What a week!

This week hasn't been as slow as the past 2 weeks.  The three main events of the week are:

1. My site mates and I decided we would go camping...except it decided to snow on Saturday.  Thus, we decided to "camp" in a ger (not mine, but my other site mate's).  We watched movies, built a fort, ate food, and played night crawlers (for those of you who don't watch "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia", like me, it's a game where you get into your sleeping bag...with your face in the bottom...and crawl around like worms.  It was quite intense.  Here are some pictures of the snow and the indoor camping ventures.



Getting ready for night crawlers





The Fort!





The Mountains covered in snow...from my hashaa





More snow pics





last one


2. Next was the wedding!  One of the teachers at my school had a wedding and all of my coworkers and I went on Sunday.  I asked my hashaa mom what to wear and she told me to wear my deel.  When we met at school, I was the only one in a deel (everyone else wore jeans or other casual clothes...they told me that deels are supposed to be worn, but they chose warmth instead...lol).  When we got to the wedding, it was nothing like I thought it would be!  I learned that weddings here are 3 days long (Day 1 for Family, Day 2 for Coworkers, and day 3 for Friends) and there was no official ceremony.  Instead, it was a get together in the home where the guests along with the bride and groom enjoy food and chatter.  I was told that weddings typically have 3 rounds of dishes (vegetable soup, flour soup, and buuz...this one had vegetable soup and a chicken and rice dish), fruits, vegetable, cookies, and candy.  And of course, what celebration is complete without airag (and the "Mongolian vodka", and bottled vodka"...this time they added cherry wine)?  There is also always sheep's back served at weddings. After the eating and a few rounds of airag, the toasts began.  Everyone was offered the golden bowl of airag and had to sing a song.  I almost got away with not having to sing a Mongolian song (they told me to sing "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion....and for everyone who knows me, you know I hate public singing!  I was so embarrassed!) until the people who knew of the one Mongolian song I partially knew asked me to sing it.  So 2 songs...for the girl who hates singing in public.  Thank goodness that most singing events in Mongolia turns into sing alongs!!  It was a great night.





The groom!





The school's training manager with the golden airag bowl!





The passing of the vodka!





The bride (after her change) sharing Mongolian vodka to pass.





3 of my coworkers!





The bride and groom looking at each other.





The bride changed back so that her and the groom match!





And again





The sheep's back


3. But then the next day, I woke up feeling awful!  I felt weak and nauseous and decided to go to work anyway.  I ended up getting to work and being sent home because I felt so awful.  I spent the day not eating or drinking and just staying in bed (until later that evening of course....because I was too stubborn to not do Insanity...I did take it slow though).  And although I felt much better the next day, my stomach continued to be a little funky until today.
4. The final thing happened today.  Nothing too big, but as I was walking around town, a group of teenage boys called out to me by saying "What's up nigga".  Although that should of been a teachable moment, I was so shocked that I turned around and gave them a death glare accompanied by a head shake.

This week has been pretty great overall.  I have been spending a lot of time alone, but loving it.  I started listening to podcasts (NFL...to catch up on what I've missed so far this season and The Read by Kid Fury...because I need to catch up on the shade I've been missing from not having youtube) and it's made everything so much funnier.  

Well that's it!  I'm getting ready to go play volleyball with the teachers at my school.  Bye ya'll!!!

NONONO - Pumpin Blood (Official Video)

Discovered this song all of 2 hours ago...Can't stop playing it. So why not share?

Pictures!

Another slow week!  I'm trudging through Insanity though!  This week, on Friday, I FINALLY received my birthday envelope from my family (curses to the mail system for being so slow).  It made me so happy!!  I got a bunch of cards from my family and this awesome tie (now to find an outfit for it)!! Then Saturday I bought 2 new pairs of boots (at a good price, might I add) that I can now wear for the ever falling temperatures.  On Sunday I went to a sports day for my school where the students (by grade) took part in various sports relays and competitions.  It was awesome (see pictures below)!  Later on my site mates and I went to the house of the owners of the little cafe I mentioned in an earlier post.  They had the cutest little cat along with birds and a dog!  They made us pizza, apple crumble, and custard.  It was absolutely delicious!!!  This week I also slipped and fell into a stream like a boss....in work clothes.  Lastly,  I did some solo teaching for younger grades (I also taught the older students...it didn't go so well because they knew the lesson I was supposed to teach...next time will be better).  It was pretty cool!!  I even taught them the ending song from 'Out of the Box' as a song to end the class.  Outside of that, my week has been pretty slow.  I've had a lot of days where I found myself feeling pretty down for no reason and reflecting on my life.  The kids yesterday outside of my school (who I'm sure are not kids from my school) that followed me, mocked me, then pushed me didn't help either (glad the grandmother walking past scolded them for it). Well, enough about me, here are some pictures (not just from this week, but overall).

Sukhbaatar, Selenge.  The Russian Border Park:

Me walking towards a cliff at the Russian border park in Sukhbaatar.  The walking was much better than the actual posing for the picture. lol

Another pose from the Russian border park.  The man I am sitting on is Sukhbaatar. He was a great leader in the Mongolian fight for independence. (click link for more info)

Two Rivers meeting to flow into Russia!

My other host family over the summer (my friend's family...but I was practically family...the sister is taking the picture).  I miss them so much!!

Another view of the rivers.  Isn't it a beautiful view?

Coming down from a high rock on the cliff...Needed help so I didn't fall over!

This week's pictures:

My school's sports day

All the students wanted to take pictures with me.

Again...

And yet again!!

The students had a high jump competition...they rose it after every round! 

Some students didn't make it over successfully...

But some nailed it!!

A class of the younger students

And the kitty of the family whose house we visited for dinner!!  She was injured somehow (they're not sure what happened...one day she was fine and the next day she couldn't walk) and they had to take her to the city to see what happened.  Let's hope she's okay!

Why I love Mongolia

This week hasn't been quite eventful (other than starting Insanity...I'm on Day 5!) so this will probably be a list of things I love about this place!  First I will talk about the big thing that is probably the catalyst for this post.  On Monday our teachers had a teachers' night out in the countryside.  We went at about 6:30 and spent the night in one of the teachers' ger and ate cheese, ааруул (aaruul), horhog meat (potatoes and carrots for me), and of course the usual airag and other Mongolian celebratory drinks.  There was lots of of cheers, singing, talking, and laughing.  And in a ger with over 40 Mongolians (it was a bit packed, but hey), I didn't feel like the odd American in the room!  It felt so great to feel at home!  Before and after that evening, I just can't stop thinking (and smiling) about how lucky I am to be in this country!  So now for the list:

1.  It's beautiful country!  (Mountains, rivers, rolling hills, blue skies, etc.  What more could you ask for?)
2. The people are so nice! You can't pass someone without them saying hi (in English or Mongolian) and greeting you with a smile (and sometimes a whole conversation)!
3. So many animals everywhere! (Camels, owls, golden eagles, cows, sheep, horses, etc...and that's just out in the wild!!)
4. They love volleyball!!! (Enough said...my favorite sport)
5. Meals?  Super affordable!   I can go to a little Mongolian restaurant and get a fully cooked meal for about 5,000 tugriks (and that's on the expensive end!  And the money is 1500 to 1 usd).
6. The teachers at my school are great!  Young and always so ready to learn english (so they can talk to me).
7. The slower pace (well...when you're outside of UB).  I love the small town feel of my area (and my training site).
8. My site mates are just FANTABULOUS!!!!  I know I've said this before, but it's true.
9. My hashaa family....they're just great.
10. The people are so proud of their country and culture!  They are always ready to tell you about Mongolia and what is great here.

There are many other reasons that words can't even properly explain.  I'm so lucky I got placed here.  I'm terrified of the winter, but I know I'll enjoy my 2 years here.

Oh....and here are pictures (it took me forever to upload these).  Goodbye until next week!!

My ger in the beginning!

My ger after the change! (My bed is gone, and the futon is now my bed)

Our hashaa dog!  Isn't she cute?

My hashaa.  My ger is the one on the right!

Camel! (This is in Darkhan, but I thought I would put it in)

The view from my school window.

School Begins!

This week has been big...but not big at all.  I know it makes no sense, so let me jump right in...

Since we last spoke, I basically hung out with my site mates...until Sunday, that is.  On Sunday at 8 am, I had to go to school for the opening ceremony.  In Mongolia, schools have an opening ceremony on Sept. 1, no matter what day of the week it is.  This year it happened to be on a Sunday, so I trekked my way to school on Sunday morning.  I dressed up in my suit then went to see what this ceremony was about.  I got there are saw all the students and teachers dressed up and walking around the school.  After a while, I was told to go outside where all the teachers lined up in the yard while the students were in a cluster facing the teachers.  There were various speeches and performances, followed by everyone going inside.  Once inside, the teachers taught a short lesson and after that, the students watched the president's lecture on TV in their classrooms.  It was quite the day (sorry...I have no pictures...forgot the camera)!

The next day was the first day of actual classes.  I spent the day visiting my counterparts' classes.  Since it was just a "hello" day, I spent the class times introducing myself and answering questions about myself.  It was good to get to know the students though.  I did have a minor break down on that day, though, because I was a little scared that I may not be able to be the best volunteer.  But then one of my counterparts comforted me and told me I would do fine.  After that, she invited me to her home (and treated me soooo well).  I met her family and ate with them.  It was AWESOME getting to know her family.

The rest of the week (in terms of classes) went the same as the first day.  I got more comfortable with the students and the other teachers.  I actually had conversations in the teacher's room!!!  And when I walked in the street, there were so many students who would say hi to me before I even had the chance to recognize them.

One funny thing that happened this week is that while I was sitting at my cubicle, a teacher came to me, told me to get up, took my chair to put elsewhere, then left the room...and left me standing.  I was so confused at first (actually...I think I still am) but now I just laughed it off.  I will just take it as one of those random Mongolian moments where there is no harm meant, although at the time it may have seemed rude by my American viewpoint.  Besides, there are other gestures I don't understand that couldn't be perceived as rude...like the bag everyone got from one teacher that had a pack of tissues, a candle (which I was told was like a candle, but not a candle), a box of milk, a box of tea, and matches.  I was so confused (and couldn't get an explanation)!  What I understood from broken English and the little Mongolian I know (and this could be COMPLETELY wrong) is that when someone dies, the family gives out certain things.  When I asked my hashaa mom, she threw the candle in the fire and told me to put everything else away.  I chalk both of those up to things I don't understand now and I may or may not understand within the next 2 years.

Next on the list are my 2 days of volleyball playing!  I played yesterday with one of my site mates' coworkers.  It was so much fun, but I was soooo rusty!  Today I played with my coworkers (and my site mates joined me) and I was a little better, but still in need of work.  It's so exciting that I'm in a country where people love volleyball as much as I do.   Besides, I need to start on a fitness movement.  Yesterday my hashaa family had a weighing session (everyone weighed themselves) and I was NOT exempt from it.  My weight may be nothing to some people, but I was so upset to see that I had gained back the weight I had worked hard to lose before I came to Mongolia!!!  So volleyball twice per week sounds GREAT!

Also, other exciting things today include a mini hike and learning to make another Mongolian dish.

 Today I had lunch at my school (they made бууз [buuz] the size of my hand and I could just eat the flour from them) then my counterpart took me home with her to feed me again.  When we were walking back to school, we ran into her daughter who then asked if I could come back with her to help her with her English/hang out.  Since I had no classes, I agreed.  I went to school to get my stuff then home to change for volleyball and fetch water.  Then I went to my counterpart's home to hang out with her daughter.  Her English was actually great!  And she was eager to learn new things (at 15)!  It was pretty refreshing to see that (there are many students older than her who just have no interest and are still being forced...that gets complicated when you have to teach them something they have no interest in).  She asked me about myself and told me about herself.  She then taught me how to make байнш (bainsh -which are like mini бууз that are usually put in soup).  I was pretty pathetic for the first few ones, but she was patient and broke it down until I got it.  It was pretty cool.

Then there was the mini hike after volleyball.  I went with my site mates to watch the sunset (although we didn't quite see it).  We hiked up a hill behind town.  I was pretty pathetic (kept having to stop...I thought my chest was going to explode!), but eventually made it.  It was a great view of the city.  We sat there and talked for a while and admired the beauty of our city.

That's basically been my week.  I wrote a lot considering I said not a lot happened.

Talk to you next week!

P.S.--My cat ran away (got out of the holes in my ger)...part of me is still expecting her to pop back up...but it's been a few days...we'll see.