Okay, I know I haven't updated in a while. Sorry for those of you who read this regularly! It has been a busy month! Phew!

My class is beginning to settle into the routine and things are going well. We were featured in the first newsletter home due to our science experiment on seed germination. The class was astounded at the way the lentil seeds grew so fast in only a cup and wet paper towel. Plus, we got to have a field trip on the school grounds to look at seeds and the local plants. It was a lovely day and nice to get outside for one period.

We had our curriculum night and I had 17 parents show up. This must be some sort of a record, my classroom was packed. It's always funny to see the parents sitting in the tiny, grade 3 desks. They seem like active people. I always enjoy to see parents taking a role in their child's education. This means I get the support at home I need. We actually had to be shooed out of the class at the end, some parents wanted to keep talking!

I have a new first in my teaching career. One of my students was suspended for a day. I'm sad it had to happen, but they needed a wake up call as to following the school rules. Hopefully, it won't need to happen again.

We had our first spirit day of the school year, and the goal was to make the students look like a box of crayons. My class was orange. Unfortunately, we did not win this month, but the students seem eager to try again next month. I wish us the best of luck!

Sorry the photos are kind of fuzzy, but they were taken with my old camera. I got a new one from Olaf for my birthday! It's beautiful! I will write more soon, I promise!

This is my new class! We are 20 and there are 3 students named Khulan. It is such a popular name, for both boys and girls. I am grateful for the two preparation periods a day I get and for the fact I do not teach art, gym or computers this year. Not that I minded, but it takes some of the pressure off. I do have new classes I have introduced this year, such as Health and vocabulary building, which has increased the time required for prep. Needless to say, I have been exhausted this week! I keep trying very hard not to fall asleep on the couch in the early evening, but have failed a few times! After my first day back I did suffer from insomnia though. For some unknown reason, my alarm clock had been set to 11:00 and that woke me up. Then I re-awoke at 3am and could not get back to sleep until after 5!

The weather here has been unpredictable this year. Last year when I arrived it rained one day. The rest of the time it was clear, blue skies and dry. This year it has been overcast and rainy most days. I have never seen it so green here! I take the temperature twice a day and the first day we started out at 13 degrees but by the afternoon it had shot up to over 35! The rest of the days this week it has hovered around 14 degrees.

The first day of school was marked by the opening ceremony, and the students gave me tons of roses! One even gave me a plant for my desk, making me very happy! I also got some chocolates.

During the week preparing for the new school year Doogie and I worked closely together. I am extremely happy and grateful she is back! Her baby is only about 3 months old, but stays with her husband during the day. Doogie says she is glad to be back at work, and I am certainly glad to have her! She was such a tremendous help to me last year and I couldn't imaging working without her.

My students so far are very sweet. Their language skills are varied, but that is to be expected. I have incorporated many new areas in the Language Arts part of my curriculum to, hopefully, compensate for this and will see their abilities grow. I made sure my new students knew the three major things about me; I'm in love with Batman, I need my coffee, and that I work very hard for them and expect the same from them. I also decided to inform them that no, I was not married, and that I was in no rush to be. So, they did not need to ask every man who comes into my classroom if he's married, and if not, does he want to marry me. It's sweet to have them so concerned for my well being, but I do not need a matchmaker! Or, an entire class of ones! They laughed at that.

I have decided this year to read aloud to them "Journey to the Centre of the Earth." So far it is just the set up to the exciting adventure and I have to keep telling them, trust me, it's going to get good! I'm hoping the new movie will come here on video soon so I can show them. The promise of a movie is always motivating! Well, so is the threat of stopping the reading and doing grammar instead;)

My old students have already been asking me to come back next year and teach them grade 5! They love to hug me and one even says, "My hands are stuck! I can't let you go!" It is very nice to have been so missed! They also keep asking me if I had my coffee today yet!

I was out shopping last weekend and bought some seeds for chives and I think, basil. I'm trying my luck out on an indoor herb garden, but I'm not holding my breath. I tried last year to grow lemon basil and it did not go well. I did miss some of the foods here (gasp, shock!). I missed the fake soy meat and the seasoned sushi wraps. MMmmm, they are a tasty snack, but get green stuff stuck in my teeth.

I keep getting asked by parents how their child is doing so far in school. It's only been three days and it is tough to answer that question when I'm still learning everyone's name! I'm hoping this year will go as well as last, but it is too soon to tell. So far I've been covering review and introducing new ideas very slowly. I keep calling people for reassurance, and they have helped me immensely. Especially being able to talk to my mom! Mom's are the best!

Another year looms upon me, but looms in a good way. I am looking forward to this year. I have so much more instruction time, leaving me more time for fun, in-class projects. I am going to have to give a kudos to Gary Diamond, who has managed to hire an amazing bunch of great, new teachers!

Ulaanbaatar(UB) has changed quite a bit since I've last been here. There are two new department stores and the State Department has a new burger joint in addition to moving things around on me. I gave up looking for the shop there where I had purchased my old backpack and just went to the North Face knock off store across the street. However, they no longer have a sign stating they sell North Face. It's now something about Outdoor Clothing or some such thing. Still, I got a great one there for about $35. I just worry about the zippers. I bought one there at the beginning of last year and the zippers were the first thing to go on it. If I hadn't (sigh) left my last one on the chair in my mom's basement, containing my prized laptop, I wouldn't be in this position in the first place.

I usually manage to glide under the radar here. The entire year last year I rarely ran into anyone I knew. Today, I managed to run into one of my old students and the school librarian! I felt popular. Having forgotten my book, after shopping I resigned myself to people watching instead. I kind of dislike it because I always manage to see so many near misses with the traffic here. It sets me on edge. Plus, I nearly got backed over by an SUV while trying to hail a taxi. I yelled at them in English and they just drove away, as though nothing had happened. Driving here is like being on a roller coaster. Sit tight, keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle, and hang on! No wonder I hated driving once I got back to Canada! While I was there I did not once go on the high way. Considering I used to be the driving lady, not thinking about driving for over 10 hours in a single day, this is a new development in me.

School begins on Monday, and I'm excited to see what this year brings for me. My class thus far is 18 students, and I'm hoping it does not get any bigger. This is a nice, manageable size. I feel ready and raring to go! I have my first day and month planned out. Right now it will be a wait see kind of period. I will have to gauge my students and see what happens with the ESL part of our classes. Wish me luck!

I am going to have to say that Tokyo is one of the hottest places I've been. I suffered from jet lag and was up and down during the night. Luckily the place I was staying had computers for us non locals to use. I have to admit, I was somewhat distracted by my missing laptop. You put your life into some little contraption, and without it you feel completely lost.

I really only had one full day there, and just wandered around the city. Those of you who know me, know I get lost very easily. However, I did not get lost once there! I was proud! I took a boat ride in the hopes it would be cooler, and in the air conditioned downstairs part, it was. I ate seafood flavoured popcorn, saw some bridges and a park. Took many photos, and saw lots of bicycles and varnished food. I have to admit, it seemed a little pale without someone to share it with. What happened to me? I guess I fell in love. Is this what everyone has been talking about all this time? I did eat some fabulous food there! Mmmmmm, tuna sashimi! Diagnosis, delicious! I walked around after the boat ride looking for a place to eat. I know, you'd assume because I was in Japan that all the restaurants would be Japanese. Or, I suppose, just restaurants. I found a little hole in the wall obviously frequented by locals, and knew I had found my place! My goal going there was one thing, stuff my face with sushi. Mission accomplished!

To get back to the airport I talked with the front desk people and it was much, much cheaper! I took a taxi to the station and the skytrain to the airport. I was something of a pack mule though, carrying all this stuff! My impressions of Tokyo is that everyone there is very friendly and more than willing to help. Aside from the heat, it was a lovely, clean place to visit. It really doesn't cost as much as you would assume. Just that one cab ride took up half my budget, but it really wasn't that big of a deal.

It is much cooler here back in Ulaanbaatar. I have been meeting the new teachers and they are really great. I think it's going to be a good year. It was nice to be back "home", to the place where all my stuff is. I was picked up at the airport and danced because I was so happy! Upon my arrival to my place of residence, there was no electricity and hence, no water, but there was a beautiful rainbow. What a welcome home!

I wish I could upload all the photos to fully share the sights with you all, but the site does not allow for more than one photo at a time and it is really time consuming. Plus, I do not seem to have the ability to organize them and place where I'd like in my text. I have brought my guitar with me, but need to get some new strings for it. I finally managed to download iTunes and Skype on my new laptop, however, I did erase my complete iTunes library from my iPod. Geez! If it's not one thing, it's another with me. I thought as you get older, you were supposed to become more collected! I guess with more responsibility comes more things to forget!

It has been an exciting, and tiring, week. I pulled out of Canada on Aug 17th and somehow, of all the things in my life to forget I managed this one, forgot my laptop. I realized it while I was in the TO international airport, but felt there were no steps I could take at that point to get it back in my hot little hands. I was in security, and for Mom to drive back was just asking too much. Heck, she wasn't even back to her house yet at that point! The only thing, it was a running theme song in my head..."laptop...laptop..I forgot my laptop...laptop.." Well you get the idea.

I had to pull a teacher twice on my flights to Chicago and then on to Tokyo. The first was a pair of sisters who were arguing about if the shade should be up or down. I ended up saying, "Hey, cut it out!...Both of you!" I wouldn't have said anything but the mom was right beside them, and did nothing. She had her arms full with a boy who seemed about 6, maybe 7. However, this woman could not let the squeamer out of her arms, and it would seem disipline fell to the wayside with her. It finally ended when the older girl pinched the younger one so hard she cried. Mom, still no reaction.

On my way to Tokyo. This is a long flight, 12 hours. I managed to again be in the vinicity of young ones. We all know I'm a teacher, and love my students, but for some reason this also reserves me the right to tell children in a teacherly way when they're being wrong. Well, this boy behind me was kicking my chair, for over an hour. I finally went to the bathroom and on my way said, "Can you please stop kicking the back of my seat? It's driving me insane." That was all it took, and he stopped. No one likes to be on a flight like that, especially one that long. I did procure for myself one of those donught type neck pillows. I actually slept!

Okay, so I arrive in Tokyo. I feel kind of lost, of course. I get my money exchanged in the airport and grab a taxi. Tokyo is actually one hour drive away from Narita airport. Well, the drive cost me 23 000 JPY. That was near on $300! Yikes! I paid because I had so much to carry and didn't feel like being a mule any more. I had two backpacker backpacks, plus my guitar. I was loaded!

I went to check in, and due to the time change from N.America, I technically lost a day. I left Canada on Aug 17, but arrived in Japan the 18th. My room was still there, but I still had to pay for the day. Geez, what luck I have!

So, I decided before the jet lag fully set in I should go out to eat. I walked up the way, and found a place that seemed to have sushi on the menu. I had trouble ordering and the waitress asked me, "Do you speak Japanese?" Well, if I did, wouldn't I already be speaking it? I know, kind of cynical, but also a very practical question. I did not say it, as she would have had no clue as to what I was saying anyway. There was a gal at the next table who spoke English and offered to assist me. It would seem they were trying to get me to order more food than I needed. This be said, she (Rose, Tokyo Rose) and her companion (Suzuki) offered for me to join them. I agreed. Rose was astounded my my proficiency with chopsticks and I had to laugh. I said, "We do have chopstick in Canada!" She and her friend were interested in my journies, and at one point she said, "you live an interesting life." I thought, Poo, you're from Romania, you live in Tokyo, and you speak three languages! I just said, "Thank you." I went to the tiniest, but cleanest, space I've ever occupied, and slept.

It has been a long but short summer! I will be leaving tomorrow for a three day stay in Tokyo and then back to Ulaanbaatar. I'm looking forward to my next year teaching there and getting back to work. I think due to the hand, foot, and mouth disease outbreak I've been off for too long!

I had a wonderful visitor come to Canada to see me and though I have lived here for most of my life, I was truly a tourist. It was the best week! Ever! We did what we deemed 'extreme tourism' and did and saw most everything Toronto and Niagara Falls had to offer. I have never been on the 'Maid of the Mist' before and got freaked out up the Tower (afraid of heights!). One thing is for sure, I have gained weight back home and am, once again, the worst vegetarian in the world. For my last meal here I had steak, from the b-b-q. It was fantastic!

Mom, my aunt and I also got to spend some time at my other aunt's cottage up near Parry Sound. We got some sun and the major plus was, Farley was invited. Funny story.... Mom and I got home and we listened to our messages. There was one from the vet's office here in Grimsby saying someone up in Parry Sound had found Farley. He said he couldn't keep him for very long, as he had two Boxers to care for, and could we please come pick him up. Mom and I stared at Farley, standing in our linoleum kitchen and eating carrots. We didn't even know he was MIA! Okay, well, we did. But it's normal for him. He was only gone for about an hour. I once was at a campsite, and my friends decided to go fishing over 2 miles away. Well, Farley found them. He has an excellent sense of direction and I was never concerned about him. He takes off and explores, but always comes back for the food! I did notice that he stayed close by after that intial day and was always looking to me for clues as to where he could go. I should have known! He is usually up to no good! I did call the Vet's office to tell them Farley was safe with us, and that I was so glad the system worked! I just can't even imagine what the poor guy had to do to be able to read Farley's tags. He is very much a 'stranger danger' kind of guy.

My two best friends, the whole pairs of them, have recently bought houses! I gave them the traditional housewarming gifts, with a modern twist. Like, you are supposed to give a candle so you always have light. Well, I gave a flashlight. What happens if you don't have any matches? Both their respective places are amazing and truly matched to them. I am very happy for them and wish nothing but the best from here on out!

I have been reconsidering my worldly possessions here. I decided to sell off most of them, well, okay, anything I could. I sold most of the big stuff, and gave a bunch of it away. I figured, if I've been away and haven't missed it or already replaced it, then I don't need it. I have a lot more than I bargained for to take back with me, but I guess that will be it. I sold my bed, car, all my recording equipment and live venue equipment as well, in addition to my electric guitar. I feel so unhindered and ready for the future!

P.S. I have met someone, really nice, who makes my heart sing!


P.S.S. I now for some reason have no ability to place my photos, so it's a sort of montage!

It has been an interesting week for me. First I get stuck in the Beijing airport for two days. Secondly, I return to Ulaanbaatar to riots and a state of emergency! There was initially a deomonstration which quickly grew violent. The people were protesting the Socialist Party's "said" win in the election. They then proceeded to light the party headquarters on fire, killing one person, as well as burning several cars in the area. I was out for dinner with a friend and he was receiving texts to keep us informed. The last text was, "All foreigners are advised to get off the streets." We quickly did.

We discovered the next day there was now a curfew in place, alcohol sales were banned and there were tanks, armed guards and police in the streets. A bit daunting, however, I never felt in danger. This state of emergency will end tomorrow, but I think things are pretty much back to normal. Many of the people I spoke with relayed the sentiment that they were disappointed in the behavior. They felt it was men getting together and feeding off each other. "Fueling the fire" in a sense.

I do appreciate everyone's concern for my well-being. I heard from quite a few of my family and friends wondering first, where I was, but also if I was okay. I know I was expected home a week ago, but I am now in the Beijing airport...again. However, I am in the correct terminal, awake, and close to my gate! I can't lose! I was told some interesting information about my bag. It did not make it on last week's flight, just as I did not. It was here the whole time! I was informed that after 5 days they ship unclaimed bags off to the head office in Chicago. A nice lady walked me to the storage room after already telling me the description of my bag before I had a chance to. The bag was not there. She made a quick phone call to discover the bag was on a plane, ready to be shipped off. Luckily, due to bad weather yesterday, this flight was delayed. Thus, my bag is here! It will go through to Chicago with me, but I must collect it then and ensure it travels on to Toronto with me.

After my terrible experiences here last week, I have to admit, I feel a bit like a princess! Everyone is being so kind and helpful. The one check in clerk remembered me. I figured it'd be pretty hard to forget me; the irate, red-haired, crying girl. At least I know I manage to make a lasting impression!