Around town

I've been feeling a little homesick lately, likely due to all the exciting events that recently occurred back State-side. I'm hoping this also means the "vacation" feeling may be wearing off, that I'm realizing I'm here for the next two (or so) years, and soon I'll start thinking of Choibalsan as my home. Anyway, in an effort to combat the homesickness, I decided to make one of Mom's recipes for the dinner I hosted for my site mates (and fellow Access program teachers) tonight. As I'm cooking up the (decidedly scrumptious) stuffed peppers, "Somewhere Out There" shuffles it's way onto my iTunes. Thanks, iTunes. Onions should be the only thing to make you cry in the kitchen! I'm so very glad to have site mates to be social with, and to have a great apartment space to do it in. It really does help in the adjustment process. So with that said, here are some pictures of my new Mongolian home town. There are lots of other sights, but with the weather changing we've had some overcast days and I haven't taken any more pictures.


The airport.


The view from my front porch; there's a playground in the courtyard!


The fountain is in my "backyard."


It's a popular hangout and very pretty.


The town square, also my "backyard."


Close-up of...whatever this is...but it's cool!


Another thing I don't know but looks cool in the square.


These are the flags of all the soums in Dornod.


The fountain/square, looking toward my building (on the far left).


The fountain at night.


Very Bellagio!


Entrance to my school.


My school.


Say what!? A sand volleyball court!?


Oh yeah, this is where I'm supposed to be. :)


The Pilots' Memorial.


Sunset over the power plant smokestack.


My amazing score at the farmers' market. I'll sadly never see most of this 'til next summer.


Statue of Chinggis Khan as a young boy with his mother.


Fall colors...Kinda.


The view outside my "office" window.