Today Was a Good Day

            I’m feeling like Ice Cube in his video It Was a Good Day. Why do you ask? Well for one my regional manager and the new DMO of Peace Corps Mongolia visited my ger today. It was good to be around Peace Corps staff. We engaged in two-hour conversation and some of the topics we discussed related to my ger, safety, security, and other Peace Corps top-secret information. It was quite amusing how annoyed they were when my stovepipe kept rattling back and forth from the monstrous wind. Prior to the visit I thought it was normal for my pipe to talk back to me when the wind angrily shoved it around. Guess I was wrong! What made my visit even better was when my DMO gave me some presents from America land. The items were simple, but being in Mongolia, the simplest things have the most significant meaning. She rewarded me with a roll of Charmin toilet paper (the stuff I’ve been using is literally tree bark, ha!) and a box of Kraft’s macaroni and cheese. I oozed joy when she presented me with these two items. I never thought that I would be so excited to see a box of mac and cheese, but Mongolia will do that to you.

            Furthermore, I finally received my package that my mother had sent to me. I thought I was never going to get it. I impatiently waited three weeks for my package to arrive and to finally receive it feels like I’ve been sent a bar of gold. My mom treated me to a lot of things that I missed and needed dearly. It was like my personal pre-winter kit. The package included tea (vanilla spice, ginger, apple cinnamon, etc.), Vicks vapor rub, tights (I think I’ll be using these next year because I will morph into an icicle if I walked outside wearing mesh tights), leggings, long johns, candy (kit kat and snickers), hair products, tide to go (oh how I missed thee), eyeliner, blistex, an external hard drive, Ugg boots, and much more. Nonetheless I was as happy as a baby with a pacifier.

            I truly needed this good day. It is the start of the week and I am now optimistic for the rest of the week to unfold. I’ve been feeling a world wind of emotions and its good to finally feel on top again. I know that this journey is an emotional rollercoaster but that's what makes the process all the more worth it. But before I get mushy on you all I will stop at just that. Winter’s a coming and I’m ready for it! Currently its 16 degrees Fahrenheit and I’m living in a home made out of felt. Sometimes I wonder if you have to be slightly insane to do what I am doing. But I’m taking in ever moment, good and bad, and experiencing Mongolia through my own eyes! Have a great night and a great week everyone!

Some of the contents in my care package.

Ugg boots. Thanks Mom!

It Was A Good Day - Ice Cube

Наєр

So first and foremost I would like to apologize for not writing many blog entries. It’s so easy to get caught up in the events going on around you that you forget to let the rest of the world know what’s going on. In this blog I will focus on an experience that has had an impact on my life within the past couple of weeks. I will be discussing Mongolian house warming parties (Наєр).

            For the past couple of weeks the teachers at my school have been attending Наєр (Naer transliterated). In Mongolia when a person or family purchases a new home, whether it is a ger, house, or apartment, they have a Наєр, also known as a house warming party. This event is to welcome coworkers, family members, acquaintances, etc. to one’s new home and it also serves as a blessing to the household. In America we have Наєр’s as well but in Mongolia they usually play out in the same fashion. So far I have attended 2 Наєр’s and they have comprised of the same agenda. When you first arrive to the person’s house you take a seat and usually wait for other guest to be fully seated. When you walk in you are greeted by a décor of dried fruit and candy, fashionably displayed on coffee tables. Also there are bottles of vodka and an abundance of plates and bowls that are used for airag and food. Then phase 1 begins.

                        Phase 1 entails being served salad (fruit or potato, sometimes both), airag, and a shot of vodka. Once everyone receives their salad, airag, and shot of vodka, we move on to phase 2, which is composed of the main course. I cannot generalize, as I’ve only attended two of these house-warming parties, but the main course is shul (soup in English). The soup contains potatoes, carrots, meat, tomato flavoring, and noodles. Not to digress, but I have to say that Mongolians are very good at making soup. Although their ingredients are modest, the flavoring leaves you craving more after you are finished. When all of the guest are finished eating the true festivities begin.

Phase 3 entails drinking numerous shots of vodka and airag and singing a Mongolian song. This is when everyone relaxes and engages in conversation and when people begin singing, everyone chimes in. Unfortunately for me I did not know the full length of any Mongolian song. I did know the first line for one song so when it was my turn to sing I harmoniously sang the first line with all of my heart and soul and lip-synced the rest of the words. I’m pretty sure that the schoolteachers knew I was faking my knowledge of the song but they still sang with joy. The singing is usually the ending to the Наєр but sometimes guests remain and engage in conversation until the feast is concluded.

I am not too sure how many more of these house-warming parties I will be invited to but I am glad to accept any invitation upon request. Free food and spending time with your coworkers! What more can a girl ask for? In other news the weather is starting to get a bit chilly. There are still nice warm days in between when the bright sun kisses my amber cheeks. I am looking forward to winter! Well… until next time.

Road Trip to the Countryside and My Birthday.

            Last weekend I traveled to the countryside with the teachers and administrative staff. I had gone to the countryside prior for the first day of school celebration, but this time I was with them for 3 days and 2 nights. Overall it was a fun trip and it was worth the 35,000 tugriks ($20) that I paid. During our short vacation with one another we visited other soums, the river (the only one that exist in Dundgovi), one of the highest mountain peaks, and an old monastery that was destroyed during the Soviet Union reign. It may seem as though this was a simple weekend but there were many complexities that cannot thoroughly be described.

Mongolians most certainly know how to have fun. I vividly remember maybe 20 minutes into the ride being offered a porcelain bowl filled with a shot of vodka. How could I refuse the offer? I indulged in the shot that was given to me and let the vodka pleasurably burn my esophagus. I was not worried about the journey but rather the destination of feeling more relaxed. During our ride the teachers sang Mongolian tunes, cracked jokes, and made a few rest stops to stretch legs and drink airag, more vodka, and eat candy.

Traveling in Mongolia I’ve realized that the natives do not have an urgency to get to their destination as we do in America. A typical 6-hour ride usually turns into a 12-hour ride. This occurs because of the frequent stops, cars breaking down, and other occurrences that are all apart of the traveler’s destiny. Nonetheless I embraced the journey and relished in being around my fellow peers. I wish I could describe to you all word for word everything that occurred during my weekend voyage to the countryside but I do not want to bore you with a 10-page essay.

Mongolia Vodka (left) and Airag (right)

Sea Buckthorn (really yummy by the way)

View of the mountain, halfway towards the peak

            Furthermore, I celebrated my 23^rd birthday yesterday (September 18^th). It was my first birthday and I was worried that I would be filled with grief. Generally I would bring in my new year of life with my friends and family. When I saw that my friends and family back home were posting comments on my Facebook wall I was consumed by sadness. The teachers at my school transformed my sadness into joy by being just as happy as I was that it was my birthday. They took me to my favorite restaurant in town and we ate delicious Korean food and then they presented a few gifts. I appreciated that they acknowledged this special day for me. While giving a toast, I told them that they were going to be my new family for the next two years and that I was excited to create many memories with them. After the food and gifts we engaged in some Mongolian karaoke. The songs were in Mongolian so I could not sing my heart out but I still participated!

Blowing out my candles.

Cheers!

            Overall my first month at site has been very good. There have been highs and lows but I am beginning to feel a sense of ownership towards my new position as a teacher and also I look forward to creating close relations with people who want to see me prosper and do great things for their community!

First Impressions

I am finally at my site and I must say that there is beauty in this small aimag center. I like the size and the available resources. I am also living in a Mongolian ger, which is a traditional living arrangement that is sacred to the nomadic culture. I was terrified about living in a ger prior to moving and I must say that I like it so far. My favorite part is creating my own fires. It’s a strange feeling to acknowledge that my life will be literally in my own hands during this winter as I try to stay warm.

I have been hanging out a lot with one of my counterparts. She is awesome! She basically took me under her wing and she has showed me this beautiful aimag center, Mandalgovi. I am looking forward to working with her for the next two years. My other counterparts and hosha mother that I have met are very pleasant people as well. I will have more detailed updates when I am able to get my Internet up and running.

Bayartai!

My Ger

Morin Khuur - Mongolian musical instrument

My awesome CP - Bumaa

Me (It was really windy in this pic, hense the hair lol)

A nice view of some of my aimag center from the Black Hill (Khar Ovoo)

Site Placement

I have been anticipating this moment during my entire summer of training in Mongolia. My site placement! Drum rolls please!! 

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I will be living in Dundgovi aimag in the aimag center Mandalgovi. I know many people reading this have no idea where that is but if you do some research you can find out more information about my new home for the next two years. Also I will be living in a ger, which is the traditional way of living in Mongolia. Over the years many locals have adapted to living in apartment but gers are true to Mongolian culture.

When I received my site placement I was consumed by many emotions and although it has been more than 24 hours, I am still feeling a bit overwhelmed. I will keep everyone informed on what is going on during my last week of training before I am sent off to sight. 

Family Appreciation Weekend

Last weekend was dedicated to appreciating our host families. It was one of my most memorable events during training. I deemed that weekend necessary because no matter what situation we went through with our families this summer, they deserved to receive some sort of praise for allowing us to live in their homes. Here is a list of what my training site group did for Host Family Appreciation Day ( Saturday, August 3^rd, 2013):

1) Met at the high school is our soum to depart to the mother tree (eej mod).

2) Arrived at the mother tree site and said prayers while giving offerings (such as rice, milk, vodka, money, etc.).

3) Had a picnic where our host families prepared appetizers (such as pototo salad, fruits, bread and jam, vegetable and meat entrees of all sorts), played several Mongolian and American games, gave our families their certificates of appreciation, and engaged in various activities that I cannot recall.

Overall this has been a very good week. I also realize that I am a week away from final center days, where I will find out my site placement and participate in the final activities of my pre service training for Peace Corps Mongolia. I am excited and nervous at the same time but I am ready to see what mysteries will unfold themselves these next two weeks!

The Mother Tree (Eej Mod)

My Host Sister and Host Mom

My site mates and I presenting the cakes to our Host Families.