In response to an Email list...
So I was reading this list, and someone asked if anyone had adopted in Ukraine. (Well, they also asked for people near Pittsburgh, but I didn't see that part.) They asked for advice and help, so here's what I wrote in response:

Melanie and I did that in October. Our Alena is fantastic, and we
couldn't be happier!

Ukraine can be difficult. We had our own special and particular set of
difficulties, and you may not have the ones we did, but
regardless. ... You'd better be flexible. I really had to let go of my
tendency to be annoyed with lateness, as everything always seemed to
run behind schedule. I just had to suck it up and deal.

People in Ukraine were generally friendly and wanted to be
helpful. Don't feel pressured to pay so-called expediting fees (AKA
bribes). This is a real hot button on some lists and in some quarters,
but this is my opinion. The fact that it's an entrenched system and
all doesn't mean that it's one that you have to support. Besides, if
you set a precedent, you'll keep right on paying. What started out as
a small inconvenience has turned into, in some cases I understand, a
real problem, with officials sometimes requesting large amounts of
money. If you feel like giving a monotary donation to the orphanage,
do so; if you want to give them material goods, ask what they need and
do that. But don't feel under pressure (and don't let anyone pressure
you) into paying bribes because "that's the way things are done around
here". This might--or might not--make your stay in Ukraine longer or
more frustrating. It did not do so to our stay, and we actually had
fewer--and different--problems than we expected, even after being
asked to pay a bribe--once--and refusing. (We were asked for a payment
for consideration of our disabilities; i.e. you pay and we'll overlook
asking the more difficult questions. Amazingly, when we said we'd
argue the case on its merits, and we wouldn't pay, no such difficult
"How will you, as a blind couple, with one member having other
physical problems, care for this very active child?" ever came up.)

Be sure your American money has absolutely no marks, tears, extra
writing, extraneous creases, or extra wear on it. The crisper and
newer the better. We were given this advice and didn't know exactly
what to look for. When you get your cash from the bank, inspect it
all. Very carefully. The smallest tear or puncture or mark could make
the bill unacceptable by local standards. Also, be careful when
exchanging money: look very carefully at the exchange rates at
money-changers, as some places will give you a better deal than
others. And read *all* the numbers after the decimal point. In other
words, I understand that, for instance, let's say the average exchange
rate is $1 to 5.40 grivna (SP?). You might see a sign that says that a
money changer will give you 5.056 grivna (SP?) per dollar. Be
careful. Looking at the numbers, you'll see that you're not getting a
good deal at all!

Goes without saying--don't drink the water. :)

And be sure all your i's are dotted and t's crossed. I understand that
they're getting more particular about paperwork these days. Everything
had better be as close to letter-perfect as you can make it, including
the language on the notary stamps.

Oh yes. One more issue near and dear. Please don't overlook disabled
and/or older children. Our Alena was listed as an "invalid". Her
records said she had hydrocephalus, adrenal problems, thyroid
problems, pituitary problems, a weak immune system, a whole host of
other things. She was (and is) also very small, just 29 inches and a
bit and 22 pounds, and almost five years old. They told us that if she
was not adopted, she would eventually die, because she wouldn't get
the medical care she needed. She's as full of life as any child I
know, her problems were exaggerated or nonexistent, or misdiagnosed
anyway, and ironically, they missed the seizures she started
having--and probably has had for ages. Don't misunderstand. I'm not
telling you that our Alena turned out healthy, and Ukrainian medicine
is crap, so go and adopt a sick kid because the kid probably
isn't. No, that isn't what I'm saying. Because, you see, we adopted
Alena, and we went there specifically to adopt a child that had some
sort of disability--because these are the kids that get overlooked,
and these are the kids that most desperately need a loving family
(because they're least likely to get one). Are we lucky?
Absolutely. Do we count our blessings daily? You bet we do! Would we
be any less lucky or have fewer blessings if Alena had the problems
they said she did? Emphatically and in the strongest terms I can
voice, I say no! No matter the child you adopt, you will get back far,
far more than you will ever, ever give. So, I'm just saying. ... At
least, give it some thought, would you? The inconvenience you will
undoubtedly face living in Ukraine for several weeks is a very small
price to pay for what you'll be getting in return.