Back to the Grind

And so summer is over and we are in the middle of the first term of the school year. I'm teaching grades 2, 3 10 and TOEFL. Clayt has grades 7,8,9 and 11. He's teaching 24 hours a week, and I'm teaching 32. Things seem to be going well so far. Last weekend we had a picnic with the younger students. It was a good time in general. Here's some pictures of the kids.

This is Mandy and Delgerchimeg, playing house.


Some of my wild 3rd grade boys. One of them later put a sharp stick into a hole at the bottom of the slide so it would stick into whoever came down the slide next.


A close up of one of my third graders, Munkhkhuslen.

On a different note, thanks so much to all of you who sent packages, called or sent emails for my birthday. It really helped make the day special. Clayt and I went to dinner at a Japanese restaurant, and then got harassed by a taxi driver yet again. He wanted 3 times the fair amount, and when clayt offered a compromise, he tried to drive away with Clayt still in the car. So, clayt had to get out while the car was trying to peel out of the parking area.

For those we unintentionally left in the dark - we are no longer pursuing service with the Peace Corps. We received a nomination a while back, and were told it would be for spring of 2008, somewhere in Asia. We would both be English teachers. Clayt had been offered an internship at Mercy Corps here at around the same time. He figured that the opportunities offered working for Mercy Corps were more related to his career goals than teaching english for 2 years (after already teaching here for a year and a half). As for me, I can teach English practically anywhere, so I'm easy to please. So, after we finish up here in June of next year, the sky is the limit!

Here's another photo. This one is of 2 of the people that live in the little room downstairs. They are the sisters of the mother of the kids that come up and play with us sometimes. The one on the left is 17 and the one on the right is 24. And both look incredibly short when standing next to Clayt or me. They were really happy about having their photos taken.



and by the way - its getting really cold now. we're wearing winter coats and scarves already. aren't you jealous?

Marmot Plague! Say It Ain't So!

Well I am sorry to inform you, boys and girls, but the vicious marmot of doom has again reared his ugly head in Mongolia. That cunning creature has sprung bubonic plague upon three unsuspecting Mongolians in Gobi-Sumber Aimag (yep, we went there, but missed the plague. Also barely missed anthrax in Arhangai - bovine bastards). I tried to get ahold of our illustrious President Bush - finally, the mystery is solved. Saddam gave his weapons to the wildlife of Mongolia... and they are trying to take the land back. Really. Send the troops. Mongolia is a proud member of the coalition of the willing. You can't turn your backs on us.

But really, there has been an outbreak. There is a quarantine in effect. If it hits the news, I'll post it.

Garbage Post

Here are some quick notes that maybe didn't all deserve their own post:

1. That Russian jeep ride was way more surreal than we had described it. Take a look at this picture again. We load into this Russian Jeep that we happened to find in the middle of nowhere after our jeep broke down. Believe it or not, the first thing I noticed was not the lipstick on my fellow passenger; it was the van interior. It had been fitted with sky blue leather with black studs. Also notice what I can only guess is cheetah print on the seats and the blue curtains that filtered all light coming in an eery, dull blue daylight, palpable in the dust blowing everywhere (like one of those movies shot with a filter - think Traffic. So, we are sitting backwards, watching the rocky and desolate landscape of Western Mongolia fly by at 120 km/hr with the car radio cracked in and out (traditional Mongolian warbling) as it bounced on the floor between the driver and front passenger, complete with its own car battery. Add to this the Bowie-esque character, sitting quietly in flannel and ravishing red lipstick, exchanging furtive glances with us. If that all weren't enough, the driver stopped the van, opened the console serving as an armrest between him and the passenger to expose the running engine sputtering inside the cabin. He added some oil as it ran, then shut the lid and hit the gas. I don't know when I've felt more out of touch with reality while actually being present and lucent in it.


2. ANTHRAX. One of our first stops was in the ancient capital of Mongolia - Kharkhorin. We were supposed to go see the veterinarian here, but he had been called to a nearby soum because of an anthrax outbreak. A quarantine was soon established, but we were already on the road. I haven't been that close to a verified anthrax threat since we lived in Capital Hill.

3. Our milk is better than your milk! Here is one of the additions some bold young chinese exec in the marketing department decided to add to our carton. If it is good enough for the chinese cosmonauts, I guess it is good enough for us...


4. Real Business Challenges. When interviewing businesses and herders in rural Mongolia, I asked each participant what are the biggest challenges they face in operating their businesses. One herder said, as if it were perfectly natural, "wolves, eagles, and thieves."