One Week Down

Hello from Mongolia.

I live with a host family in a house that doesn't have running water. My host family has to bring it into the host in, what looks like, giant gas cans.  There is also an outhouse for a toilet. Very different form my American home.

So far my favorite meal is rice with chopped boiled eggs mixed in it, served with cut up cucumbers, tomatoes, and carrots. She puts oil in the veggies, but she doesn't fry them.
 
My "sisters" names are Narah (3 yo) and Tsermaa (17 yo). Narah is just as wild and crazy as the American 3 year olds. She hits her sister and bosses everyone around. She loves to come into my room and play the "What is this?" game, which is also the only Mongolian phrase I don't have to think about what it means. I also found some art work of her's on the walls in my room. Tsermaa is out of school for the summer and reads English well. She is very helpful when trying to get through a conversation. She takes care of Narah during the day.

On Sunday, I went on a walk with my host family and a young male house visitor to the town square. Then They were motioning to me that they were going to take a picture and wanted me in it. So I stood there and then realized that Mongolians don't smile in pictures, or at least not this bunch. So I'm the cheesy American smiling away in this picture. Also they wanted a picture of just me and this teenage boy. I can't figure out if he is their son or nephew. They were really nice and printed me a copy of both pictures.

They taught us some Mongolian games. They play with the ankle bones of sheep/goats. They were really fun. I asked how to get the bones, you know what shop, and my teachers said you get the bones when you buy a sheep and eat him. I don't think I can eat a whole sheep by myself.

Speaking of meat. I've seen herds of horses and camels all along the country side. This country is so pretty. It's hard to picture all dead and covered in snow.

Bonus points to who ever can name the 5 types of meat in Mongolia.

Snail-mail

If you want to send me a letter or card, my mailing address is:

Sara Oxborrow, PCT
Post Office Box 1036
Central Post Office
Ulaanbaatar 15160
Mongolia (via China)

This is only until August, then I go to my new home. I'm told I will not have much internet access during my pre-service training.  

It's just over a week and a half now.

Accepted the Invitation

I was offered, and accepted, an invitation to volunteer with the Peace Corps. As you may have guest, it is in Mongolia.

My Orientation is May 31st and my Pre-service Training is June 2nd-August 17th. After that I will be a Health Educator.

I'll post more when I get more information.