Spring Fever....

can't wait for these to ripen!

nothin' like fresh salad!

Spring fever..... Many commonalities with the same antsyness I've experienced in the USA, but some differences too!  We know that technically Spring begins on the date of the Spring Equinox, usually 20th or 21st of March.  Here in Mongolia, we say Spring has arrived, not because of the equinox, or the arrival of crocus or snowdrops, but because the infamous "9 9's" of winter are over!!!!
The sun seems brighter, the hours of daylight longer, the air a little less nippy, though still freezing.  It's all a matter of perspective, isn't it?  No buds here for a long time however, as the ground is frozen still.  The arrival of Spring in my town is welcomed with snow!  Being in the Gobi we don't get much precipitation at all here, though we've enjoyed snow twice so far this month!  It almost feels warm and reminds me of Ohio, with a light snow falling and a moistness in the air that is usually lacking here!
I yearn to be outside more working in the soil, but that's impossible for now.... and I'm still rather lazy in my winter time hibernation mode!  Back in Ohio, I'd be readying to plant some sweet peas this weekend (St. Patrick's Day is perfect for this according to Martha Stewart:)  but here not till May I think!  I have started some flowers inside and still have my salad plants and herbs to tend to...though I really want to start some veggies for the garden now, though I think I"m still too early.  I dream of a green house that I still need to write the grant for....ugh....back to finishing the grant for the dorm windows, which is almost ready, though now I'm having trouble tracking down my letters of recommendation! 

 Collage is what I've been doing as a way of relaxing and not getting crazy cabin fever.... I tried quilting, knitting, drawing and nothing was quite what I wanted. I tried to get my Arts and Crafts Club kids excited about collage, but not so much.  I then realized I wanted to play with collage so this is my result...Kind of my spiritual journey since I've been in Mongolia.  The longer I'm here and the more things I learn about Buddhism, the more I still feel like a Unitarian Universalist with strong Buddhist leanings..

the whole collage

Some of my antsy feeling may be stemming from the current waiting game...I have applied for a 3rd year here in Mongolia and should know by Friday if I'm accepted, and I am nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs (as the old saying goes).  I am also hoping to be a trainer for the new class of volunteers coming to Mongolia in June.... Lots of irons in the fire, just want to know where I'm heading..... A new beginning elsewhere, or a new year beginning here.  As for this feeling of being antsy, this too shall pass.

me and Pete a few years ago:)

Speaking of new beginnings, if you know this cute guy (my eldest son Pete) tell him congratulations....he and his lovely lady Nicole, are expecting a baby in late Summer.

White Month is almost over....

White Month is more commonly known as Tsagaan Sar.  Since ancient times, Mongolia and other eastern and central Asian countries have followed the Lunar Calendar and the twelve year animal cycle.  The Lunar calendar was invented by Central Asian nomadic tribes.
This year is the Year of the Dragon and the prediction is that it will be a rainy year and floods may occur.  Extra rain sounds good, though I certainly don't want my garden to wash out!  I will definitely keep track of this prediction.

Soyombo and his lovely family!

Conan and Laura's first Tsagaan Sar!

traditional celebration with all the fixin's
that's Me on left

White symbolizes happiness, purity and an abundance of milk products.  If only I really liked these milk products, which are not at all like those I know and love at home.  The Tsagaan Sar celebration is to make everything new... starting a new year with a clean home, greeting elders, paying debts, making amends.  Sounds like New Year's all over again.... Oh wait..it is 




So this year I also tried my hand at making a non-traditional version of buuz, the famous holiday dumpling staple.....traditionally they are filled with mutton, but mine were teeming with veggies and soy meat...lots of garlic, carrot, onion, potato, turnip, cabbage green and red peppers all shredded and mixed together... We foreigners quite enjoyed them served with a little soy sauce sprinkled on top.

steamer on back on stove used to cook the buuz

filling dough pockets...

it's a time consuming process....

once you roll the dough, fill it, then crimp it together

my finished tasty pockets of veggies....

My friends and I ate some of the buuz at a party I hosted, though I made over 100 and still have some left in the freezer!  Unless you steam them right away, they must be frozen, then you steam them straight out of the freezer.

us girls posing with Marty's hockey stick... him and his hockey were the reason we went to the lake

but the best part was the goat turds I found!!!!

White month also included playing on a frozen "lake" and the almost 7 mile hike back from said lake one day.. There were six of us, bored and willing to spend the freezing day on an adventure...We found two cabs to drive us out there, setting us each back around $4.25.... told them we'd walk back.. I thought my legs would not make it, and fortunately for me, at the edge of town, when Conan reported we'd walked 6.6 miles, my friend Chuka and her kids saw us, waved me over and drove me home:)  Yep, I didn't care that the rest of my friends had to walk the remaining bit home....(Btw,My legs recovered nicely and weren't achey or sore later..:)

Valentine's Day comes to Mongolia...

having a good time!

 Here Valentine's Day is called Couples Day... I always say that you don't have to be part of a couple to celebrate!  Friends should be each other's valentine and enjoy the day!
A party at the dorm was just the thing:)
Games including a bean bag toss, tic tac toe marathon, musical chairs and guess the number of jelly beans in the glass jar added to the fun.
I love hanging out with these kids and they are all my valentines!

bean bag toss was a hit...

musical chairs

Altai with two of the musical chairs winners, they won these masks

me giving out my home made valentine's cards...

waiting in line to guess the number of jelly beans

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Teachers Day

Teachers Day is celebrated here in Mongolia the first weekend in February and around the world at various times.  There is also World Teachers Day, October 5th.
Teachers are such hard working individuals and deserve recognition and fun from their daily busy, and sometimes very grueling schedule!  Some folks say this profession has it easy, (with plenty of vacations) but think of all the long hours spent outside of the classroom, lesson planning, grading, etc.!
My school invites all the employees, director, teachers, cleaners, jejurs, plumber, cooks, etc.... everyone joins in the festivities!  An awards ceremony is held, with various prizes, plaques, medals etc. being given out.  These awards are very revered here and those winning them are held in very high esteem.  
There is a lighter side to awards as well, with student voted awards for best image, funniest, most talented, best young teacher etc..  Most teachers trade their teaching duties for one day with a student and the kids have loads of fun with this assignment!
As a Community Youth Development volunteer, I am not exactly a teacher, though I do co-teach several classes weekly with English teachers.  I have an easy gig, as I work on conversational skills and pronunciation with the students; thus miss out on the lesson planning, the teaching of grammar, grading of tests, taking attendance and all the other major responsibilities that go along with being a teacher.  However, I do get referred to as Jo teacher and respected by the students.
Hats off to teachers everywhere!

Me and Happy (Oyun)

Hajidma (dorm teacher), Otgon (school director) and two of school staff

Altai (dorm teacher) with school electrician

Foreign Language Dept. of my school

...and you think your job stinks?

Really I wanted to title this post "Take this job and shove it"....after the old time country song, which then goes on to say "I ain't workin' here no more"!  Nope, not talking about PC, this job is cool... but I'm sure some of you reading this have had jobs that drove you crazy, had you dying for pay day, or just plain old dreading getting out of bed in the morning!  I know I've had a few!
People here in this struggling democracy do many jobs that I just cannot fathom!   The photos for this piece were taken in UB in winter.  I was cold just walking around outside, wearing long johns top and bottom, heavy jeans, wool sweater, 2 pair of smart wool socks, fuzzy lined boots, fuzzy lined hat, plus hood, scarf and heavy mittens.  The bitter cold wind chilled me to the core!  I cannot imagine having to tolerate the cold and work in those conditions just to eek out a living!

these women have chopped up the ice and snow from this patio and are moving it

road snow removal crews

changing billboard in daytime... 

ice and snow is chipped away

men in trees hanging holiday lights

ice and snow removal in progress

Ice and snow removal is a big job here, a long and arduous process.... no such things as snow shovels, snow blowers, snow plows.  People are the snow removal machines.  As the woman above are shown, chipping away at the frozen mess, it's then scooped onto a tarp and moved.  Streets are eventually cleared much the same way, with people wearing orange vests.
More crappy jobs here abound... I witnessed men changing billboards at night, when the temperature was at least 20 degrees colder than daytime, police officers standing in busy intersections directing traffic day and night, crews laying cable at night in the bitter cold, women and men on the sidewalks hawking their wares, ie. phone units, candy, cigarettes, sweaters etc., and the folks who work on the buses and trolley cars, collecting fares. 
So the next time you are feeling unhappy with your work, look on the bright side; you could have a job doing snow removal in Mongolia! 

Winter time is for dreaming....

Winter is the perfect time for staying inside, dreaming, planning and reflecting.  I personally like winter for that very reason!  Snuggled up in the warmth and comfort of home, with a good book,  puzzle, knitting, movie, coffee; perfect for dreaming and reflecting about one's life.


Recently the birth of Carter, my "surrogate grandson", has inspired lots of reflection for me.  Since my daughter Vicki passed away over 5 years ago, her best friend Courtney became my "surrogate daughter".  Now, there are a couple other best friend,s Heaven and Joanna, that I keep in touch with, though not closely.


Courtney and I have helped each other heal from Vicki's absence as much as one can help another in such circumstances. We have hung out together and built a close and caring friendship.  One that has helped me through many tough times when I've been missing Vicki.   I served as the maid of honor in her wedding to Cody, whom Vicki knew and definitely approved of, in Vicki's stead.  It was an honor for me to be part of their ceremony and now more than two years later, to meet (via pictures on facebook for now) of their little offspring!


Being across the world in Mongolia, I will meet Carter on Skype sometime soon.  As my eldest son Pete tells me, we are just like the Jetsons (awesome cartoon) now, where we can see each other on the phone!!


My reflection occasionally brings me sadness and mournful feelings.  Vicki loved children, and though I don't know if she would have had any kids by now..... I know that I will never get that experience of knowing my daughters children.  She would've been a great mother, as Courtney will!  Like Vicki, Courtney is very caring, giving, loving and kind.  The exact traits I admired in my daughter.  


The universe has it's own rhythm, and life goes on no matter what..... I am very happy to have Courtney (and Cody, Brutus the adorable dog).. and now Carter in my life!

Happy New Year!

me taunting one of the jejurs who always teases me! at school  shin jil party!

me in the middle with my amazing dorm teacher counterparts!

cool fireworks in Suukbaatar Square

the fireworks extravaganza reminded me of July 4th at home

Mongolian President wishing the country a happy and prosperous new year

Since New Year's is the big holiday celebrated here in Mongolia, parties and celebrations abound!  I personally have attended more gatherings and festivities here than my usual at home.
This holiday season I attended the dorm students Shin Jil party, where the girls looked like prom goers and the boys very dapper!  It was rather low key this year; held at the dorm, in the dining hall.
Then was the teachers party which likewise, is extremely formal and quite a good time!  For New Year's Eve I came to the big city where many places are closed, as many families stay home and celebrate.  The gang of PCV's I hung out with managed to find an Irish Pub open, where I enjoyed pork and sauerkraut for dinner!
Fireworks and a televised speech by the Mongolian President were the highlights on the square in Ulaanbaatar at midnight.  Though there were mostly foreigners there, quite a few locals were also present.  

Father Winter at dorm party!

dorm girls having fun!

two of my favorite dorm boys, holding the new year's cards i gave all the students

along with Father Winter are the Snow Princesses and the Mini Santas

even the boys are all dressed up!

I don't usually make resolutions for the New Year, but I'd like to think that I'll continue to attempt to learn more about myself, work on my spirituality and make the world a better place however I can.  My new years wish for everyone is love and happiness, wherever and whenever you can find it.  Give love and it'll come right back to you.  Welcome 2012, Year of the Dragon.