becoming jami

been awhile since i have posted anything about china. well, i guess not too long, but here is an update.
i still haven't received my visa materials. i am starting to get a little nervous since i leave in a little over a month (42 days to be exact. yes, i have a countdown on my calendar that i mark off everyday :). i got an email last week saying they would be "arriving shortly". basically, i am waiting on my letter of intent from the school saying that i will be working there for 5 months, and i have permission from them to stay in the country since i will be employed. i am also waiting on my Lonely Planet China guidebook!! i can't wait to get it and mark places i want to see, maps, important pages, etc. little by little i have been buying items for my trip. i purchased a really nice, lightweight North Face rain jacket. China's humidity is usually out of control so i wanted something lightweight that would not be sticking too me... as much. i ordered it off of Backcountry.com. this website is great because they have an awesome return & exchange policy. quoted from the website " If at any time -- now, next month, in 30 years -- you're not 100% satisfied, send your gear back for a full refund. No questions asked " I talked to a customer service rep online and he said, if it gets a rip, i don't like the fit, the color, the weight, ANYTHING! return it. and they'll send a replacement or a full refund. that's so awesome. so basically, true lifetime warranty! i was pumped up.
the last couple weeks have flown by! my weekends have been full of activities! (sooo mannyyy activitiessss - stepbrothers :) haha it helps the time go faster. i think right now i dub july the "excited month" but once august hits, it will be the "nervous month". for now though, i am enjoying awesome adventures with my friends from all over the state and having a great summer. 


there is ONE thing i wish i could change... but that's life. "God never slams a door in your face without opening a box of Girl Scout cookies..." -Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat Pray Love)