Hey faithful readers. So since last I wrote I've mostly been having A GREAT TIME. Everyone here is so cool, I'm starting to learn some Mongolian, and each day is filled with exciting new mountains to climb, people to meet, words to learn, foods to eat, etc etc etc. But as much as things have been changing, that's all about to look like diddlysquat. For tomorrow afternoon, we all leave for our host families. Mine is in a very small town about two hours east of Zuunmod. I'm mostly excited to meet them (all the M20s and M19s seem to have really treasured their host family experiences), but I am a bit worried about the fact that I can pretty much only say three things to them: "Hello," "What is your name?", and "I like apples." I'm sure my vocabulary will be increasing greatly in the weeks to come.
Although I'm supermegapumped for the next stage, our group of seventy-five volunteers is going to be dividing into six parts, so I'll be saying goodbye to a lot of the friends I've made. That's kinda sad. I'll see them again of course, but not so much, and never again so easily. We've been having a lot of fun. Last night we climbed up on one of the hills near town to play frisbee, drink beer, and watch the sunset. It was indescribable. Afterwards, on our way back down, we were throwing the disc around and half a dozen little kids ran over to play with us. They were so cute and they went wild whenever we tossed it to them. Most eventually wound up tackling fellow PCT Brian, and he had quite a time extricating himself from their tiny hands. They grow 'em tough out here on the steppes.
A few summations. Classes have been a little overwhelming but very helpful. The food is still pretty good, but it is a lot of the same basic ingredients recycled into different forms, so I can see myself getting tired of it before long. The weather has been surprisingly rainy this week, but that's okay. When that blue sky comes out, it's all worth it, and the landscape still possesses a striking beauty in the low-hanging clouds.
So originally it sounded like internet would be hard to come by in my host community, but today one of the teachers implied that I might have some access. If I do, I'm sure I'll be posting here and there, depending on how busy I am. If not, this'll probably be the last post until July! Maybe. It's hard to say.
Although I'm supermegapumped for the next stage, our group of seventy-five volunteers is going to be dividing into six parts, so I'll be saying goodbye to a lot of the friends I've made. That's kinda sad. I'll see them again of course, but not so much, and never again so easily. We've been having a lot of fun. Last night we climbed up on one of the hills near town to play frisbee, drink beer, and watch the sunset. It was indescribable. Afterwards, on our way back down, we were throwing the disc around and half a dozen little kids ran over to play with us. They were so cute and they went wild whenever we tossed it to them. Most eventually wound up tackling fellow PCT Brian, and he had quite a time extricating himself from their tiny hands. They grow 'em tough out here on the steppes.
A few summations. Classes have been a little overwhelming but very helpful. The food is still pretty good, but it is a lot of the same basic ingredients recycled into different forms, so I can see myself getting tired of it before long. The weather has been surprisingly rainy this week, but that's okay. When that blue sky comes out, it's all worth it, and the landscape still possesses a striking beauty in the low-hanging clouds.
So originally it sounded like internet would be hard to come by in my host community, but today one of the teachers implied that I might have some access. If I do, I'm sure I'll be posting here and there, depending on how busy I am. If not, this'll probably be the last post until July! Maybe. It's hard to say.
I like apples! You'll need to learn "My Dad likes apples too" next!
ReplyDeleteGood news about your internet access, hopefully.
If the food gets boring out there you'll have to tech them some american cooking. How about some Salsa????
I will be disappointed if you do not get access until July.
ReplyDeleteBe sure and describe in detail the gographic locus of you host family, e.g. which street corner, etc, so I can pick them out on Google Earth. Wave at the sky from time to time, just in case I may be watching.
Did you say cold showers. Yeeek. You are a better man than I John Russell.
OH John, it all sounds so cool and the kids sound fun. I hope we get to read more before July.
ReplyDeleteI love Ron's idea about getting your location so we can look at where you are with Google earth. I know we won't be seeing the place with you in it, but it will be such a comfort to be able to visualize where you are. I get a sense of losing you into the wilderness, and in a way you are going into a great unknown for all of us, and it would be nice to see where you are living. Update us whenever you can, okay? We are drooling for news of our Johnny. Love you.
ReplyDeleteOh, by the way, could you find out and let us all know about the mail...is it allowed to send you food? Like dried fruit and canned stuff?
ReplyDeletesounds like an incredible experience already and you'll be so glad you wrote about it all just to capture the essence of that memory.
ReplyDeleteI LIKE APPLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-claire weber