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.

MИHИЙ OPOH CУУЦ

It would be a lie if I said I didn't get ridiculously lucky with my site placement. I couldn't be more thrilled with my situation: the 4th largest city in an apartment previously occupied by a PCV. To say this will play a pivotal role in my successfully completing two years of service is an understatement. The ease of existence I will experience vis a vis my ger dwelling friends is unquantifiable, although certainly they get the bonus street cred for rocking a ger. Below I give you a peek at my luxurious accommodations.


Entry


Kitchen


Kitchen


Living Room


Living Room and Porch


Bedroom


Shower (Yeay!)


You have no idea how happy this makes me


My favorite appliance: The washing machine and spin dryer

Some photos from Swearing In

We had our Swearing In Ceremony in Darkhon on Friday, Aug 19. The US Ambassador to Mongolia John Addleton gave us the oath. The first photo below is of Ambassador Addleton and Peace Corps Country Director Ellen Paquette right after we shook hands and she handed me my certificate. Below that is the group shot right after swearing in, then some pictures of my M22 friends all dress up in our Deels. Click on the pictures to make them larger.


Ambassador Addleton, me, CD Ellen Paquette


I'm on the right; look where the carpet ends and go up 2 heads.


Me and Bryce


Me and Daniel


Me and Jerry; he's doing his best "Mongol Face"


Eric, myself and Jason


Stephanie, Ashley, me, Anh and Marikaa



Me and Corey


Chris, Meaghan, Jessica, Chris, Elliot, me, Marty, Jillian and Jennifer

Hello from my new home!

Well I made it through PST and am officially a PCV. Yeay! Here are some photos from my last few weeks of training:


A Buddhist shrine just outside Orkhon.




Buddha carved into the cliff; offerings on the table.


We had a picnic lunch in front of the shrine.


We hiked up the cliff to the OBOO (ohvoh), a kind of good-luck shrine.


One of our last get-togethers in Orkhon.


Playing pool outside.


The sunset on Solstice.




We taught our friend Hongra how to play beer pong on her birthday.


PCTs and host families in front of the school at our host family appreciation dinner (we cooked American dishes pot-luck style).


Jessica, Sara and I did a traditional Mongolian dance later that evening.

We said goodbye to Orkhon and went off to Darkhon for 5 days.


On our way out of town for the last (?) time.


Bye Orkhon! I had NO IDEA where I was moving to at this point. Terrifying!


The whole site placement announcements ordeal (yes ordeal) was exciting and frightening all at the same time. In Darkhon, there's a park that has a giant map of Mongolia in the ground. One by one, our names were called and we were led to stand on the spot where we were placed then given a packet of information about our city/soum and our HCA (Host Country Agency; where we're working). I remember being so nervous standing there, hands clasped, holding my breath, waiting for my name, watching my friends be scattered across this map, wondering if I'd be in a city or soum, a ger or apartment, the Gobi or the far West...I got so very lucky.

I've since moved to my new home, Choibalsan, in Dornod, the 4th largest city in Mongolia and the farthest Eastern province. I really love it here. I'm almost fully settled in and have been exporing my new home. School starts September 1, although I've already met most of my counterparts and some of the school's staff. I'm working on getting internet in my apartment; when that happens I'll be able to post more and respond to all of your emails/messages more in-depth. In the meantime, here's to Choibalsan!