Days 6 & 7, Tsaagan Sar

Friday and Saturday-I have been practicing my badass bitch stare. And working on avoiding all eye contact. The consensus here is that eye contact is agressive in Mongolia, whereas it isnt in China. The folks are bigger here too- more scary.

Went to a few more museums, bought my train ticket to leave to Irktusk in Russian Siberia on Tuesday the 20th, have been playing cards, hanging out, and enjoying life. It is freezing still but fun times. We went to a big market here that sold everything- including kitchen sinks. Stoves, furniture, everything you would need to make a ger, fabric, food and things for the herders and cowboys. It is amazing. I havent taken too many photos out of fear that my camera will be jacked, but am taking lots of notes.

Spent the evening cooking, eating and playing games with Katie, Ian, Tomek and Joe. It is amazing how friends can make your world so much brighter. I was so ready to go home, just to have friends, but realized that my situation in Yangzhong was just so unique because I was so alone. I could definitely live overseas again as long as I was in a more urban place.

Sunday-Tsagaan Sar started on Sunday the 18th, and is what Mongolians call their New Year celebration. I was lucky enough to be able to go with a Mongolian teacher at Katie's school, plus Katie and Ian to Nara's family's home and their friends' homes. We started at 9:30am on Sunday and went to Nara's in-laws ger outside of town for some sheep, buutz (sheep filled dumplings), vodka, pickled salads and fermented cheese products. We visited 3 more homes that afternoon and had toasts and food the entire day. We were so full and a little drunk at times, and got home at 5:30pm, completely exhausted! It is a really interesting way to celebrate the New Year, kind of like having an open house all day long, but for a week! We are going again on Tuesday to some more homes.

Gers are fantastic. Totally portable, covered with felt and warm and toasty inside. They even have sinks and fridges in some of them!

Monday- Today we went on a hike outside of town. Through the snow and trees and it was crisp and clean and the sky was really blue. You could look down into UB, which sits in a valley and see the haze and smog and pollution sitting on top of the city like a vast brown blanket. The pollution just settles because it is blocked in by the mountains. Snowball fights and snow wrestling all around. Dinner and more games tonight.

I take the train Tuesday evening to Irktusk, near Lake Baikal and will arrive Thursday afternoon so it will be a few days....

Take care