Well life in Ulan Baatar has been good. Its warming up now, which means I've had this strange sensation of sweating in the past 2 weeks. I usually cant see my breath and each day results in comfortable strolls outdoors. With less than two months left in Mongolia, I'm really looking forward to this summer. I've been par-oozing the markets for riding gear, and am breaking in a pair of old German army looking riding boots now. All in all things are good, but the longing for the ride cant wait much longer. I'm so very close to a dream that has been 3 years in the making. To come so close now and to fail, would be an epic failure. To not try now, well, that simply cant happen.
As for teaching, its been a good experience. I'm teaching far more upper level courses now which makes for more enjoyable conversation that discussing family members, asking 200 times a day directions to things I already know their location, or asking "Whats your occupation?". That's the basis of a fundamental or level 1/2 English class. Once you get into advanced conversation, you can really learn and connect with the culture. Whether its been asking about Kazakh Marriage traditions, contemporary politics of Mongolia, to do before I die list homework, or other randomness we talk about, teaching is rarely dull. (Then again, any job I have that doesnt involve me wearing a giant mouse costume or flipping burgers, is fun) Been there... Done that.
Anyway I was playing "the adjective game" in which my classes are required to act out an adjective from a long list, then one comes in from the hall to try guessing the adjective based on the actors. This was attempted in by far my worst class, I say worst because its full of students who should be in a lower level and who for the most part are forced to be in there by their parents. I've tried everything known to education to get them involved, or slightly interested in the class. Even talking would be welcome. Nothing had worked until yesterday. The adjective our group chose was "dangerous". When the class for the most part wasn't acting "dangerous" I decided to do something the other foreign teachers had joked about doing. I opened a large window, and hopped onto the ledge outside the building and walked over to another class room, peaked in, and walked back, then climbed back through the window. My 16 and 17 year old students were wide eyed beyond belief. Had their teacher seriously walked out a window to describe something? What is this guy thinking? Well after that, there was interest in the game and people starting acting the other adjectives, such as quiet, exhausted, violent, lazy, serious, etc. So in an odd ball way that will perhaps go down into education theory as either brilliant or slightly deficient to the point of idiotic, I succeeded in getting a class to speak English, so at the end of the day, yep. Its all in a day's work.
Only problem is with teaching ESL... Its not my truest passion. I enjoy conversation classes, I'm paid to talk, and those that know me, know I can talk all day long. But English was never what I really wanted to teach. I remember torturing my Jr. High English teacher, Mr. Pawley. Oh well, I've reaped what I'd sown all those years ago. What I really want to teach are my passions. Anthropology, Travel, Adventure, History, Exploration, Theology, Philosophy, Everything associated with the Wilderness. Ah now if I can find a place to teach those mixed up a bit, I could buy a ranch in the mountains and settle down. Until then... Living it out will have to do. So in the end, teaching English around the world and riding horses into the sunset, means I'm probably doing just that.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
End of the world? Not quite...
Ah today I just feel like making fun of a bit of Mongolian current events. I cant be too specific due to the random and rumorous nature of the whole earthquake hype here in Ulan Batar. Some Lama of great importance said that there would be an earthquake yesterday, April 28th, 2010 and it would destroy the city. Ha. Yesterday aparently was wrong, so its happening today, April 29th. For some odd reason, I'm not afraid. I have the feeling that IF I do die today, it wont be in an earthquake. Probably a drunk driver or perhaps a sporatic case of bubonic plauge. For weeks now people have been moving out into the countryside, moving into gers and out of apartments in anticipation of the big day. Sadly for those who might capitalize on disaster hypes such as Y2K or 2012, business isnt going to continue. Oh well. I love when people say, today's the day! Its the end of the world! Too bad people have forgotten the classic piece of literature... "88 reasons why Christ will return in 1988". OR better yet, the sequel... 89 reasons. Haha.
When the end comes, none of us are going to see it coming... Until then. Have a nice day.
When the end comes, none of us are going to see it coming... Until then. Have a nice day.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Seeing the beauty in the world around us
This day I want to talk about the daily, or at least constant joys that travel can provide. The joy of an unexpected meeting to be exact. I have so many of these, it'd probably take a book to write them all down at this point.
This week alone has been cool. I was eating Ramen in a local noodle house next to my work, and started talking to a random American guy in the restaurant. After chatting a bit, I mentioned I lived in Alaska. When he inquired where, turns out not only did he know where I'd been living, but also knew Wiseman, AK... Population 13. We actually knew the same people in that tiny town, more or less exactly on the other side of the planet, inside the Arctic Circle. Have had many randoms on this trip, but that was odd. The strangest was running into a friend in the NYC train station that I knew from Fiji. Getting yelled at by a friend in such a faraway place is fun indeed, but also scary how small the world has gotten. I wouldn't trade it for anything though.
I'm also looking forward to a visit from a friend from Sweden soon. My friend Elisabeth and I met in Nepal while doing the trek to Everest Base Camp. We randomly ran into each other in Kathmandu, then latched on to each others plans and ended up traveling around Nepal together, doing everything from Mountain biking to White Water Rafting together. Its so exciting to get to show hospitality to those I've met upon my travels. Typically that hasn't happened as Kansas hasn't been the most exotic of locales that friends have wanted to come visit me in the past.
It also saddens me for my friends back home. Granted theres a predisposistion towards my friends I met traveling in places like Nepal, Guatemala, Tibet, etc from coming to meet me in a place like Mongolia. After all they're the type that does randomness like that. Its my friends who I hold so dearly in my heart, and miss when I'm away that I almost grieve for. So many times life must be lived according to A. B. C. D. then E. Then you die. In that order if all goes to plan. Without new experiences, without the opportunity to live an examined life. To philosophize about what really matters. To learn about yourself. To know what it is that really matters to you. Often they live with out that. Often they stay in the same old place, same old job, same old person. It goes beyond travel. It goes into finding who they are. What their real strength is. Ships weren't meant for the harbor... Sure its safe there. But ships were meant to sail into the horizon, to go into the unknown.
For me this journey was intended to stretch me like no other. To go into the unknown. Not to take a trip that had the appearance of an adventure but in the end truly wasn't. For me, thats what I need to do. For others, they need something. They need to get away. Experience life as it is, not as they dream it, or hold such a little view of how it really is. St. Augustine said that "the world is a book, and those who don't travel read only a page." How true. So much to learn, yet it goes unlearned, even in this easy era of mass travel and culture. How I wish those I care about could share even a glimpse of what I've seen in this terribly wonderful world.
Taking the road less traveled, in the end is what makes the difference. It allows us to see the beauty in the world around us. Sure its full of muck and mud, but also so very beautiful. To find the good in oneself, and others. To make friends in so many places, that you're bound to run into each other while walking in a train station in a faraway land, or meeting once more on a beach in Thailand. It all goes to show that travel makes everyday a little more interesting than the last, and just perhaps, a bit more beautiful too.
This week alone has been cool. I was eating Ramen in a local noodle house next to my work, and started talking to a random American guy in the restaurant. After chatting a bit, I mentioned I lived in Alaska. When he inquired where, turns out not only did he know where I'd been living, but also knew Wiseman, AK... Population 13. We actually knew the same people in that tiny town, more or less exactly on the other side of the planet, inside the Arctic Circle. Have had many randoms on this trip, but that was odd. The strangest was running into a friend in the NYC train station that I knew from Fiji. Getting yelled at by a friend in such a faraway place is fun indeed, but also scary how small the world has gotten. I wouldn't trade it for anything though.
I'm also looking forward to a visit from a friend from Sweden soon. My friend Elisabeth and I met in Nepal while doing the trek to Everest Base Camp. We randomly ran into each other in Kathmandu, then latched on to each others plans and ended up traveling around Nepal together, doing everything from Mountain biking to White Water Rafting together. Its so exciting to get to show hospitality to those I've met upon my travels. Typically that hasn't happened as Kansas hasn't been the most exotic of locales that friends have wanted to come visit me in the past.
It also saddens me for my friends back home. Granted theres a predisposistion towards my friends I met traveling in places like Nepal, Guatemala, Tibet, etc from coming to meet me in a place like Mongolia. After all they're the type that does randomness like that. Its my friends who I hold so dearly in my heart, and miss when I'm away that I almost grieve for. So many times life must be lived according to A. B. C. D. then E. Then you die. In that order if all goes to plan. Without new experiences, without the opportunity to live an examined life. To philosophize about what really matters. To learn about yourself. To know what it is that really matters to you. Often they live with out that. Often they stay in the same old place, same old job, same old person. It goes beyond travel. It goes into finding who they are. What their real strength is. Ships weren't meant for the harbor... Sure its safe there. But ships were meant to sail into the horizon, to go into the unknown.
For me this journey was intended to stretch me like no other. To go into the unknown. Not to take a trip that had the appearance of an adventure but in the end truly wasn't. For me, thats what I need to do. For others, they need something. They need to get away. Experience life as it is, not as they dream it, or hold such a little view of how it really is. St. Augustine said that "the world is a book, and those who don't travel read only a page." How true. So much to learn, yet it goes unlearned, even in this easy era of mass travel and culture. How I wish those I care about could share even a glimpse of what I've seen in this terribly wonderful world.
Taking the road less traveled, in the end is what makes the difference. It allows us to see the beauty in the world around us. Sure its full of muck and mud, but also so very beautiful. To find the good in oneself, and others. To make friends in so many places, that you're bound to run into each other while walking in a train station in a faraway land, or meeting once more on a beach in Thailand. It all goes to show that travel makes everyday a little more interesting than the last, and just perhaps, a bit more beautiful too.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
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...
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...
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Norris of Mongolia
Recently I was reading "Lawrence of Arabia" while crossing Tibet and China by train, and I mentioned my desire to be like him to a fellow traveler while in Tibet. Hence "Norris of Mongolia" was the title John gave me, so I think it shall fit considering what I intend to do by horseback riding across Mongolia in the summer. I only hope I could live up so such a name.
I have indeed arrived in Mongolia, after the longest train and overland journey I have ever made. Its been an exciting two months, seeing the great sights of Asia, from the Taj Mahal to the Terra cotta warriors of Xian, China. Experiencing the mystical from Tibetan monks chanting in dimly lit room that smelled of Yak butter candles, or pilgrims prostrating themselves across the Himalayas. The worshipers cleansing themselves in the Holy Ganges river, the burning ghats of the dead. A simple Christmas caroling service in Beijing. All have been phenomenal to see, some giving a view of the culturally divine nature of these places I've experienced.
Its been long, and tough. My camera with all my trip photos and journal were stolen. I've faced lonliness, tests and trials as any traveler does. Its been worth it. I may not have my photos, but I'll always have the memories. The challenges that we face can only strengthen, make us grow if we let them. Why allow hardship do anything but refine us, make us better than what we were? Travel is a journey, never a destination. The destination is often ourselves, growth experienced and thus we become someone, something we were not before we began the journey. I have grown into much more than I thought I could on this journey, and the good news is thats its not over yet!
I arrived via train at 1pm on New Years Eve in Ulaan Baatar. The moment of truth awaited me as I got off, could I handle the cold? Mentally I'd prepared myself for -20 to -40 days... and luckily I was ready. My mustache froze almost instantly with my breath hitting it, but I was ready. Turns out its all in the mind. IT IS the coldest I have ever experienced in my life, but it doesn't actually feel cold. Bizarre perhaps, but it just goes to show much of life (and travel) is indeed all about attitude.
New Years itself was spent with an old friend and Mongolian veteran of the Peace Corps, Phoebe. We met up here years back on my first journey when my love affair with this country started, and the dream of a horse riding trip to its very edge came to be in my heart. We decided to throw up boiling water into the air to watch it flash freeze, something I'd only seen on youtube and heard about from Alaskan friends. It was indeed a sight to see. We went later to Mongolia's main square, Suhkbaatar and saw the locals shoot off their fireworks. It was indeed a wild rompus of sorts, but fun. Many drunks, but a cheerful spirit considering the crowd was all facing the paltry -35F. It was a lovely night, my screams of "I LOVE MONGOLIA" and "HAPPY NEW YEAR" mixed in with all the others. I think I was just as excited about Mongolia as I was that my beard was completely frozen solid in ice, that small ice-cycles were hanging off my mustache. It is truly a bizarre feeling, but for novelties sake right now I find it quite funny.
2010 will be a good year, as I watched the sunset set upon the decade of my coming of age, I smiled for the adventures that the era held for me. Yet I look forward to the ones to come, and resolve to be a better man in the years to come. To embrace this country, its people, its culture, its language. Make it my own, so that maybe, just maybe I will live up to a simple nickname that could be even more should I truly make it my own. NORRIS OF MONGOLIA.
I have indeed arrived in Mongolia, after the longest train and overland journey I have ever made. Its been an exciting two months, seeing the great sights of Asia, from the Taj Mahal to the Terra cotta warriors of Xian, China. Experiencing the mystical from Tibetan monks chanting in dimly lit room that smelled of Yak butter candles, or pilgrims prostrating themselves across the Himalayas. The worshipers cleansing themselves in the Holy Ganges river, the burning ghats of the dead. A simple Christmas caroling service in Beijing. All have been phenomenal to see, some giving a view of the culturally divine nature of these places I've experienced.
Its been long, and tough. My camera with all my trip photos and journal were stolen. I've faced lonliness, tests and trials as any traveler does. Its been worth it. I may not have my photos, but I'll always have the memories. The challenges that we face can only strengthen, make us grow if we let them. Why allow hardship do anything but refine us, make us better than what we were? Travel is a journey, never a destination. The destination is often ourselves, growth experienced and thus we become someone, something we were not before we began the journey. I have grown into much more than I thought I could on this journey, and the good news is thats its not over yet!
I arrived via train at 1pm on New Years Eve in Ulaan Baatar. The moment of truth awaited me as I got off, could I handle the cold? Mentally I'd prepared myself for -20 to -40 days... and luckily I was ready. My mustache froze almost instantly with my breath hitting it, but I was ready. Turns out its all in the mind. IT IS the coldest I have ever experienced in my life, but it doesn't actually feel cold. Bizarre perhaps, but it just goes to show much of life (and travel) is indeed all about attitude.
New Years itself was spent with an old friend and Mongolian veteran of the Peace Corps, Phoebe. We met up here years back on my first journey when my love affair with this country started, and the dream of a horse riding trip to its very edge came to be in my heart. We decided to throw up boiling water into the air to watch it flash freeze, something I'd only seen on youtube and heard about from Alaskan friends. It was indeed a sight to see. We went later to Mongolia's main square, Suhkbaatar and saw the locals shoot off their fireworks. It was indeed a wild rompus of sorts, but fun. Many drunks, but a cheerful spirit considering the crowd was all facing the paltry -35F. It was a lovely night, my screams of "I LOVE MONGOLIA" and "HAPPY NEW YEAR" mixed in with all the others. I think I was just as excited about Mongolia as I was that my beard was completely frozen solid in ice, that small ice-cycles were hanging off my mustache. It is truly a bizarre feeling, but for novelties sake right now I find it quite funny.
2010 will be a good year, as I watched the sunset set upon the decade of my coming of age, I smiled for the adventures that the era held for me. Yet I look forward to the ones to come, and resolve to be a better man in the years to come. To embrace this country, its people, its culture, its language. Make it my own, so that maybe, just maybe I will live up to a simple nickname that could be even more should I truly make it my own. NORRIS OF MONGOLIA.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Sad to leave Nepal
Nepal has been the definition of adventure for the past month. I started by arriving in Kathmandu to organize my grand trek to Everest Base Camp which was a fantastic success, after 9 days of trekking and an extra rest day to cope with the altitude (not to mention Diamox) I made it to the top of Kala Patar and then off to E.B.C. Walking into a dream long harbored in my heart was an experience I'd not had, and one I'm not going to forget. Ive also done a touch of white water rafting, mountain biking, and chilling out in villages to explore the countryside further by dayhiking. All in all I'm sad to leave Nepal, although Tibet will be great to see, this is the last of my hiking or anything outdoorsy really for some time. Mongolia awaits, but its averaging -20 so theres going to be alot of curled up nights reading and watching movies, alongside my Mongolian language studies and work of course. Its been a good trip, I've grown alot over these past days but look forward to what the future offers. Further on by train is the only way for me from here, I've still got alot of Asia to cross in the coming days!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Leaving for the true unknown
I know I'm in to suffer. I fly out in the morning for Lukla, 9 days of trekking will bring me into Everest Base Camp. I'm tired now, but more nervous than anything. Its going to be intense. Keep me in your prayers... no matter what I'm going out with my boots on. Life is either an epic adventure or nothing at all. I'm going to attempt to live a dream I've long harbored in my heart. Wish me well... I now walk into adventure in its truest form.
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