Monday, March 15, 2010
Football
Here's a good laugh for all those who know me well. If you don't know me that well, I'm someone who went to school at The University of Texas at Austin for 2 years and never attended a football game. Well, the movie, "The Blind Side", was on TV a couple of nights ago, which I watched in my usual comprehending-only-half-of-the-story manner since the dialogue is all in Mongolian, but basically enjoyed it.
The next day one of my students asked me to explain football. I laughed at the absurdity of the situation, but did my best, which means that I said the team with the ball had 4 tries to move the football 10 yards down the field. If they succeeded, they got to try again for another 10 yards. If they didn't make it, the other team got the ball. I acknowledged to them that there were many rules and penalties that I didn't know, but that was the basis of the game as far as I knew and that ultimately the goal was to move the ball to the goal line to score points. How'd I do?
The next day one of my students asked me to explain football. I laughed at the absurdity of the situation, but did my best, which means that I said the team with the ball had 4 tries to move the football 10 yards down the field. If they succeeded, they got to try again for another 10 yards. If they didn't make it, the other team got the ball. I acknowledged to them that there were many rules and penalties that I didn't know, but that was the basis of the game as far as I knew and that ultimately the goal was to move the ball to the goal line to score points. How'd I do?
Our big adventure
I know I owe all of you the story of the big adventure Christina and I had planned for Sunday night, but we ran into a glitch and it didn't take place. I now have a lead on other arrangements for this same plan, but want to hold off on the story telling until it takes place. Sorry!
In the meantime I will tell you about the classes I've held lately. Since the English classes are strictly voluntary on the part of the students, many of them have stopped attending, leaving only the better (and obviously more interested) students in class. This makes it more fun for me because we can have actual conversations and I don't have to be at the blackboard all the time.
I've been leading discussions about "culture" and trying to get a handle on what makes a Mongolian a Mongolian - what internal thinking goes on to make up the Mongolian personality or mindset. People might often think in terms of externals: food, clothing, music, housing, etc., but I am trying to get the students to think about character. Are the people optimistic, pessimistic, complacent, etc.? Some of you may shudder, thinking about the generalizations I'm trying to draw, but since we can accept (I think) the fact that there are attitude and character differences between different nationalities, how else can we examine or define things except by generalities? Feedback is welcome, especially on this point. Our discussions have been fascinating.
In the meantime I will tell you about the classes I've held lately. Since the English classes are strictly voluntary on the part of the students, many of them have stopped attending, leaving only the better (and obviously more interested) students in class. This makes it more fun for me because we can have actual conversations and I don't have to be at the blackboard all the time.
I've been leading discussions about "culture" and trying to get a handle on what makes a Mongolian a Mongolian - what internal thinking goes on to make up the Mongolian personality or mindset. People might often think in terms of externals: food, clothing, music, housing, etc., but I am trying to get the students to think about character. Are the people optimistic, pessimistic, complacent, etc.? Some of you may shudder, thinking about the generalizations I'm trying to draw, but since we can accept (I think) the fact that there are attitude and character differences between different nationalities, how else can we examine or define things except by generalities? Feedback is welcome, especially on this point. Our discussions have been fascinating.
A sign of spring?
This morning water dripped off the roof of the apartment building onto my head. Could this be the sign of a spring thaw?
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Weekend Update v.2
During my week off from school during the New Year's celebrations, I finished up knitting the baby blanket for Naraa and then began on a baby sweater for no one in particular, at that time. After returning to school, I gave the sweater to one of the teachers who had driven me to the post office on one occasion, because I knew he had a 3-yr old daughter - the same one who said I "didn't talk very clearly". Well, she came to school this past week and was wearing the sweater I made. It was dirty, so I know it has been worn more than just the once to show it off to me, and I was very gratified.
I owe all of you an update on the juice wars. I have liked everything except the sea buckthorn, which tastes a bit "off" to me, almost fermented in a way like papaya tastes "off" to me, too. I have also decided that, on general principles, I do not much care for floaty bits larger than orange juice pulp in my juices, although the pieces of coconut were interesting, at the least. I bought a new juice this week, which I have not tried yet, but I just had to have it: banana juice. I'll report later.
Christina and I got together yesterday and will do so again today. I showed her the State Department Store and the German bakery, etc. We had supper at the bakery: carrot soup for her and split pea for me. We split a serving of very-un-Italian lasagna, which was OK, but should be renamed. It consisted of 2 slices of pasta, a slice of Swiss cheese on top and diced carrots and peas between the pasta layers. Christina and I have a big adventure planned for tonight, about which more tomorrow. Stay tuned!
Christina and I walked back to my apartment yesterday after our afternoon of shopping and eating and were persistently followed by a begging child. I have encountered children like this before, but they have never followed me before, nor been so persistent and aggressive. This boy kept up his plea: "I'm hungry money thank you" for several blocks. I began by ignoring him, then shouted at him to go away. He was walking very slowly in front of me, making me try to pass him, but then he would move over on the sidewalk in front of me again. At one point I cut wide to the side when the sidewalk opened into a parklike plaza and ran ahead. Christina said he kept looking at my pockets, but since I don't keep anything in my pockets other than my handkerchief, I wasn't much worried. If he wanted my used handkerchief I wasn't going to protest. So even though incidents like this can tug at your heart and I felt bad for yelling, I wasn't about to open my purse or wallet out on the street. Still, I don't know why he singled me out in preference to her, nor did he bother with any of the Mongolians on the street.
I owe all of you an update on the juice wars. I have liked everything except the sea buckthorn, which tastes a bit "off" to me, almost fermented in a way like papaya tastes "off" to me, too. I have also decided that, on general principles, I do not much care for floaty bits larger than orange juice pulp in my juices, although the pieces of coconut were interesting, at the least. I bought a new juice this week, which I have not tried yet, but I just had to have it: banana juice. I'll report later.
Christina and I got together yesterday and will do so again today. I showed her the State Department Store and the German bakery, etc. We had supper at the bakery: carrot soup for her and split pea for me. We split a serving of very-un-Italian lasagna, which was OK, but should be renamed. It consisted of 2 slices of pasta, a slice of Swiss cheese on top and diced carrots and peas between the pasta layers. Christina and I have a big adventure planned for tonight, about which more tomorrow. Stay tuned!
Christina and I walked back to my apartment yesterday after our afternoon of shopping and eating and were persistently followed by a begging child. I have encountered children like this before, but they have never followed me before, nor been so persistent and aggressive. This boy kept up his plea: "I'm hungry money thank you" for several blocks. I began by ignoring him, then shouted at him to go away. He was walking very slowly in front of me, making me try to pass him, but then he would move over on the sidewalk in front of me again. At one point I cut wide to the side when the sidewalk opened into a parklike plaza and ran ahead. Christina said he kept looking at my pockets, but since I don't keep anything in my pockets other than my handkerchief, I wasn't much worried. If he wanted my used handkerchief I wasn't going to protest. So even though incidents like this can tug at your heart and I felt bad for yelling, I wasn't about to open my purse or wallet out on the street. Still, I don't know why he singled me out in preference to her, nor did he bother with any of the Mongolians on the street.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Another puppy gone
Another puppy is missing. We're down to 6 dogs now. These are all healthy dogs, so I don't think they are dying, nor have I seen any bodies. I've asked my students about animal control,and while they seem confused by the concept, they don't seem to think that there is any organized effort to remove dogs from the street. Anyway, why would such a group or agency take one puppy at a time?
Sumo champion
Yesterday, sumo wrestling champion, Asashoryu, a Mongolian who retired recently after allegations of a street brawl in Tokyo, came home to Ulan Bataar. He was greeted like a returning conqueror by cheering crowds. They took him to a hospital so he could kiss a newborn baby, but he couldn't fit into one of the visitors' gowns, so it was draped across his shoulders like a cape.
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