That's my favorite Monglish (Mongolian-English) creation so far. "Oochlarai" (it's actually pronounced more like "ochlarai," but that kinda ruins the pun) is the Mongolian word for "sorry." But I like to say OOPSlarai, cause I'm funny like that.
The reason I'm saying oopslarai is that I had a whole nice blog entry written out that I'd put on my flash drive to bring in and just post (the internet is so slow here that I'd rather not waste my time typing and editing), and then I forgot the flash drive at home. I don't live that far away, but it's about ninety-five degrees out today, and I didn't feel like walking there and then all the way back just to get it. So I'll try and get 'er done tomorrow.
That entry includes, among other things, a pretty comprensive description of my family, some details about how things have been going (the answer is pretty well), hopefully a few pics, and a great story at the end.
I actually came to post it yesterday, but after a few minutes on the internet, the whole town lost power for several hours, effectively putting the kabosh on that plan. Such is life in rural Mongolia.
But anyway, I wrote that entry last weekend, and a few things have happened since then that I wanted to add anyway, so I may as well write them here!
The main thing is... I've started teaching! During training we have a couple classes a week to start putting the skills we're learning into practice. Monday was my first, and I basically taught them how to say "Hello" and "My name is/What is your name?" It turned out the kids were a little more advanced than we'd expected, so that wasn't the best class ever. But I had my second today, and we were supposed to focus on listening and reading, so I brought in my old git-fiddle (such a lifesaver out here) and performed "Hello, Goodbye" by The Beatles for them. I gave them a lyric sheet with some of the words missing and had them fill it in. It's a trick I employed while teaching in Cairo as well, and it's a great one. I mean, I doubt Paul McCartney had this in mind when writing it, but it's pretty much the perfect song for people learning English. You say yes, I say no. You say stop, and I say go, go, go. You say goodbye, and I say hello. Etc etc etc I'm sure you all know it. The kids loved it; it was a great lesson. So that's good.
In other news, the first member of our group early terminated a few days ago. That's a Peace Corps euphemism for "went home." He was at another training site, so we don't know the details, but it's just weird (and pretty intimidating), especially considering he was one of the last people we all expected to. He was actually one of my roommates in Zuunmod, and he seemed like he was just so into the experience. I wonder what happened. So you know, on average about 30-40% of PCVs don't make it through the whole twenty-seven months for one reason or another. So that means, out of our group of seventy-five, more than twenty or so will probably go home. I hope I'm not one of them.
Anyway, that's all for now. Hopefully you'll be hearing from me again soon!
The reason I'm saying oopslarai is that I had a whole nice blog entry written out that I'd put on my flash drive to bring in and just post (the internet is so slow here that I'd rather not waste my time typing and editing), and then I forgot the flash drive at home. I don't live that far away, but it's about ninety-five degrees out today, and I didn't feel like walking there and then all the way back just to get it. So I'll try and get 'er done tomorrow.
That entry includes, among other things, a pretty comprensive description of my family, some details about how things have been going (the answer is pretty well), hopefully a few pics, and a great story at the end.
I actually came to post it yesterday, but after a few minutes on the internet, the whole town lost power for several hours, effectively putting the kabosh on that plan. Such is life in rural Mongolia.
But anyway, I wrote that entry last weekend, and a few things have happened since then that I wanted to add anyway, so I may as well write them here!
The main thing is... I've started teaching! During training we have a couple classes a week to start putting the skills we're learning into practice. Monday was my first, and I basically taught them how to say "Hello" and "My name is/What is your name?" It turned out the kids were a little more advanced than we'd expected, so that wasn't the best class ever. But I had my second today, and we were supposed to focus on listening and reading, so I brought in my old git-fiddle (such a lifesaver out here) and performed "Hello, Goodbye" by The Beatles for them. I gave them a lyric sheet with some of the words missing and had them fill it in. It's a trick I employed while teaching in Cairo as well, and it's a great one. I mean, I doubt Paul McCartney had this in mind when writing it, but it's pretty much the perfect song for people learning English. You say yes, I say no. You say stop, and I say go, go, go. You say goodbye, and I say hello. Etc etc etc I'm sure you all know it. The kids loved it; it was a great lesson. So that's good.
In other news, the first member of our group early terminated a few days ago. That's a Peace Corps euphemism for "went home." He was at another training site, so we don't know the details, but it's just weird (and pretty intimidating), especially considering he was one of the last people we all expected to. He was actually one of my roommates in Zuunmod, and he seemed like he was just so into the experience. I wonder what happened. So you know, on average about 30-40% of PCVs don't make it through the whole twenty-seven months for one reason or another. So that means, out of our group of seventy-five, more than twenty or so will probably go home. I hope I'm not one of them.
Anyway, that's all for now. Hopefully you'll be hearing from me again soon!
John, I love, love, love your blogs. I am glad it going well. I had no idea it would be so hot in the summer and then it is so cold in winter....Hugs!
ReplyDeleteyou are just so funny like that! what a cute sentence. i love they idea that paul mccartney's music is being sung to those kids by my brilliant boy. what a clever plan to teach them. poor paul though, he couldn't do what you're doing, as he's a vegetarian. how's the food?
ReplyDeleteit's neat to hear about the trials of your attempts to blog, power etc. for some reason right now when i picture you at the library i picture the one in camden maine. and i realize the one you are at must be very very different. xoxox john. i love you.
Great stuff, John. I check every day I have access to a computer. I think you will be one of the 60% that stays, because you are you. Let us know if you get down to the last two of any string. Wouldn't want you to run out, and if you put in an order for a string, be VERy sepcific re : what you want.
ReplyDeleteLibrary in Camden Maine? I've never been there but I can just imagine it looks quite different from John's library. It is so fun to read about your adventures teaching. Teaching is so fun anyway, but imagine teaching with a language barrier? I am so proud of you John for being so creative and so thoughtful of your students. You are the best!
ReplyDelete"...on average about 30-40% of PCVs don't make it through the whole twenty-seven months for one reason or another..."
ReplyDeleteAnd others never leave. Don't believe me? Ask around about the elusive and mysterious Andy Cullen....