News from Mongolia 7-1-04

It is sprinkling again today. I saw Phil off a few minutes ago. They were waiting for Jerry to come down, so he had time to think that a flannel shirt might be a good thing for the day.

Jerry told us a few nights ago that we would need to prepare for Noddin (at least that is the way it sounds) It is the festival. Something as big as Christmas for the Mongolians. It starts July 10 and apparently the whole town closes up and people go to the countryside or gather at the arena's. There are sporting events, like wrestling and races. The people all enjoy themselves and there is much drinking. The vodka producers must love it. Anyway, he said last year the governor had to make an official announcement that Noddin was over and everybody needed to go back to work. Jerry advised us to lay in enough food to get us by for a week. So, this week sometime in the middle, I will have my list ready and lay in provisions to get us past Noddin.

A couple of weeks ago we were out on the street and met up with Byambaa. While we were talking with her a little Russian lady approached us to ask if we were Russian. I am sure she was looking for some fellowship. She is 75 with a bright smile. She told us she was deaf and between Byambaa and lots of hand gestures we learned she was from Leningrad. Had come to Darkhan when she was 28, had 2 children and was married to a Mongolian Russian. Before long we went up to her apartment and was looking through her photos. She was a very sweet woman and her husband got out his world map to ask where we had come from and to show us where his children were. It was a marvelous experience. She said she missed Leningrad, that it was a lovely city, with lots of beautiful flowers.

Phil came home yesterday with a Phil-sized table for the kitchen. It's about 6 feet long and 2 1/2 feet wide, and is an American man's height. He plans to make his next batch of doughnuts on it. Don't know if I mentioned that Jerry wants to put in a bakery in Darkhan. Actually, he wants to have one out at his complex in Hongor too. Phil is experimenting with doughnuts and the table is just a tool to that end. However, I am pleased as the horizontal space is a wonderful thing in this kitchen.

Yesterday, I baked a peach pie. We found a can of Crisco in UB at a US products store. And Phil got it for the frying of doughnuts. Jerry has some dried peaches from California that were donated to him. So we have the makings for peach pie. It didn't turn out too bad given the peaches still have their peelings on them, and that we are using bread flour instead of all-purpose or pastry. Jerry has a soft spot for peach pie, but I don't think this pie was what he is used to getting stateside.

Today I am going to try to make a pizza. I have done my best to collect the best things I can think of to make it. We will see. The local grocer has stocked in all kinds of goods that she thinks an American might buy. They don't usually get American trade in the little shops at the end of apartment buildings. I have done my best to tell her not to go too far, as I will only be here for another month. Byambaa laughed at me and said, Why that woman is never as nice to us as she is to you, when we shop here. I must look wealthy to her. Actually the first day we bought from her, was when the ALERT guys were coming to breakfast and dinner because the hotel restaurant was closed because of elections. So, I bought a flat of 30 eggs and the 6 of them ate 24), a huge can of tomato sauce, two loaves of bread and a couple of big bags of cookies, some margarine, two packs of spaghetti noodles and a few more items. We spent about $10,000 tugruts. I guess it is a big purchase. That's about $10.00 for here.

Phil tells me that on some Saturday soon all of the men have been invited out to Mindee's family farm (or something like that) to ride horses and camels and have a big Mongolian Bar B Que and drink fermented milk tea, and pass the snuff bottle, etc. I have been told it's a guy thing. He is not sure if that will happen this Saturday or next. They will be entertained in a Ger. I hope they remember all of their Mongolian manners, and there are some.

Well, it is time for me to get the house picked up, and then get some writing done for Phil. He is to do a teaching on Courtship. He will most likely do it in Korea also as Dr. Ahne has asked them to do some teaching as well as physical training with the Korean guys.

We haven't thought much about that part of the trip. Phil is going there, but I will be coming home with three of the guys who did not sign on for that leg of the trip.

Thank you for your prayers
Mary

[ June 16] [ June 20 ] [ June 22 ] [ June 26 ] [ June 29 ] [ July 1 ] [ July 15 ] [ July 16 ] more to come