XWeek at ISU and Summer Vay Cay

School has been finished for about a week.  Pam and I are quickly adjusting to summer mode which means sleeping beyond 5:15 a.m. and choosing to go to restaurants that offer outdoor seating.  The later is not a problem currently with the Euro Cup going on.  Many places have set up tents and large screen tv's for people to gather at and tip a few local brews in the wee hours of the morning due to the time differential.  The first round games began at midnight here but now that the quarter finals and semis are going on start time is 2:45 a.m.  My viewing has been limited to the apartment with the help of an alarm watch which doesn't guarantee one more bleary-eyed cheering fanatic soccer fan.  I may not need the alarm assistance tonight if an English friend can muster up enough energy to join me for the England/Italy game.

Thursday, Pam and I leave with a Mongolian friend, Bold, for a week long adventure to the Gobi Desert and central Mongolia.  We return to UB the day before Devon, Kyle, my sister and a friend of hers arrive.  Nadaam, which is the 3 day Mongolian sports festival, begins July 11th.  We'll be taking in the opening ceremonies, archery and the horse racing before leaving with the kids on another mid-Mongolian adventure trip which will include camel riding, horse trekking, hiking and some canoeing.  My sister and her friend will jump on a plane and head to Russia to spend time on Lake Baikal.  After the kids and we return we'll tearily say goodbye to Kyle and then head to a PitBull concert at the Olympic stadium.  Devon can't believe it nor could we when we found out that he was performing here!!  Not the old folks favorite music but it will be another experience that should produce a few good pub stories.

The school's first attempt at what is called XWeek was a wonderful experience for all the secondary students and staff.  This was an experiential learning event that offered students choices put together by the faculty.  There was an art trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg, building a "rocket stove" that uses 80% less fuel and emits nearly 0 pollutants for local housing, a 5 day canoe trip, a get to know UB experience that included setting up a ger, participating in traditional Mongolian archery and learning other traditional skills, working with an American artist from Washington St. to create a work of art using natural items, a 5 day horse trek, a multi-activity that included horse trekking, hiking and hanging out in hot springs and a 5 day back-packing trip that covered over 50 km. over some rough terrain in Khenti National Park.


It is amazing to me the number of Mongolian students who have never explored their country.  Some are more familiar with Hong Kong and Paris than UB.  With 20+ kilos strapped to our backs we explored Khenti National Park and worked on completing the requirements for the John Muir Award.  There were 11 boys 15-17 yrs, myself and 2 other faculty sweating, shivering and constantly stopping to adjust our dress because of the quickly changing weather.  There are mosquitoes here that make Minnesota's state insect look like a nat.  We awoke one morning marveling at the sight of our breaths and snow in the surrounding mountains.  Later that day we were in sleeveless shirts and headbands wiping the sweat from our eyes.  There were times when the scenery made me think I was back in New England.  Then the sight of a ger or herder on horseback jolted me to my GPS coordinate.  The kids had a great attitude even when they were told we'd stop our trek early and 3 hours later we'd find a suitable campsite.  Not having a good topo map lends itself to those unexpected hike extensions.  In the end the students felt a real sense of personal accomplishment and an appreciation of something Mongolia has to share with the world.  Their pictures of the countryside, interviews with local people, fellow students and teachers and video of trash and their efforts to clean areas was turned into a short video that was given to the Minister of Environment and Tourism for the possibility of it being shown on national tv.  This effort took care of the final requirement for the John Muir Award.        

UB is preparing for elections that will be held June 28th.  There are a number of political parties vying for the presidency and a number of Assembly seats.  Posters and ads have been placed all over the capital and the youth have mobilized to loudly campaign for their particular candidate.  Groups of people walk the streets waving flags of their candidate's party, handing out brochures explaining their parties action plans on education, mining, the environment and transportation concerns.  Discussions with Mongolian friends have lead us to believe that not everyone is sure that the voting process will be fair but there is excitement about the possibilities that this election will bring some needed positive changes.

Wild iris

How many more passes do we need to hike over?!!??

Are you sure we're there?  That's not a look of real confidence.

That was one too many questions!!

What is that YOU want?

NH or VT??

Reality! Yes, I live in Mongolia!!

The adults on day 3.  This was early in the morning for the planned  "short" day which turned out to be the longest hiking day.

"Star Trek" Mongolia.  Check out the aliens below that just arrived!!

You guys live here.  Do you know where we are??  How much would the horse be to haul these packs???

  

Here are videos that were placed on previous posts that for some reason couldn't be seen.  Hopefully this time you'll be able to enjoy them.  Cheers!!    contortionist,  contortionist 2,  Bayan Mongol 5th Anniversary,  Bayan Mongol #2,  Mongolian Music,  Wrestling practice,  Thank you pageant,  Thank you #2,  Thank you #3

Reflecting and Planning

The school year is coming to a close on the date that was scheduled at the beginning of the year.  This is a totally new phenomenon since for the last 18 years I was never sure of the actual last day due to mostly snow days, anticipated storms, too much cold (Ha!) and I'm sure there were other reasons that elude me.  There are 2 teaching weeks left and then a week of experiential activities outside of school and a final week of whatever.

For the week away from school the secondary faculty are offering a number of great experiences that include an art trip to Moscow, a week long horse trekking trip in central Mongolia, building efficient stoves for gers, learning how to construct gers, and I'll be co-leading a 5 day backpacking trip in the local mountains.  The students participating in the backpacking trip will be attempting to complete the requirements to earn a level of the John Muir Award that focuses on the environment.  These are great opportunities for students to develop executive functioning skills such as planning, organizing, strategizing, paying attention to and remembering details and managing time and space.  The natural consequences of not performing these skills can be the most educational moments during the student's school year.

Looking back to last August when Pam and I arrived here, I marvel at all that we've experienced.  It has not been the easiest transition from the US to Mongolia.  It has challenged our relationship at times and reminded us of the importance of effective communication in a healthy relationship.  We've gone from the blank stare of complete bewilderment when a Mongolian spoke to us to being able to understand the price of items, reading labels in Cyrillic, telling a cab driver where to go and how to get there and utter fluently the traditional Mongolian greetings and goodbyes.  We've perfected our use of Skype to stay in touch with our family and friends so we don't feel so removed.  Quite a difference from our days living in Morocco when we used predominantly snail mail!  We've been introduced to the term 'third culture child' and the struggles that they encounter.  As we become familiar with the Mongolian culture, we're reminded about the importance of being open minded and learning that there are reasons behind cultural practices and beliefs like eating sheep butt, walking clockwise around an ovoo (sacred spot), and knowing how to politely decline drinking more vodka before body parts go numb.

Educationally, this has been an immensely challenging year for Pam.  After 25 years of teaching at a community college, she's successfully adjusted her approach for 3rd to 5th graders and is presently designing protocols to meet the language needs of students and help the teachers with language strategies.  She's attended a conference in Taiwan, held my hand in South Korea after going through surgery, visited the DMZ and relaxed in a human powered peddle taxi in Indonesia.

The work for me has been challenging trying to meet the needs of students and staff from pre-school to 12th grade.  I became a French teacher for beginning 6th graders and team taught English for 7th grade additional language learners.  I've enjoyed trying to put together a teacher friendly SEN (special educational needs) referral process and forms along with identifying and helping to establish needed services such as counseling, vision and hearing screenings and finding appropriate educational assessments for international students.  I've had the good fortune to travel to Thailand and the Philippines for professional conferences and coach the boys soccer team in Qingdao, China.

Pam and I have learned about the International Baccalaureate program and discussed its strengths and weaknesses.  We've made great friends from around the world and here in Mongolia.  The topics of conversations are global and thought provoking.  There have been discussions about the transition of colonial power in what was Rhodesia to Zimbabwe and its effects, why Southeast Asians are so polite, and foreigners' impressions about the US presidential race, especially its cost and whether or not being a bully as a teenager can be pivotal to a presidential hopeful.

We're really looking forward to and planning trips for family coming to visit this summer.  Devon, Kyle and my sister, Sue, who is celebrating her 50th birthday, will arrive the beginning of July.  We have plans to attend the various Nadaam events of archery, wrestling and horse racing.  Then it's off to camel rides in the dunes, relaxing in hot springs, and doing some horse trekking and hiking through the middle of the country.  Cory, his roommate, Pam's sister Pat and her husband Len arrive the beginning of August.  Unfortunately, school responsibilities begin Aug. 14th, so there is limited travel time with them, but we're arranging excursions that may include spending time in the Gobi Desert.

All things considered, this has been a wonderful adventure that has challenged, educated, and enlightened us and brought us closer together.  
Love to hear from you.

Cheers!!

Paul Plourd's screen printing expertise on display in Qingdao, China

No!  This is not the Chinese version of Beach Blanket Bingo.  This was a Sat. morning wedding shoot.  

Is this a fashion statement?  Jeans under a wedding dress!

The pupil and his teachers.  The cheap entertainment for the local wedding arrival band.

Hitting the target celebration!!  

Now I know why the target fixers don't take cover.

Outside of our apartment window last August.

Intermittent dust storms

Currently outside the apartment window.  These guys work sometimes 24 hours non-stop!!  ARGH!!!

Here are links to some videos from China and Mongolian archery.

   

I recently got back from Qingdao, China where the ISU girls and boys soccer teams participated in a 3 day tournament.  We had a great time.  Take a look.

Here is a link to our Acamis Video

The Mongolian Morph

Over the last few weeks the snow has been disappearing but, amazingly, there have been few above freezing temperatures and no signs of melt.  This is truly an amazing country.  Apparently, due to the desert type climate, the snow just evaporates leaving behind various animal bones, empty bottles of all types of alcohol and dust.   The dust I marvel at because as most of the snow has vanished leaving a checkerboard type landscape, little clouds of dirt trail our footsteps to and from work settling on the remaining islands of snow.  

The temps are reminiscent of New England's roller coaster degrees.  One day we are in POSITIVE double digit celsius numbers, and the next we have snow squalls and that familiar negative sign in front of the temp.  A fellow expat, who has lived here for a few years, said that it's easy to tell whether the winds are from the Gobi or Siberia.  The daily dust storms don't seem to have a preference.  The veteran expats say that this place turns green with many wild flowers at the end of May/beginning of June.  Since our arrival, brown has been the choice of color, from the surrounding topography to the camel haired sweaters and socks.  Needless to say, we are skeptical that there are natural colors other than the blue sky and various shades of brown landscape.  

Escorting the non-negative degrees are the ladies pulling out their hottest fashions of short skirts, leggings and trading in their stylish boots for high-heeled shoes, which add quit a bit of color to and distraction from the landscape.  For me, this makes walking much more dangerous with the open manholes and broken sidewalks.  The long down coats and woolen dells have not yet been placed in storage, so there is easy access to defend against the Siberian winds.  An accessory that I've not grown fond of yet is the face mask that attempts to filter large flying particles out of the respiratory system.  There is probably a market for chic face masks here.  

Another sign of the change in seasons is the pine nut vendors are out again.  Pine nuts are sold still in their shells, which Mongolians are fond of cracking with their teeth and somehow teething the little nut out from its shell before swallowing and spitting out the debris.  It's a lot of work for little culinary pleasure.  It's reminiscent of tackling whole sunflower seeds.

Also accompanying the positive temperatures is the non-Olympic sport of marathon building construction.  With the first few non-negative temp days came 24 hour digging with backhoes and bulldozers.  We could not find earplugs anywhere.  With most living organisms, there are predictable behaviors; however, this sport does not seem to have any.  The 24 hour work day will suddenly stop, and will begin again at 5:00 pm the next day or it could be 6:00 am.  The gravel conveyor belt may run all day or begin at 6:30 pm as it just did while I was writing this and end when God only knows.   

I recently co-lead a 15 kilometer hike to mark a trail through the Bogd Khan range walking in snow up to my thighs at times and other times raising the little dust clouds.  Pam and I just spent a couple of days  during our spring break at a ger camp about 2 hours from UB reenergizing.  The boys' and girls' soccer teams leave for China in 10 days, so I'm learning how to get a visa from the Chinese Embassy since I'm the boys' coach.  All in all, Mongolia continues to provide us with daily adventures and tests our ability to adapt.  

     

The view from our ger at the Mongolian Secret History Camp.

Our 30th anniversary.  From Morocco to Mongolia.  What a trip!!!

Are you sure you know where you are???  Where is the ger?!?

Come on, we can bushwhack it back!

How did this morsel get left behind?

It's cheaper than water!!

It's almost cheaper than beer. (vodka)

Orkhon, our Mongolian teacher, and Pam, numb and not sure of what we learned after a lesson. 

Manshir, the beginning of our hike and site of a destroyed Buddhist monastery courtesy of the Russians.

Marking the trail.  Let me check that GPS again.  

How many more K's??????

Necessity IS the mother of invention.  How the locals get the pine nuts out of the trees.

Hard to believe UB is only a few kilometers away.

Post Tsagaan Sar Shaman Festival

This was a real cultural experience that we stumbled upon.  The first full moon since the end of Tsagaan Sar occurred last Thursday, and it is a very religious day for Shamanism which we were unaware of.  It was also International Women's Day, so school was closed.  We wondered why the US doesn't celebrate this.  Has the country maxed out days off for workers?

Back to the story.  Pam, two friends and I headed out to walk up the solidly frozen Tuul River.  As we slid our way upstream, we began to hear beating drums and then caught sight of lots of parked cars.  The hike was suddenly put on hold, and we scrambled up the river banks to check out the activity.

We were greeted with a kaleidoscope of colors, sounds and activities.  There was a large fire blazing away warming some of the Mongolians that had obviously come to see one or more shamans.  In addition, there were many blankets on the ground with bowls of milk, cups of vodka, the Tsagaan Sar centerpiece of biscuits and yogurt cheese toppings and, of course, mutton.  As we walked around, we became aware that we were causing more than a few heads to look our way.  It appeared that we were the only expats to grace this festival.

During the circumnavigation of the area, we witnessed people flicking milk or vodka into the air, onto the ground and towards the people.  This is to pay tribute to the sky, earth and people.  We also saw numerous male and female shamans dressed in costume in various stages of trances that involved beating drums, being cared for by non-shamans, smoking cigarettes made up with what we were not sure, and speaking in strange voices.  Some people were being beaten ( not harmfully) by shamans which we later found out was to drive evil spirits out either for themselves or for family members.  

As we stood mesmerized, a young man spoke to us in English and asked if we'd like to talk with his sister, a shaman.  Tolga, also a shaman, shared with us that he'd recently returned from the U. of Wash. where he'd been studying for the last 2 years.  An invitation like this was impossible to pass up.  Tolga's sister was in a trance when he had me sit next to her.  He explained that at the moment her body was occupied by an 800 year old spirit.  When I related my surprise upon seeing women shamans, he said that the women are much more powerful shamans than men.  He also shared that different shamans have particular expertise.  Some can address physical maladies while others can tell fortunes.  While I sat with Tolga's sister asking questions about future events, I became aware that a large group of Mongolians had encircled us.  Perhaps it was a sight to see an expat conversing with a shaman through an interpreter.

After finishing speaking with his sister, Tolga asked if we'd like to speak with the teacher of shamans.  The response was a no brainer.  He said that he would ask if she'd be willing to speak with us, which she agreed to.  During a trance no eye contact is made.  Tolga translated a few questions that the shaman had about my nationality and work.  It was then my turn for the questions, and she said that I'd be staying in Mongolia longer than my contract, that my kids would appreciate their visit here this summer more so after their return home, and that I'd be getting involved in a lucrative business.  Pam was told she has Mongolian blood in her through her maternal lineage and has a connection with Chinggis Khan.

Time will tell about these predictions but, in the meantime, this experience has both of us wanting to learn more about shamanism and keep working at improving our Mongolian language.      

Ken, Andy, Pam and I on the Tuul River

Prayer flag draped ovoos.

One would never believe that this is near to UB.

Ken reflecting on the experience.

One of the many shamans in costume.

Folks consulting with a shaman.

Consulting with Tolga's sister.

Speaking with the shaman teacher.

Tolga, his sister and enriched expats.

Tsagaan Sar (White Moon), Mongolian Lunar New Year

According to the Mongolian Dictionary & Phrasebook, this holiday has been going on for more than 2000 years.  The color white is associated with purity and happiness.  This holiday originally marked "the end of the cold winter and the beginning of the spring thaw" for the herders.  It usually occurs in February and has become associated in the non-nomad homes with the new lunar year, which is now the dragon.  It is a three day holiday similar to Thanksgiving because of visiting friends and family, eating and drinking.  Fatty sheep butt replaces the turkey, buhz (steamed dumplings filled with meat and onions) act as the hors d'ouvres, and the vodka flows freely.

There are many customs that Pam and I were coached on including how to enter a ger (always enter and move in a clockwise direction), bringing a khadag, a blue Buddhist piece of silk, to present to the oldest person in the ger, and on how to greet elders or younger folk.  Greetings involve cheek kissing and hand placement.  A younger person always places his or her hands facing upwards under the elbows of an elder.  This shows respect.  Another custom is to drink the entire first offering of vodka but, after that, one can place the ring finger of one's right hand in the vodka and flick some upwards, straight out in front and to the ground honoring the sky, people and Earth.  If you've had your fill of vodka, you then touch the ring finger to your forehead, indicating that you've had enough.  (I kept missing that part as we sat with a herder's family in the country.)  When receiving or giving some food or drink, it is always handled with the right hand while the left hand is under the right elbow, or it is given and received with both hands.  In both cases, the shirt sleeves are pulled down.  This is definitely a challenging place for left handers and a great place to retire for old school nuns that believe everything should be done right handed.  There is also a center piece of specially made oblong, cookie type biscuits that are stacked in odd numbers of layers.  The odd-numbered layers represent 'happiness' and the even-numbered layers represent 'suffering'.  The top layer should end in 'happiness'. The older the head of the ger is, the higher the stack of biscuits.

We were introduced to the horses the herder raised for racing and shown the number of medals that his kids had won.  The racers are young boys up to, I believe, 10 years of age but can begin at 4 or 5.  On our way back to UB, we stopped at an ovoo, a pile of sacred rocks which often have a stick in the center and prayer flags or silks attached to the stick.  For good luck while traveling, one circles the rocks clockwise three times before continuing on the journey.  Fortunately this does not have to be done at each ovoo that is passed, or it could take weeks to go 20 kilometers.

Since the holiday we've had many days of temps in single negative digits which has now almost become balmy to us.  The other surprise is the disappearance of a significant amount of snow and ice even though we've yet to go above freezing.  Since this winter didn't kill us, we're feeling stronger and have new definitions of cold, warm and hot.  We've also developed better timing of when to place that right ring finger to our foreheads.

Just trying to fit in.

The buhz are in the small dish to the right, and the small silver bowl just in front of the buhz is for the vodka.  In the background is the fatty sheep butt.  The tower is made of layers of biscuits, and the top is covered with dried cheese/yogurt pieces.

Our host is the one in the baseball cap.

One of our host's daughters in their "yard"

Touring the stables and a brief respite from celebrating. 

This is a Mongolian dog known as 'four eyes' because of the brown spots above the eyes.

Sergei, displaying good vodka drinking form.

Sheep butt (and tail) airag (mare's milk) and some kimchi.  How did that get there??

Horse riders and daughters of the ger.

Remind you of Thanksgiving??

The trainer and one of his champs.  I don't have a clue what he's talking about.  

Cheers!