What would you do with One Shot?

On the prairie in Colorado....

"Look,
If you had
One shot,
One opportunity,
To seize everything you ever wanted
In one moment
Would you capture it
or just let it slip?"
    ~from "Lose Yourself" by Eminem

I am not a fan of rap music. However, when I watched the movie 8 Mile a number of years ago, I did find myself having respect and admiration for those that could turn a rhyme on a dime. 

Tonight I'm preparing for my husband to come home after being gone all week. I'm cleaning house and making dinner. I'm drinking a little of my favorite jug beer and listening to music, as I often do. And "Lose Yourself" came up in the Playmix. This caused me to reflect and ponder a few things. 

Two years ago today I was being given an epidural and prepared for what was essentially exploratory surgery. I was scared and didn't know what the outcome would be. You can read about that in last year's reflective post. Now I'm another year past that scary event.....and all I can think is, "it is possible to completely change one's life." 

I've been in Mongolia for nine months. Spring break has arrived with only one quarter left of the school year to summer break. Soon I will celebrate a year of my new life. The novelty has yet to wear off. I'm thankful for my work at ASU. I''m thankful for the friends I've made--my fellow American Wives (Michelle, Tricia, Melanie, and Brittany), my co-workers at ASU (especially K, Jen, and Maggie), and all the lovely Mongolian women I work with--especially Doljinsuren. Yes, I have been blessed beyond measure. I make plans just one or two days in advance.....and sometimes, even IN THE MOMENT. I love the spontaneity that IS A WAY OF LIFE in this country. 

People have called me Brave. Or Crazy. Maybe I'm a mix of both. Mostly....I'm Happy. We are human beings....and there is always a choice in one's lot, one's situation....I challenge you.....to capture the moments that present themselves. If I hadn't stepped outside a ger in search of something different, something unknown, I wouldn't have all that I now possess. I am rich....in the intangible mysteries of love and joy. It's lovely. And beautiful. And thrilling. 

So I ask.....what could be possible for you....if you did something different? Something unexpected? Something.......else?

The Paperwork is Neverending

In our ger

A little over a year ago, I began to share the news that I was in love with a man from Mongolia and that I would be moving there. A colleague of mine, a French woman married to an American man, recommended that I read Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert (interestingly enough, another co-worker had already loaned the book to me). I was familiar with the movie Eat, Pray, Love which was based on Gilbert's earlier memoir of the same name. Engaged at the time to a man from another country, I took her advice and read the book. 

The book begins with Gilbert and her partner (a citizen of another country) arriving to the U.S. and her partner being told he could no longer come and go. In order for him to be in the U.S., they would NEED to get married. This was not their plan. They had been perfectly happy to cohabitate and each had already been through a divorce before. BUT......international laws made it impossible to continue as they'd been doing. The remainder of the book follows them as they work with lawyer to get themselves legally hitched and the necessary paperwork completely so that they could have a life together in the U.S. The book also looks at marriage from various perspectives--historically, as well as from various cultures. It was an enlightening read as I packed up my belongings for container shipment and sold my furniture. Though I knew I would have a work visa for the year, Zorig and I had every intention of getting married as soon as we could get the paperwork done. 

Marriage Certificate holder

I arrived to Mongolia on July 2nd (can you believe I've already been here 9 months?!!?). Zorig began chipping away at the paperwork necessary to apply for marriage in September. I had arrived with everything I knew I needed from the list: divorce decree, results of TB and HIV tests, proof of salary (showing that I could financially support myself), a letter from CO stating that I had no criminal record, notarized copies of my passport, and passport photos. Zorig also had to provide a host of documentation. He visited the Office of Civil Registration multiple times--checking and double-checking--before he finally submitted our application for marriage around the 21st of September. I won't reiterate how that all played out, you can read about it in this earlier post. That was our first paperwork hurdle.

Fast forward. Now we are at work to change my visa from Work to Spousal. I did return to my maiden name in January. And since that time I've been at work to get all the trickle-down documents changed.....SS card (Thanks US Embassy for making that easy!), credit cards, retirement accounts, etc, etc....  

Zorig has been to the Khoroo Office (think municipal office for our neighborhood) three times already trying to get me registered as living here (initially the school completed my work visa paperwork with me living in the ASU teacher apartments) in our apartment. First visit--the Khoroo office was closed as everyone one was attending training. Second visit--the woman responsible was in the hospital getting her appendix removed. Third visit--the office said I needed to get my address changed on my Alien Card first. I communicated with the Mongolian at ASU that handles all the visa paperwork. She informed us that the Khoroo office is confused, as the Immigration office NEEDS a Residence letter from the Khoroo office IN ORDER TO CHANGE the address on my Alien Card. (Huge Eye Roll here!!!) I went this week to get notarized copies of my passport and our marriage certificate--hopefully to ease things for Zorig. I paid just $1.37 for four notarized copies (two of each document--just in case). 

Zorig will return to the Khoroo office this next week to push forward. Once we get all the documentation we need and submit it, it can take as long as 2 months to get the spousal visa. Time to simply stay the course. 

My hope is that we can get the Visa type changed...and that I can get my new Alien card to reflect both my name change AND my status change. BUT....I wouldn't be surprised if I have to do it twice--first to reflect name and address change, then again for the change in visa type. It's only money, and paperwork.

Found "Arizona"--four states checked off. 

Additionally, we have two more "paperwork problems" (think math word problem) ahead of us. We will get the stack of necessary paperwork prepared this month to apply for Zorig's travel visa to South Africa for our summer trip (where we will meet up with my dad for a safari). And we need to submit an ASU application for Enji for next school year.

I suspect these won't be our last journeys in paperwork. Zorig and I both can find it frustrating--we get to the point where we are exhausted from the running around, the copying and notarizing, the document requesting and collection, and paying the costs. But then we rally and push onward. We knew this wouldn't always be easy. And if the paperwork is the HARDEST part, then we are doing well. Our understanding of one another only increases (his English improves continually and I'm beginning to hear words and communicate in small ways in Mongolian), our connection deepens, the building of hopes and dreams continues--and the rest is just, well, paperwork. :)

Spring is in the Air!!

I'm blaming the arrival of warm weather and a consuming feeling of spring for my absence here on the blog. I have two other POSTS started, but don't have the time to invest the energy they require (fairly reflective and intense topics), SO I will simply check-in with you all with this fluffy, short post to say that I am well and thriving in Mongolia. 

The cold of winter was never as bad as I imagined. The pollution was never as bad as I envisioned. That's not to say it wasn't cold or polluted at times, but when you have a picture of the WORST IMAGINABLE and reality falls short, well, I guess I'd say I'm glad my imagination is so effective. I had to wear layers and sometimes my face mask. But all in all, I think I have acclimatized to Mongolia. Shoot.....it was 45 this past weekend and I was HOT! I dropped down from a down coat to a fleece jacket, and then from a fleece jacket to a fleece vest (wearing a thin, long-sleeved sweater as my primary layer). Spring has sprung!!

 on the Square

This past weekend was my good friend K's birthday celebration. We began with dinner at Le Triskell, followed by Karaoke, and then some peeps even went on for dancing. Zorig and I left after a couple hours of karaoke. It was lovely to be out at night and NOT wrapped up in long-johns and layer upon layer of warmth. A scarf and coat were all that the night time air required. 

Now for a confession of sorts. I have become a girl that drinks "jug beer." To the left you will see a jug--2.5 liters of 5.5% alcohol beer. The name means "falls" as in waterfalls, or perhaps it might be better translated to rapids. 2.5 liters is about 84 ounces or five 16 ounce beers. And according to this website, this beer would be comparable to Bud Ice, Icehouse, or Samuel Adams Pale Ale. I can't say I'd have opted to drink any of those by choice while I lived in the U.S. Well, at least not after my teens or early 20s. :) 

But in this new place and time, I find drinking a jug (or two) of beer with my husband is a most enjoyable pastime. Talking, sharing information and stories, drinking and toasting to love and good health--yes, I enjoy these moments with my husband. Another upside, this 2.5 liter jug of beer costs less than $6. Oh...and the handle is most convenient!

Hope to be back with you again soon.