my month in review

I know, I've been bad. But it's hard to update a blog when you're in the hudoo without internet. Granted, everyone in town has been insisting that land-line internet will come on the 20th of this month, but I think that's nonsense. It's not nice to mess with the emotions of the foreigner. Alright, on to my oh-so-exciting life. First of all, it's been quite rainy out in Bulgan land. And since the plastic covering on my ger wasn't placed quite right when I moved over the summer, it leaks. A lot. Omii and I lead a very damp life. The best part about the weather getting colder is that the rain will turn to snow and the snow won't make ger life quite as miserable. Because snow INSULATES and doesn't make rivers that I could name on my floor.

 

Omii is not a fan of thunderstorms and hides like the baby she is

I know it looks dirty but (a) you try to clean when it never stops raining and all of the dirt has turned into mud and (b) I've cleaned since, thankyouverymuch.

Then in August, I visited my host family from last summer and went to site announcements for the new M23s. My host sister is now 5 and too cute to handle and we got what seems to be a good bunch of new volunteers in the GEMA. I, of course, neglected to take a single picture. All of the M22s then had Mid-Service training where we talked about this past year, the upcoming year, and how we feel about it all. It was the best training we've had since this whole adventure started because it was just about us and how to make the most of the cards we've been dealt. Some of us are struggling, some of us have great successes, and a good number have a bit of both. There were tears as we all opened up and we realized that even the people we thought were superstar volunteers have things that maybe aren't going so well for them. It was tough emotionally, but the general consensus is that we all enjoyed it. Plus we made Mexican food one night, and that always makes everything better.

I apologize for that last paragraph. Not terribly cohesive, but hey, I'm short on time and I'm cranking it out the best I can. 

Then school started. My second and last first day of school in Mongolia. It's crazy that all of the major holidays while I'm here will be either my first or last - no in between. The official first day of school in Mongolia is always September 1st. This year, that happened to fall on a Saturday. A rainy, disgusting Saturday. But did that stop anyone? No! I was told that the ceremony would start at 8am, but this being Mongolia and me being a wise and seasoned second year PCV, I figured that was a lie and moseyed on in to school around 9. There I found a finished ceremony and children dutifully filing into school to watch someone important on TV giving a lecture to the entire student body of the entire country. I read Little Women in the back. Once that was done, everyone disappeared and I had no idea what to do, so I wandered the school and eventually ended up in the library helping to sort the new books. The Mongolian secondary school system is changing from 11 years to 12 years, so they're cranking out new books every year for the students in the new 12 year programs. I teach two 5th grade classes - one uses the first book because they'll graduate in 12 years and the other uses the second book because they'll finish in 11. Confusing and annoying, but I deal. 

But since this is Mongolia, that one short ceremony was just not good enough. I mean, we didn't get to do the sports events! No singing, no speeches, just a formal welcome. Unacceptable. So when Monday rolled around, I packed my books and headed to school only to find the school empty and everyone out in the volleyball/basketball courts near the school. And I do mean everyone - teachers and students from the primary and secondary schools, teachers and students from the kindergarten, parents, and even some curious townfolk. There we baked in the sun while listening to the requisite singing, speeches, and medal awards. We wrapped up the day with running, volleyball, and soccer competitions and I stayed until I thought I was going to die of heat stroke and made my way home.

some of the crowd

11th graders dancing

one of my former kindergarten kids, now 1st grade, giving a speech

1st graders carrying the bell to signify the start of school

Then to round off my month, I just got back from a super fun dentist appointment in UB. Last week I was chewing a piece of gum and it somehow made part of my tooth come out. Gum is dangerous, folks. The upside is that since PC pays for everything and my per diem covered part of my dinner where I ate blue cheese for the first time since coming to Mongolia. Yummmmm.

And now, it's back to my soum. Teaching the children, making the fires, you know. Soum life.