A Very Mongol Christmas

Well my first Christmas in Mongolia is done. I celebrated the holiday at my apartment with my site-mates, complete with too much food and a Secret Santa gift exchange. I also got to Skype with my parents purely by (the most delightful) chance, and again with the whole family on Christmas Day (Central time). Of course I wish I had been home, but I'm so glad to have such great site-mates to spend holidays (and everything else!) with.

I must have been a very good girl! Look what Santa brought me! Thanks Mom & Dad, Mr. & Mrs. Ray and Crystal & Andy!

Deb, Zoloo, and Merrie.

M22s PCVs represent! Koty, me, John.

John and Kaede. John's making eggnog from scratch!

Food and gifts table. Where there's food, Bagii (John & Kaede's cat) is nearby.

The "pot-luck to share" food in the kitchen.

Our roasted suckling pig. We named it AMTTAЙ (amt-tai), which means "delicious" or "tasty."

Yes, I ate some of little Amttai. The me of six months ago doesn't even know what's going on anymore, although I still don't particularly like the taste of meat. Still sort of "Meh" about it...

John, on the other hand, loved little Amttai. Maybe a little too much...Hahaha!

My awesome Secret Santa gift: My very first Engrish shirt! Love it!

Zoloo hangin' by the tree.

John and Kaede ate too much.

My site-mate Koty slept over on Christmas. We watched "White Christmas" before bed, then made a great brunch for Christmas morning: Bacon, egg fried in bacon grease, oven baked hash browns, and American coffee!