A year ago, I was hopping on a plane in St. Louis, to head to DC to start my Peace Corps experience. I was filled with excitement and nervousness, and really had no clue what was ahead of me. It was a bittersweet time, because I knew mongolia was to be great, but saying goodbye to the people I love, and my life as I knew it then....was... tough.
But here it is a year later, and I can honestly say, I have no clue where the past year disappeared to. I love Mongolia. And even though there might be some days that are beyond frustrating, I have loved every day that I have spent here. The wildflowers are already started to bloom again, and I haven't seen them since last year, in Selenge, when I was living with my host family. It makes me laugh to think back on the confusing times not understanding the words that were said to me, and more or less being pushed around to where I needed to be...This only makes me laugh because sometimes, this is really still how things are. haha.
I would overall consider this past year a success, yes, there were those times that nothing seemed to go right, but in the end, plus plus. Also, I like to think that I am fitting into the culture, just a wee bit more...Here are some ways that I have evolved/become mongolified.
- I like milk tea and dried cheese curd now. These things are delicious. What was one year ago me thinking not wanting to finish my cup of hot tea like milk with salt in it...
- I consider 32 degrees to be a hot temperature.
- I am more patient. Believe it or not, things will happen, if not now, then later. I still wont consider myself a patient person, but compared to a year ago...
- I open cans with a knife. Here is an over-looked skill. Who needs a can opener. On a side note, I also finally understand how to correctly cut the paper milk cartons open now.
- I no longer have the desire to pet all the puppies/dogs I see. After a few close encounters with dog teeth, I just keep my hands to myself. If I see a puppy though, you best believe I am going to tell you about it (if not right away, then later)
- I now only hit my head roughly 12 times a day, instead of the previous 20. I am hoping to keep working on lowering this number.
- I can cook...and by cook I mean starting with flour and water, and making a delicious meal.
- My cup sharing standards have changed. Have twenty people I dont know drank dairy products out of this cup before you poured more milk tea in it for me to drink? Ok, that's reasonable.
- I eat meat...a lot of meat. Let's just say if I were to donate blood right now, I wouldn't have to worry about being turned away for my low iron count.
- I get car sick. in the states, riding in cars, no problem...here in dino land, I will bring a plastic bag along, just for fun.
- Even when speaking in English, I will add 'yes?' after everything I say.
Here are just a few ways that I haven't changed:
- I am punctual. Even though I know any mongolian I am meeting with will probably be at least 15 minutes late, I will still show up on time, if not a few minutes before.
- I will share my cup with you, but I will not shared your pre chewed gum, or pre saliva-ed hard candy.
- I can't read...Mongolian.
- I still use a really shitty phone, that is not a smart phone, and still can't fix problems with smartphones. For some reason, Mongolians never believe me.
- I still dont like eating animal innards.
- I still am really bad at volleyball.
But here it is a year later, and I can honestly say, I have no clue where the past year disappeared to. I love Mongolia. And even though there might be some days that are beyond frustrating, I have loved every day that I have spent here. The wildflowers are already started to bloom again, and I haven't seen them since last year, in Selenge, when I was living with my host family. It makes me laugh to think back on the confusing times not understanding the words that were said to me, and more or less being pushed around to where I needed to be...This only makes me laugh because sometimes, this is really still how things are. haha.
I would overall consider this past year a success, yes, there were those times that nothing seemed to go right, but in the end, plus plus. Also, I like to think that I am fitting into the culture, just a wee bit more...Here are some ways that I have evolved/become mongolified.
- I like milk tea and dried cheese curd now. These things are delicious. What was one year ago me thinking not wanting to finish my cup of hot tea like milk with salt in it...
- I consider 32 degrees to be a hot temperature.
- I am more patient. Believe it or not, things will happen, if not now, then later. I still wont consider myself a patient person, but compared to a year ago...
- I open cans with a knife. Here is an over-looked skill. Who needs a can opener. On a side note, I also finally understand how to correctly cut the paper milk cartons open now.
- I no longer have the desire to pet all the puppies/dogs I see. After a few close encounters with dog teeth, I just keep my hands to myself. If I see a puppy though, you best believe I am going to tell you about it (if not right away, then later)
- I now only hit my head roughly 12 times a day, instead of the previous 20. I am hoping to keep working on lowering this number.
- I can cook...and by cook I mean starting with flour and water, and making a delicious meal.
- My cup sharing standards have changed. Have twenty people I dont know drank dairy products out of this cup before you poured more milk tea in it for me to drink? Ok, that's reasonable.
- I eat meat...a lot of meat. Let's just say if I were to donate blood right now, I wouldn't have to worry about being turned away for my low iron count.
- I get car sick. in the states, riding in cars, no problem...here in dino land, I will bring a plastic bag along, just for fun.
- Even when speaking in English, I will add 'yes?' after everything I say.
Here are just a few ways that I haven't changed:
- I am punctual. Even though I know any mongolian I am meeting with will probably be at least 15 minutes late, I will still show up on time, if not a few minutes before.
- I will share my cup with you, but I will not shared your pre chewed gum, or pre saliva-ed hard candy.
- I can't read...Mongolian.
- I still use a really shitty phone, that is not a smart phone, and still can't fix problems with smartphones. For some reason, Mongolians never believe me.
- I still dont like eating animal innards.
- I still am really bad at volleyball.
