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March 21st 2013
Published: March 21st 2013
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Only explanation I have for it is that Peggy's mom had to work today...
It is unbelievable that we are heading into our final week of March! I still cannot wrap my head around how quickly the weeks scoot by. I knew that this year was going to go by very quickly, what with it being filled with new experiences… but this is madness. The end of March brings about the beginning of April which is going to be a month filled with “firsts” and plans.



Lifestyle-wise, April is going to bring a very significant change. At work, I’m going to be taking on a classload and transitioning into more of a teaching position and away from the marketing madness. We are beginning a new term altogether the first week of April, so it’s a bit like a fresh start and reboot for the center at large. April is also set to bring our center an additional Foreign Trainer who is entering onboarding this week. That is bound to turn our center’s operations on its head as that could mean a lighter classload, and better coverage for our classes during vacation time.



Ah, vacation time – the next major change being brought to my schedule! In about a month, my mother will be here! It looks as though everything visa-wise has been approved, so we can actually start to look forward to this thing as though it’s actually happening! We have some pretty spectacular plans laid out, so it is bound to be a very good visit.



This past week has been pretty refreshing. For one, I’ve really started to get my feet under me at work this week by simply expecting the unexpected and anticipating problems. I’m starting to harbor some respect and my alliances are serving the purpose that I set them up to serve. But it’s really been away from work that things have been so refreshing. I know that I say this in every entry, but I really do enjoy the people that I have found over here. Even when everything is falling apart at work, there is always a place for me wherein I feel appreciated – and that is a super nice thing to be able to count on!



Sara, Peggy and I had our share of adventures this week. Over the weekend, we wandered through the Night Market – a very genuine Chinese experience indeed. This
No no wait one more!No no wait one more!No no wait one more!

Sara always refuses to do my super-excited face with me... eventually she will be trained.
is exactly what you would expect it to be: tents and tables set up, and their owners hooting and hollering prices, ready to hear your price. It’s ridiculously tight and crowded (meaning the wearing of a bellypack rather than a backpack, because a location like that doesn’t exactly invite the most upstanding people), so you squeeze through packs of people and tables of socks with minimal power over your legs as you really have to follow the flow of the crowd. I’m told this is really the place to go to get decent things at amazing prices… I just haven’t been so bold yet. Mostly it’s just entertaining to watch other people engage… I’m not quite there yet.



Then, Tuesday, the three of us met up at a grocery store to find the ingredients to make a genuine Western meal. Let me just explain the backstory of that one first… because it’s still a bit ticklish. Monday night, around 10pm, I received a text message asking if I had plans for the morning. Aside from swimming (which has become an almost-everyday occurrence at 6am… ugh… we’re idiots…), naturally I didn’t, so she invited me to her home.
Flowers AgainFlowers AgainFlowers Again

Amy (my bee!), Summer (who really likes dancing...) and Sara
She then proceeded to ask me what meals I knew how to cook. In other words, I was being invited to Peggy’s house to cook for her. Well played, Peggy! Well played! Anyway, this was actually ok with me because I’ve been wanting to explore the non-Ramen-noodle sections of my grocery store, and this was the perfect excuse and accompaniment to do so! So, I made spaghetti from scratch J no canned pasta sauce here! It was actually really pretty good – I used little roma tomatoes mixed with red and yellow bell peppers, and we managed to find ground pork and good herbs and spices to flavor it all up. Not to mention, a box of Barilla pasta… So, it was really a nice lunch! Peggy actually has no forks at home… so, we ate it with spoons (she ate hers with chopsticks…). Luckily I chose Farafelle pasta instead of angel hair or spaghetti noodles!!

Yesterday, I was invited to play badminton with a bunch of the girls, but accidentally slept through it. I finally had a day off from swimming as Felix was heading to Shanghai… and my body literally would not wake up until 11. I
Flowers AgainFlowers AgainFlowers Again

Cherry Blossoms
met up with the girls for lunch instead – I had a beef burrito… in case you were wondering. Anyway, then the 4 of us (Summer, Amy, Sara and I) traipsed up to – you guessed it! – see the flowers at the lake for the third week in a row J Now, luckily it really is quite pleasant up there and bringing new people brings a new experience, of course. But honestly, the flowers haven’t changed much over the last three weeks. Next Wednesday, I think I need to find something else to do! Afterward, Summer and I went back to the blind massage place that Zoe took me a few weeks ago. It’s a little weird to have a blind guy tell you he recognizes you…



Anyway, today it was back to the pool with Felix – I beat him there today and decided to go straight in. I’m back to the <:30 range on my freestyle, so I’m feeling pretty good being back in the water these days. Felix keeps claiming that he’s training up for a triathlon. We’ll see if that actually happens. But, the great part about doing anything regularly around here (anywhere, for that matter) is that you start to be recognized and acknowledged by people. At the pool, I have one set of older gentlemen that are actually decent swimmers (something a bit hard to come by around here, unfortunately…) who have always made a point to say hello to Felix and me and have now – as of today – graciously accepted me into their circle, actually begging me to join them in their lane today. I felt vastly uncomfortable about this at first – older guys wearing Speedos shouting at me and slapping the water until I joined them? Awkward. But eventually, it became something of a competitive banter and that is how I know my times for my different strokes. (It may be noted that, while my Free range I wrote openly, I have yet to list my others… there… is a reason for that.) So, my community is growing every day – it’s pretty awesome. It’s all just a matter of figuring out what you do, and adding a pinch of someone to do it with.


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21st March 2013

couldn\'t think of a title.....just, hello, love your blogs, those trees are absolutely gorgeous, your friends look darling, and you look great and very very happy.......all fine here.....your folks are taking your grandpa bill to a big barbershop show on saturday for his birthday.....think your mom is glad the show is over, as we always are.....bless you, darlin\' ...... grandma
21st March 2013

Good Ramblings
Your ramblings, Jess, are very entertaining --- keep them coming! You seem very happy in your new local. Remember March is Feng Shui month 5 Fri, Sat and Sundays ?!?! Love, GB

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