yes i am alive

So I have been sick...again. I'm not talking about the Ferris Buller kind of sick where you somehow convince your mother to let you stay home from school. Then you spend the day watching Gargoyles and wondering just why Lexington's wings were different from the rest and eating Pop-Tarts (man I miss Pop-Tarts). No, I'm talking about the kind of sick where all you want to do is die but you can't even do that because Death won't come near you for fear of catching what you have. But then the antibiotics finally kicked in and I can do stuff again, like breath, and eat. Its awesome!

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Here is part of Sarah (S) and My (C) radio show from this week (we dedicated the show to My Dad because it was his birthday, and to 50 Cent because we knew how to talk about him in Mongolian!) ZA!

S: Bagshnar babes.
C: Wake up with the king. (*note* we always follow our name with a random slogan)
S: What the hell?
C: You know, the king. The burger king king? It’s their slogan. “Wake up with the king.”
S: ohhh, okay cass. I get it.
C: Although I friggin hate the Burger King King.
S: Why?
C: Because he’s so freaky. I mean okay what would you do if, I mean like, okay... first of all people wake up and he’s in their bed. And then he gives them a crossaintwich and then it’s cool. There’s nothing cool about that.
S: I don’t like crossaintwiches. But if he just gave me a croissant, I would take it. Like a chocolate croissant? Oh man.
C: First of all, how can you not like croissantwiches, that’s just wrong, on so many levels. Second of all, if I woke up next to the King, I would scream, grab my beast of a flashlight and beat the burger out of him. And if he offered me a stupid breakfast sandwich, I’m not eating that. No matter how good that smells.
S: But I really like chocolate croissants.
C: Sarah, you’re the kind of person that gets killed first in horror films. But chocolate croissants are good.

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Thanksgiving was baixgvi in the Cho. I won some money in a teachers sports competition and went out to eat with my teachers.

Yesterday was Mongolian Revolutionary (Independence) Holiday. I went out to the club with Sarah and her school's teachers. I love dancing in Mongolia! I get to be cool by default. On the way home I managed to slam my face into a bar and have a lovely bruise on the bridge of my nose, but it is not broken. I suppose that I will fall down an open man hole next!

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I own exactly 26 pairs of underware, all of which I washed yesterday. It took 2 hours. O_o I've got blisters on me fingers!

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It is still cold frigid freezing arctic piercingly polar

-13°C makes you think funny

Ones language and manner of speaking perpetually evolve. New words are added to our lexicon, a regional relocation may adjust an accent, we assimilate the speaking mannerisms of those with who with constantly associate, and our general perception of our surroundings effects how we convey our thoughts. Its like David Eddings wrote, “Words are the essence of thought, without words there is no thought.” Being my anthropologically minded self, its only natural that I would have an interest in linguistics. I’m now finding myself applying my academic knowledge to the real world as it assists me in learning Mongolian and teaching English. It’s utterly fascinating! However, the most intriguing thing for me has been the greater understanding and analysis of my own personal Cassandrized English.

Imagine living in a setting were your every word was scrutinized with the utmost caution. Slang cannot be utilized as it is a moot point (isn’t taught, isn’t needed). Your rate of delivery must be studied and deliberate. Enunciation is a must. Vocabulary is specific (and British O_o). Writing must also be immaculate. Signs such as #, &, @, simply cannot be used. SPELLING! (Again the British method is preferred). Anything you write, anything you say will be memorized verbatim.
“Teacher, what is divter in English?”
“Uuum…notebook.”
“Za, umnotebook.”
“No, no, no, just notebook.”
“Oo, za. Jusnotebook.”
“Bish, bish. Divter anglar notebook baidag.”
“OK, notebook?”
“YES! Very good, ikh sain!” :::dies:::

As I child I used to use the interjection “um” continuously, until my father got tired of it and told me I would have to give him a quarter for every “um” uttered. I can’t recall if he ever collected, but the “um” stage of my life was over. The timing worked out nicely as we moved to southern California, and I was now in that awkward preteen stage. “Like” was so totally the new “um!” The “like” stage of my life was extensive, and monstrous. I was unaware that I even used the word; let alone how frequently I used it. Again my father intervened, yelling at me, in the middle of some story or tirade of mine, about how he couldn’t stand it, I sounded like an idiot and used “like” almost every other word. I was a junior in HS. It was then that I realized “I like truly did like sound like a ditz.” 6 or so years later, while like has not been completely eradicated (and may never be for those of us 90s generational youth), it is vastly diminished. For the first time in my life my speech actually reflects the fact that I have some intelligence. (Though some would complain that I am to verbose and put on Hermione-esq know-it-all airs :::coughMeredithcough::: ^_~). However, “so” has become my new interjection word of choice in the English classroom. I don’t know why. I don’t know how. But I finally looked up the Mongolian word for “interjection” just to explain that it is unnecessary to repeat my “so.”

The Cho also boasts a varied international community thanks to the European VSO volunteers. This has also been a most depressing blow to my English, as apparently I have an accent, and a moderately confusing one at that (if I am talking in my normal conversational manner, when in official or foreigner mode, I’m completely comprehensible, thank goodness!). I can only assume my “strange” accent is a piecemeal adulteration of the various regions I’ve lived in over the years. I pronounce the words “killed” and “kilt” the same. Words with a long “O” (or is it a short “O”…I’ve forgotten) are also pronounced oddly. Vocabulary such as “wicked” (very/cool), “cream rinse” (conditioner), “dude” (if you don’t know what that means, stop reading this blog, leave the cave you have been living in and go watch Dude, Where’s My Car…you will be okay), also throws people off. I’ve now added various Mongolian words that I will unconsciously sprinkle into conversation, not an issue now as everyone here who speaks English knows these words. But upon my return to the States…yanna! Who knows how altered my personal version will have become.

Also, I finally understand what Mongolians are saying out in the streets as they go about their lives......the same things Americans say when they are going about their lives. The talk about work, what they are going to buy, whats new with their families, which resturant makes the best buuz. I feel cheated somehow, not that I was expecting to discover the meaning of life but still..."hey stop, lets take a taxi its too cold to walk.".......turns out Mongolia and American aren't that compleately different after all.

Transcript from our First Show

Theme song – Wild Honey Pie
Bagshnar babes, bringing you love from America.
Sarah: Sain baitsganuu! Dornodchuudaa
Cass: Tiim, sain baitsganuu
S: Namaig Sarah gedeg
C: Minii ner Cass.
S: Tegeed
C: Bid ner
S & C: Bagshnar Babes!
Aw!
Tiim shdee.
S & C:Welcome to Bagshnar Babes English Hour
C: Yagaad Bagshnar?
S: Yagaad gevel bid hoer Enkhtaivnii korpusiin Angli helnii bagsh.
C: Yagaad Babes?
S: Babe bol angli ug. Babe bol “hip hop” ug. Babe bol mongoloor hoorhon ineedtei busgui gesen ug.
C: Yagaad gevel bid hoer yamar hoorhon yum be!
S: Za, saikhan amarts gan uu, I am Sarah Gustafson. u can call me Saraa! I am 24 years old. I come from California in America. Hollywood! I like to dance. Bi soliotai bujiglih durtai. My favorite places are Vostok Club, Winners Café, and the Dornod Boohing Orgoo. My favorite radio station is zuuun hoerig fm!
(Bi ch bas!)
C: What’s up Choibalsan? My name is Cassandra Elizabeth Weiner. But please call me Cass. I am 22 years old. I also like to dance. I come from Virginia Beach in America. I have nice teeth. And I like fruit. Bi bukh jimsend durtai, gevch bananand durgui, yagaad gevel banan sarmugchini huns.
Sarah: Today we will play our favorite English
C: (and Mongolian!)
S: songs. Onoodor bid ner manai hamgin durtai Angli helnii
C: (bas Mongol helnii!)
S: duu toglono. Za yu! Ehleed Cass. What is your favorite English song?
C: My favorite song is Baby Got Back
S: Who sings it?
C: Sir Mix-A-Lot
S: What kind of song?
C: It is a hip-hop song! Sir Mix-a-lot bol neg zaluu eregtei. Ter tom bokstei emegteichuudend hairtai. Here it is Dornod… sir mix a lot’s Baby Got Back.
(play song)
(Sarah: Bagshnar Babes? Cass: “The sound of vitality”)
C: So, Sarah. What is your favorite song?
S: My favorite song is called Bongo Bong. It’s about a monkey who plays the drums. Ter duu Neg sarmugchinii tuhai. ter sarmugchin bombor toglodog.
C: Sarmucghin bombor toglodog?
S: Tiim… hoodooni sarmugchin baisan, olon naiztai baisan. gevch hot ruu nuuj irsen. odoo naiz baikhgui, tegeed hugzhim gantsaaraa togloh durtai.
C: Here we go dornodchuudaa. Manu Chao’s Bongo Bong!
Play song
Cass: Bagshnar babes? Sarah: Taste the rainbow.
C: So Sarah, how is Mongolia?
Sarah: Mongolia is very beautiful.
Cass: Harin tiim!
Sarah: And Mongolian people?
Cass: They are very nice.
Sarah: How about Mongolian men?
Cass: Ohhhh they are very handsome.
Sarah: Yag tiim! I like bx, I think he’s very handsome, ih saikhan hun.
Cass: I met him this summer!
Sarah: Tiim uu
C: Tiim
S: Bx uu?
C: Tiim
S: Ene zuun uu?
C: Tiiim
S: Chi yu?!
C: Tiim
S: Yak shdee!
C: Unen. Ene zuun bx taniltsan. kontsert deer. He was very nice. He was an awesome singer.
S: What about flash?
C: I like Baba. He is good at hip hop singing. He’s a great rapper.
S: But what about Miigaa? he is so romantic!
C: Migaa is cute.
S: Oh there are just too many cool Mongolian stars. How can you choose?
C: Easy. Let’s just choose our five favorite stars.
S: Ah za, 5 eregtei odod duu sonsoh hoshin shog uzeh hamgin durtai.
C: Ter hen be?
S: BX, Baba, Migaa, Javkhlan, Bayarmagnai.
Cass: Number 1. BX. (sound bite -> then fade)
Sarah: Why? Bx?
Cass: Because he is an awesome dancer. I like how he always wears a white suit and a white hat. It’s very handsome. Do you know Justin timberlake?
Sarah: Of course. Duuh!
Cass: Well, BX is the Justin Timberlake of Mongolia.
Sarah: BX shig Justin Timberlake. ashgui, ashgui.
Cass: And, BX has nice teeth.
Sarah: BX goe shudtei yuu?
Cass: Tiim
Sarah: Okay, Number 2: Baba.
Cass: So why baba.
Sarah: Everyone knows Baba. He does the hip hop singing in Flash. Baba ugeldeg. He has a wonderful, low, voice.
Cass: low voice?
Sarah: Baba’s real name is Bilguun. He was born on January 25, 1987. Baba likes to play basketball.
Cass: Okay, number 3. Migaa from Flash.
Sarah: Oh! Why Migaa?
Cass: Because he reminds me of my little brother. He is the same age. They are both 17 years old. They both like football and music. And they are both smart.
Sarah: Really?
Cass: Yes. Now Migaa is studying in Korea. He left Flash to study in Korea.
Sarah: Didn’t he leave his girlfriend too?
Cass: Yes, now he has no girlfriend. Harin zugeer. Bi ch bas. Nadad naiz zaluu baikhgui.
Sarah: Migaa is cute. But Migaa is very young. He was born on January 15, 1990. I like Javkhlan.
(play Hairiin gegeen boroo sound bite)
Cass: 4. Javkhlan. Why?
Sarah: Oh… Javkhlan is the most famous singer in Mongolia. He comes from Uvs aimag. In 2005, Javkhlan recorded a disc. The disc had many popular songs. Mongolia gave Javkhlan the Golden Rose Award in 2005.
Cass: Altni sarnai shagnal uu?
Sarah: Tiim. Some of Javkhlan’s songs are: Hairiin Gegeen boroo (sing), Setgelees ersen hair (sing), and Minii naiz.
Cass: Ooh! Yes, I know Javkhlan. What does he look like?
Sarah: Javhklan is tall with dark hair. He has nice eyes and a great smile. Javkhlan likes to wear fashionable and colorful clothes.
Cass: Wait. Is he married?
Sarah: No… he’s single. Javkhlan doesn’t have a wife. And he doesn’t have a girlfriend. (dreamy) Hoorhii amhtan.
Cass: Wait. Sarah, do you have a boyfriend?
Sarah: Bish, bish, baikhgui.
Cass: Hooh. Now I know why you like Javkhlan.
Sarah: Yuu genee. So Cass, who else do you like?
Cass: Well, finally number 5. Magsarjalam Bayarmagnai. The comedian. The funny actor.
Sarah: Do I know Bayarmagnai?
Cass: Yes, we saw him at the Boohing Orgoo on Friday. He is in the comedy group Mask. His friends are Erdenezaan and Monkhsaikhan.
Sarah: Oh, I remember. Which one was Bayarmagnai?
Cass: He was the lion, the arslan. (arr arrr oh yanaa)
Sarah: Oh tiim. Aiimaair tom ondor yum be!
Cass: Yes, Bayarmagnai was very big and tall. He was a very funny actor. And an awesome singer. Bayarmagnai played the lion, the soldier, Andrei Pavlovich, and the woman teacher. I really liked the show.
Sarah: Bi ch bas, nadad hoshin shogind durtai.
Cass: Dude, sarah. All this talking about Mongolian singers makes me want to listen to a Mongolian song.
Sarah: Yeah dude! What song?
Cass: I like “Buhniig durs” by Flash. In English, Buhniig Durs means “Remember everything.”
Sarah: Well why don’t we listen?
Cass: Okay then
Sarah: Okay yeah
Cass: Yeah
Sarah; yeah so hurry up
(go off in English)
Uuchlarai choibalsan neg minute
(go off in English)
Sarah: za, tegie, ok, where’s the button? here we go.
(sing over the song, chamd hair dulii)
S: Bagshnar babes red. Cass: the color of passion.
Sarah: oh man, that felt good. Love that song.
Cass; yeah mee too. So what is your favorite mongolian song?
Sarah: guess.
Cass: gantsaaraa by tatar?
Sarah: ugui
Cass: cham ruu l gene de bi by Bayasgalan?
sarah: ugui
Cass: Hotline Baby! (starts to sing)
Sarah: Cass, cass. zogsorroi, zogs, hoy zogs.
Cass: hey, I like that song.
Sarah: yostoi ugui shuu! Cass, I’ll give you a hint. Jargal minh Jargal minh
together: chi minii hair shu dee. Nuden, nuden, nuden hair shu dee.
C: Ah Nuden hair? Mon uu?
S: Yes, nuden hair. In English – the eyes of love.
C: Well, let’s give it a listen. Shall we?
S: I think we shall.
(play song)
Cass: chi minii hair shu dee. Shuden shuden shuden hair shu dee.
Sarah: Cass – shuuden hair shu dee?
Cass: Tiim bi shuuden durtai. I like teeth.
Sarah: Yamar sonin yum be.
Cass (in Korean iraq girl voice): Ohh yamar sonin yum be
Sarah: Yu husej baina?
Sarah: Yakh gesen yum be?
Sarah: Yakh ged baigaa yum be?
Cass: [mimics sarah]
(mimic the Korean iraq girl… opa! kamsa hamida!)
(30 minutes)
Sarah: Cass, you need help.
Cass: Help?
Sarah: We need somebody.
Cass: But not just anybody.
Sarah: We need our listeners.
Cass: So listeners, now we need your help.
Sarah: Tiim, ta nar bidend tuslaj boloh uu? What songs do you like? What do you want to listen to?
Cass: Ta nar yamar duu sonsmoor baina ve?
Sarah: Message now at (radio station # - say in English and Mongolian… twice.)
(play Help/beatles song)
(C: Bagshnar babes. S: It’s different.)
C: And now for our listeners’ favorite songs.
S: Our first song goes to our Mongolian mother. Here’s a song for manai mongol eej, Tomorgan and manai mongol duu Monkhtulga. Gan loves Chamaigaa Sanana by Bayasgalan.
C: What does chamaigaa sanana mean?
S: Chamaigaa sanana means “I will miss you.” Aoooowwww.
(play Chamaigaa sanana song)
(S: Bagshnar babes. C: Skywoppas!)
C: Now a song for Shuree. Shur-Erdene is the teacher at the Global Leadership Foundation. Ter Global udidarchin saniin bagsh bas menejer.
This song is called “Larger than Life.” It’s by an American group called Backstreet Boys. The song talks about a singer who is very busy and has a lot of friends. Ter duu neg ajiltai duuchinii tuxai yum.
Sarah: Manai Shuree is not a singer, but she is a very hard worker. And she is our friend. So… Shuree, this one’s for you.
(play Larger than Life…
C: bagshnar babes. S: just do it.
(43 minutes)
(3 listener songs… Bagshnar babes… 10 minutes for listener songs.
S: Bagshnar Babes. C: It’s what’s for dinner.
C: Bagshnar babes. S: The other white meat.
S: Bagshnar babes. C: You’re in good hands.
C: So Sarah, do you know what time it is now?
S: It’s 12: 45.
C: No, Sarah. It’s time for the…Mongol Minute.
(play song – like 20 seconds)
Mongolia is very different from America.
And lots of funny things happen to us Americans because we just don’t know.
C: Remember when we first learned Mongolian? And we would always mix up words?
S: Like suu and svv?
C: Tiiim.
S: Like vs and us?
C: (Mongolian throat sound) Oh, Sarah, do you remember Noxoi and Nogoo?
S: Oh yeah. That was stupid. That was when I first ate dinner with my Mongolian friends.
C: Did they know English?
S: No, they didn’t know English. I talked with them in Mongolian.
C: What happened?
S: My friends gave me a lot of vegetables. Carrots, tomatoes, and cabbage. Mmm, tasty. I like to eat vegetables.
C: Did you tell them that you like to eat vegetables?
S: Yes. I said, “Bi noxoind ideh durtai.”
C: Noxoi? Ahhhh ahhahahahaaa. Noxoind ideh durtai uu?
S: Noxoi, noxoi? Bish bish bish bish. Bi nogoond ideh durtai.
C: Gevch chi noxoi gej helsen? Dog?
S: Yes. Noxoind ideh durtai? Nogoond ideh durtai? I didn’t know. I was silly. Bi jaahan teneg amerik hun.
Cass: That’s ok, Sarah. The same thing happened to me. So you know I have a cat.
Sarah: Oh yes, miaw miaw. Your cat, what’s her name?
Cass: Oh, my cat’s name is Omxeezaya.
Sarah: Yamar sonin yum be.
Cass: Hheee hee that’s how I like it. So, I was talking with my friend. I told him that I have a cat in my house. Nadad gertee muur baigaa. My friend looked very confused. He didn’t understand. He asked me, “Muur uu?” Bi Tiim gej helsen. “Tiim, muur, jijigin muur.” He still looked confused. He said, “Chinii gert…jinkin muur?” “Tiim!”
Finally I realized I was saying horse.
Sarah: Ahh… muur. mor, muur, mor.
Cass: Muur bish. Mor. Nadad gertee mor baigaa. He finally understood. But I felt very silly.
Sarah: very silly.
(over the music) And that’s the end of the Mongol minute.
Cass: Our show is almost finished. To finish our show, we’d like to give you A Spoonful of English.
(play Mandoline concerto – 5 seconds)
S: Erhem hundet, ladies and gentlemen.. welcome to a spoonful of English
C: Today’s spoonful is a favorite English phrase of mine. “Peace Out.” Now all you listeners at home, say it with us. Peace Out.
Sarah: Peace Out.
(pause)
Sarah: Peace Out. What does that mean?
Cass: Well, Sarah, Peace Out is a great phrase. It’s a cool phrase. It’s an awesome “Hip hop” phrase. It means “Bayarteh.” or Good bye.
Sarah: Aahh, peace out dornodchuudaa!
Cass: Yep, just like that. Peace Out.
S: I’m Sarah
C: And I’m Cass
S & C: Bagshnar Babes. bringing you love from America. Peace Out!
(play wild honey pie. stop at :56).

The Bagshnar Babes

Sarah and I have a radio show!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its called the Bagshnar Babes (bagshnar=teachers). WE get to do whatever we want!!!!!!!!1

suggestions are welcome and needed!

and if you have sound effects send them to me!



yes i'm alive, albiet cold, sick, and broke (stupid pickpocket...at least i still have my phone, and passport so i can bank it up when it opens on monday? tuesday?)


PS for Uncle Mark--my cat doesn't eat socks just chews holes in them

cold

My New Favorite Person....

ALISON HEZEKIAL PILORZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (okay thats not really her middle name but i like to pretend it is ^_^)

She totally called me the other day! It was my first phone call from out of country!!!!! Goe youmaa!!!!

Bi tend xairtai! (I love her!)

Za... now to go give my students their first quiz! On a Saturday none the less, muahahahaha, I'm such an evil teacher!

Be jealous Bullet...be very jealous...

now an even more annoying creature than you is wearing your old collar ^_^

Halloween Cho Style

Halloween has come and gone and it was ... interesting. My attempt at a Halloween party at my school was a mini-flop, in that it didn't end up anything like I have planned, but I think that the students still had fun.I shocked everyone by coming into school Wed. morning dressed in my gruesome Zombie get up! Most people had forgotten it was Halloween. Yes I wore it all day...even going to the store to get supplies for the party.

as the internet is being evil pictures are baixgvi ("not here" -- most common word heard in Mongolia O_o)...But you can check them out HERE!

My english club students, carved a Jack-O-Lantern. They did really well, especially as most of them hadn't seen a pumpkin before!

Then the party started, and we had some great costumes. One of my students was in charge of taking pictures, and when I got my camera back at the end of the night there were some interesting non-Halloween ones.

(i think this is a poster from her room...maybe???)

Then Bavaasan and I went to Stars Night Club for the Halloween party there. I gave my camera to Yann (or resident french man) since we then went to Vostok for dancing with some mongolian friends. He too took some interesting pictures of his apartment:

Then a few days passed and the folks from Sukhbattar Aimag (the region to the South of us) came in for a Halloween Party (I was once again a zombie).

(Pirate LP, Zombie Me, Julie Tree, Lightning Strike Jasmine, Sarah "Potter", and Yann the Frenchman as himself ^_~)

It was really great getting to see LP again (his pirate costume was the greatest ever, with a coat he actually got in E-Bore City in Tampa, FL), and to meet the M-17s. I even got to lose 6,ooo Tugrigs to Jim during a fierce late night poker match! LOL! Then after the party LP worked me over in a chess match. Man, I need to get some games that I can actually win going on.

Now life is back to normal. I am trying to make it into UB for Thanksgiving. Right now its a 50/50 chance.

My hero is...

Jasmine ... she is a PCV M-18 who is living out in Choibalsan Soum (the countryside). She is the coolest person ever. Whoever gave birth to this gem of an individual should be given an award ^_^. Also I wish that I had her hair, its amazing!