The 9 Nines

As you may or may not know, Mongolian winters are cold. In deep winter, days are typically -25 to -30 Celsius, and nights drop to -40. the first snow seems to come by chance, some years its Sept. 1st (which I personally have not experienced, but previous volunteers say it so), other winters start as late as November 10th. But the snow always comes in the Northern Hemosphere's autumn months.

So, the nines.

The nines are nine groups of nine days beginning the day after the Winter Solstice (Dec. 22nd). To my eyes, the nines are a countdown to spring. Mongolians say when the nines end, Spring officially begins (although, if you count nine days after the last nine, it ends on the Spring Solstice).

Anyway, each nine has its own sort of theme, something new happens on each one. Mongolians know the little poem by heart.

First 9- Milk vodka congeals and freezes.

Second 9- Regular vodka congeals and freezes.

Third 9- Tail of a three-year-old ox freezes and falls off.

Fourth 9- Horn of a four-year-old ox freezes and falls off. (In my experience, this is the coldest)

Fifth 9- Boiled rice no longer congeals and freezes.

Sixth 9- Roads become more visible.

Seventh 9- Mountains and hilltops become visible.

Eighth 9- Ground becomes damp.

Ninth 9- Warmer days begin to set in.

So, I thought you would enjoy learning a bit on winters here. I'm halfway through my second one and really can't wait for it to be over, but as my English teachers tell me, "You must have patience Aaron."

Great advice.

Thoughts on the Train

Mountains high enough to touch the God,

to reach the numinous.

Impart your wisdom onto me- make me

the wiser.

Dark cold nights cloud the judgement of men

as the sunlight is shrouded from us.

Now I walk blindly with a dying torch;

Only memory of the layout can help you now.

Moon shining high in the sky,

God of tides and water,

guide me as you do the waves

so I may find my way home

To see the next sunrise.