Living the Mongol life

Well I've been quite lazy when it comes to this blog. I last wrote at the start of this journey, and in the past 2 months of living in Mongolia, much has happened. I've worked day in and day out as an ESL teacher, most days finding that I truly enjoy teaching. I enjoy the connections I've made with students, the laughs, etc. Yet as all educators know, sometimes you must do something you don't want to. Fail a student. Even good ones. Whether its for cheating or simply not getting it, its something we gotta do. Alas, that's work and life. The irony of the full circle of my time as a student, and now in the role of teacher has been humorous to say the least.

As for life outside the classroom, one thing that is most noticible about me in Mongolia is my attire. I wear tradtional Mongolian clothes everyday, the blue dell, a horse encrusted leather belt, a fox fur hat, and fur lined riding boots. This is over top another jacket of course, when I got here it was a paltry -40 F and Celcius. -40 is where they are the same. (Remember your 8th grade science trivia?) Its now about -20 C everyday, - 15F or so. Its alot warmer, but the local stuff cuts it when the winds in my face. Anyway this gets alot of reactions from the locals, everything from hostile Nazis (a slim minority) to many thumbs up, Mongolian compliments I vaguely understand, and the broken English of "you look nice" or "good to see you wearing that". I do it for the anthropologist in me, and for a point to the Mongolians. Don't forget who you are. EVER. Too much westernization and leaving behind the traditional values is occuring here, perhaps in a small way, a very small one indeed, I'm fixing that. Probably not thought, its the way of the globalized world we live in.

I've made a good number of local friends here, although most are girls. Nothing wrong with that, but much of the reasoning is simple. Mongolian men either seem to want to punch me in the face at times, or see how much vodka they can get me to drink with them. As I'm not a fan of either, I've found female companionship here to be far richer an experience. Its cool, many of my past countries would have looked down on that quite a bit, or it would have been simply impossible.

As for language, I've been doing okay. Since I have an odd schedule, its made study times difficult. I speak a decent amount for the formal lessons I've had, but pronunciation is horrendous and simply put, Its not enough to cut it in the countryside yet for the ride this summer. Oh well its fine, I have 4 months left in UB before I leave, so if I work harder and perhaps one of the hardest languages in the world, I'll be fine. All part of the adventure I suppose.

Not much else to tell, only a few hikes in the past 2 months. Too cold most of the time, and its hard to get out of the city. City life is stifling at times, although walking 2 minutes to a grocery store is nice. Soon enough the grandest part of my life will begin, the great ride chasing sunsets of Mongolia. If the Everest hike was anything of an epic journey (Indeed it was), the ride across Mongolia should be better. Most of my local friends think I'm crazy, although the horse riding culture roots come out in a profound respect. Even if it is for a crazy guy with a giant beard that wears the traditional clothes that only "old people" wear today. Ha. Its the life for me no doubt, this is the kind of place that becomes me.

With my 25th birthday in a few days I'm sure I'll blog again about hitting the apx. 1/3 of life point. That is if I don't get myself killed in some hair brain scheme of adventure before then. Probably will. At least I'll have my boots on and a smile on my face.

Until next time...