Countryside Lifestyle

I just got back from a 3 night/4 day trip to the Mongolian countryside. It was full of adventure and I'll try to explain it via an awesome picture post.

We left at 9:30ish on Sunday morning and sadly the engine to our tour bus got wet as we were crossing a river and we didn't arrive at our location till 8:30 pm. We actually ended up getting a ride from a truck and here's a video of that: Truck Ride to Mongolian Countryside!

The following morning, Eli and Lucas felt the need to wrestle. It's a very popular Mongolian sport.

We were amazed by the vastness of the countryside. So beautiful.

In order: Joe, Lauren, Lucas, Lisa, Chimgee, and Eli. The rest of the group was in a log-esque cabin about 10 minutes away, but we didn't see them all that much.

After a breakfast of fresh, thick cream and bread we explored the area and got water from this river. We also skipped stones, did a bit of hiking, and herded some sheep and goats later in the evening!

The family that hosted us was so sweet and always made sure that we overate.

The gers were pretty warm and one of them had satellite television! The television was powered by a car battery and the bathroom was just a hole in the ground a little bit away from the ger.

Joe, Lauren, Eli, and Lucas.  At one point we visited another ger about 2 miles away so we could call the tour company for a return ride. While we were visiting we got milk tea, cream, and bread!

I learned how to make Mongolian dumplings one day!

Here's Lucas eating soup...he found 2 flies in the soup but just pulled them out and kept on eating. Haha.

In the evening we herded the sheep and goats and brought them home :)

The next day my group was ready to explore but I was pretty content just to look up at the sky.

The husbands in the family had left to get hay for the winter, so we gladly stepped in and chopped firewood for the family. That was my first time chopping wood and I LOVED IT.

Here's the inside to one of the gers. It's beautifully decorated and it's actually really warm.

Working on my nipple grabbing technique. You have to really work to get that milk!

Gorgeous rainbow our final day in the countryside.

And now I'm safely back in UB with my awesome view. Apparently school starts tomorrow but I haven't heard anything from my school, so who knows! I'll keep you updated.

Fantastic times, great people, kinda tired.

This will be a slightly wordy post, but I'll make sure to put up some excellent photos as well.

We are officially done with orientation! No more language, methodology, or culture classes. We were studying and learning from 8:30 to 5:00 every day, and it's nice to relax now. My Mac computer still doesn't work in my new apartment/dorm, so I bought a little netbook. Also, we still don't have hot water so the Fulbright crew went to a spa/sauna at the Sunjin Grand Hotel and paid 7,000 MNT (5 USD) to get clean before our next vacation. I washed my hair 4 times, conditioned it 3 times, washed my body 2 times and went into the sauna/cold pool 4 times. I feel fantastic and I'm so looking forward to our country-side trip.

We went to the countryside last weekend that was about 3 hours away but since our train broke down for 2 hours it was a great 5 hour ride. Here was how I spent the entire ride:

The little village that we stayed at was called ъуянт (pronounced Boynt. Confusing, right?) We stayed in little cottages but we had no hot water and no internet. So we ate a lot of delicious Mongolian food, played some Mongolian games, and hiked up a mountain.

Main ingredients: mutton, carrots, and potatoes.  

And the other awesome thing I did?

Moooo!

On the way back to UB!

Tomorrow we are off to Mungunmorit to live in a ger for 3 nights and 4 days!

I love Mongolia

For some reason the internet doesn't work with my Mac and we no longer have hot water at the dorms that we are staying at, but it's all good. I'm having an amazing time with the other Fulbrighters. We are taking language, culture, and methodology classes everyday. Life has been pretty exciting and my 2nd day in I got pick-pocketed recently but I foiled his attempt. :)

I've got the happiest view from my window and I am excited for every moment, even if it means studying cyrillic for hours a day. 

So lovely.

We're doing an orientation program right now, but as a part of the program we are going to awesome places and exploring around the city after being in the classroom nearly all day learning.

We've been to Choijin Lama Monastery, an amazing performance at Tumen Ekh, and a visit to Bogd Khaan Palace Museum. This weekend we'll be heading to the country side with our language teachers! 

Atlanta, Milledgeville, West Plains, now Mongolia.

Got to see my brother at the LAX Airport when I came back from Tokyo!

Atlanta, GA- For Chris' birthday I got us the City Pass and we went to the GA Aquarium, World of Coca-Cola, Inside CNN Studio Tour, the High Museum of Art, and the Atlanta Zoo. We also met up with a lot of my friends and ended up sleeping in way less than we thought we were going to. :)

At the GA Aquarium. 

Behind the Scenes Tour

Dolphin Show!

2. Milledgeville, GA- We spent 2 days in Milly and traveled to the Whistle Stop Café and met up with nearly all of my professors and saw Abby as well! I introduced Chris to my wonderful professors: Dr. Isaac, Dr. Chiang, Dr. Jarvie, Dr. Lindsay, and Dr. Harris. We had a great time catching up with them and we stayed at the Antebellum Inn (great place). 

Lovin' on Abby.

Chris and I went to Juliet, GA

3. After that we came home and hung out with family and friends before going to see Chris' family in West Plains, Missouri. We played Monopoly Deal and Dominoes nearly every night and had a lot of family dinners and a ton of laughs. It was so nice to eat amazing food and catch up with everyone before hopping on a plane and heading over to Missouri.

Saying goodbye to my dad :(

Hanging out with Anna, Chris' little sis at the St. Louis Zoo.

Chris' family

Chris and Anna :)

And now I'm in Mongolia!

Sorry for the delay in posting, I haven't had internet.

But Mongolia is gorgeous. Here's my view.

Who wants to come visit?