Learning

Since I last wrote, I have been busy studying three hours a day for almost three weeks, a Mongolian language "Survival Course." I'll summarize by saying that Mongolian is very different from English in almost all aspects and will continue to be a challenge. I had one classmate for most of that time, a Japanese woman who was following the results of the American presidential primaries closer than I was, and would update me with exciting wins. Our teacher was a 22 year old Mongolian, Ariuka. She recently graduated with a degree in German and hopes to move to Germany to live and continue studying there.

On thursday evening of the third week, I caught the night train to Erdenet with Rachel, a fellow JCSer with whom I've been delighted to find I have a lot in common. The overnight journey in a cozy "coupe" compartment was a fun
experience.

Erdenet is a mining town established in the 1970's around a deposit of (?) something valuable, and now boasting a population of 100,000 and it's own link to Mongolia's single rail line, running between Russia and China. There was a tight-knit group of people there who welcomed us and I stayed for a week. The JCS projects out there include a cafe, run by and for youth, and a school for disabled children. I really getting to know Magda and Gerdina a couple of exuberant dutch girls working at the school.

I taught a beginners English course for a week at the cafe. It was a good chance to be creative and I was excited to hear the students using what they'd learned at the end of the week! On Wednesdays the cafe usually provides some kind of entertainment, so I was signed up to present, (*drumroll*) "Alaska Day." Mongolians have been unusually curious about other world cultures and a good-sized little group showed up to hear about Alaska, with the girl in the picture kindly translating for me. I practiced my Mongolian alphabet by translating Alaska place names into Cyrillic on my homemade map, taught them how to do the "seal hop" a grueling Native sports event, and shared "blubber" or the nearest substitute, red jello.

Erdenet turned out to be a welcome respite from the smoke in UB. I went running for the first time since I've been here, enjoying the clean air to the fullest. I also got to see a few things I don't see in the big city:
For instance, the other day, there was a car parked in front of the apartment complex with a dead wolf tied to the hood (and blood frozen all over the front of the white, four-door.) A group of neighborhood men were standing around, ooh-ing and ahh-ing over the kill, and I heard it's generally considered good luck to bag a wolf.
Also, one afternoon, I thought I heard a shot, and some yelping. A bit later, I was making my way to another apartment when I turned a corner of the building and almost ran into a man carrying a gun. There on the ground was a freshly shot, furry, gray dog. It was later explained to me that it's usually the garbageman's duty to shoot stray dogs. :(

I caught the night train back by myself (Rachel just stayed for the weekend), and the trip went smoothly. I shared a sleeper car with a woman who fed me snacks and showed me pictures of her husband and children. I was happy to arrive back in my room in UB Friday morning without incident.