Ear Infection

I am pretty sure I have an ear infection. What a weird illness to get in Mongolia. I would have thought food poisoning or rabies, but it actually kind of makes since. I haven't been able to proparly wash out my ears do to the zero water pressure. So, the medical officer is sending an irrigation system tomorrow and hopefully all will be well. That may be more info abiout my ears than anybody wanted, but there you go.
The 4th of July was good. We made hot dogs at my house and fried potatoes and drank some beer and listened to Hendricks do the national anthem live at Woodstock a couple of times, so having no lake and no fireworks it was a pretty good fourth. I also did laundry, which is boring, but was exciting to wake up on monday with clean clothes. I am proud of my camping skills, which is not something i thought about having before coming here, but all those trips to Roubaix were apparently not just for fun, but secretly preparing me for Mongolia. (ie. I can fry potatoes whikle singing a song about fried potatoes)
I went to a traditional Mongolian Opera last night randomly. It started at 6 and we left the house at about 6:10, walked there and still waited for 40 minutes for it to start. Mongolian audiences are crazy hilarious. They talk on the phone, thy talk to each other, they laugh and yell at their kids, the kids run around and climb over seats, it was very different. The show itself was really good. I couldn't really understand exactly what was going on, but i think there were 2 couples, the first of which were really in love, and the second trying to break up the others, and then they all killed each other in the end. There was intrigue, danger, and romance, and sword fighting, and wrestling, it was everything i dreamed of and more.
Mom-sorry about having to turn around and the car, huge bummer. Glad you trouped!
Caroline- I was there! When they got engaged! And they are waiting to get married until I come back!
Tom-isnt technology fun!
Dad-I miss you! Kiss Alex for me!
Grand-rents-i love you, go eat some Georges Pizza for me! Better yet, start getting a package ready to send me as soon as I get my addy! Suggestions forthcoming I love you!
love, C

4th of July

So, I figured out how to call numbers from skype, but I have no one's phone number with me, so if you want a call from Mongolia, send me your digits. It is really cheep and I love it. The other PCTs and I are going to try to find some hot dog type items and watermellon and beer coca cola today and have a little celebration. This is the first 4th in a long time I have felt like being patriotic and i am in mongolia, so i am trying to do it up right. We had to go to school for 2 hours this morning (it is saturday) to make up for 2 hours we will "miss" on tuesday to do a special presentation. I was not very pleased, but I am a trooper. I was supposed to go to a monastary last night with my mongolian family, but then it didn't happen and I am not quite sure why. Perhaps we will go another time...communication is obviously still an issue. I am going to try to go to the public baths tomorrow and start the week off clean. Apparently other PCTs had hot showers, so maybe I will get one, i think it is just a matter of timing. I am really looking forward to being placed. Living on my own and cooking my own food seems really lovely right now. Of course, my last three meels were hosher (lunch hot, dinner cold, breakfast declined) so some variety would be lovely. I miss you all! I miss food! love, C

food and stuff (mostly for dad!)

Well, it is pretty cold and wet right now. The Peace Corps took offered to store our cold weather gear for us, so none of us have very warm things. Oh well. My classes are going well. They are hard and we have class from 9 am to 6 pm most days, so I am sleeping really well. Karoake was closed last night so we ended up just going to a restaurant and talking. We still had a really good time. I am eating so much bread it is riduculous. My host family will usually serve meals with rice and/or noodles and always bread. I have bread at least at every meal and sometimes for snacks. I need to find something else I can eat! The meat and dairy products are not very enjoyable. But some good news, turns out I like cabbage. Who knew? And cucumbers. We have a lot of cucumbers. I can still tell that I dont really like them, but my body wants them so much that they almost taste good. I wasn't able to pull up my gamil account today, so hopefully I have enough onfo to appease my trainers! I love you guys!
PS End of July, the CYDs (thats me) get to take kids camping for three days! I am psyched!
love, C

Karaoke

tonight! I am so excited! Maybe i will be able post pictures someday.

bath in tumpen

success! ...mostly

comments

Holy snap! I love comments! Please everyone who reads make a comment even if it is just your name and saying you are here. It is so nice to have a support system back home. Lynn, i got you comments and love and miss you and your fab fam! Grandparents, a tumpen is a shallow-sih round plastic basin used by me for bathing, washing clothes, and for looking at something colorful. (mine is neon pink!) Things are better and I am happy and busy. I have a lot of homework which is good. I want to learn everything I can while i have the resources. I have to give a 20 minute presentation on the signs and symptoms and treatment of child sexual abuse in 2 weeks. Holy way out of my league batman! So if anyone, like perhaps a former DSS child protection officer could tell me signs and symptoms and treatment of child sexual abuse, that would be great. (In outline form preferbably) Just remember how much i love and miss you dad! The email i can access the easiest here is my caitlinrose.monahan@gmail.com fyi. I am kind of spurging on internet this week dont count on these constant updates, kids! wouldn't want you all to get spoiled! 'cause i'm sure not! love you all! love, C

vacinations

I am vacinated against everything except yellow fever and stupidity. I had my first real low point yesterday, but it ended up being good. I was remiinded important facts about myself. One: food and sleep make Caitlin happy. No food and interupted sleep make Caitlin want to cry. Two: I am an adult and can take care of myself. Three: I can stand up for myself and make changes when needed. So, I went to the market and bought a little of my own food, ate over at another PCT's host house for dinner, and changed language classes. Today is much better, and things will probably get even better tomorrow.
I may wash my hair tonight in my tumpen. First time for that. Sunday I went to the public "hot showers which was expensive and falsely advertised. ie them being hot. Probably wont do that again. I want to bust out the solar shower, but am not sure how to do that. I live in a town.
I have not reallly been to UB yet, not for another 6 weeks. We flew in there, but it was night and them immediately off to Zuum Mod.
Not much else to report. I dont spend much time with my host family as they are both docotrs and hardly ever home. I study alot, listen to Harry Potter on my computor and even busted out my LOTR DVDs for awhile.
Here is who I miss: YOU!
Great to here from the various Monahans and Redmonds. I love you guys. Glad you made it on Dad! I miss you sosososososo much!
Love, C