Human Library

On Saturday I was a volunteer at our high school that hosted the Human Library Organization  This was all new to me.  The Human Library is a place where real people are on loan to readers.  Instead of books you have a person.  It's a place where difficult questions are expected, appreciated and answered.  And let me tell you, they were.  It was mind blowing.  Every topic was very sensitive. 

 

This was organized by one of our high school teachers and high school students.  Many of them volunteered that day.  I was so impressed with these students--amazing!!!

Every session was filled with mainly young people, but some older.

Each session had a Mongolian/English interpreter.

I listened in on the genderqueer person and the questions were sensitive and answered very honestly.  I learned they want to be called they or ze. 

All of these people talked about how difficult it is in Mongolia even though it's changing.  But many stigmas still exist especially with older people.

This was by far the saddest story.  She's still being abused by her ex-husband with almost no help from the police and/or the government.  I have contacted IWAM to see if we can get her into a support system.  It's very difficult in Mongolia.  I was so moved that I started to cry.

This lady is a lawyer.

 

Hong Kong in the Spring

Some people love Paris in the Spring--well, I love Hong Kong in the Spring!  This year I met up with Christy, my teaching partner at ASU for two years.  It was very special to spend time with her to celebrate her 40th birthday!  Wow, I think I can remember when I turned 40!  I've been to Hong Kong several times so I tried to capture some new images.


Dinner at Sabatini Italian Restaurant.  When it's your 40th birthday, you have to wear the crown.  I did for my 70th!

 

Victoria Harbor with Hong Kong Island in the background.

A birthday isn't complete unless you have high tea at the Peninsula Hotel.

We met up with two more ASU teachers, Ash and Tommie and had drinks at a rooftop bar.

We passed the crown to Ash who is turning 25!  Yikes! now I really feel old!

Chater Garden on Hong Kong Island and it looks like international bagpipe players.

Street scenes on a holiday.

Victoria Harbor

This is one way to dry your laundry.

Victoria Harbor reminds me of San Diego Harbor, but I don't think you would see this type of boat traffic there.

The Intercontinental Hotel is a great place to enjoy the magnificent view of the harbor and island:)

Steppe Inn at the British Embassy in UB

On Friday night, IWAM had a special evening at the Steppe Inn at the British Embassy in UB.  There was pizza and lots of drinks poured by embassy staff.  They asked if I wanted to volunteer sometime to be a bartender?!  It was loads of fun.  I've included a website to give you more info on the Steppe Inn  I felt like I was back in merry ole' England. 

Having lots of fun with Tommie and Ashley.

Ashley and Diane

Happy Tsagaan Sar

Please enjoy my walk down Tsagaan Sar lane from International Day at ASU, to the changing of the seasons, to a wonderful and special time with Muugii's family and finally a glimpse of me shedding my heavy, long winter coat and furry hat for a shorter winter jacket--still needed.  There's a certain exciting ritual we all feel when we can do this!

It was International Day at ASU and our class did a great job researching New Zealand--right down to the Haka

 

The snow/ice is still with us as is the smoke from the stacks in the background, but as you can see from the photo below it's starting to melt turning into a kind of "black" snow. 

 

 

I had the honor of joining Muugii's family for the Tsagaan Sar celebration--the Mongolian Lunar New Year.  It's very much like the American Thanksgiving right down to basketball on the TV. 

The main course, sort of, is a side of beef which the family buys and has someone else cook.  I know that wouldn't fit in my oven!  You use the knife on top to slice what you want.

Muugii's mom, Batdulam is greeting me with the traditional Zolgokh Mongolian greeting. 

Muugii and her daughter, Amina.

I love this painting; it reminds me of Chagall.  It was done by Muugii's father who was very talented.

Muugii's husband is wearing the traditional Deel.  Batdulam lives in the Ger district on the outskirts of UB.  As we drove out there, it was wonderful to see so many people dressed in their deels. 

I love the children:)

She's making the traditional Buuz--a type of steamed dumpling.  Muugii has agreed to show me how to make them!

Yummy!  It is my favorite:)

It's traditional to bring a hostess gift and also gifts are given to each person when they leave.  These were mine:)

Voila!  I'm still wearing those heavy snow/ice boots (thanks, Christy), but not for much longer.

 

Wine Pairing

We're trying to stay warm in Mongolia and what better way...IWAM's wine pairing evening at Worldwine in UB!  A great time was had by all:)

All German wines from sparkling to yummy red!

The chef not only prepared delicious German food, but gave us a history lesson on German wines.

 

Welcome to 2017

With the new year starting the topic of conversation among returning expats and Mongolians alike isn’t American politics, but the terrible air pollution in Ulaanbaatar.  So I thought I would take on this topic (you know me if there’s a cause I’m right there).  Below are snapshots of two recent articles from the UB Post that go into quite a bit of detail about this major concern.  One article shows two photos comparing air quality in December 2010 and December 2015--not a very pretty picture.  There’s a graph comparing UB with Beijing.  Beijing refers to their air pollution as the “airpocalypse” and according to this article we have surpassed Beijing about 50% of the time in “airpocalypse.”  A teacher from a well-known Mongolian university has said that Mongolians are considered a fast-adapting people, but that we should NOT be adapting to the toxins in the air instead what’s happening is that our cells are changing for the worse.  If possible, take the time to read both articles which are filled with lots of interesting information.

 

More people are wearing masks and/or taking taxis even if their destination is not that far away.  I walk to school early in the morning when the air quality is worse and I always wear a mask.

Since returning to school my class has been doing a study and paper on Stop Pollution!  This is on our bulletin board right outside our classroom for parents and all to see.  I figure I’m teaching the future leaders of Mongolia and even at the age of seven they can make a difference.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Happy Holidays to my friends and family around the world!  Just a few photos to introduce this warm (inside) and festive season to all.  I'll be traveling home in just two weeks and always excited to touch down at LAX and share the joys with all:)

Now who said we couldn't get jellied cranberry sauce in a can in Mongolia?  Voila!  We had this and other goodies to make our American Thanksgiving very special:)

 

Well, this is me, of course.  I call this putting on my battle gear to venture outside.  A lot of us are now wearing masks because the pollution is very, very bad. The hazardous air quality is sometimes higher than Beijing--reminiscent of LA in the 50s, 60s, and 70s.  But in this season of hope, there's always hope that it'll get better.

 

Christmas trees are everywhere in UB lighting up both the inside and

 

the outside.  May this be a special time for you:)