Bulgaria:

 

  Bulgaria is a beautiful country situated in Southeast Europe and occupies the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. To the north it borders on Romania, to the west on the Republic of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, to the east on the Black Sea, to the south on Greece and to the southeast on Turkey. Visitors can expect to experience the rich history and tapestry of culture of Bulgaria as a crossroads between the Orient and Europe.

 

  The population of Bulgaria is roughly 7.7 million. The unemployment rate is currently quite high at 18%. Nearly 83% of the people living in Bulgaria are ethnic Bulgarians. People of Turkish descent make up 9% of the population while Roma (gypsy) accounts for 3%. The large majority of Bulgarians (84%) are of Bulgarian Christian Orthodox faith. Other religions practiced in Bulgaria include Muslim (13%) and Catholicism (2%). Bulgaria is a largely urban country with an excellent literacy rate (98%). Education is free and compulsory for children ages 7 through 16. The climate of Bulgaria is categorized as temperate continental and has four seasons, which are clearly distinguishable. The average annual temperature is 51 degrees Fahrenheit. The average January temperature is around 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

(Statistical information taken from the 2001 CIA World Fact Book)

 

 

Cambodia:

Adoptions from Cambodia are temporarily suspended.

 

  Cambodia is a country of exceptional grace and beauty. Although there have been rough times the last 30 years, Cambodia is now in a rebuilding phase. Even though poverty has ravished the country in recent years, the Cambodian people embrace their rich and ancient culture. Cambodia covers an area of some 181, 035 square km (slightly smaller than Oklahoma) and is bordered by Thailand to the West, by Vietnam to the East, by Laos to the North, and by the Gulf of Siam to the South.

 

  The population of Cambodia is roughly 12.5 million. Of those, 90% are of ethnic Khmer heritage. The remaining 10% of the population is made up of Vietnamese (5%), Chinese (1%) and other small minority groups (4%). Cambodia is a largely agrarian nation 80% of its people spend their lives farming. Theravada Buddhism is the official religion of Cambodia and is practiced by 95% of the population. Education in Cambodia is compulsory for the first 6 years (between the ages of 6 and 12). However, the country still suffers from a high rate of adult illiteracy. Only 35% of all adults were able to read and write in 1990. Situated in a tropical zone, Cambodia is bathed in sun almost all year around. There are two main seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. Temperatures in the rainy/monsoon season (from April to November) generally range from 81-95 degrees Fahrenheit. In the cool dry season (from December to March) temperatures typically range from 63-81 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

(Statistical information taken from the 2001 CIA World Fact Book)

 

 

Vietnam:

Adoptions from Vietnam are temporarily suspended.

 

   Vietnam is a country rich in history and a boasts a highly cultivated culture. The ravages of war sent the country into economic crises in the 1960s and 1970s. However, since 1986 the country has made great strides in economic development. While the standards of living are below that which we are used to in America, conditions are steadily improving. Vietnam covers an area of some 329,560 square km (slightly larger than New Mexico) and is bordered by the Gulf of Thailand to the South; by the South China Sea to the East; by Cambodia, Thailand and Laos to the West; and by China to the North.

 

  The population of Vietnam is roughly 79.9 million. Of those, 85-90% are of Vietnamese heritage. The remaining 10-15% of the population is made up of Chinese, Hmong, Thai, Khmer, Cham, and mountain tribes. Buddhism is the religion most practiced in Vietnam, although there are also sizable minorities of those who practice Taoism, Confucian, Hoa Hao, Caodaisim, Muslim and Christian faiths. Education in Vietnam is free and compulsory. The country has a fairly high literacy rate of 93.7%. Because Vietnam takes up a large area North to South, there is more than one climate to consider. The South is warm year around and has two seasons: Wet (from May to November) and Dry (from December to April). In comparison, the Northern part of the country has two more clear-cut seasons: cool, damp winters (from November to April) and hot, humid summers (from May to October). .

 

(Statistical information taken from the 2001 CIA World Fact Book)