Travel Call and Itinerary

One Week. That's it. 

After all the research, meetings, paperwork, money, time, and tears. We are down to this. One week from now we will be on a plane to Beijing.

Yesterday we had our official travel conference call with Joshua Zhong. He is our agency's founder. His story is really quite amazing. Josh and his wife Lily truly are world changers. Their story helped us decide that Chinese Children Adoption International was the right agency for us.
Take a minute and read more about Josh and Lily here.

Josh told us we are the smallest travel group he has ever sent, just us and one other family. I know so many families were delayed due to Chinese New Year. It was seriously a huge prayer answered that we're getting to go now.
Sounds like we'll definitely be getting personalized attention! He talked to us a lot about what to expect for our travels. Basically he advised us to "give our brains" to our guides. Just trust the system they have in place and we should be fine.

We also received our itinerary. Looks like we have an exciting couple of weeks! China is 14 hours ahead of us (I've been saying 13 hours but it turns out its 14 with the time change).

So here's what we know....

2/12/14
Depart Chicago at 11:55 am on nonstop United flight to Beijing. Flight is 13 hrs 45 minutes

2/13/14
Arrive in Beijing at 3:40pm.
Will be met by our CCAI guide at the airport
Check into Sunworld Dynasty Hotel

2/14/14
Tour Beijing
Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Hutong Tour, and optional acrobatics show.

2/15 /14
Tour Beijing.
Great Wall of China. 
~Diel & Leffler girls-now is the time to start the pool of how long it takes me to fall down. I'm gonna guess in the parking lot before we even make it to the actual "great wall".

2/16/14
Depart Beijing for Zhengzhou on China Airlines flight CA 1325 (12:55-14:30).
We will be met by our CCAI guide at the airport.
Check in to Crown Plaza Hotel.

2/17/14
Gotcha Day!! Penelope will be in our arms and with us for the remainder of the trip. Actually, forever!!

2/18/14
Finalize the adoption in the morning.
Notary Interview-apparently part of the process for her visa.
Travel to Luoyang to apply for Penelope's passport.
*We will request to visit the orphanage but no guarantee we will be allowed to do so*

2/19/14
Free Day!

2/20/14
Receive your notary documents in the afternoon.

2/21/14
Receive Penelope's Passport
.
2/22/14
Leave Zhengzhou for Guangzhou on China Southern Flight CZ 3971 (11:10-13:25).
Met by CCAI guide at the airport.
Check into China Hotel.

2/23/14
Meet with CCAI representatives to prepare paperwork for the Consulate appointment.

2/24/14
Penelope's visa physical and visa photo taken this morning.
Hoping to shop with Ann, a guide who is practically famous in the China adoption world, in the afternoon.

2/25/14
Back to Clinic to have TB test results and chest xray if needed.

2/26/14
Consulate Appointment!!

2/27/14
Receive Penelope's Visa.
Depart for Hong Kong in afternoon.

2/28
Depart Hong Kong on nonstop United flight at 11:10 am. Flight time 14 hrs 35 minutes.
Arrive in Chicago at 11:45 am the SAME DAY!!
Penelope Mei Fulton becomes a US citizen the second her little toes touch the ground!