Planes, Trains, Boats, Taxis.....

Still in Thailand....land of surf, sand, heat and humidity, plus amazingly happy easy going people.  What a wonderful transition before returning home to the USA.  Just finishing week one of a three week vacation and so far it seems we've taken most forms of transportation available.

A plane from Ulaanbataar to Bangkok, via Bejing.....taxi from airport to hostel, and the air conditioning was heavenly!

We booked the "overnight train" from Bangkok to come down south to the island.....we got the package deal of train, then bus to dock, then ferry to the island. (about $26.) 

Sadly for us, the only tickets left for the night train were 3rd class.  We'd read on line to try to get a sleeper, but they were sold out.  What the hell, part of the trip is the adventure, right?  We needed to get to the island, so we took the 7:30 p.m. overnight train.  3rd class are padded benches, no air conditioning, windows that open and fans blowing the hot air around. Surrounded by many other foreigners and some locals, we hunkered down to attempt to catch a few zzz's......We figured we slept maybe 10 minutes per hour....

The first few hours were too hot to actually touch or lean on your seat mate....and the train jostled way too much to sleep sitting up.... Later with our window stuck open, it was almost too cold.  All part of the adventure!

At one point in the night I was certain there was a reclining seat open in the next car and in stealth mode snuck in and relaxed and closed my eyes for about 2 minutes when the lady next to me tapped my arm.... her husband who'd been in the toilet returned.  They had a good laugh and I shrugged my shoulders good natured and slunk back to my bench. 

If I never take another overnight train sitting up trying to nap, that would be great.  Uncomfortable, sleep deprived and giddy by the time we arrived for the bus (2 hours late) we were whisked away to the dock and loaded onto the ferry.... 

Luckily for us, we have sleeper car reservations on our train back tomorrow.  Though no air con (which we've enjoyed here all week in our dorm room with the huge comfy beds) we each have our own roomy bunk and a fan in the room.  I look forward to my continuing good night's sleep.....(around $33. is worth the extra few baht).

Greetings from Thailand

Or in the words of the Thai, "saw wee", which translates roughly as hello, or how are you?  After two years in the relatively low humidity and high altitude of Mongolia, I am now in the very humid and lower altitude of Thailand.


Worn out from the goodbyes, packing and re-packing, only to still have to pay extra for overweight baggage, and finally arriving at our guest house at close to 2 am.... I'm running on excitement right now.  Oh yea, I'm officially an RPCV!!!  .and on vacation in Thailand!

Sharayah, me and Brittany leaving Mongolia

Is it August 1st yet?

Yep, that's right, you heard it here first....Now that it's almost time to leave, I'm waiting for the day.  After being in the city for a week, doing lots of Peace Corps paperwork and preparation to become a RPCV (returned Peace Corps Volunteer), it's almost done.

Two more days and I'll be on the way to the airport with my huge suitcase and new easy to carry backpack, and it's goodbye Mongolia.  I have loved my time here, and when being out and about the city I'm having little pangs of nostalgia....the last times to go places, eat foods, see people.  In the words of David Bowie......Chchchchchch CHANGES.....turn and face the strain.....ch ch changes....

Soon I'll be writing from the beaches of Thailand:)

One step closer to leaving...

The leaving and goodbye process here is nearly as bad as leaving America.  There is the common thread of saying goodbye to people, celebrating the time here and the friendships developed.  There is also the same feeling of "isn't it time to leave yet?"  


I can only go through the process for so long before I am feeling crazy.... ooops too late.  I decided to be proactive and hosted a leaving Mongolia party at my place. I bought lots of snack foods, some vodka and mixers and invited all my site mates as well as some of my Mongolian counterparts and friends.  I advised the site mates we needed to do it up right and we could enjoy all the drinks if no one else showed...


I considered the party to be a success with 10 Mongolian friends stopping by and my site mates and I drinking, laughing, playing a couple games of dice and  then dining at our favorite restaurant one last time.  This was followed by the photos on the statue, a couple more drinks at my place then dancing at the local club.  It was a good send off, until we meet again....


Next, one week in Ulaanbaataar to finish up Peace Corps paperwork and such, then off to Thailand.  Still a few more goodbyes and celebrations here.

My school director Otgon rode with me on the bus from UB to Arvaikheer two years ago, so it was fitting that she saw me off on my last bus ride to UB

You Can Close Your Eyes...

In the words of the gorgeous and talented Johnny Depp, "you can close your eyes to the things you don't want to see, but you can't close your heart to the things you don't want to feel".  Wow, handsome and insightful.


This quote really resonates with me as I pack, sort, give away, throw away, clean and attempt to mentally prepare for leaving my home of the past 2 years.  I am stressed out beyond normal capacity worrying about the looming changes.  Good thing I don't have much going on now except preparing, enjoying, traveling and spending time with my local friends.  I have now gotten a cold/sinus infection, my first in over a year, and it's probably due to self induced stress.  This is how my body reacts to such things.... headache, inability to sleep well, and green snot in my head....


Though I am totally excited for what lies ahead, I cannot keep the feelings of loss and sadness at bay. 


It was more than two years ago I was on the other side of the world, having similar thoughts and feelings.  Coming here to Mongolia, joining the Peace Corps, leaving my home, family, friends, pets.... My comfort zone.  Even though I had to put things to bring into two large suitcases, I still have loads of belongings in Ohio... furniture, clothes, kitchen wares, household items, etc. stacked in my friend Kay's basement.  Here when I leave, I must reduce the goods to the suitcases., 


In one week I will be on a bus to the city, with my one large suitcase crammed with a few clothes and lots of gifts and memorabilia from Mongolia...(I may be taking one large and one small suitcase.....always worry about having more than I can handle by myself).  And carrying a equally stuffed backpack for a vacation to SE Asia, then at last home to America for a few weeks.  


Many last times  are approaching...the last time I'll ride that bus with the loud annoying music and crying babies... the last time to eat at my favorite restaurant in town, last times with friends.


Now, similar thing, different place.  Hard as I might try, I cannot close my heart to feelings of sadness at leaving here and moving on to my next adventure.  My heart and my being has been enriched by this experience.

The Countdown is On!

Though I continue to seemingly be in denial about how soon I am leaving Mongolia, Arvaikheer, my apartment, my site mates, my counterparts, Peace Corps... My entire life for the past 26 months is changing!


With less than two weeks until I am on the bus to UB with the stuff I am taking back to America, it's kind of hard to remain oblivious about it.  However, I like to cope with such things by procrastinating.  Thus, here I am doing much thinking about cleaning my apartment and going through my things, (and blogging about it) without actually doing a whole lot of work.


Over the past few days I've developed a head cold so I feel even less motivated, but scared of running out of time, frightened to leave the comfort of my old soviet block building and sad to leave my friends here.


Time to face the music..... is it Mongolian throat singing, perhaps monks chanting?  Or is it the little finger cymbals of Thai music, and the sound of the roaring surf I'll soon hear there?  Or maybe the country music from the radio stations back home, or America the Beautiful; the only patriotic song I know and is in an easy range that I've belted out to my counterparts on a couple of occasions.  Oh my it's a combination of all of them and time to get to work!

Farewell My Friends

A very large part of being a Peace Corps Volunteer is learning to go with the flow, swim with the tide, roll with the punches,  and just generally be chill.  Sometimes the daily challenges experienced as an American living in a foreign culture can seem overwhelming.  Relaxing and not getting your panties in a bunch or your knickers in a twist is the key to success and adjustment.

While maintaining friendships back home can be a lifesaver, it's the relationships we forge here that really make a difference!  I have kept in touch with family and friends back in Ohio and when I said goodbyes I didn't want tears.....  Now with my plans in place for leaving Mongolia, I intend to see them all soon.

Therein lies the difference with friendships fostered while living abroad.... Will I ever see some of these amazing pals again?  When my Mongolian friends ask me when I will return to their beloved country, I tell them I don't know if I ever will.... (perhaps if there is a PC Response position available in the future matching my qualifications)... but I in all likelihood may never pass this way again.  Wow.

Joyce C., me and Erin L.

Regardless of seeing them again or not, keeping in touch may or may not happen, via email, facebook, etc..my friends here have touched me in innumerable ways, buoyed me up when I felt down, and shared lots of great times together.  With fond memories and lots of love, I will hold them in my heart.  To all of you I say, thank you for enriching my experience here, I will miss you!