – Hoon more commonly known as Rain (in the drama he is credited Bi.) In the beginning the main characters does anything but even slightly like each other, both Ji – Eun and Young – Jae has their eyes and hearts set for someone else…  Young – Jae has unknowningly bought Ji – Eun’s house which was she never agreed to. I dislike the fact Ji- Eun seems way to naive and forgiving is there really people like her out there in the real world? I find that hard to believe. This drama requires an open mind or else I’m afraid you won’t be able to understand or even enjoy it. It is funny if you only look at it as a drama. It features love with complications, heart break, friendship, loyality and betrayal. Song Hye – Kyo has also acted in Autumn in  My Heart, and the more recent The World That They Live In. Rain can be seen in A Love To Kill, and the movie I’m A Cyborg But That’s OK.

Since this drama became such a hit it has been confirmed rumors about a sequel starting in the coming year or so. But so far there seems to be complications about the leading roles it is hoped but not likely that Rain and Song Hye Kyo will return.

 

Adoption in China

Perhaps I have already written about this in the past but as my blogg centers around adoption. It is important enough to repeat.

China has recently changed there reqiurements for adoption in what I suppose is a way for them to ensure that the children are protected but also for their safety. For instance the age requirement has been lowered, marital status is a must and the length of it has been increased, income status has changed, health requirements in terms of weight has been added. Do not forget the ordinary requirements for adoption which still apply. Approximated waiting time before an official decision has been more uncertain.  Single parents are since May 2007 banned from applying for adoption in China there is one exception though and that is if the prospected parent already had applied for adoption before May 2007.

Prospective parents must have been married for at least two years (if it is their first marriage), for re-marriages a couple must not have gone through more than two divorces combined and their current marriage must be at least 5 years old. People with BMI 40 or higher are turned down due to increased health risks as are people with depression, or complete blindness or disabilities that requires medication. The new requirements are established in hopes of saving China’s possible future of a country were the majority are males because of the one child policy. Previously female fetuses was aborted because of this fact and newborn girls placed in orphanages.

In 2003 TV – presenter Sibyl Gardener adopted a baby girl and when news abut the general adoption procedures surfaced many adoptive parents was worried. Fact is that in many of these cases were child trafficking was involved birth parents lose legal rights of their children because  the prospective adoptive parents adoption agencies payed 3000 dollars to the responsible orphanage.

Domestic adoption in China is a possibility but it might seem more complicated due to the Chinese one child policy. Prospective parents must be over 35 and have no living children before even considering domestic adoption. The majority of Chinese couples are more than willing to adopt Chinese girls but if they already have children of their own then they is less likely to be accepted as adoptive parents. Domestic adoption is prefered and international adoption is only considered as a last effort in order to give the child a better future.

Some statistic says that 100 girls are born for every 120 boys and by 2012 China’s population will be missing between 40 – 60 million women. I am glade to hear that they are finally beginning to do something to turn this development around. The majority of Chinese children has been adopted of to the US and between 1985 and 2006 about 62000 children had been adopted to American families. The likelyhood of becoming a proud adoptive parent of a Chinese child is increasing if they accept children with special needs. The overall summe in 2006 reached almost 8000.

First of all what do you think of China’s decision to restrict foreign adoption? Is adoption a good way to help out and make a difference for the better? Please tell me what you think.

 

Medvedev, Russia and peace

Will Dimitrij Medvedev be to fulfill his promises or not? What do you think? Is he really going to battle corruption which is what he stated among other things when he meet the Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt. Furthermore he is positive and support more Swedish companies possible establishment in Russia. He also supported the new criticized gas line   as well as the planned gas line in the Baltic sea (cutting through the Swedish economic zone). What are your personal opinion regarding Medvedev?

We all know that Russia after all is still unofficially governed by Putin so it will be interesting to see what the future will hold for Russia…

 

Empress Chun Chu [Korean drama]

Empress Chun Chu is a historical drama and the main character is portrayed by Chae Si Rae. Other famous actors in this drama: Kim Suk Hoon, Choi Jae Sung, Lee Duk Hwa, Lee In, Kim Ji Hoon, Choi Soo Han, Kim Ho Jin and Jo Shin – Ae. Even though Shin – Ae has minor leading role (and is not really present in the majority of episodes) she became known after acting in the reality drama We Got Married alongside Alex Chu. She has also acted in Summer Scent. It is supposed to be based on a true story – unfortunatly I do not know much about ancient Korean history. If you like costume dramas, action scenes, love with complicants and loyality and friendship then this is a drama I recommend. I might as well say that this drama has all ingredients of a Korean drama, the main plot is complicated, there is family drama, forbidden love,  a lot of tears and many cliff hangers.

 

Annica Östberg, Linda Chen & Madeliene MaCann

Annika Östberg who was sentenced to 25 years in prison after the infamous murder in 1981 killing one restaurant owner and a cop in California. Up until 2009 Östberg had been serving her life time imprisonment in an US jail. But thanks to Reinfeldt and Obama she was finally able return to Sweden to serve the remaining time in Swedish prison. There is currently a debate over wether or not her life time prison sentence should get a final date. It is suspected and very likely that she will be released as early as of 2010. After spending 30 years in prison.

Yes, Ostberg was involved in the double murder but she never killed anyone but she tried to kill a police man. What do you think? Should she be released in 2011 or not? What about the decision to transfer her to Sweden? Was it wrong or not?

Another mystery is who killed only days before her wedding with fiancé Mats Alm. So far everything points to him unfortunately but there has not been enough evidence to support that claim. Alm was naive enough to alert media about his missing bride-to-be. Who would be impulsive enough and alert media if they really mourned? Another thing is why Alm decided to go drinking with his friends while his girlfriend still was missing…

The young girl Madeleine McCann disappeared while on vacation in Portugal in 2007. Very early on the parents was suspected of having been responsible for her supposed death. Many other infamous people has also been suspected of her disappearance but she is yet to be found. Maybe the truth will never be known about what really happened…

All I can say is that the world we live in now is very scary.

 

Poor Prince Daniel

Oh no, I am horrified. Daniel Westling has apparently been forced to resign from all his companies and assignments in order to be prince instead. That must really be a horrible nightmare – I mean going from being a hard working man, earning his own money. To becoming a part of the Swedish royal family which is getting economic support from the state and tax payers.  But the reality is that there are no regulations for a common person having to give up his or hers companies or employments. Daniel Westling will still be a passive owner of his wealthy companies but he will no longer be sitting in the board…

I for one things that is good that he is no longer going to be working in his companies now that he is to be a prince. On the other hand he is a hard working man who has started all his companies himself so why should he not be able to keep them. But I guess  being a prince and owning companies that not look to good. What do you think of this?

• Master Training – (CO & board member) part owner  
• Balance – (CO ) – part owner
• Brasil development  -( board member) part owner

As for the coming wedding souvenirs the Royal court has decided to regulate what kind of items should be soled in the capital city. Items that are not acceptable will not be allowed to be sold.

Speaking of Princes (even if I dislike rumors) there is a rumor circulating saying that Crown Prince William will marry his girlfriend of six years in 2012… If it is true or not we just have to wait and see… Do you think the rumors are true or not?