Preparations (Scott)

So it's Thursday and we are getting ready for our first official trip away from Olgii -- our previous adventure in Tsengel didn't really count. We'll be hitching a ride to Hovd, the next city over where 8 more Peace Corps Volunteers are posted. Well, we're not really hitching -- we are going to the market to find a jeep heading to Hovd and then we have to pay for a seat. It should be around 20,000 tugriks each way. The drive itself takes anywhere from 4 to 8 hours, depending on how many unscheduled stops the driver wants to make and/or how sturdy the vehicle is. This particular trip should be extra adventurous...apparently there's a significant amount of snow making the mountain passes a bit perilous. Wish us luck!

Before we leave however, we have to make a few preparation. Our hashaa family just pointed out to us that since we are leaving our house unattended and thus not making regular fires in it, the inside temperature may well drop below freezing. As such we have some precautions to take. We must make sure that whatever water we have is not in a position to freeze and crack its containter -- which means I had to empty our sink, water distiller, water boiler, and fresh drinking water containers. We also have to organize all of our electronices (computers, ipods, cameras, etc.) and either take them with us, or stash them in a warmer place. We've decided whatever we are not taking with us we will leave at our friend Matt's apartment, where he (in theory) enjoys 24-hour heat via the radiator.

We are really excited about this trip. On Saturday night all of us American Peace Corps Volunteers will gather and have our own Thanksgiving feast. Between all of us and our care packages from home, it should be a respectable dinner complete with chicken, stuffing, macaroni and cheese, and pumpkin pie.

We will celebrate actual Thanksgiving back here in Olgii at Laura's place. She'll be making chicken pot pie and pecan pie. We just got confirmation from DHL that the package that Ashlee's mom sent to us with some Thanksgiving fix-ins should be here on time, which means that Ashlee will be able to make yams and green bean casserole. Hallelujah!

Also, I just got word yesterday that school will finally resume on Monday. What, you mean I actually came here to teach?