Ho. Ly. Cow. My life is blowing my mind. The past few weeks have been incredible. Adventure, unexpected travel to distant locations, successes, romance, even a new job! Wow! Ok, so it's nearly 11 and sleep is super precious to me right now so here's the quick and dirty scoop to empty out the cache.

Chinese New Year: It's like Independence Day, Christmas and Thanksgiving all mixed into one and extended for like a week. Talk about the best holiday ever! I spent the very special time with my Chinese family (I'm officially considered their adopted daughter hehe) New Year's Eve, we lit off fireworks, ate dumplings and watched the New Year's special on tv. Fireworks, oh man, it was like being in the middle of a warzone! Big (what we would call "the very illegal") fireworks going off overheard, fountains over there, firecrackers over here--shoot, they were going off all night! It was spectacular, I didn't sleep a wink! The following days, I accompanied my family to various relatives homes where we ate (SOOO MUCH FOOD!! Plates of various dishes piled two or three high! AAAGGGHH!! I was in hog heaven!) Some fantastic memories and I really felt a sense of belonging. It was so wonderful to be part of a family atmosphere.

Status with Wang Wei: That man has got me so confused. He's a mystery to me, he says I'm a mystery to him, our schedules don't leave much time for interaction but there's this strange, inexplicable attraction between us that makes it impossible for us to abandon the relationship. We're not on hold, nor are we officially dating...it's like our whole relationship is this video and we're on pause for now because we're so busy. Very strange, but also a lot of fun when we're together. I'm enjoying the whole "who cares where this goes, just for fun" relationship. We have time and that makes things comfortable.

During the holiday, I met Wang Wei's older cousin, Huo Qi. Huo Qi is the president of North Media, one of the largest media and advertising companies here in China and by far the largest here in Shenyang. (About 300 employees, mostly TV advertising here in Liaoning with offices all over China and large production studios in Beijing.) He was very impressed with me, so much so that, well, let me just recount part of the conversation we had at dinner:
H: Jessica, do you want to go to Sichuan? (Editor's note: Sichuan, SW China, just east of tibet, home of pandas, beautiful women and the best spicy food on the planet.)
J: Heck yes I do!
H: Do you have free time before classes resume in March? (EN: This convo took place on 2/20)
J: All the time in the world.
H: Great, later you can send me your passport number and I'll send you down there to go play for a few days. Oh and when you get back, come visit the office. I want you to come work for me.

>>!!!!!!<<

So I was thinking he'd send me down there, put me up in a hotel and let me wander on my own for three or four days. Oh no, he was planning on going all out. That's right, he sent me to Sichuan, all expenses paid, for 8 days. For no reason other than the fact that he likes me and wants to be my friend. He sent one of his other employees down with me and we stayed at the North Media facility in Chengdu. I climbed mountains, I saw real live pandas (even got to hold a Red Panda), I explored Chengdu, I learned how to play Mahjong (chinese dominoes, i guess is the best way to describe it)...oh my god, what an adventure/opportunity!

Got back from Sichuan late evening of March 3, morning of March 4 Shenyang got blasted by a baoxue 暴雪 (snowstorm), the biggest, in fact, in over 56 years. The city basically shut down for two days as everybody was busy trying to dig out the buses and trains. I have friends who were stuck on trains for 20-30 hours (on trips that were supposed to only last 5-6 hours--ugh!) I think we got something like two or three feet in some places. In. Tense.

Snowstorm meant the start of school got postponed for a couple of days. This term I have 16 hours which is less than last term, but with several of the same classes from last term which is nice. I've basically simplified my approach and my expectations and am going for a more laidback atmosphere. It's making my life more sane and I think the students are going to get more out of it as well. woot.

In addition, my mornings are all free so I can attend Chinese class!! HOORAY!

Huo Qi also came through on his word about wanting me to come work for him. Right now he's basically grooming me to play a big part in their international expansion. Right now my role is fuzzy but officially I'm coming into the newly formed International Affairs/Services department and I get to work with any American or European clients. For now, the most pressing need is to get English publicity polished and for me to be able to help acquaint foreign customers with the company. Sounds like there's a TON of interest among the staff to improve their English so I think I'm going to try and set up English classes and maybe an after hours English corner. Later Huo Qi hopes to expand my role and he's trying to introduce me to as many clients and customers as possible to help me extend my network. Talk about a lucky opportunity! Not only that but my counterpart in Intl Affairs is Chinese with Japanese experience and so he and I are also working on getting my japanese back up to snuff! SWEET! Such a cool company, all very young and energetic work force--I fit right in.

I realized recently that I really miss being a competitive athlete--the training, being in great shape, the competition, the camraderie. Since my exercise of choice at the moment is swimming, I found an 8 week fitness plan that I'm attacking like I'd attack a good erg piece. It's pushing me and I love it. I realized how much I craved/missed masochistic workouts. It's good to have a plan and something to work towards.

Between English class (16 hours +prep), Chinese (16 hours +study/prep), swimming (4-6 hours) and working at North Media (10-12), I feel a little like I'm this jet engine that's revving at full blast. I've gotten myself organized, I've got some rock solid routines (thanks to FlyLady.com--It's this website that gives tips and advice and reminders about getting organized...fantastic, like mom telling me to do my chores, but without the guilt when I don't do them haha! j/k, mom!) As a result, my apt is presentable, my diet is monitored, my clothes are clean and I have made my life so efficient, I can hardly believe it. I get up at 7 and am seriously in super intense go-mode until I go to sleep at night after 11. The Chinese is in overdrive right now--it's like someone opened the flood gates--I seem to have gotten past that mid-level plateau and my level is once again on the fast rise. I feel like my whole life is in overdrive right now. This whole thing with North Media and just feeling like I'm making progress. I'm busy. Like super busy. Like I have to do lists and I walk like a race-walker from place to place and when I sit in a cab, I heave a big sigh and welcome the brief rest.

It's crazy.

And I love every minute of it.