Mongolian Habits to Adopt

In the countryside 

Sometimes I like to think about what aspects of the Mongolian lifestyle I would take home with me to the U.S. I don't yet know when that will be, but I know at some point I will relocate back to my home country. 

First, I LOVE that people take their shoes off at the entry door. I cringe when I reflect on all the years I walked IN SHOES throughout my homes/apartments ON CARPET. Oh...so nasty! Here, and I expect in most of Asia, you take your shoes off at the door. In my own apartment I wear slippers around and even offer extra slippers to visitors. Most people are comfortable moving around in their stocking feet. But I appreciate that this keeps my home CLEAN longer. If you think about it, our shoes go EVERYWHERE. They are covered in dirt, grime, oil and other auto fluids, and here in Mongolia, I know they are also coated in urine. Animal and human. Oh, and lots of concrete dust. So yes, I LOVE that we take our shoes off at the door. 

Secondly, I've noticed that upon entering the apartment the first thing that Zorig and Enji do is to wash their hands. My friend Doogii and her daughter Zaya did the same thing when they visited me. This makes sense because we've been outside riding on a public bus or a taxi and who knows what our hands have been touching. I've adopted this habit and plan to do it the rest of my life. It makes perfect sense. 

Thirdly, and I will have NO ability to make this change in the U.S., but I want to discuss it anyway. When you purchase electronics in Mongolia, you generally make payment to a cashier then take your receipt to the first floor (remember that Malls in Mongolia are built UP and not out) where you show your receipt. An employee goes to collect your appliance or electronic from storage and then they unpack it, plug it in, and show you that it functions. This ensures that you don't have to return the item. Granted, this means more work up front; but avoids that LONG line of returns at the front of Walmart. Strangely, it's proactive--which is not generally Mongolian imho! 

Additionally, because many of us are walking the item to our home, the employee creates a  handy-dandy handle from fat scotch tape so that it's easy to carry the item home. They do this free of charge, of course. I think it's brilliant!

There are certainly other habits or ways of life I'd like to take with me....but these are a few to get started with that I've been reflecting on recently. 

I'll end with this original store exterior that I happened by on the way to visit my in-laws recently. I love coming across random things like this on the streets of Ulaanbaatar. I confess that this week has shifted us into winter. It was cold and blustery for the last few days. The days are getting shorter. Now I look forward to Dec 20 and the shift to days getting longer again. While the cold is extreme and the pollution will get bad, it is the darkness that gets me down. But when the new year arrives, we'll be climbing out of the darkness. It's been a great week off for Fall Break. Back to work on Monday!! Cheers!

How the Army made me "Mongolia-Ready"

While walking home from work a couple weeks ago I was struck with a strange, but apt, realization--the military training I participated in when I was young (I joined when I was 17 years old and a junior in high school) prepared me for life in Mongolia! As I hoofed the three miles from school to the apartment, I started to make a mental list of all the skills or experiences that translated to this current life. I thought you might enjoy hearing about them. Here goes....

"Humping"

No...this is not a sexual reference! It means carrying everything you need with you (most often on one's back) and relying on your own two feet (aka black leather express) to get you anywhere and everywhere. This is 100% my life in Mongolia. Without a car to cart things around in, I rely on sturdy backpacks, super-strength plastic bags, and my own feet. I'm always humping something across town. This means I need GOOD footwear and good quality bags. Strangely the backpack I purchased at a high price a year and a half ago FOR the safari in South Africa has proved to be excellent! I remember scoffing at the price then--but was in a bind because the packing list said an OD green backpack was required and it was the ONLY one I could find in UB. It has proved to be a smart investment after all, getting daily use beyond that 10 day safari. 

Throwback Pic!

Cattle Trucks

As I used every core muscle in my body the other morning to hold myself erect on the crammed public bus, I had a mild flashback to being 17 years old, holding two heavy army duffel bags, and being yelled at by drill sergeants while we loaded ourselves onto "cattle trucks" to be transported to our home for eight weeks of Basic Training. While I love the convenience and low cost of riding the public bus here in UB (one ride is about 20 cents), in the morning it DOES feel like one is a sardine in an overstuffed can. While I expect buses have passenger limits for safety purposes, they are NOT observed here. If you can push your way onto the bus, then you can ride. We only ride about 4 km but it's a jerky ride as the driver responds to the crazy traffic and the stops in between. You work your core muscles as well as hold on for dear life trying desperately to NOT bang into the people around you. 

Mail is Awesome!

Mail call during Basic Training was a highlight and my family delivered in that department. My father wrote me a brief note EVERY DAY. I still have them. Occasionally he would slip in a leaf or pine needle to remind me of home. Getting mail from the "outside" world made it feel a little less foreign and alienating as life on a military installation does have a "bubble" feel to it. Life in UB is different than life in the U.S. though more and more Western conveniences and products are becoming available month by month. That said, it's yet LOVELY to go to the post office and find a card from a friend or my godmother, or best of all--a care package with treasures from my homeland. Recently this included a package with FITTED sheets as well as a package of Twizzlers and Reese's Peanut Butter cups. 

Hurry up and Wait!

I expect this aspect is true no matter where one is in the world. In the Army we were trained to rush to the Mess Hall for chow, only to have to wait in a long line to finally be served. We rushed to formation, only to wait for the slow-poke (Kirkpatrick!) that was ALWAYS sloppy late. And then we'd all be dropped to do push-ups as punishment for the lazy one. Yes, the Army taught me about forced patience. Here in Mongolia there is some of this--hurrying to the bus stop to have to wait longer than expected for the right line to show up (and that has room on it!). But Mongolians generally run on a different time clock. Recent example from a friend--she arrived for a physical therapy session at the appointed hour only to be told that the therapists weren't yet there. When they arrived, they said it was because of the rain. Now....this was a mild drizzle, not a torrential downpour. So yes, punctuality is NOT valued so much here. As expats we often refer to it as simply, "Mongolian time."

Camaraderie

Most of my fellow American Wife pals

After spending twelve years in the Army National Guard, I separated in 2003. It was the right decision at the time, but I'd be lying if I said it was a happy choice. The military creates a unique experience with what we call camaraderie. Before this time in my life, I had NEVER experienced camaraderie in the civilian world. In the Army it was about being thrown into unexpected situations, often unprepared, and with a hodge-podge of people from various walks of life, ages, backgrounds, and having to figure something out, make a plan, and survive to thrive. The women I served with were not high school classmates. They didn't know my family, my background, or really anything about who I was or wanted to be. But when you are exhausted from getting up to do fireguard at 1 am, then up again at 3:30 am for physical training, then later in the day have to hold hands of the woman next to you because she can't see because of the eyes-watering, nose-snotting, can't-breathe-because-of-gas-exposure-in-the-gas-chamber training exercise....well, you just learn to appreciate those beside you that have endured the same as you and helped when and if they could. 

I have a great camaraderie--what we choose to call solidarity--with my fellow American wives. While each of our relationships and families is uniquely ours, we have backgrounds that reflect one another and a shared, collective understanding about where we came from and the challenges and gifts that a life in Mongolia offers us. These amazing women are a huge part of my life and I am thankful for them--their honesty and compassion--each and every day. 

But...

I no longer sleep like a soldier! In the Army I could sleep anywhere, anytime. Shoot, while at Basic Training at Ft Leonard Wood, MO, we took turns sleeping on cold hard tiles in the tiny space behind our wall lockers. Yes, sleep was a precious commodity when training.  Between the early wake-ups, the endless days of training, and the shifts of fire guard in the middle of the night......one was perpetually exhausted. While I find myself tired for very different reasons in this modern life, I can no longer sleep anywhere. In fact, I have trouble sleeping in my own bed. In my 40s I find myself sensitive to light AND sound! And even when I stop drinking liquids before 8 PM, I still seem to need to get up twice in the night to use the restroom. I'm going to take the easy way out and blame it all on hormones and being female. I've done what I can....moving to a quieter apartment that is NOT in the central city zone AND hanging different coverings over the windows to create a blackout in the bedroom. But still, I don't sleep like I did as a soldier in the U.S. Army. 

One just never knows how previous roads traveled will impact current ones. I am forever grateful for my time in the military--the experiences it gave me at the time and how it built my ability to exercise resilience. Any thoughts to share on your previous-current path intersections? As always, thanks for reading. 

Minions, Margaritas, and MMMMM!

Summer camp Kiddos

Summer went by all too quickly as it always does. School ended on June 23rd, but I worked our English Summer Camp the two weeks that followed. I worked with the oldest group of students, most of them in the 9-12 years old group. Most of them are in this picture. While I do prefer working with adolescents and teens, I LOVED my two weeks with these students. They were excited to arrive each morning to see what was in store for them. Our theme for this year's camp was, "Every Hero has a Story." We read lots of stories and talked about what makes a person a hero. The weather was cold and rainy on our second field trip Thursday, so we went and saw Despicable Me 3. While I very much enjoyed the original movie, each sequel just gets sillier and sillier. But the kids always seem to love the minions!

Yummy Margaritas!

With summer camp finished, I boarded a jet plane for a speedy two weeks in the USA--all of it spent in Virginia with my mom and various friends and family members. First on the list of things to EAT/DRINK was Mexican. First night we had Mexican. Then we had it again the next night where mom and I enjoyed these HUGE margaritas. Thankfully, this restaurant was just across the street from mom's apartment. No worries about how to get home. While I had hoped we'd get to do Mexican a third time...frankly we ran out of time. AND there were so many other things to eat. McDonald's. Wendy's. Mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce (at a true Italian restaurant). Burgers and fries. Seafood. Breakfast at a diner. And we did manage to stay in a few nights where I enjoyed making either bologna and cheese sandwiches OR hotdogs and cheese sandwiches. I know...that will gross some of you out, I'm sure. While there seem to be sausages everywhere in UB, they are not the salty, tasty hot dogs of the USA. Yes, I'm sure they are filled with terrible-for-you things....but man, they sure taste good! 

Angela, Heather, & Me

Two of my best gal pals from high school journeyed down from Pennsylvania on Sunday to spend what was supposed to be a few hours together (and turned into an overnight crash session). I saw Heather five years ago during the time of our 20th high school reunion. But Ang, well....I can't exactly remember when I saw her last. Neither could she. But probably when we were yet IN high school. Anyway, these gals weren't only just MY high school friends, they were like family to my mom. We made the most of our 17 hours together. We TALKED, we ate, we drank, we told stories, and we drank some more. I wonder if my mother is yet telling the story about how we were all "cut off" by the bar at Chownings Tavern. We were getting a bit loud and rowdy, I think, though our server really liked us. :) We took it home to mom's apartment and continued on with Mongolian vodka. We shared no shortage of laughs and memories into the wee hours.

Fawn, Mel, & Me

The morning after this night of fun I began my four-day intensive Advanced Placement Summer Institute hosted at the College of William & Mary (a place i once fantasized of attending!). I've attended no shortage of teacher trainings and professional development opportunities across my 12+ years of working in the field of education. A few exceptional, some good, most less than mediocre (more often than not....those were mandated by a school or district!). For the FIRST time in my education career I was in a room with 25 educators and NOT ONE felt they needed to dominate every conversation or WOW the other attendees with their wisdom, insight, or experiences. It was a room full of professional educators, some seasoned, some brand new....but each of us with a true respect for the collaborative experience. My table of five shared everything and anything. It was AMAZING! After my participation in the National Writing Project, this summer institute was next best experience. 

Young TJ on the right...

Once the professional development was complete, then I headed into my final weekend of fun before I boarded a plan for Asia. I was blessed to have my sister Fawn (who came from ID) and cousin Melaney (who lives in MD) travel down to spend a fast and furious 48 hours together. We ate, drank, attended events at CW, and played games at nearly midnight. Fawn and I even managed to meet up and exercise in the morning. Okay...that may be stretching the truth. We planned to run, but found walking and talking in the humidity to be more than sufficient. 

After we Escaped the King

We attended a couple of events during the day at CW (heard the Young Thomas Jefferson speak) and went to Escape the King on Saturday night along with our cousin Roz. I'm proud to say....WE DID ESCAPE. Are you kidding? All of us crazy smart people trapped in a room.....with a few random strangers and children? Yes, we managed just fine!

The weekend raced by us in a fury. Over the two weeks I shopped like a madwoman...acquiring things for myself, for my son and husband, and for the in-laws. I arrived with ONE bag (probably about 38 lbs); and I returned with TWO 50 lbs bags (I had been smart enough to pack a second). I confess that a good many of those pounds were books I received at the training OR during the numerous trips that Mom and I made to Barnes and Noble. I can't express how much I miss a LARGE bookstore. 

Home-cooked Meal

My final night was spent in Hampton VA at my cousin Roz's beautiful home. You may be shocked to learn....this was my first and ONLY home-cooked meal across the entire two weeks in the USA. Even I admit that's appalling in retrospect. BUT...I can tell you it was totally WORTH it. First we enjoyed cocktails with a tour of the garden and grounds. then some YUMMY cheeses with grapes. And finally, pork tender loin from the grill. Homemade pesto on pasta. And roasted brussel sprouts. I know I ate more than I should have....but I was in heaven (and knew I was leaving in a few short hours). It was a lovely evening spent with two people whom I adore...my mother and Roz. They support me while I live this life abroad and it wouldn't be possible without them. 

I wrapped up summer with just over three weeks in UB preparing to begin teaching the AP Literature & Comp course for the first time. I'm excited to report that I have 9 of our 21 seniors in the class and I look forward to our 85 minutes together each and every morning. More soon!