The Family Christmas Letter aka The Gregory Weiner Foundation

Dear Family and Friends,

It is with heavy hearts that we open this year’s update. Our son/brother Gregory passed away on December 20th from injuries sustained in a skateboarding accident earlier that week. The accident occurred on the campus of Virginia Tech where Greg was finishing his first semester in the Engineering School. He was transported to a local hospital in Blacksburg and then flown to the Neuro Trauma ICU at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. From the beginning, he received the finest medical care. The outpouring of support, encouragement and prayer from family, friends and strangers was overwhelming, and a source of strength for us all. Greg fought the good fight, but in the end the damage to his brain was just too severe and he never regained consciousness. His family (less Cassandra) was at his side at the end. We plan to hold a modest memorial/remembrance ceremony in Virginia Beach sometime after the New Year. By choice Greg was an organ donor and on Sunday doctors prepared his organs for transplant. We were informed four lives have already been saved after receiving his heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Medical research and potentially hundreds of lives will benefit from his tissue, nerve, bone and cell donations. We are so proud of his gift of life. Greg was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Whether he considered it unnecessary, inconvenient or was just exhibiting the invincibility of an 18 year old will never be known. We have decided his legacy must include increasing helmet safety awareness, and are establishing a foundation to do just that. Should you care to donate to this cause, contributions may be sent to:
The Gregory Weiner Foundation
c/o Navy Federal Credit Union
1952 Laskin Road
Suite 513
Virginia Beach, VA 23454

Cassandra is well into her second year as a Peace Corps Volunteer, teaching English in Mongolia. She especially enjoys working with her younger students, as they show a greater willingness to learn and cooperate. Her tour of duty wraps up later next summer and she is undecided on what to do next…a benefit of youth! Meredith is entering her final semester at the University of Virginia (Economics/Math). She is President of the women’s water polo club, lifeguards at the aquatic center, interns in the Athletic Department and volunteers with the Boys/Girls Club. Graduating amidst a faltering economy will make pursuing a career very challenging, but we are confident she will do well. Erin is a sophomore at Virginia Tech (Interdisciplinary Studies). She also plays water polo and is team Treasurer. She has applied for Study Abroad next year, and should find out in January if she has been accepted. Bullet turned 8 last month and is a bundle of energy and affection. Alena works at JCPenney and Dana at COMNAVSURFLANT in Norfolk, VA. The big news is our move to Italy this coming summer where Dana will assume command of the Supply Center in Sigonella (Sicily).

We hope 2008 was a wonderful year for you and yours, and that 2009 will bring additional joy and happiness. Again, we want to thank everyone for your support during our time of grief. Take care and keep in touch.

The Weiner Family
Dana, Alena, Cassandra
Meredith & Erin

Goodbye Gregory

Gregory Raymond Weiner
4.16.90 - 12.20.08

Learn more about him here and here.

You will never be truly gone as you live on in all of us.

Prayers for Gregory

Hello to all who may read this.

If you don't know, I have an 18year old little brother, who is the absolute love of my life. His name is Gregory. I was 5 when I found out my Mom was going to have a boy. I was so excited and asked if he could be my baby, envisioning in my little 5 year old brain how cool it would be to have some cute little baby call me "Mama!" My mother agreed thinking it was just some childish fancy. But when he was born and I asked for "my baby" she of course set me straight. I was furious and didn't talk to my mom for a long time (in 5year old time...so who knows how long it actually was! LOL!). And for all who know me, and my infinate babbling prowesses, you will realize just how serious of an issue this was for my 5 year old self. I got over it, and became the best oldest sister I knew how to be. When travelling the 2 of us were always "moving buddies" and despite the 5 year age difference he became one of my best friends. We both love kung fu movies, acting like fools in public, techno music, screamo music, parfait (though I never met anybody that didn't like a parfait). Anyone who has been in my company for more than a few hours, will usually end up hearing about him. My Mongolians can never remember my sisters names (Meredith and Erin), but they some how always know Gregory. Like I said I love the kid something fierce.

Last Monday he was in a severe skateboarding accident, suffered major brain trauma, and is in the hospital. He has yet to regain consciousness. While he doesn't seem to be getting any worse, he also doesn't seem to be getting any better. Though I hear that his physical appearance has improved some. Doctors say there is still hope, but to prepare for the worst.

Even if you have never met him, I beg of you to please pray to whatever God, Goddess, animal, plant, mineral, or anything else you may worship, speak to, or believe in to help him get through this and wake up.

I will be leaving Mongolia on Monday, December 22 to fly to America and be with him. (I will be transfering flights in Beijing this time instead of Seoul. My first time in "China" if the airport counts. I have a 7 hour layover, it will be interesting I think.) My parents have let him know that I'm coming, and on Tuesday morning my sisters and I will drive to meet up with my parents so we can all be with him especially for Christmas.

I want to thank everyone who has been praying for him, and sending out good thoughts. I'm very hopeful. He is young and strong and I know he can make it if given the opportunity. I especially want to thank those people in Mongolia who have helped me keep my sanity, given me a shoulder to cry on, and supported me in the most trying days of my life. Julie, Sarah, Shuree, and Ganaa...you are all the loves of my life, I don't know what I would do without you. Not that I don't love the rest of you, you see I'm just bad with names.

Again, please please please send good thoughts twards Roanoke, Virgina for a one amazing Gregory Raymond Weiner. Thank you, and if I've free time I will update about all the goings on in Mongolia, and most importantly, about Gregory.

please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live please let him live

What are the spoons doing in the Pancake Drawer?

A number of the higher-up in command American Soldiers came back to my soum the other day, and man alive was it ever like Christmas (and not just because Lt. Simmons was decked out as Father Christmas!). They not only came to check on the work they did this summer, but they brought along a ton of books, art, and school supplies for the kids both from the Hawaii and Alaskan folks back home! They may not be contiguous but that doesn't make them any less excellent. Even more amazing was seeing the book Hopscotch, the Tiny Bunny, a book that my 1st grade teacher gave to me, and will always be one of my favorites. Now I get to give it to my students! The students are already getting excited about writing the thank you cards with their new supplies! Yey giving!

We are also preparing for the New Year's celebration (which is a combination of America's Christmas and New Years). Its cute to hear groups of children walking around our snow covered Christmas card town singing Jingle Bells. Not so cute is having to hear the worlds stupidest song ever (thanks Germany) played over and over and over for hours on end as I'm trying to type up lesson plans, and the kids still don't know the words. :::bangs head on table:::

That's about it for now. I don't have anything in my life worth talking about really at the moment. Except to apologize to Mother Nature for my love of coal and its glorious warming prowesses (is that a word?).

Oh yeah now I remember. Americans have a lot of stuff. I occupy the same amount of space that a family of 4 does in Mongolia. Albiet, my ger is much more sparsly filled than theirs is, but one must remember the boxes of stuff I have in storage in America. I find myself asking...why? What is all of it for? It obviously isn't necessary for survival. I don't miss it (well except for my bed, I miss that something fierce sometimes...my books too...and movies...okay so I do miss a lot of my stuff if I give myself the time to think about it being not here). But, its kinda nice knowing that I could fit all I needed in my firetruck red L.L.Bean backpack and mom-worthy purse. Knowing that I don't have to worry about my ger burning down because there is nothing in it that I would lement over (considering I had my packed bag...if it happened now...:::gasp::: GURGI! I would cry).

Also if one were to look at my journal they would think I have some sort of disorder. And I quote..."I absolutly love my 4th grade babies! they are the joys of my life and a pleasure to teach. As for my older kids and the postmaster, I just what to [sic] deck them. I hate that [sic] piece of [sic] song baby!!! What would I do if my family died? Could I go back? How would I survive? If only one person died, I could get over that...but to lose everyone at once o_O that would indeed break me. I LOVE CRAYONS!"

The family's Thanksgiving card is right. I am special.

I'm no good a.k.a. Mr. Ed is delish

My dear devoted readers, I'm sure you are feeling most neglected as it has been over a month since my last update, but I have to admit that I'm lazy and a bit boring of late so besides the fact that I'm perpetually on the verge of freezing to death in my sleep and have yet another respiratory infection, nothing much is new.

However, as its snowing right now and I'm inside my friends nice warm apartment, having just showered and eaten a delicious dinner I shall provide an interesting tale from the past month.

~~~~~~~~~~^_^~~~~~~~~~~
Having awoken one particularly chilly morning with a painfully full bladder, I ignored the cold and dashed to the outhouse to relieve myself. I made note of the density of the steam from my pee and the fact that the combined poo of the various inhabitants and visitors to our compound was starting to form a poolagmite (or would it be a poolagtite, I always for get which is which O_o). Winter was finally upon us. One my way back to my windowless ger, thus meaning that the inside temp is only slightly warmer than the outside temp, I noticed that there was a new addition to our compound...a beautiful brick red horse tethered to the fence. He must have arrived some time in the night. How lovely. Then I dressed in record time and was quickly on my way to my heated school. I taught an uneventful day of classes and then when home...

Now because the horse was such a new addition and because I was still half asleep/cold as all get up, its no surprise that I didn't realize it was missing. That was until I walked into my "family's" ger. Come here Cassandra. Come help me clean the horse intestines so we can finish cooking them. It's only logical that the innards of a horse will be much larger than those of a sheep. However, the actualization of this is a bit disturbing. Yet I didn't hesitate to squat down beside my "mom" and hold open one end of the former horse's large intestine so it could be cleaned, filled with blood, tied, and cooked. I don't know what this says about me.

That night around 7pm when I wandered out in the near pitch dark to get more wood to make a fire in a futile attempt to warm my ger, not only was I attacked by Puppy, but I found that when reaching blindly for chopped wood chunks, I actually encountered chopped horse leg chunks. Not to mention jaw chunks. This only freaked me out for a nano second. Again, not quite sure what this says about me.

~~~~~~~~~~^_^~~~~~~~~~~
That is all for now. I will try to be better in updating this month. Maybe make it my New Year's Resolution. Now for sleep!

p.s. horse meat is sooooo delish you should really try

Yes Dad...I'm still alive...

...but only half thawed out.

We have now entered the point in Mongolia where it will continue to get colder and colder and colder. I'm a little nervous about how I will survive the winter in my ger, in the central region (which gets colder than my old place out East). I know I will be fine but still, when I wake up at night because I just had to have those last 4 cups of tea before I went to bed...and I take less then a minuet to pop outside to pee (no need for the outhouse in the dark of night!)...and return shivering and slightly miserable as I try to warm up enough to fall back into raptor haunted sleep...I get nervous. This is nothing. What is -11 when you know -40 is still ahead. My "dad" and "uncle" when out to the...well actually I dont know where they went, but the came back with my winter's supply of wood, and next week "dad" and I are gonna go buy me some coal. I won't freeze to death, but still I was pampered my first winter.

I wear make-up everyday I teach. It is interesting. In America, I rarely wore make-up, and when I did it was usually just mascara or eyeshadow. But here in Mongolia, ugly women just don't get jobs, or respect, regardless of their qualifications. Oh she is the prettiest, lets hire her. As it is I already feel like I giant beast in comparison to my co-wokers, the majority of whom have the figures of 15 year old girls, and my wardrobe, while nice, is hardly the height of fashion in Mongolia. So an extra 5 minuets in the morning to apply a full face of make-up is worth being able to feel at an even level with teachers, and its professional. I haven't quite gotten to the "I look kinda like a retired street walker" level of make-up application that is prefered by many Mongolian woman, but that is probably a good thing. LOL!

Now the big task for this trip to the city: can I find a pair of winter boots that a) I can afford, b) I can fit into, and c) dont have 3 inch heels?????

The bus is ten miles north on the Duesberry Road...

...and they're having a LOVELY time!

On the road today coming into UB (a sort of protest if you will, in the hopes that my school will finally winterize my ger after procrastinating for about 2 months), we hit a traffic jam. Do you know what it was? Goats. Yes, I had to wait an extra 10minuets in the Microbus with an unplesently full bladder, so that a bunch of goats could be herded across the little bridge into the city. Then in a little cafe where I stopped to pee and eat some breakfast I ran into one of the Mongolian soldiers who had helped repair our dorms! He bought my breakfast, that was nice. Then when I was next to Peace Corps I ran into one of the teachers from my college back in the Cho. We exchanged news, my hands went numb, she gave me a piece of gum (score!), and then we parted ways. I wonder if one day I will be able to reach my Grandfathers level of acquaintances (he runs into someone he knows EVERYWHERE! Its crazy! LOL!)

Next week starts my English Clubs. In Mongolia, English Clubs are actually just additional English lessons for the good kids who need to be challanged more. I will have a 4-5th grade club where the students will learn English songs and poems...I'm going to have fun with this one! Its cool to see how many kiddy songs and what not I still remember, though if you have a good poem shoot it my way I'm a bit low on those. Then next club is 7-9th grade club (remember we have no 6th grade O_o). This will be half songs half actual lessons. Finally is the 10-11th grade club, in which conversation and pronounciation will be our main goal (but I'll prolly end up teaching them songs too ^_^). In addition to the students I will be starting an Adult Class for the older memebers of the community who want to learn/refresh their English. I'm most excited about this one as I always have fun teaching adults, and I don't have to submit any of the evil lesson plans I sooooo hate. We also kinda maybe have internet at my site now, and I will be teaching internet/computer classes on the weekends...maybe. Its a little confusing now but we'll see!

We just had "Old People's Holiday" (don't be offended thats the litteral translation) on Wednesday. There was a concert, food, drink, more food, more drink, even more drink, and then parting gifts for the Elderly of the town. It was so cool to see people celebrating their elders, all of whom were dressed in there traditional Mongolian outfits and looking so cute and old and weatherd by their countryside lives. Then there was a dance for the younger people, that only lasted about 3 songs because the musician decided he didnt want to play anymore, but that made some people mad and because it was a holiday and most folks had been DRINKING a fight broke out, the broke a speaker, and I think the musician's nose, and it was cancelled.

Its been really cold and I keep dreaming about velicoraptors. Its most disturbing.

Don't Read This (it hilair...but really don't read it)

The following is a true story. Its not exaggerated as my siblings will be wont to claim. No exaggeration could "improve" on this story. But I warn you now if you've a sensitive mind, ext ream love of dogs, or are one of those individuals who like to ignore the fact the excrement (henceforth refers to as poop) is a natural part of life...PLEASE STOP NOW!!!

Okay, for the rest of you still reading...here goes...

I pooped on a dog.

If this is too much for you honestly stop! It only goes downhill from here...

Having spent the previous evening at a fellow teacher's wedding (and subsequently consuming copious amounts of ariag "fermented mare's milk") its not surprising to say that my insides were a little wonky at school the following day. So it came as no surprise to me that in the middle of teaching my 4th and 5th graders "If Your Happy and You Know It" that my bowels began a horrid attempt at contortion ism. Telling the other teacher, "I'll be right back." I started to make my way outside, only to realize I had no toilet paper. With a pee this would be no problem, I've gotten medals for my drip jiggle technique...but for #2, especially the poop attack I could feel coming...no way! I knock on my School Director's door (its in the same building). But no one was home. Blast. Then from across the hall the door to the bank opens and an old man walks out. I dash into the tiny two room bank and approach the manager at her desk. "Hi, I'm sorry but do you have any toilet paper?" She looks confused and I try again. "Toilet paper, outhouse paper?" "What kind of paper?" Curses! Both the word for toilet and outhouse have the Mongolian "L" a letter I can't pronounce for the life of me no matter how frequently I practice. So I'm standing there panicked, trying to breath deeply and make no sudden, potentially fatal move. Finally, I ask, "Poop paper, do you have any poop paper?" "Oh yes here you go." ......... O_o ..... Grabbing the tp I dask back out of the bank. Had this happened in America I'd have died of mortification and never been able to show my face in the Post Bank again. But in Mongolia...hey, everyone poops, its all good.

So I start to head to my Uncle's house on the other side of the school yard. He has the nicest outhouse in town, and I just have to hop his fence to use it instead of:
A) walking the 10 minuets home
B) using the schoolyard's outhouses...which are terrifyingly full of extra holes, with doors that never stay closed, and boards that seem unable to support my weight.
However, the whole accquisistion of "poop paper" used up my fence hopping time. So with no choice I enter the school's outhouse.

STOP NOW THIS IS WHEN THE WORST OF IT GOES DOWN!!!!

Nature takes is course when suddenly I hear a noise from the putrid pit below. I look down and there is a huge dog down there who walks over and begins to lap up my digested and expelled mare's milk and steamed stomach dumplings. Now what does one do in a situation like this I ask you? I couldn't shoo it away...I had nothing to throw at it...and bowels in motion stay in motion...so I pooped on the dog. And did it move??? NO?!?!?!?!?!?! WTF MATE?!?!?

Shocked, disturbed, yet at the same time finding the situation highly hilarious while trying not to laugh, lose my balance, and join Fido in his poopy lair; I made use of my "poop paper," got up and left.

As I was washing my hands with the help of a student (as there is no running water) I lost it. "That did not just happen," I mutter and laugh, utterly unable to even begin an attempt to explain my laughter to the girl.

But it did happen...I kid you not...kinda wish I was, but its all true.

And that's how I came to poop on a dog.

G-mail is not my friend

Gmail doesnt work right now....I don't know why, but I can't send emails...I can read them but I cant send them......poop

Life is going most swimmingly in the soum. Classes have been in session for 2 weeks now and after a few 10+ hour days, my schedule has become much more tolerable. I LOVE my little kiddies, they are soooo cute to the max! I have even tought all the 1st 2nd and 3rd graders how to say Hi and Bye-bye so thats how they greet me! It rocks!

At first I was only co-teaching, but then our training manager got sick so the oldest English teacher became training manager, and I took over his 7th and 8th grade classes, so I teach those by myself! YEY! Teaching is rather fun! I like it!

Also right now I have a wonderful part time job of serving as translator for the Hawaiian Army Unit that is currently living in my town and repairing our student dorms! They are a swell bunch of fellows and its nice to have people to speak English with. Also that means that should all building go according to plans we will have running water and SHOWERS!!!!!!!!! And the students will have a warm place to live which I suppose is a good thing too.

They also give me candy, and real coffee, and MRE Milkshakes! Its glorious!

I got really sick for a few days...I think I ate something bad...but I've developed a slight fear of the more "exotic" mongolian foods. And by slight I mean I break into a cold sweat and bolt in the opposite direction. Now I'm pretty much cured of this fear but as I walked in to my familys ger last night, sighted the goats feet waiting for me, I straight up turned around and left. Didn't even say a single word! Now in the city for a few days I will glory in "real" food and resupply on fruits and what not that will hopefully last longer than last time.

I randomly remembered the Goldfish jingle the other day during yet another long teachers meeting. Then I remembered the opposite version I used to sing with the siblings:

I hate the Squidies cuz their so disgusting, gonna go shoping...
I could eat them every night,
But my Dad says, "That's not right!"
I hate the Squidies cuz their so disgusting, gonna go shoping!

I then spent a long time wondering just how we figured that shopping would be roughly equivilant to the opposite of fishing. I don't think I arrived at an answer, but the meeting went very quickly.

It is consolodation day in Mongolia (meaning we all have to go to the nearest city center type place and check in...practice should say China ever invade and we have to evacuate or something), and I have gotten to meet many of the new volunteers. They seem like a rather cool lot, it will be fun meeting new faces.

I'm sure there is more, but I'm hungry and I'm meeting with Shuree later to translate things and celebrate her birthday! So that's all for now!

Go Mongolia! Its your Birthday!

TUVSHINBAYAR GOE SHVV DEE!!!
"TUVSHINBAYAR IS THE MAN!!!"


The entire city and quite possibly even country broke out into a simultaneous party last night at 8:30pm. The reason: A man by the name of Tuvshinbayar ("Level-Holiday"). Not only did he utterly annihilate his opponent to win the Gold, but it is the first ever Mongolian Gold!!!

Watching him on the podium, gold medal hanging proudly from his neck, his masculinity not even touched by the bouquet of flowers in his arms, singing the Mongolian National Anthem as the Mongolian Flag was raised above all other for this moment of glory, I found myself overwhelmed with joy. I even shed a single tear. It was most excellently glorious!!!

In bed last night I could hear the multitude of voices rising above the sounds of the city joined together singing the Mongolian National Anthem. And while I am now currently feeling my lack of sleep, it was well worth it. I am American, but Mongolia has been a good home to me this past year, and I hope they do well in boxing tonight and get another!!!!




Meredith you lucked out! I had been planning to write about poop and how it has infiltrated all areas of my existence. It could have been more shocking that the sheep intestines. Guess I'll have to save that for another post.

Thought I Passed My Own Shadow

I wish I lived in Ghana so I could name my son Prince Octopus too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>-/o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everyday as I walk from my "relatives" apartment, on my way to wherever I happen to be going on any given day, I pass by a little plot of sunflowers. They are very much like sunflowers in America. They stand at 5+ feet. They are yellow with the big black pistil (or is it stamen???). However, unlike our American sunflowers, Mongolian sunflowers do not adulate the heavenly body they are named for. Rather, they remain immobile only drooping slightly at the hottest times of day. At first this disturbed me, but then I realized that moving flowers are actually most freakadeaky.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>-/o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I confuse UB Mongolians. I'm obviously NOT Mongolian. Even if I didn't have the extremely white (and now utterly freckled) skin, "yellow" hair, blue eyes, gex met...I still couldn't pass for Mongolian. My body shape is all wrong, which in turn makes my walk all wrong. Yes I can prepare blow torched sheep's head, but I am without a doubt a gadad khun ("outside person"=foreigner). However, I don't act like a gadad khun should. I ride the bus. I cram into microbus/van thingys. I text on my cell phone while crossing the street. I eat in hole in the wall, cheap, Mongolian restaurants. I wear heels and makeup. Who is this girl??? I can see the question in their eyes. She looks like one of them, but she almost acts like one of us. Maybe this is why I perpetually get confronted by Mongolian men, especially if they've heard me speaking Mongolian (which I am told has improved greatly since my move to the soum). No, I don't want to meet you. No, I can't teach you English. No, I don't need you to walk me home. Drinks? I don't think so! Why? Because I'm on my way to meet my boyfriend. He lives in the city. He's American. He is tall and strong and has a beard. He is very handsome and jealous. No, we are not breaking up. Usually my crisp responses and "boyfriend" do the trick. However, some manage to see through the lie, or insist that its okay. (And by some I mean 4 people) For them I pull out The Picture.

This past Xmas the Fam went up to Mass to vacation. (I know, I know, I should have wrote "vacay" to keep with the whole abbrev. thing I had going but I can't stand that word!!!) Anyway, there is a picture of the entire Nomadic Weiner Crew, myself excluded. Even Bullet is in the picture. Now, I can't see it, but when Mongolians see this picture they assume Meredith is me. Even upon being told its not me, they either think I'm lying or ask if she is my twin. Like I said I don't see it. Sisters yeah, but twins...naw. Next to her stands Gregory. They also assume that Ickle Baby Greggiekins is 27 not 17 (at the time of the picture). With the full beard this is not surprising. Unless told its a picture of my family, they also assume he is not related to us because he doesn't look like us. This is crazy Gregory could have aptly named Dana Jr. but I think they cant get past that beard of his. Anyway, I like the picture, so I carry it around with me. And waahlaa! You have a picture of "Me" with my family on Christmas standing next to my "Boyfriend."

The first time I did this I thought: 1) They are gonna realize its not really me. and 2) Its kinda creepy saying Gregory is my boyfriend. But it worked. Most hilair. Now I just find it funny. Though I'd rather they not talk to me in the first place.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>-/o~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My little brothers just called. "Azaa cut open his hand, I must come home quickly." The little liar. When will they realize I know all their tricks. I've pulled all their tricks and then some. Its cute. I only wish they would stop punching me in the arm, as hard as they can, when their little shenanigans don't work out as planned.

Mark asks...

Did you see the eclipse?

It was a little over a week ago...August 1st, or maybe 2nd...the day was hot. The kind of hot where all other thought is erased except for the thought of it being hot. My ger had turned into an oven, well not really and oven, more like an Easy-Bake oven. Unable to endure the heat and the flies I sought refuge in my Mongolian Grandfathers house, a blissfully cool sanctuary only 20yards away. My sister, her husband, their baby, and my two little brothers (cousins?) were home at the time. Uyanga (sis) was making food so her husband was supposed to be watching little 5month old Ermuun, however he and the rest of my brother are utterly addicted to this Korean Soap Opera "Jumong." So being the only one not occupied I took Ermuun in the little back room and we had a long giggly talk in English. I always talk with him in English. It will be interesting to see if he uses any when he starts talking. Anyway I was in the middle of explaining why Slurpees are better than Slushies when something happened that has never happened before...Ermuun pooped on me O_o. Mongolian babies don't wear diapers as they are too expensive, I've been peed and barfed on many a time, but had avoided the poopage. I was thankfully wearing shorts (that I stole from Erin muahahahaha) so clean up was easy for me, and thankfully Uyanga had finished cooking so she took care of the baby mess. So I joined the Bros in watching "Jumong" when suddenly Tuvshin (yet another brother) walks in and asks if there are any sunglasses he wants to see the blublibiiblabu. I didn't know what he wanted to see but I handed over my shades and watch a bit confused as all my brothers stop watching "Jumong" and go outside. Turns out what ever Tuvshin had said meant eclipse. So it was that I got to see what little of the eclipse that was visible from my part of Mongolia (only about 1/8th of the sun was eclipsed, though out in the far West they had a total eclipse).

So Uncle Mark to answer your question: yes. However being pooped is what stands out most from that day!

Linda asks....

Will you have a new list of any school supplies, etc. you might need come Sept???

White board accessories (pens, erasers, that magic erase spray, etc.)
Any old magazines or things with pictures that can be used for teaching props
Kiddy Books
STICKERS and BALLOONS(kids LOVE them and there is not a lot of them here)
America Map
American Flag (these last two I had but left in my old classroom so they would have them if not an American teacher)

I am ever so estatic to be teaching children! As of now I don't know what grades I will be teaching but I'm hoping for 9th grade as that is the grade my 2 favorite brothers will be entering. The one boy Monkhzaya ("Eternal-destiny") is a little poop head. But is so bright and has the cutest one dimpled smile that I can't get mad at him. Its always cute and nice to see him sitting there in the b-ball shorts and jersey he wears most everyday, listing to Mongolian Pop music, and studying English of his own accord. A good number of Altanbulag's children are like this. I think it is because we are soo close to UB that the kids can actually see how English can be useful for them and their future. It will be nice having students who want to learn for a change!

Snail Mail

Hey all I am in UB for about 2 weeks...so I will be slowly updating the blog! Anything you want to know...ask and I can answer in full!

Also come September when school starts, I shall be most busy but have a post office at my site and love to write letters so please give me you addresses!!!!!

Also I got a new phone number that actually works in my soum!

9119-0789

Okay that is all for now...Im in great health, got a nice spread of freckles from my frequent trips to the river where I teach the brothers how to swim! I get to shower the musky smell off me (my new chore is to help Monkhoo collect the cow dung to put out to dry to burn come winter! good times)

my journal entry form 30 May 2008

Notes on a Meeting with my Bagshnar ("teachers")

The meeting was scheduled to start at 12. It is now 12:40 and we haven't started yet. We were reprimanded with ver fierce tones (at least what I could gather. The only words I could clearly make out were "bad teachers," "failed exams," "if the students are bad, we are bad.") However, this arrangement is quite nice as the body heat keeps me warm and the woman next to me smells better than the dung smoke that flooded my ger this morning. The director has finally arrived.

It is 12:50. Only they can't seem to get the powerpoint working (though this is understandable I suppose as 4 different people have been working on it for 20 minuets. I know what the problem is and how to fix it but I dont exactly know if its my place to interfere.)

ZA!!!! Success at 12:52. The bagshnar are note taking most furiously, copying the slides word for word, as a woman reads the slides aloud. I can't understand a thing other than stray words, so I let my mind wander where it will go. Today is plesently unwindy. Meaning I won't have have a dust coated body upon my return to my ger. Nor will I have to sweep agin when I get home. Its only been 2 times today, and one was because I had trouble with my ash box this morning as I made my dung fire. Dung smells ver nice, almost sweet when it burns. Though every now and then it smells like actual dung. Sweet I understand something!!! They are talking about student enrollment (age 2-6 59% attend kindergarden; age 7-15 76.1% attend school, etc.) Mongolian schools recently made a change and students go to the 11th grade (as of 2006 I believe, maybe). My schools 11th graders have just finished thier finals.. There are about 25 studends in the entire grade. they have gone to school together their whole lives. It is interesting to see what a tight knit group it has make them into. I can not relate to this in the slightest. The man next to me has VERY shiny shoes. They are G-Man brand shoes. I have never heard of this brand. I wonder how he manages to keep them so clean when we live in a literal dust bowl. Some students visited my ger and looked at my photo album. My siblings and I were "kuukultai" children. This means doll. I think its a Russian word. The presenters foundation is about 3 shades paler than her actual skin. She could be the mother of the Mongolian Addams Family.

It is 1:15.

It is 1:20 and I've lost feeling in my butt buy have become painfully aware that all I've had to eat today was a small muffin at 8 o'clock this morning.

1:25 - a teacher enters. For a moment I hope she is here to anounce a break out of plague (I suppose something less severe would work as well) and that we must leave in a calm and orderly fashion. Alas, she is merely late for this mindnumbing meeting/presentation thing.

1:27 - the woman on the bench next to me just farted. I felt a little vibration but thankfully it doesnt smell. No one is disturbed by this gastral explulsion. She doesnt say "excuse me." Flatulance is a natural part of life here and there are no norms that make it in anyway taboo. Oh wait I was wrong, the smell was only delayed. I hade a laugh in an awkward cough. The accountant gives me a strange look and smiles his jack-o-lantern smile back at me when I flash him a toothy grin.

1:38. Powerpoint problems once again. The presenter doesn't stop her speech as 2 teachers fiddle with it and argue in barely hushed tones. I suddenly regret the cup of milk tea I drank right before the meeting as I now need to pee something fierce.

1:42-need to pee has passes. Am wondering exactly what shade of blue the desks are and shat they taste like. I think my brain is being invaded by something...my stomach...yeah thats probably it.

1:45 - computer has gone crazier than me and I think tha... OH SWEET POTATOE PIE SHE HAS FINISHED!!! IM FREE!!!

1:46 - my rejoicing came too soon...there is a second presenter. i think my inner child is being smothered to death with a dusty rag that smells of sheep stomach stew.

1:53 - I notice a sign on the wall. More of a poster really. About conversions. 10mm=1cm, 1kg=1000g, 1 year=360 days, 1cubicmeter= WAIT!?!?!?!? 360 DAYs???!?!?! What happened to the other 5 days? What about leap year? Giddy Gods trousers, I've entered into an alternate plane of existance. Maybe these missing 5 days are spent in meetings like this one... I feel the start of a panic attack coming on.

2:10 - A man comes in and takes pictures. The flash draws me in from my daydreaming. I was on a train with Bob Dylan singing the Quarter Rap. I could go for Polly and Pete's Pizza Delight.

2:13 - Another teacher arrives late. How I envy this brown wrinkled little old mongolian man, not only because he hasn't been sitting here for 2+ hours but he has a really cool hat too.

2:21 - they showed pictures of an "American" Elementary classroom, at which point everyone looked at me. I smiled as if to say, "yes, this is what I grew up with!" However, it didnt really resemble any elementary class I've ever learned in. If I had any will left I might feel a bit of shame at this white lie...as it is I just want to go to an outhouse ASAP.

2:30 - we are finally done. I'm so happy. Now to pee!

2:45 - just kidding we are still here...never want to sit again

2:53 I'm standing. It's over. Man alive does it feel good!

Look at what I can do Ma!

I now know how to disect a sheep/goat, clean its stomach/intestines, and then cook said innards. This is not only from observing it multiple times the past month, but also because I have personally done it as I was the only woman around when my brothers were preparing the sheep and the cleaning is a womans job.

It was hilarious as the 3 of us had no real clue what we were doing, but it was a lot of fun (even if my hands are still a bit green from emptying the grassy filling of the sheep's still warm stomach)!

It frightens me that I find stomach rather delicious now. My favorite has got to be bits of liver chopped up with onions and stuffed into the intestine with some blood, tied up and boiled. It tastes really good. Also sheep brains taste like Stoffers Oven Macaroni and Cheese minus the cheese. Wierd but good.

I've become addicted to the Mongolian Soap Opera "Cariin Nulmus" (Moon Tears). Its soooooo good.

I miss English and showers, but living in a ger is sooo fun and my new "family" is full of brothers to play B-ball and cards with so I'm happy.

Care Packages

As it is summer, and as there were many gracious contributions last year, my school supplies are most excellent. (Especially the kids books, Thanks again G&G they are a great teaching aide!) So my list of what I should need/want has once again changed.

Before I get to the new list, I must explain that I have been adopted by the family that shares the compound with me. They feed me, get my water, help me with my ger, and have completely accepted me as one of their own. As I am now "family" it would be a bit of an insult for me to pay them for the meals I eat and such, so I would like to share my care package goods with them in thanks for all they do.

So here is the new list:
"American" food I can prepare for them
Powdered drink mixes!!!!!!!
Candy (hersey kisses, tootsie rolls, etc.)
Balloons (per request from my 2 little sisters)
A basketball (per request my brothers...dont know how this would work but we have an airpump so maybe a deflated one???)
"Real Fat" Cigars (per request my older bro and grandpa, they dont have cigars in mongolia)
A Nerf Vortex football (per request ME!)

Other than that...letters and pictures from home are the best! Random surprises are also great.

To thee of the modern communications...

I live on the other side of the world, in a rural community, no internet, horrible cell phone service...

Once a month a get to come into the city to resupply and use the internet...

Please don't worry if you don't hear from me for an extended period of time...

I am safe and happy, just a bit cut off from the modern world.

This being said, I still love hearing from everyone via e-mail or snail mail, especially as I am now the only forigen person in my town of less than 2000.

Please continue to write. I will blog when I'm in the city as a general response to everyone, and e-mail to answer specific questions.

Be patient. You are all in my thoughts.

P.S. Micah I LOVE the cds!!!! I'm listening to them now!!! Thx again!

My Address (in Mongolian and English)

Τoв аймгийн
Алтанбулаг сумын
Дунд сургуулийн
Aнгли хэлний багш
Касандра Вайнэр
ΜΟНГОЛ УЛС

Cassandra Weiner
English Teacher
Secondary School
Altanbulag Sum
Tow Aimag
MONGOLIA

im alive

mass hi to all

i only have 5 minuets before my ride leaves

no internet at my site...in for medical but on a tight schedule

i love it...i live in a felt tent...it is very dusty

hope gregory had a nice graduation

grandma and grandpa i got your packages thank you so much

mom and dad i finally got the thanksgiving and easter cards!!!

my new address is

Cassandra Weiner, PCV
Altanbulag Secondary School
Altanbulag Soum
Tow Aimag
Mongolia

will write the mongolian address when i have time next month

talk to you all then!!!!!!!!!!

my phone is still 95742380 but i dont really get service at my site

love you all...love my new site...everything is great!!!!!!! more next month i promise

I sat on a rug...

Biding my time till Friday comes and I will move to my new site.

The town is apparently tiny. I will be living in a ger (Mongolian felt tent). There are also horses in my compound that I share with a fellow English teacher and her family.

My school is soooo excited to have me I can't wait to meet them.

They had a Peace Corps volunteer there about 6 or 7 years ago. Let's hope this person hasn't been glorified...but I think this will be really good.

Moving Day

Hey All!!!!

So I will be moving from the Cho. Don't worry everything is okay, and as much as I will miss my school and all the friends I have made, I am very excited to get to work with younger folks and meeting more new people. (Guess I'm still a nomadic Navy Brat at heart ^_~)

So please don't send anything to my old address as it won't get to me. I don't have my new address yet, but as I will most likely be at my new site this week I should have it soon.

I will be moving to a small town called Altanbulag ("Golden-Fountain") that is just about one hour SW from the capital city!

Okay!!! That is all for now and I will update my address as soon as I know it!

why won't this song leave my head

Munkhbat ft. Lhagvaa "Az Jargaltai Tugsgul"



Munkhbat = Eternal Strength
Lhagvaa = Wednesday
"Az Jargaltai Tugsgul" ~~ Luck-with Tugsgul???
(yeah couldn't find that word O_o)

Dear Prudence

The sun is up, the sky is blue, its beautiful, and so are you, Dear Choibi, I wanna go out and play!

Spring is here in the good ole Cho and I personally am loving it!!!!! Its wonderful outside, no more need for heavy coats or long johns (it still snows every week or so but other that that its great!)

Many claim that spring is the most difficult season in Mongolia due to the wind. Personally I love the wind. The fact that it blows up all the sand corroding away your flesh and making you dirty as one of the street children isn't all that enjoyable, but hey life's not perfect.

My job is going swimmingly! I am teaching a "Business English for Accountants" class at the moment and as the level of my students (the majority of whom are older than me by the way) is far from advanced, I'm not having any problems. Unless you consider the fact that they never do homework, or pay attention, or have sporadic attendance...but really other than that is heavenly. I also heard the most glorious words come from my teachers mouths during our last lesson!!!!!

"We don't want to learn grammar, just vocabulary and phrases."

I nearly up and died it was soooo glorious. Our normal 1 hour lesson turned into a 3 hour one as I taught time phrases ("back in the day" "two weeks from now" "in two shakes of a lamb's tail") ... this was also when it was brought to my attention that I say the word "just" almost constantly O_o. But I was somehow able to explain the various time and meanings of the word with ease!!!!

I've also made friends with the jijuur (sort of a jack of all trades stairwell cleaner) and her family that literally live under the stairwell in my apartment building. There is the mother, her three little boys, and sometimes the father....and they all share a space that would make Harry Potter's under the stairs room look like a swanky pad.

I tripped over a skull on my way to school the other day and it didn't disturb me in the slightest. The severed sheep legs with their fur still on them in the road the other day threw me off a bit.

Sunday was Easter but I forgot. Maybe I will by an egg and eat it later in memory of the holiday. Though I did get to eat many a glorious Cadbury Creme Egg (my all time fav candy, which is only seasonal or I would be insanely obese by now) thanks to my wicked awesome Grandparents...

Za...well that is it for now. I know I'm most lazy with posting these things but if there is any specific topic you would like to hear about let me know and I will totally post about it ^_^!

Later Days!

Cloverfield

Yesterday I found myself in a real movie theator, eating real popcorn, drinking an orange soad, and watching a movie in English...........utterly surreal, UB is a whole different world!

The Movie was called Cloverfield and was actually quite enjoyable, you should check it out. It was totally worth the 2,000 tugrigs it cost to get in!!!

Cloverfield

Stupid Groundhog

So its snowing again....our heat streak must be over :::tear:::

Also since people seem to insist on sending me things (its perpetually christmas for me!) I've decided to update my list of things that I need since I suddenly find myself with enough lady products to last my whole two years here ^_~

Nerf Screaming Vortex (or other light weight durable outside sporty equiptment)
Stickers
Children's Books
American Candy
Pictures of Yourself or America
No-Bake Cheesecakes (or things of a similar nature)
Kool-Aid
Flying Monkeys to do my evil wonderfully productive bidding
and of course the randomosity factor is always delightful!

now off to treck through the light snow and do some work O_o

"I'd rather eat sheep back thanks"

I realize that it has been a while since I blogged, and Tsagaan Sar has come and gone….and well its Mongolia’s biggest holiday so I should write about it…….however, Sarah has the pictures, and really I need to pictures to convey the entirety of what my Lunar New Year holiday was like.

So with that in mind, please be patient (or check out my site mates Jim and Julie’s blog: http://moultonsinmongolia.blogspot.com/2008/02/my-friend-sarantuyas-family.html ) and I feel I must discuss a most disturbing discovery about Mongolians.

Now every culture has its peculiarities, Mongolian included. At times they have an over fondness for glitter and vodka. At times they have an inexplicable disgust for veggies and the Chinese. All this and more, yet it is part of what makes Mongolians the culture of people I have grown to know and love. However, I have just learned a fact about Mongolians that is simply unforgivable (parents you may want to hide your children for this one)…

THEY DON’T LIKE POP-TARTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Due to a most awesome package sent to me by my Grandparents, I once again was able to rediscover the glory that is a Kellogg Pop-Tart. In pursuing the 2 goal of Peace Corps (to spread American culture) I decided to share this glory with some Mongolian friends…only to discover that not only did they not like the processed pastry goodness, but as the one said, “If I eat this I will throw up.” I informed him we could no longer be friends, and well I doubt he realizes I was serious.

When my friends left I went into a corner, cradling the remaining Pop-Tarts and cooing to them that “don’t worry my little friends, everything will be all right, Cassandra still loves you!” Then I broke down and cried like a baby fresh from the womb. But then the light at the end of the tunnel (or at the head of the cave as the saying goes in Mongolian) appeared. I would no longer feel obligated to share my Pop-Tarts with the unappreciative! I could, in time, consume all 8 of the beauties myself! I cackled in palletorical delight and hid the box behind my books (another glorious part of the package G&G sent!).

On the upside, its getting warmer! In the -10s C!!!! This means that not only can I stop wearing long johns, but that I can also go outside and not risk frostbite of the face!!! This in turn means that I can escape the solitude and sub sequential cabin fever solitary apartment life has instilled in me!!! And this in turn means I will probably stop talking to Pop-Tarts….maybe….

We Can Dance If We Want To

Okay so check this....Mongolia has this holiday right....Teacher's Holiday! I randomly got people wishing me happy holidays and congratulations and giving me presents! The best was given to me by my very best Mongolian Friend Shuree: A book all about the Beatles.....in Mongolian!!!!!! What better way to improve my language skills and further my obsession!

To celebrate this momentous occasion we went to a B Productions Concert that featured the hottest young singers in Mongolia including the former member of Carmand, the one, the only, BOLD!!!!! It was an awesome concert, and only 3,000 tugrigs (though I was given the ticket as a gift!) In UB a show like this would put you back around 10,000 tugs! The only problem, these singers performed the most excellent dance music, but no one danced or even really moved for that matter! I mean they could have at least thrown a little head bob or two in their...ever interesting Mongolia.

Also, Tsagaan Sar ("White Month" aka Mongolian Lunar New Year) is fast approaching and I am sooo excited. This is a time to eat buuz, drink arig, get socks, and wear a del! Im uber excited

I've only partially frozen to death ^_~

Life has been crazy hectic of late and thus I have been unable to keep you all up to date on the fascinating tales of my Mongolian misadventures. But as my classroom computer’s internet finally works I’ve decided to fill you in! So here are the top 5 most important things that have happened to me since my last update.

1.I got rid of my cat. I was simply to busy with life to really care for the annoying beast, and there was a VSO Volunteer who really wanted her, and is far more qualified to be a cat caretaker as her daughter owns a Cattery. (Yes, I too was surprised by the fact that such things as a Cattery exist, but they are British, so maybe the driving on the other side of the road and spelling “colour” wrong has something to do with it ^_~). Also Omkhee is now called Phoebe (still keeping the whole smelly cat theme going). To be honest though, I’ve already forgotten what cat life was like, and don’t really miss it.

2.I visited the lovely Jasmine out in Choibalsan Soum and got to stay in her luxury ger. There I chopped coal, hauled water from the well, made fire with DUNG!!!!!!!!! (I have to say that burning dung smells surprisingly nice), and was briefly stalked by a local Mongolian boy. Another highlight was the 2 hour Porigon (a Russian truck roughly the size of a bloated VW Van) ride in which there were 25 people and 1 baby riding all together. Ups: body heat and 2 of the people were young girls. Downs: both of those girls were sitting on my left leg, and I was by the window so only half of me had the body heat. All in all it was a most excellent 2.27 days!

3.Winter Break! Yes folks that’s right it is winter break here at Shatalsan College and you know what that means???? I’M FREE AHAHAHAHAHHAHAHHahah…..wait, what was that? Oh break for students NOT teachers. Okay then :::goes to corner and cries::: At least I get to party a bit for Teacher’s Day Holiday (after a conference of course) O_o

4.
Conferences. Yes that’s right I get to spend my “Winter Break” attending Mongolian teaching conferences, that are all in rapid Mongolian. Thus far I have learned about Mongolian blood types, utilizing technology into physical education classes, and something that was about forming clubs for students or using them as slave labor. Though I’m really excited for next Monday’s conference about Mongolian Pension and Retirement plans!!!! Now that’s something I’ve always been curious about, I’ll be sure to take notes and tell you all about it!

5.
I got to ride in a Mongolian Ambulance! Not only that I got to miss a conference while I was at the hospital. The only thing that ruined this otherwise exciting experience was the fact that I was between my battered Mongolian best friend and her abusive boyfriend…oh yeah and the fact that I had to see him beat her. Though it felt good to stand in between the two of them and tell him in comprehensible Mongolian that if he wanted to hit her again he would have to go through me first. She is leaving him, and I have the hope that it will be a successful separation.

So this is all for now….Tsagaan Sar (“White Month” aka Mongolian Lunar New Year) is coming up next week, so I will be sure to tell you all about it and hopefully have pictures!

My Babies!

This is MY class:
Battushig, Me, Uguurmur, Orkhon
Uyanga, Uyangtuya, Olzi, Me, Erdentsetseg
Borlgilma
My Waiters Class