We have news!!! (Well for those of you who haven't heard through the grapevine of our parents) Scott and I found out last week that we will be placed in Bayan Olgii (Western Mongolia - don't let the online description of "barren" scare you, LOL), a region where most of the people are of Kazakh heritage. Our Mongolian language lessons abruptly ended on Friday (and we passed our Mongolian language test 3 weeks early) and we are now embarking on our first week of Kazakh language. Its even more different from English than Mongolian (if you can believe it) and involves a longer alphabet - I always knew that this would be the HARDEST part of training for me. The best part about all this is that SCOTT AND I SEE EACH OTHER EVERY DAY FOR LANGUAGE LESSONS! Rejoice! Its been a really nice change from only being able to talk on the phone.
We also moved from our original Mongolian host families to live with new Kazakh host families. They have both been very accommodating and are excited to speak with us in Kazakh. Scott was able to stay in the same town, but since my training site was so small, I am now living in UlaanBaatar (the big city, woo woo) in an apartment with a hot shower and Internet - I am quite content.
As Scott mentioned before, I also have a ton of pictures (including me riding a horse without an escort, thank you very much) that are just sitting on my computer waiting to be posted! Keep us updated on all the goings-on back home - we miss you guys :)
In other news, I found a store selling Heinz ketchup and Goober (jelly with peanut butter) and Krusteaz pancake mix and all kinds of beautiful, delicious things here in UB. Amazing.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Half-Way Through PST!
Woo hoo -- today marks our official half-way point of Pre-Service Training (PST). If all goes as planned, we will officially swear-in as Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) on August 19th. The date we have marked on our calendars, however, is August 15th -- that's the day that all 67 of us trainees come together back in Zuunmod and Ashlee and I are reunited.
I won't lie -- these past few weeks being separated have been very rough, but we're taking it a day at a time and making it through. It helps that the Peace Corps issued us cell phones, so we do keep in regular contact. I was just talking to a couple today who went through training last year and they did NOT have cell phones and they were miserable.
But yeah, everything else is groovy. We're still kept very busy with language and training every weekday. Last week we celebrated Nadaam with our families -- I joined some family friends down by the river for a "goat roast" followed by multiple rounds of airag (fermented milk -- the Mongolian champagne) and vodka. We were also treated to several rounds of Mongolian songs -- the Mongolian people seem to love karaoke and they all have very beautiful voices.
I also got to watch some horse-racing and multiple rounds of Mongolian wrestling -- I even got to sit on a horse. There's a funny picture of that that I hope to post soon.
As for that, hopefully once we get to our permanent side at the end of August we'll have more regular internet access and we'll be able to post some photos. Until then, you will all have to wait in suspense.
I've got to go for now, my ride is leaving in 5 minutes. Take care!
I won't lie -- these past few weeks being separated have been very rough, but we're taking it a day at a time and making it through. It helps that the Peace Corps issued us cell phones, so we do keep in regular contact. I was just talking to a couple today who went through training last year and they did NOT have cell phones and they were miserable.
But yeah, everything else is groovy. We're still kept very busy with language and training every weekday. Last week we celebrated Nadaam with our families -- I joined some family friends down by the river for a "goat roast" followed by multiple rounds of airag (fermented milk -- the Mongolian champagne) and vodka. We were also treated to several rounds of Mongolian songs -- the Mongolian people seem to love karaoke and they all have very beautiful voices.
I also got to watch some horse-racing and multiple rounds of Mongolian wrestling -- I even got to sit on a horse. There's a funny picture of that that I hope to post soon.
As for that, hopefully once we get to our permanent side at the end of August we'll have more regular internet access and we'll be able to post some photos. Until then, you will all have to wait in suspense.
I've got to go for now, my ride is leaving in 5 minutes. Take care!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Hello!
Happy Independence Day! This 4th of July finds me having a sleepy little Saturday at home with my family. I'm sitting in this tiny store that happens to have an internet connected computer in it. My little brothers and sister (my "doos") are munching chips and standing just over my shoulder.
Things so far are going well. At some points I feel that my mind is going to explode with all the classes we've been having. I am slowly but surely picking up the language. I guess it helps that four members of my family speak no English and the 13-year-old speaks very basic English. So unless I want to sit in awkward silences during meals, I pull out my dictionary and try to make conversation. It has been a bit of a struggle.
Today marks the beginning of our 4th week here in Mongolia. We have about 6 weeks of training left. We will officially swear in as Peace Corps Volunteers on August 19th -- then we'll be moved to our permanent site. I have been pretty happy with my technical training so far. I have already co-taught three English classes as well as impromptu lessons with my doos. Among other things I have taught them Simon Says, the Hokey Pokey, Red Light / Green Light, Duck-Duck-Goose, Uno, and Go Fish! They absolutely love Go Fish -- they can't get enough of it.
My ger has been doing nicely as well. I still haven't mastered how to start my own fire, but my little sister is more than happy to help me out. I've also been chopping wood, making kindling, and fetching my own water. To bathe, I use my little "tumpun" -- pretty much a bucket that I use to douse my body with pretty cold water. Needless to say, I bathe about every 3 days or so. I've also found that it is difficult to shave with cold water. I'm going to need to improvise something for that.
So yeah -- next week is Mongolia's Nadaam Festival in UB. It is their celebration of the "three manly sports" -- horseback riding, wrestling, and archery. I've heard it's quite fun. Wish me luck that I don't get pulled into an impromptu wrestling match with a huge muscle-bound Mongolian.
Things so far are going well. At some points I feel that my mind is going to explode with all the classes we've been having. I am slowly but surely picking up the language. I guess it helps that four members of my family speak no English and the 13-year-old speaks very basic English. So unless I want to sit in awkward silences during meals, I pull out my dictionary and try to make conversation. It has been a bit of a struggle.
Today marks the beginning of our 4th week here in Mongolia. We have about 6 weeks of training left. We will officially swear in as Peace Corps Volunteers on August 19th -- then we'll be moved to our permanent site. I have been pretty happy with my technical training so far. I have already co-taught three English classes as well as impromptu lessons with my doos. Among other things I have taught them Simon Says, the Hokey Pokey, Red Light / Green Light, Duck-Duck-Goose, Uno, and Go Fish! They absolutely love Go Fish -- they can't get enough of it.
My ger has been doing nicely as well. I still haven't mastered how to start my own fire, but my little sister is more than happy to help me out. I've also been chopping wood, making kindling, and fetching my own water. To bathe, I use my little "tumpun" -- pretty much a bucket that I use to douse my body with pretty cold water. Needless to say, I bathe about every 3 days or so. I've also found that it is difficult to shave with cold water. I'm going to need to improvise something for that.
So yeah -- next week is Mongolia's Nadaam Festival in UB. It is their celebration of the "three manly sports" -- horseback riding, wrestling, and archery. I've heard it's quite fun. Wish me luck that I don't get pulled into an impromptu wrestling match with a huge muscle-bound Mongolian.
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