Tsagaan Saar

It is the Mongolian New Year here, called Tsagaan Saar. It involves eating lots of food and visiting with family. We got a 5 day weekend! I think the teachers were just as excited as the students! On the last day I was part of the "Spirit Day" committee. We dressed in traditional clothes, had to solve a riddle, took place in a "horse race" where the students were both the horse and the rider, and committed 'Random Acts of Kindness'. Plus, we were treated to a traditional concert including song, dance and throat singing. They were students from the local College. Oyunaa was also generous enough to put on a traditional meal for us. There was far too much food, but delicious and a nice way to end the very full day, with very full stomachs! It was a blast, but a great deal of work.

My students and I have been involved with something called the "Flat Stanley Community Project." We write letters to another class in a school very far away, and they do the same for us. Thus far, we have exchanged with Maine and now London, UK. We spend some time googling the area our Stanley's will go and learning about the place. I think they enjoy it, but I also do it so they learn to think about someplace other than the US. There is a huge world out there, and the center of it is not America. We also wrote letters to the President of Mongolia, telling him about how we've been learning about communities and some suggestions to make ours better. I was a little concerned about sending them because they often referred to things as "disgusting." But, I spoke with one of the Admin and they thought it was a fabulous idea. We still have yet to hear back!

Another funny teaching story. I know I already mentioned it, but it still makes me laugh!
Miss M: "Um, Tengis, didn't we start a new novel in reading comprehension? I don't see a new title or even a new chapter heading."
Tengis: Stares at Miss M with crazy eyes.
Miss M: "Well, don't you think you should have written that?"
Tengis: "Miss M! It must have been all those beers I was drinking!"
Miss M: She cannot speak, as her head is on her desk, laughing.

Some of us teachers here had the opportunity to enjoy the Eagle Festival. It was an outdoor event, and despite the many, many layers I was wearing, it was still cold. Actually, I was okay, save for my feet. We enjoyed the riders coming in with their eagles and a couple of competitions. First, the rider was separated from their eagle and it was released. The rider then had to call it. Some of the eagles went astray and just landed on the ground, but many came when called. The second was a competition where the rider dragged a fox pelt behind their horse and the eagle had to come and capture it. The last competition was one I had trouble watching. They released live foxes and let the eagles hunt them. I hope that what the others said, that some of them got away, is true. I did however witness a dead fox draped across the back of one of the rider's horses. We were only there for about 2 hours, but due to the cold, it felt much longer. I felt as though I were walking around on wooden posts rather than legs! Also, one of the male teachers went for a camel ride. He got thrown from the camel and was knocked out! He's okay, but lucky. I guess the camel has finally managed to live up to their reputation. I have only ever had one wipe its nose on me, but am always asked if they truly spit.

We have the never ending month of March upon us! Last year I remember it going by so slowly. Plus, there will be report cards and parent-teacher interviews as well. Thank heavens I have Bali to look forward to in April! Ah, swimming at will! We have been in a cold snap here, and last Monday it was -32 degrees Celsius in the morning. Yikes! That's not including the wind chill, so I don't know fully what it was. It seems to have broken though, and as of yesterday, was what could be deemed "nice" again.

I also have some other news. I have accepted a position for the following two years in a small African country called Eritrea. It's motto is "13 months of sunshine." After the harsh winters here, it does sound enticing! It is a very small school and community and am looking forward to spreading my wings across a different continent. How lucky am I? To have the opportunity to live and work in such wonderful, interesting places! I guess I'll have to rename my blog!