Khovd Sweet Khovd

I realize it has been almost six months since my last post. Well, it’s been an eventful six months, particularly the last two-three.

I don’t have much time to elaborate, mainly because I won’t have constant Internet access for two years. That’s part of what happened these past two months. Anyhow, here we go:

• We arrived in Mongolia on June 5, 2010 and had five days of orientation in Zuunmod, the capital of Tov aimag. All the M-21s met for the first time, and rapport was immediately established. From there, we split up into six training sites; I, along with ten other PCTs (now PCVs) trained in Bayandelger soum in Tov aimag.
• From June 10-August 15, we lived, studied, worked, played, and became more Mongolian in Bayandelger. My host family was a true gem, and I hope to visit them again next summer. We had semi-rigorous Mongolian language lessons for 20 hours each week as well as Peace Corps training sessions. Also, we did micro-teaching and practice teaching. Overall, they went well; I had a solid group of teachers and students. Most importantly, we immersed ourselves in Mongolian culture–bathing out of a bucket, starting our own fires, going months without indoor plumbing, learning songs and dances, eating the food, appreciating the endless majesty of the steppe. Tov aimag, like any other place in Mongolia, is immaculately beautiful.
• From August 15-August 21, we went back to Zuunmod to learn where our permanent sites were. I learned that I would be living and teaching in Mankhan soum in Khovd aimag, which is in the far west. Khovd aimag is great because it’s the most ethnically diverse aimag (several ethnic Mongol and Kazakh groups), and the landscape reminds me of the southwest U.S. I am the only American in my soum, surrounded by mountains and camels in the middle of nowhere without Internet, but I have a loving new khashaa family, and I am excited to get involved with my school. Plus, I have several PCV friends stationed two hours north of me in Khovd, the capital of Khovd aimag (this is where I am right now).

So, that’s where I’m at. I could spend multiple lifetimes recounting all of my adventures, feats, and tribulations, but instead I will seek out more. The main two things to note are that I have made so, so many new friends, and although we are dispersed like heated electrons all across this vast country, we will keep each other going. Also, I have met someone during training who has in a short amount of time become special to me, but they are now, and for two years will remain, 2,000 km away from me in the east, so I don’t know what will happen. I hope the best possible scenario happens, though.

Here’s to hoping I can update again soon and survive the -40-degree winter temperatures in my cozy ger. Here’s to hoping I do a swell job these next two years with my life.

Peace (Corps is what you make it),
Andrew

^an aerial view of Khovd