photos

My digs

A dog in the ger district

"The countryside"

A woman selling birdseed
in front of the Monastery

Discovery

It's hard to believe I've only been in Ulaanbaatar (UB) Mongolia for six days. The days have been so full, it feels longer.

Here's my First Week Journal.

Day 1
Successfully navigated Beijing airport (they have Starbucks!) and arrived in UB. Was met at the airport by Bill and Donna Mills, my JCS contacts. They helped me get my stuff into my apartment, shop for some groceries, then had me over for dinner at their place! New Years celebrations were in full (loud) swing but I still slept soundly later in the evening.

Day 2
Walked through the ger (yurt) district behind my apartment building. The gers heat by burning coal, so it's really smoggy here! Although apartments are too expensive for many families they still dress better than people in Alaska. It's really challenged my expectations to see almost all the women I pass on the street dressed to the hilt in trendy down coats and high heeled boots.
I spent New Years afternoon ice skating, and hot dog roasting on a river outside of town with several families. It had to have been at least -15 degrees.

Day 3
I found my way to the JCS office and had an orientation. Then I was able to catch a taxi to the State Department store to look around at a different part of town and pick up some necessities.
Catching taxis involves standing on the side of the road and kind of moving your arm up and down around a 45 degree angle until someone (anyone?) stops. Crossing traffic is rather more dangerous. Mongolians basically push their way through the cars, waiting in between lanes for a break. Watch out for ice on the road!

Day 4
My new boss is the head of the English dept. at the Korean directed university next door. She knocked on my door at 9:00am this morning and introduced herself. I went to the school later in the afternoon and met many of the staff and began to work out a schedule.
I had an unexpected lunch with a Mongolian woman, Odnoo, who fed me potato salad, a sweet/sour, warm milk drink, and dumplings!
After dinner with some more JCS'ers, I came home to a complete kitchen installed in my room! After her early inspection, the director had given orders to spruce up my meager sink, mini fridge and hot pot arrangement. I found a full size fridge, cabinets, countertop, appliances and dishes. I am in awe of Korean efficiency.

Day 5
More trekking across the city to work out details. I also had my first Mongolian lesson with a private tutor. Oyuna was very sweet. She's used to teaching Sunday school kids, so she taught me some fun hand signs to begin learning the alphabet. Mongolian's gonna be hard! My name is spelled Tamarap. The word for restaurant sounds almost the same as in English, but it looks like Pectopah.
It's still hard to believe how much of a demand there is for English; it's going to be hard to practice Mongolian.

Day 6
I saw some more of the city, including UB's remaining Buddist monastery, on foot and was completely chilled by the end of it. My Korean neighbors were able to help me get my cell phone language switched to English. Cell phones are the cheapest way to call.
I also tried canned, boiled mutton. I'd heard so much about boiled mutton as a Mongolian staple, that when I saw a can in the store, I had to try it despite warnings. The results were less than spectacular. I think I'll stick with the hazelnut hot chocolate.

Tomorrow I am going to a church where many Ulaanbaatar University students attend. I can't wait to see more of what God is doing in Mongolia!