Ok, so Monday I visited my friend Uuganaa’s house for Tsagan Sar. We had a really great time and I think I managed to not make too many social faux pas. On the way home a dog decided to bark at me and start to chase me so I bent down to pick a rock to throw at the dog and bent my thumbnail back really far. Luckily I swore loud enough to scare the dog away, but unluckily my thumb was bleeding and pretty painful. Right after this happened our PCMO (medical officer) Amy called me to check on my cough. After complaining about my thumb, (I think to her amusement, bent fingernails are not usually reported to the PCMO, but it JUST happened!), she decided I needed to come to UB and et a chest x-ray and some breath tests to find out why I have been coughing for so long.
Half way between Arvaikheer and UB we usuallly stop at a Hotel/restaurant. Back before Christmas they had some sort of ceremony while I was there and took several pictures. I also had my cat with me at the time. This trip I discovered one of those pictures with the bus driver, the owner, me, and my cat is now enlarged and framed, hanging on the wall. I am famous! hahaha I arrived Tuesday afternoon and immediately ate at a new restaurant called American Burger and Fries which is owned by an ex-pat and is delicious. Unfortunately, I was feeling a little nauseous from the bus ride and I think the burger sent my stomach into shock after weeks of kimchi stir fry and peanut butter toast, and it dod not end up agreeing with me.
Wednesday, my birthday: I spent the morning at Peace Corps, talking to our PCMO (medical officer) and doing alot of waiting. I was very tired from not really sleeping the night before, so after a short nap in the lounge, I was ready to eat again. PCV friend Leila and I went to Luna Blanca of the famous peanut sauce soy nuggets, yum yum. She wanted to get a hair cut and I offered, so we headed back to my guest house and I cut her hair with the ktchen shears. It looked fab if i do say so myself, thanks to the girls at Great Clips for all those lessons! She had to get a pizza for her site mate Peter who was coming to town, so I went with her and got a pizza to go as well. Then a bunch of us PCVs watch New Moon with ridiculous subtitles. Near as we can tell the subtitles had been translated into chinese and back into english, and they no longer made-a the sense. There were several made up words, I love you was mostly translated as I love me, and werewolf was not sexual offender. Much hilarious!
Thursday, the PC staff were in meetings all day, so i met some PCVs for lunch back at American Burger and Fries (AB &F). This time my stomach was more prepared and everthing worked out great. The guy who owns it is really cool and gives volunteers 10% off. Leila took me shopping and I bought a new purple skirt which is amar goi! (very beautiful!) I spent the rest of the day on the internet and watching Julie and Julia which was pretty cute. I think I want to cut my hair like Amy Adams in that movie when I get back to freedom land. I want to see how long it can get in my time here.
Friday I met up with Paul, our other PCMO, and we went to the Korean Hospital where i had a chest xray and a spirometer test. I was pretty nervous as one of our fellow PCVs was told she had to go home the day before for respitory issues, but both tests were ok, not great, but ok. Paul took me to one of his favorite vegetarian restaurants in UB, The Stupa Cafe, which was delicious. There was a sweet cat at the restaurant too, unusual for Mongolia where people are not typically not cat fans. It made me miss my cat and I starting asking about when I could go home. One more exam at PC that afternoon and I was cleared to leave the next day. One of my sitemates was planning on going back the next day as well, so I would have a friend on the bus. I met up with some more PCVs that evening for kinda a goodbye for the PCV who was being sent home, then a late dinner with my sitemate who I haven't seen in weeks!.
I spent Saturday morning running a few last minute errands (Peanut Butter for Patrick! hahaha) and then met some PCVs for brunch. Alas, Nayra's was out fo bacon, but the pancakes were greasy and fabulous, and my left over birthday/valentine cookies were a big hit. Then it was time to get my stuff from Khongor Guest House and head to the bus. We had the only slow cab driver in Mongolia, but the bus didn't leave without us so all was well. The trip went fast, probably due to the benedryl I took as we left, (snore!). And then I was home.
Sunday i did laundry all morning, went to the post office, but it was closed, and went shopping for much needed food. I managed to get my package yesterday and I just got a text saying I have another! Woohoo! Mayhap from Uncle Dave with my long awaited hand-made Duct Tape Purse made and designed by my lovely cousin, Miss Iris Eve! We shall see. I think I got my american debit card activated which I means I can get money and hopefully get internet in my ger this week. That's right folks, high speed internet, no toilet. This is the life! love, C
Austin to Big Bend
11 years ago
4 comments:
I'm glad that they cleared you, but sad you still have a cough. Do you have an inhaler? Was it great to see your cat again?
It was fun, chatting with you so long on the phone, and talking about our visit. It made it real!
I have a new truck, and spent my last dime on it. Seriously. Insurance paid almost $8,000, but that was still not enough. Thank goodness I have a job and I get paid on Monday!
I went to Steamboat for the week-end, that was marvelous. Long, languid evenings chatting with my sister, your aunt, with good food and wine. Then, skiing yesterday was outstanding! Best conditions of the season, as it snowed for three days. I call it "giggle powder"! It was fun to finally ski with Kimberly, even though I wasn't entirely on my game, from the car wreck. I had to take it easy. I'm predictably sore today. I love skiing. I love coffee. And I love you!!
Oh, Maitlin, so happy your respiratory test did not send you away. Who would show me around Mongolia?
Hey, I love you. Do you want a Lost in Translation VCD with Chinese subtitles?
Surely, once you get high speed internet, you can simply download a toilet? Or perhaps upload your waste... Anyway, I'm glad you now have a picture of yourself and cat to prove to everyone that you're famous (though we already knew that here... I mean really, you're related to Richard Gere if nothing else)
Glad you are healthy enough to stay in Mongolia, and hoping you are healthy enough to enjoy it as well! Miss you!
Hey. Did you get the package? What was it? Was it the duct tape purse? I am so excited to see a picture of it. Instead of studying, one night, Maggie made a purse out of duct tape. It is super cool. MB hates it, can you believe it?
Claire is spending the night with Delany on Saturday. Madeline and I have a date. I am very excited.
I wish the chicks at Great Clips could know what a deep impact they had on all of our lives. They have no idea...Claire could really use so more advice as she fixes her hair in a new do every day. She lays out her clothes and then decides what hair do would go best. Madeline and I are not much help.
How is the cough cough cough.
Oh. And I sent it to Mary Ireland, Jackie Mercado and Jackie Telkamp, too. Oops.
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