Okay so that title is a bit melodramatic, since we don't know for sure whether she's dead. But yeah, Jagaa, our beloved dog, is gone. We went to the summer camp in Dariganga that I'd mentioned, and we brought Jagaa along. We figured she'd benefit from the chance to run around and play with other dogs, since our friend Sarah had her puppy Lloyd there as well. And benefit she did. Well actually, she was off leash for about seven minutes before she found the hole into which all the waste from the camp kitchen was poured. Trash, soap, dirt, rotten meat, what smelled like feces. For some reason she jumped in. Eventually she got exhausted of having so much fun and climbed out, only to run around and terrify the campers with what had to be one of the worst odors any of us have ever smelled. We took her down to the lake and shampooed her three times, as you can see above. Even then, the smell remained, though greatly subdued. But in spite of that blip, Jagaa was doing very well. And then one day, when it was time to give her dinner, she was nowhere to be found. A small search party was organized, but to no avail. So we went to bed and hoped the next day she'd show up. She didn't. Kaede and I took a couple hours and walked all around the camp and the town and the areas in between, but, well, how to put it. This is a great big enormous open country, and a dog could wind up just about anywhere. Especially one as lacking in survival skills as Jagaa.
Unfortunately we had to leave camp that day. It was pretty sad. That was about two weeks ago now. I'm pretty much over it, but sometimes something reminds me of her and I get a little upset. She was a lot of work, but she'd come a long way too, and I do miss her. Of course, since we don't know what happened to her, there's always the chance she'll turn back up in Dariganga. Sarah lives there, so she's got her eye out. We may not have seen the last of Jargalnohoi. Either way, at least we still have Baagii!
After that, we swung back by Dornod to pick up our stuff and then headed west to Arkhangai for Naadam, the festival of the three manly sports. That was pretty nice. Our good friends Andrew and Pico came along, so it was nice to show off Kaede's beautiful former home. The last day we went to some hot springs, which was simply divine, in spite of the nasty sunburn I got.
Now we're sitting in the Chinggis Khaan International Airport, awaiting our flight to Beijing. There we'll sit around for about four hours and then hop on a plane to San Francisco. I can't believe we're going back. It's gonna be weird. It seems even weirder than the fact that we'll be married in a month, although perhaps that'll hit me harder as it approaches. Anyway, I hope you're all having a wonderful summer! I'll try to keep blogging from the states.
Unfortunately we had to leave camp that day. It was pretty sad. That was about two weeks ago now. I'm pretty much over it, but sometimes something reminds me of her and I get a little upset. She was a lot of work, but she'd come a long way too, and I do miss her. Of course, since we don't know what happened to her, there's always the chance she'll turn back up in Dariganga. Sarah lives there, so she's got her eye out. We may not have seen the last of Jargalnohoi. Either way, at least we still have Baagii!
After that, we swung back by Dornod to pick up our stuff and then headed west to Arkhangai for Naadam, the festival of the three manly sports. That was pretty nice. Our good friends Andrew and Pico came along, so it was nice to show off Kaede's beautiful former home. The last day we went to some hot springs, which was simply divine, in spite of the nasty sunburn I got.
Now we're sitting in the Chinggis Khaan International Airport, awaiting our flight to Beijing. There we'll sit around for about four hours and then hop on a plane to San Francisco. I can't believe we're going back. It's gonna be weird. It seems even weirder than the fact that we'll be married in a month, although perhaps that'll hit me harder as it approaches. Anyway, I hope you're all having a wonderful summer! I'll try to keep blogging from the states.
