A Whole lot of Xairtai!

Xairtai=Love…and I’ve had a ton of it of late ^_^

Family Love
The first and most appreciated was a package from my family. In it was a variety of goods my 2 favorite being the photos, old and new, of my family and friends back home and the new iPod to replace my stolen one (a million thanks to Granny and Grandpa Coll, Aunt Vicki, Uncle Raymond, and any other relatives who aided in the purchase). I sat on the floor with everything around me, listening to The Beatles (of course) and cried. I was shocked at how much I missed everyone and everything that was familiar to me. But it was a quick and stress relieving cry. I now show all my students the pictures and they all comment on how beautiful my family and friends are. Also, upon learning that Gregory is 17 (“he very beautiful”), a number of my female students want to know if he will be visiting.

Putrid Love
Omkhee is a pain in the butt. I don’t like cats, as many of you have commented. But I dislike living alone more so what can you do. However little affection I may feel for the cute but highly annoying fuzz ball, she is obsessed with me. She comes when I call. If I stand still for a moment, she will quickly climb up me and perch on my shoulder. She will mewl pitifully if I lock her out of a room I am in so I can work (or bathe) in peace. At night she sleeps on my pillow, her paws wrapped in my hair, purring ecstatically until she falls asleep or I get uber-frustrated and throw her off the bed. But, it can be charming at times, and since I have put Bullet’s old dog tag on her, I can hear her coming and avoid her violent love attacks. Pat Benatar was right when she sang, “Love is a Battlefield!”

“Yesus” Love
Gansukh, my fellow English teacher, invited me to his home to meet his family and eat buuz the other day. Suddenly while the buuz were being pinched and steamed, Gansukh comes out with 3 books: A Mongolian Bible, An English/German/French Bible, An English/Mongolian Hymn book. I then had the interesting experience of reading the bible in French and German (despite protests that I knew neither language); translating the archaic, formalized, biblical English into laymen’s terms; and singing “Jesus Loves Me” in Mongolian. It was most surreal especially since the last time I had heard the song “Jesus Loves Me” was when my college roommate Lauren was singing it in the harsh, screaming, death metal style. HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Student Love
After my sad attempts at understanding the advanced Mongolian being spoken to me, my student stopped for a moment and said simply, “I love you.” (When we later found the dictionary it turned out that she was trying to say that she felt akin to me, that even though I was American I could have been like her older sister). Her name is Odonzaya (Something “Destiny”…I forget what Odon means) and she is one of my favorites. She always comes on time to class, and attends every English Club meeting. It was such a rewarding moment to feel appreciated. Sometimes teaching is ridiculously hard and I feel like I’ve accomplished nothing. But students like her make me realize that I can last these 2 years in a job that I would never have chosen for myself.

Choi Love
Everyday, I love this place more and more. Outwardly it is a dull, semi ruin of an ugly ex-Soviet city…but in its people and the life they bring to this place it is beautiful. The other day I went to the river and it was glorious! I can already tell that I will miss this place when I leave, but while I love it here, America still holds my heart.

Halloween Love
All-hallows-eve is almost upon us!!!!!!! Don’t have a costume yet, but zugair, I will figure it out. There is to be a small thing at my school on the 31st, a party for people of all ages at Stars on the 31st, and the PCV Halloween party on the 2nd!!!!! Goe youmaa!