a transitional note

it's the last day of october and and it's my last month as a volunteer. i am done with my final reports, exit interview and turnovers.

the last 14 months have made their indelible mark in my life. volunteerism, volunteer life, development. not to mention the very cold weather, learning cyrillic, and experiencing medical evacuation.

the mongolian people are a warm and fun-loving race. proud and brave. they are diligent when given proper encouragement. i, just like many foreigners, have acquired a liking for their kind.

the community of volunteer workers has a significant aura of difference. confident, fulfillling. entirely strange assortment of people, yet admirable. it is a purpose-driven organization focussed on 'sharing skills and changing lives'. we used to say it may as well be 'sharing lives and changing skills' - with the way we have to be adaptive and flexible in our work and lifestyle.

i will be leaving my voluntary status but i will still be in mongolia for the next six months. i got a 'proper job' as volunteers say. it means 'with salary' (volunteers thrive on allowance, not salary).

i have moved to a new office, a new flat, a new neighborhood. what other 'new' lies ahead? i don't know. i'm sure, only God knows.