I'm no Madonna fan, but I wonder....

[mistyisjafo]

A friend of mine has spent some time in Africa and has a very good understanding of the culture, the people and the adoption process there since she worked with a few orphanages.

Basically the feeling is that the Malawis and other Africans are reluctant to release orphans or adoptees mainly to the fear of those children not maintaining the culture or being raised in that culture. The wait time is to insure the parents will provide that and will stay so that the child can have their roots.

In their eyes, taking that child to America is removing an important part of their culture, history,roots, whatever you want to call it.

At least that's how it was explained to me.