After a lovely Christmas weekend in Erdenet with friends where we slept, ate, played games, watched movies, and gave gifts, the next holiday on the Mongolian list is Shin Jil (which is the traditional new years areound the world Dec. 31-Jan 1). Mongolians do not celebrate Christmas, but instead combine it with New Years. During the month of December all throughout the big cities (as well as my tiny soum) there were pictures of Santa Clause, Christmas trees, and tinsel everywhere. It made me feel at home.
Anway, the night of Dec. 30th was Orkhontuul's traditional dance party. In the gym of the school we had several guests singing songs and playing music to dance to. Mongolians almost always dance a waltz, which I can somewhat do now. Lovely singing voices the singers had. Also, some of the students and guests did some short skits of fairy tails. Little Red Riding Hood is kinda famous here. We also had a visit of Father Winter, the Mongolian equivolent to Santa Clause. He comes in with his animals (students in costumes) following him and gave gifts to the teachers and a few students. I got a bag of candy and juice.
Anyway, after some awkward waltzing steps with my Counterpart, all the teachers went upstairs for a fabulous meal of rice, meat, and a hell of a lot of fruit, including kiwi (I haven't seen kiwi anywhere in this country so I was quite excited). And of cource, you can't have a Mongolian holiday without drinking vodka, but stuck to the beer. It was a very long night of eating, drinking, singing, and being merry (and yes, I sang the one Mongolian song I know-Traveling Bird).
Teh next day, the last one of 2010, I spent cleaning my ger and resting. I ate some Mongolian salad with my Hashaa family and split a beer with the parents. After that I was invited to the school's social worker's house where we ate buuz (meat wraped in steamed dough), drank vino and beer, and watched some Mongolian Shin Jil programs. a lovely evening.
The next day was spent mostly with the Hashaa family. Their family members came over and we ate buuz, salad, cake, and I drank a bit of vodka to appease the Mongolian customs. The evening was spent mostl at one of my counterparts' apartment. Where I once again ate buuz, salad and cake. They also had some homemade juice which was really good. We also played hudzer (cards) and I attempted to have conversations in Mongolian with her family (my Mongolian comes and goes btw). Again, another pleasent evening.
And on the following day I just rested in my ger and went to my other Counterpart's home for a lunch of more buuz and broken conversations.
Overall, a great experience and am looking foreward for the next few holidays (Teacher's day and Tsagaan Sar).
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Where have I been?
Hey, I know it's been a long time since my last blog, but I gotta real quick break where I hope to spill some things in a nutshell.
My site: Orkhontuul Soum, Selenge Aimag (or provence), in the Central Region of Mongoia (the aimag right about UB)
Orkhontuul is a small but growing town. Currently there are 1500 people living in gers, houses, and apartments. I live in a ger, a traditional Mongolian home (it's like a mix of tent and a log cabin). I cook most of my meals, but on occasion I will eat with my Hashaa family (Hashaa = yard. The hashaa family is the family who owns the yard that I live in. They've taught me how to chop wood, pump water from the well, and use coal).
The secondary school I work at has about 400-500 students from K-10th grade currently. This year they became a full 12 year secondary school. (However, Mongolian education system is different than the US. There is no 6th grade, but 8th grade is split into to years, 8a & 8b). I work with the two English teachers at the school, Monktuul and Anhkbayar. We teach from 4th grade to 10th. I also teach a speaking class to the 10th graders, and Monktuul and I teach an English games club in the afternoons.
There are approx. 14 teachers, a social worker, a librarian, 3 school workers (janitors), a jijor (like a night watchman), a Training Manager, and the School Director. All of them are very good friends and some married couples are both teachers. They are all very friendly and always concered if I am warm and able to make fires.
School Subjects: 1st-5th grade, English, Russian, Mongolian script & language, Biology & Chemestry, Geography, History, Math & Physics, Music, Dance, Technology (wood shop, sowing, etc), and P.E./Gym class.
Orkhontuul is a River Valley between the Orkhon and the Tuul Rivers (hence the name). It is also split up into two parts that are approx. 18 kms apart--New and Old Orkhontuul. I live in Old Orkhontuul. The train is the only mode of transportation in or out of the soum. Not many people have cars or trucks, but those who do use them to transport livestock and hay to their home. A majority of the population are farmers and the rest work for the railroad. (the railway workers live in the apartments). There are 3 stores in the whole town and they all typically have the same things.
My typical meals: meat (horse, goat, sheep, or cow--all taste good to me), rice or pasta, and some veggies- potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, and surprisingly pepers can be found here. I typically get my carrots and potatoes from my hashaa family since they grow their own.
Misc. I love receiving Care Packages and the other teachers enjoy looking at what I got. I always share my surprises with them.
My site: Orkhontuul Soum, Selenge Aimag (or provence), in the Central Region of Mongoia (the aimag right about UB)
Orkhontuul is a small but growing town. Currently there are 1500 people living in gers, houses, and apartments. I live in a ger, a traditional Mongolian home (it's like a mix of tent and a log cabin). I cook most of my meals, but on occasion I will eat with my Hashaa family (Hashaa = yard. The hashaa family is the family who owns the yard that I live in. They've taught me how to chop wood, pump water from the well, and use coal).
The secondary school I work at has about 400-500 students from K-10th grade currently. This year they became a full 12 year secondary school. (However, Mongolian education system is different than the US. There is no 6th grade, but 8th grade is split into to years, 8a & 8b). I work with the two English teachers at the school, Monktuul and Anhkbayar. We teach from 4th grade to 10th. I also teach a speaking class to the 10th graders, and Monktuul and I teach an English games club in the afternoons.
There are approx. 14 teachers, a social worker, a librarian, 3 school workers (janitors), a jijor (like a night watchman), a Training Manager, and the School Director. All of them are very good friends and some married couples are both teachers. They are all very friendly and always concered if I am warm and able to make fires.
School Subjects: 1st-5th grade, English, Russian, Mongolian script & language, Biology & Chemestry, Geography, History, Math & Physics, Music, Dance, Technology (wood shop, sowing, etc), and P.E./Gym class.
Orkhontuul is a River Valley between the Orkhon and the Tuul Rivers (hence the name). It is also split up into two parts that are approx. 18 kms apart--New and Old Orkhontuul. I live in Old Orkhontuul. The train is the only mode of transportation in or out of the soum. Not many people have cars or trucks, but those who do use them to transport livestock and hay to their home. A majority of the population are farmers and the rest work for the railroad. (the railway workers live in the apartments). There are 3 stores in the whole town and they all typically have the same things.
My typical meals: meat (horse, goat, sheep, or cow--all taste good to me), rice or pasta, and some veggies- potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, and surprisingly pepers can be found here. I typically get my carrots and potatoes from my hashaa family since they grow their own.
Misc. I love receiving Care Packages and the other teachers enjoy looking at what I got. I always share my surprises with them.
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