#WhenInMongolia

I have come to the realization that I will burn my tongue at least once a day. I have also succumbed to the fact that I will eat fried eggs everyday, if not twice a day. These are just some of the little things that make me feel like I am starting to get a routine. I get up around 8, get ready for school, eat my breakfast of fried eggs and cucumbers, which my host family must believe is the only breakfast food and I am loving it, and head off to school. I meet Christie on the way to walk the last part, which has been a real comfort and delight to my mornings. We begin the day with language class, the first 3^rd mainly consisting of conversation. Our class is then split up into groups, mine of course the smallest which I strategically picked, and learn vocabulary and grammar. So far we have gone through the topics of greetings, family, and food. Many of you may think that is nothing, but trust me that is no small feat! We have language for 4 hours, 5 days a week and I have learned more Mongolian in the 2 weeks I have been here than the 4 years of Spanish in high school.

I then venture the dusty road home for lunch, and I mean my shoes are full of dirt and my feet are consistently caked with sand dusty. Another realization: I will never be clean, and I am embracing it. Sometimes I even forget to put on deodorant and I don’t panic like I used to in the states because lets face it, foreigners are the only ones who use it here anyway. I go home for some scolding hot milk tea in the 70-80 degree weather usually accompanied by some even hotter soup, which varies in type. It is an ongoing joke with my other site-mates what kind of soup we will have at lunch everyday. It’s the little things that count.

After we venture back to school to teach. Now this is the best part of my day. I get to see their little faces light up when I teach. So far we have been using a bunch of games and it is honestly fun to do! Granted we haven’t gotten to the hard elements of teaching yet but we are only a third of the way into training. My host sister is in my class and everyday she asks what we will learn today. They are very eager to learn and on top of that they love competitions and get very into games and whatnot.

When we finally finish up I usually run some errands with friends or study, head back home, eat dinner, do my homework, play go fish or crazy 8’s, and head off to bed. Another realization is that I will play Go Fish, Crazy 8’s, or the matching game for at least 1 hour every night.

Of course every routine is not concrete. Many of my site-mates have caught a virus or fever, which is something we cannot avoid (although I have been as healthy as can be since arriving, knock on wood!). Today I even got news that one of our fellow volunteers has decided to go back to the states, or early termination as they call it here. I don’t know if it is just me, but I have worked so hard to get here and to at least try to make a difference I couldn’t see myself giving up so soon. I understand if it isn’t for you and I do think it admirable to admit to yourself as well as others that this isn’t the right fit before it is too late. Just to make everything clear, I am in it for the long haul baby! BO and all I love everything about my experience and more.

This past week was the third weekend with our host family and it definitely did not follow my normal routine. I was originally planning to go on a long adventurous hike with my other site-mates to find the perfect tanning spot, which they did by the way, but my host family had other plans. We ventured up to what I believe to be a national park. There were monuments everywhere! Definitely different from what we would think of as a monument, but a sight to see never the less. We followed the trail filled with other families and friends to a spot where we could picnic. It was adorable and beautiful and astounding all at the same time. To be in a beautiful place with magnificent people just fills your heart and makes your all warm inside. Come to think of it, I had a similar feeling as to when I saw the Grand Canyon with my mom. There is no other feeling than being happy with people you know care.

After about an hour or so of wandering and taking pictures like no tomorrow, most of which Khatnaa took (She loves to use my camera and I am more than happy to teach her!) we drove back home. Casually in the car they ask if I am tired and like always I reply a little but not really, mainly because I don’t want to miss anything. Now my family asks me if I am tired all the time so I usually think nothing of it, which I did in this situation. Little did I know we were just stopping for supplies to continue on to mother tree. In Mongolia there are many shrines so to speak where you offer something (money, rocks, food, matches, really anything at hand) walk around it three times, and then make a wish. It is quite a surreal thing to see. Because we went on a Saturday it was packed. But it was also beautiful to see so many people come together. I am pretty sure this is not religious but I don’t have the language to ask that yet. Maybe next week, but who knows. We all walked around our 3 times and made a wish, even Tsilmoon!

After we went over to my father’s sisters house who I met for the first time. We drove her into town and finally made it back home. I downloaded all the pictures and the family eagerly awaited to see how they turned out. After sifting through all of them and getting their fill my host mom gave me the most beautiful vest. I wore it today and received countless compliments from Americans as well as Mongolians. My language teacher Naraa, who is very close with my family, was very pleased and I could tell proud that I was wearing and embracing her culture.

I also spoke to a volunteer who is switching into a city for her 3^rd year here. I portrayed that I really want to live in a ger (pronounced like pear with a g). She said her site was looking for a woman to replace her, so who know I may end up in the South Gobi! She lives 5 hours away from any other volunteer and loved it. Now that is definitely what I want to do!

I can’t wait to share my next adventures with you all but for now goodbye (pronounced Bai-yar-tai) or see you soon (dara ultzi)!

Rain in Mongolia