“Omg my director is back from UB with 2 smart boards, a laptop for every teacher, and a grant to build ‘the biggest and best’ sports field in BK. Now all we need to do is teach.”-BA, 20-Apr-2011, 12:49pm

“You’re such a sneakster. Thanks for the fire extinguisher..Now I wont be able to burn my ger down.” Please don’t try. CD-21-Apr-2011, 9:28am

( Read more... )

“I wonder if I pee less because I blow my nose so often!” NOOOOO “That would have to be my answer too, because I have peed a ton today, but then, where does it all come from!” Your big head and sinuses “My head is producing liquid, Yuck. Hope my brain does not dry out.” KEC, March 24, 2011, 3:02pm5-Feb-2010 “Power to the People” from Nathan 9:18am

( And other things that volunteers and Mongolians said recently )

If you repost this, it’s been requested that you title it “I’m afraid of _ out of 69 common fears”

If you get more than 30, I strongly recommend some counseling.

If you get more than 20, you’re paranoid.

If you get 10-20, you are normal -> Almost...

If you get 10 or less, you’re fearless.

the dark
staying single forever
being a parent
giving birth
being ( Read more... )

Its almost Teachers Day in Mongolia! During the month there are countless competitions between the six or so schools in the area. Teachers are dancing, singing, blowing fire, impersonating world figures. I made them teach their students some English songs (like Selena Gomez' "Naturally"). Somehow a lot more of this responsibility fell on the other ( Read more... )

“How did Will do?” Best emotionless spoon playing I have ever seen!-, 31 May, 20:42
How did you all sleep at Hannah’s? All the not so quiet and inappropriate talk gives me a silly giddy feeling, like I am happy to be with family. Wow, Mongolia has messed me up  --, 4 June, 8:16am
Ow, Will just shot me. Did not even say he was sorry. I am exhausted ( Read more... )

Sadly, Mongolians don't have deep affection for cats. They usually have a dog to protect their felt tent and other possessions, but simply having a pet is not really part of the lifestyle. Its notable that cats aren't known for following the nomadic family from place to place like a dog, a sheep, or even a horse. Still, there are cats around, and a ( Read more... )

In the fall and again in the spring, the local educational and Culture Department has to visit other communities in the province to assess the knowledge of the students and their teachers. For this trip I travelled to four communities in the northwest corner of the province. As I corrected tests I quickly learned that I had about a 9th grade level ( Read more... )

One of the most striking features in my town remains the large hill that lies on the other side of the river to the east. Halfway up the face of the hill someone had arranged spray-painted rocks to spell out something, but I hadn’t been able to figure out what. For this and various reasons I asked the other Americans if they wanted to hike up the ( Read more... )

As English Language Specialist of the province, it is my responsibility to visit as many of the villages as possible to train local English teachers. However, last time my office decided to visit anyone, I had left two days earlier to see my girlfriend unawares.  In my first opportunity to rectify that, I headed over to Batsagaan ( Read more... )

B--I listened to Hoedown Throwdown. It was kind of cheesy. KC--Miley is kind of cheesy. Mmm, cheese, I like cheese… (18 May 10:32 am) Boom boom clap boom de clap de clap
TD--What did you do today? B-I walked around in the graveyard.  TD-I hope, for the sake of cultural studies, that said graveyard was part of a walking DVD. (12 May, 9:53 am)
B--She ( Read more... )