KOREA HOMELAND JOURNEYS
Korean Ties--Our Flagship Program June 24-July 6, 2012 Korean Connections NEW!November 19-26, 2011 (Seoul)July 6-15, 2012 (Seoul, Busan, Kyongju)October 19-28, 2012 (Seoul, Jeju Island, Busan, Kyongju)
Private or Semi-Private Travel
Read What Families Have to Say
Request an Information Packet
Pre-Register for a Future Year! Pre-registered families have priority when registration opens.
Possibilities for Visiting People &Places Significant to Your Adoption
Suggested Reading & Helpful Travel Items
KOREA TIES HIGHLIGHTS:
Traditional Ties programs, our flagship programs, are staffed by an English speaking in-country guide, an adoption professional, and a group leader who creates community, builds bridges and deals with details enabling you to focus on your family and the profound meaning of the journey. All Ties programs include our signature "Connect & Chat" for kids and "Parent Talk Time."During our homeland journey in Korea, we visit each of the social service agencies: Holt Children's Services, Eastern Social Welfare Society, Korean Social Service and Social Welfare Society. Many of the children will meet their foster parents or visit the orphanages where they once lived.* Some may meet birth family. At a maternity home for unwed mothers, we will meet young women facing the most difficult decision of their lives. We can anticipate tears and hugs that will lead to healing on both sides of the room.
All of our days in Korea will not be as emotional as we get to know Korea and its people. In Seoul, we will sightsee, visit a school, go shopping and eat fabulous Korean meals. Each family will also have the opportunity to have dinner in a Korean home, providing a fun and unique experience.
From Seoul, we will travel to Mt. Sorak National Park-- to the quiet of the mountains, and then down the coastal road to Busan where the colorful fish market captures our attention.
Additionally, each family will have the opportunity to visit other places of significance to their families (place of birth or founding, orphanage, etc.) either during the course of our trip or afterward. The Ties Program staff will assist with all the arrangements.
In Busan, we will visit an orphanage where we will have a fun afternoon with the babies and children in their care.
Throughout our journey, we will gather for optional "Connect & Chat" time for the kids and "Talk Times" for the adults, giving families the opportunity to process all that we are experiencing.
We staff all of our programs with an adoption professional/discussion facilitator…something we see as critical to your time in Korea if it is to be the identity building experience for your child, and the bonding experience you want it to be for your family.
Our journey will leave us awed by Korea and its people—truly rich in beauty, warmth and tradition. It is our sincere hope that your participation in our program creates a family memory that, like your family ties, will last of lifetime.
KOREA CONNECTIONS HIGHLIGHTS New! Connections programs are less expensive options, providing a well rounded in-country experience, and are staffed by an in-country English speaking guide (except in Korea where a Ties group leader is also with the group.) "Connect & Chat", and "Parent Talk Time" are not offered as part of Connections.
PRIVATE OR SEMI-PRIVATE TRAVEL While we believe strongly in the support a group provides, we know there are times when individual family travel is a better fit. We are happy to work with individual families or small groups of families.
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READ WHAT FAMILIES HAVE TO SAY “This has been perhaps the best and most life changing thing I have experienced.” ~Chaz Deegan, 18
"The Korean Ties program is beyond words. It was fully packed, emotional, wonderful, and a totally amazing experience!!!! In my humble opinion, a trip like this is a MUST for kids to fully form their identities and begin to understand where they fit in a world that includes two countries and two cultures." ~ Jenny Bailer
Read A Trip of A Lifetime by Vickie Drendel
Adoptee’s trip to her homeland helps her find her place in the world" featured in the Buffalo News recounts 18 year old Jennifer DiBella’s journey to Korea. "Korea cherished me." Alex Ostroff, 13 “For the first time in my life, I felt complete and at peace with who I am.” ~Landy Hancock, 18 "I felt taken care of every step of the way, from the very beginning...the mailings, phone calls, shared family email addresses, book suggestions, etc. helped me feel so prepared.” ~Kathy Carlson “I got to see that my birth place is good and better understood the struggles my birth family went through.” ~Matt Ouellette, 14 “As a grandma, it was so great to see the full circle of adoption.” ~Barb Boersma "We knew it was going to be wonderful but never in our wildest dreams did we know how awesome you and your entire staff would be. I hope you take a minute for yourself and realize how The Ties program changes our lives." ~Kelly Olive "I made friendships that I will always have.” ~David Lueck-Mammen, 17
POSSIBILITIES FOR VISITING PEOPLE AND PLACES SIGNIFICANT IN YOUR FAMILY'S ADOPTION
The Ties Program is pleased to assist families visit people and places important in their child's life. Over the years, families have have expressed interest in visiting the following places. We look forward to updating the list and new requests are received.
A Chim Ddeun Maternity Home
Ae RanWon Maternity Home
Amsa Rehabilitation Center (SWS)
Angels Baby Home (ESWS)
Checheon Children’s Home / Jane White
Dr. Cho, Byung-kuk (Holt)
Dr. Kim, Duk Whang (ESWS founder)
Eastern Social Welfare Society (aka Eastern Child Welfare Society)
Esther’s House Maternity Home
Han Suh Hospital
Hee Mang Baby Home
Holt Children’s Services
Holt Ilsan Center
Holt Reception Center
Jacob’s Home Orphanage
Korean Social Services
Kyung Dong Won Orphanage
Molly Holt
Nam Kwang Orphanage
Pierce Baby Home
Pyongtaek Welfare Town (ESWS)
Salvation Army Maternity Home
Social Welfare Society
Star of the Sea Children’s Home
Sung Ae Won Orphanage
Sung Ro Won Orphanage
White Lily Orphanage
See something missing above? Or, are there other people or places on your "dream list?" Please email us. We are always open to helping you with other connections.
The Ties Program does not endorse any of the places listed above, but rather offers them as places families have indicated they may want to visit
SUGGESTED READING AND HELPFUL ITEMS
Amazon makes a donation to our sister organization, World Ties, and there is NO extra charge to you. All proceeds from Amazon support Project Kindness. Your connection to Amazon must be made through our site, but once there you can purchase ANYTHING at NO additional charge to you!
Click here for reading lists, as well as other helpful items as you continue your journey as an adoptive family.
