It’s been yet another long stretch since my last post - and I apologize for that – but it’s been a nutty week! For one, I moved into my new apartment on the 18th. That was a madhouse kind of day that involved a lot of panicked running around, a lot of money, a lot of yelling, and finally one distress call to Sara to come rescue me… which… naturally… she did. I will tell you, I have never seen the dynamics of a room change as quickly as they did in my apartment when I walked in with Sara. As it turns out, my suspicions that the language barrier was being used to take advantage of me were somewhat correct. A lot of significant issues were very quickly cleared up when I suddenly had a ... read more

Capricorn: Your horoscope for January 10, 2013 Take a break from your steady climb today, Jessi, and have a look at the things around you. Enjoy a night out with friends, and take an active role in the conversation. See a movie or watch a play. You will find that the more socializing you do, the more you will be able to release some of the tension that you might not even realize you have inside. Get the energy moving again. Take an active role in keeping up with the beat. Well, Mr. Horoscope lady person man… ask and ye shall receive! Today was a VERY active day that led to a lot of picture taking, soul-searching conversations, cultural exploration, and general enjoyment of this city that I am meant to call “home” for the ... read more

I welcomed in the New Year last night with new people in a new city in a new world. I think I can honestly say that 2013 is bound to be a year of fresh perspectives, new insights, and loads of exploration! Maeghan and I have found that we are having a slightly more difficult time settling into a routine here in Hangzhou than we did in Shanghai. We have talked about this phenomenon at length, and have mostly come to the conclusion that the move to Hangzhou came with no time to mentally prepare, and has been generally overwhelming. We’ve felt a little homesick for our friends and familiarity in Shanghai, but I will say that I am very proud of how well we have managed to overcome this. Last night, I insisted that – ... read more

...we SING goodbye!!! Biiiiiiig news! Today was our last official day of training, and tomorrow will be my last day in Shanghai! There has been talk for several weeks that those of us leaving Shanghai for satellite centers might be required to stick around in Shanghai for up to 2 additional weeks beyond training. Issues with visas, center requirements and travel challenges have all been cited as potential causes… however, it turns out that we have run into none of these, so I will be leaving Shanghai on Saturday. There is a bittersweet feeling associated with all of this. For one, I am just starting to feel comfortable with Shanghai: I’ve mastered the Metro system, I know how to get lost here, I have friends here, and so on. But I am also ecstatic about moving ... read more

Well, the 21st got here with little to no incident in China. So, y'all in the States ought ta be all right ;) Just thought I'd let you know. That is all!... read more