All - In some ways, it seems like I have been here much longer than a week and in other ways it feels like I just arrived (not uncommon -eh?). What is uncommon (at least for me) has been the experiences of living with seven other people in a hostel (sharing one shower, two toilets, a very small kitchen, etc); taking 3+ hours of language classes everyday (along with several more hours of VSO organizational and cultural training); eating Mongolian food, visiting a nomadic herding families Ger; wondering the capitol and navigating my way through this wonderful experience with the other new volunteers (two crazy Phillippinos, two wacky Dutch and two quite funny Brits).
Mongolian language classes (as some of you have heard) are quite difficult for everyone but particularly for me. The other volunteers already know a minimum of two to three other languages – I don’t. Add to that, I have been trying to learn the language phonically. As a result, I do not have a clue when it comes to the written word - Ugh!!! (Send positive energy - LOL). After language class at the International School we are returned by bus to the center of the city for a late lunch and then head to the VSO office for in-country training. The VSO office has 10+/- employees and has just fewer than 30 volunteers for the entire country. A number of volunteers are returning to their home countries between March and August and it is unknown if they will be replaced due to budget constraints.
After class, we walk back to the hostel or out to dinner (depending on the energy level). The Philippinos and "young ones" tend to go out for a few pops. (Note: I was really surprised to learn there are as many as 40 Philippinos volunteering in Mongolia - for VSO and other agencies . . . particularly since our guys are really struggling with the temperatures.) Anyway, last Wednesday night the group went to a place called the Amsterdam Cafe to watch a documentary on Mongolia. There were a lot of Expats at the cafe. In fact, from what I can gather, the expats volunteering and working in the capital get together quite frequently to socialize. 
Friday night, we stayed in, ordered pizza, drank a lot of beer and watch a documentary, Andrew, one of the VSO volunteers, made while he was in a Nepali village as part of a volunteer surgical team. They performed more than 900 medical and dental surgical procedures in one week (pretty impressive). 
Saturday, our group, plus a few existing volunteers and staff from VSO, took a day trip to "the country side," (west of UB) to visit a nomadic herder family. It was wonderful to get away from the city and pollution. (Even though UB has fewer than 1.5 million people it has the 5th highest pollution rating in the world.) While in the country we had a chance to walk about a bit; learn how nomadic families live and . . . just exhale. It was wonderful! While walking with a young Mongolia woman, I learned that if you allow an object like a vehicle, person (or in our case an animal bone on the ground) to come between you and the other person, you will have an argument or disagreement. 
While in the Ger, I learned how to make dumplings (mine were not nearly as well formed as the others - LOL) and got to play with a 2-day old lamb. The place we visited was the wintering site for the nomadic family. It consists of two gears (one for the family and one for supplies, small stables, a large outdoor freezer, etc). One of the many things fascinating about the family’s Ger was that it had solar powered electricity (for the TV and mobile phones of course). The food and heat was provided by a stove heated with dried dung.
I fear at this point that I may be boring you so I will sign off for now. Besides I REALLY do need to study. Tomorrow is a full day of language lessons. Lots and lots of prayers and well wishes are welcomed.
Love to all - Deb (aka Mom)
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