Bits and transplants

Training of trainers and orientation days are finished, and I’m back in the capital for the first full weekend “off” I’ve had here. Course, I’m working on other things – friends of mongolia newsletter, thesis, IT stuff, banana bread? – but at least it’s a change. It’s pretty quiet here due to world cup, but the most important development is that there is a korea-based donut chain with a branch in Mongolia. I haven’t been there yet, but it’s a major goal for next weekend.

The other thing is that there’s a place that makes pho here – Kenny Rogers Roasters(? which is similar-ish to Boston Market). It’s not tooo bad, but could be improved.

Randomly, the other person in the coffeeshop here is a lama who I assume is Tibetan as I can’t understand what he’s saying on skype. He also produced from somewhere in his robes an iPad and a 13″ macbook.

In other other news, no one has called me since I got here – I know I’m hard to  get to, but huh.

aaaah work aah. Today’s the first day off in a bit and I’m working on other work. Baah.

On the other hand, walking around checking housing for the trainees was fun – and made me miss my host family. The training site soum we were at was so peaceful and the drive there was beautiful. Sigh.

Today is Children’s Day here, which means way too much sugar, theater shows, movies, parents spending time with their kids, and in all likelihood tantrums.

The trash trucks still sound like ice cream trucks.

• Trip to Thailand - note that spiders = personal kryptonite and people are very very nice

• Work in Khovd - some cool stuff working with adolescents - want to keep on doing this kind of work later, as they all are on break in a week and thus work will disappear


• Close of service conference, BoarBQ, TOT, virtual moving to UB - seems to be happening too fast - as I was told really today I'm moving most-ish to UB except for like a week in July. Otherwise exciting - there will be an Iron Chef at COS conference, and BoarBQ just sounds fun...


• Thesis - whimper ugh


• Lust - I have an unaccountable desire for a nerd merit badge laptop sash.

• it costs more to take a shower than to buy a Shanghai Spicy Chicken Sandwich meal at McDonald's. And they want to leave earlier than the posted hours.Suggestion for next time - the shower is free, it's the kit - namely, a Mongolia-sized (Bonnie knows what this means) towel and toiletries - that costs the money. So bring a little travel towel and bar soap and you'll be home free in theory.

• Free wifi just about everywhere...Voltage and plug shape adapters are available for free at the info desks if you leave with them your boarding pass or a form of non-passport ID.Next time, give em the ID so you know when your flight actually leaves

• Super comfy couches upstairs in the "rest and relax" area as well as internet stations that are sparsely populated. If you get in by 10ish you can get quite a nice setup, though a bit cool aircon-wise.Next time, use that travel towel you're bringing anyway for warmth perhaps.

• For those looking for more culture, they have random traditional craft stations and music demos; plus today there was a quartet pl