An Adoption Story: Vanya’s Adoption from Russia to New Zealand

S1 EP5 (2023 Series) An Adoption Story: Vanya Syron was adopted from a regional orphanage in Arkhangelsk, Russia in the late 1990s by his New Zealand parents. With information that his parents held onto about his birth family, he managed to get a letter through to his Birth Mother in 2010. Since then, Vanya had lost contact but hopes to re-connect with her and his siblings in Arkhangelsk. This is his story. The 2023 Series of An Adoption Story was supported by the team at MyHeritage. ----- *My Story*Here on my channel, I share my personal journey as a Russian-New Zealand adoptee, adopted at two from Arkhangelsk, Russia. I also share my series An Adoption Story, which highlights the journeys of adoptees from around the world. Learn about my life as an adoptee, my upbringing in New Zealand, and the significance of embracing my roots, including connections in Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. ➡︎    • My Journey and Story   ➡︎    • My Family   ➡︎    • My Birth Parents   An Adoption Story Explore incredible stories of adoptees, each with their own unique path. ➡︎ Season Three (2026)    • An Adoption Story (2026 Series - Season Th...   ➡︎ Season Two (2024-2025)    • An Adoption Story (2024-2025 Series - Seas...   ➡︎ Season One (2022-2023)    • An Adoption Story (2023 Series - Season One)   Subscribe Don't forget to Subscribe:    / @alexgilbert   Support My Work If you’d like to support what I do and help me continue creating An Adoption Story, there are a few ways you can: ➡︎ Join as a YouTube Member by clicking 'Join' on my channel ➡︎ Become a Patron on Patreon for extra perks and behind-the-scenes access:   / nzalexgilbert   ➡︎ Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/alexgilbert All contributions go directly towards producing An Adoption Story and supporting the community. Perks are available on Patreon and YouTube for those who join, including exclusive behind-the-scenes content, early access to episodes, and your opportunity to help shape the stories for the series. Connect With Me ➡︎ Instagram:   / alexgilbert   ➡︎ Facebook:   / nzalexgilbert   I'm Adopted ➡︎ Website: https://imadopted.org/ ➡︎ Facebook:   / imadoptedorg   ➡︎ Instagram:   / imadoptedorg   I’m passionate about connecting with adoptees and sharing stories that matter. Follow along as I reflect on family, identity, and connection. 00:00 Introduction 01:23 Early Life 02:52 Finding More Information 05:47 The Letter from his Birth Mother 08:41 Support Network 10:24 Genetic Personality Traits 13:06 Vanyas Siblings 16:05 Advice for Others Adopted 18:56 Vanys Goals 20:57 Outro