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