Happy Thanksgiving Week

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving experiencing many special moments!  I did!  I started the week making Mongolian buuz 



Yes, that's me covered in flour taking a selfie!!!  Who says I can't multitask.

Brett, my son, Shayne & Bodhi, adorable grandkids, Stephanie, Brett's girlfriend and her brother Joey enjoying buuz at my home.  Thanks Muugii:)

I took the grandkids to the San Clemente Pier and we saw a whale!!!  Where was my camera you ask???  What about the beautiful summer like weather--I got that!

Thanksgiving day and dinner at Gary & Melissa's (son & daughter-in-law) home with even more family.  And yes, I think their dog, Zoe stole the show:)

Halloween, Fall and more good news....

I love the holidays starting with Halloween and I'm excited to be back in California to celebrate!
Also, I've been trying to figure out how I can introduce Mongolia and my five year experience there to others.  Well, the opportunities are opening up and I'm starting to do lectures with a PowerPoint presentation about this wonderful and exciting country.  If any of you have a class, group and/or venue that would love to experience this place through my experience, please let me know.  And finally, over the years many of you have shared your thoughts with me about Mongolia.  In essence, this journey was not just my journey.  So, if you have one word or more that would sum up your thoughts, please email me or leave on my blog.  Thanks:)

 

I didn't see this in Mongolia!

For all my Starbucks friends:)

Barnes and Noble know how to get kids to read!

It's Fall, but we're still walking around as though it's summer.  I miss you Mongolia, but I don't miss the cold weather.  I check the weather everyday and it's dropping fast!!!

Saying Goodbye to Mongolia

As I sat outside watching the Tuul River meander downstream I reflected on my life of almost 72 years and how blessed I’ve been with a wonderful family and wonderful friends.  I wouldn’t trade my life for anything!  I had always wanted to live and work in another country and within these last 8 years I’ve been able to do just that for a little over 5 years.  It’s been an incredible journey full of many discoveries and a lot about what I discovered about myself.  It will be bittersweet to say goodbye that is for sure.  But Mongolia is a part of me so I will return, but in a different capacity--who knows?!  I made the right decision as the government just passed a law not issuing work visas to anyone over 60.  They’re trying to stimulate the economy by giving more jobs to Mongolians.  Some say it’s becoming more of an isolationist government.  Isn’t the world an interesting place right now?!

I’m an expat and will have an adjustment being back “home” so through other expats I found some websites to help with that adjustment expats adjusting

It was difficult to choose the pictures for this blog because I have so many photos (many you have seen), and so many memories.  I love that I’ve connected with the Mongolian people and their incredible land.  I guess at a later date I’ll have to put together photobooks and other books about this incredible experience.  Stay tuned!  At the end I included the Buddha statue in Zaisan because it was almost the only thing here when I arrived in 2009 and even though tall buildings are everywhere, it still dominates the landscape and seems to watch over all.  And my last photo is Dawa, my driver.  I have known him since 2009 and I think he probably saved my life by always getting as close as he could to the entrance to the markets so I wouldn’t slip on the ice/snow!  I will miss him and his sense of humor.

One of my students from three years ago said and I quote, “Even though Ms. Diane you’ll be in California, we will still be friends.”

The Tuul River

My wonderful program assistants from years past and present, Muugii and Boogii celebrating with me at the Shangri-La Hotel.

I'm learning to make buuz, a favorite Mongolian cuisine with Muugii and her daughter, Amina.

 

This is Gandan Monastery, one of my favorites.

I love this photo of these two monks just chatting at Dashchoilon Monastery, another favorite.

Another favorite is Zanabazar with lots of Buddhist displays.

I would just go into this art gallery because it was always so quiet and peaceful.

This is the famous Mercury Market with great produce.  It's been written up in western papers.

Our English club met in a small coffee house and it was a pleasure for me to a part of this dynamic group of mainly young people.

Mary & Martha owners, Bill and Irene have been in business in UB for 15 years.  They came for five and well, they are terrific and do wonderful work for women.

The famous Millie's

I'm standing between Millie's owners, Daniel and his wife Densmaa and my favorite servers.  As most of you know, I frequent this place a lot mainly to get a great breakfast Saturday morning.  When they see me coming, everything is ready when I walk in:)  They are the best!!!

I've known Niema, my hair stylist since 2009 and she gets me to look good for functions below....

The IWAM gang--actually we are at the German Embassy saying goodbye to Nina (past president and the tall one next to me) as her and her husband are being posted at the Embassy in Berlin.

He really didn't want his picture taken, but he humored me.  These guys are great!

"Flagging" down a street
taxi is very common in Mongolia for all of us.

It wouldn't be Mongolia if I didn't show a photo of the snow/ice.  It was November and I was in a taxi going into town on the worst snowstorm of the season.  You gotta love it!!!

Everyone at Tom N Tom's knows me including the owner and knows exactly how I like my "drinks." 

Doesn't this capture the beautiful sky?
 

I've worked with these wonderful 3rd grade teachers, Morene and Ash for three years.  Can't you tell we're heading towards the end?!

This is where I shop.  It's very similar to Costco.  That's Dawa's white car parked right at the entrance.  How does he do it?

Another one of my markets that now has a delivery service using electric cars.

I'm glad Dawa drives and not me!  My apt. is in the blue building behind middle/high school.

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:)