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.

the sendoff treat

i was told before the weekend that we will be heading off to the countryside as a farewell treat for those who will be leaving soon. that included an american trainer for a wb-funded project, a colleague going for masters education in south korea, staffmembers leaving for a 2-week training in japan, and me finishing off my 1-year placement.

the gathering was set at 8 am, that sunday and departure will be at 810 am. i even asked jokingly if it was mongolian time (knowing that if that is the case, it will be much later). a colleague assured me it was going to be on time. at that sunday morning, we left at about 915.

first stop along the way was at an ovoo. offered some vodka to the sky. and some for us too.

it was a clear and sunny day

we visited a herder family. and that's where we stayed.

guard dogs of the family

some of the horses grazing the nearby hills

lunch starter - rice with milk - budaatsai

my boss serving of course the classic local drink - chinggis vodka

the herder's wife. used to be a schoolteacher but had to stop because of sickness. she helps in the management of the cattlestock. she never had experience of doing it. hard at first she said. but learned to love it.

tsetsegmaa - she is leaving for south korea to do further studies. behind her was the herder who also works in the academy of the ministry of defense.

more appetizers - boiled liver

taking a rest from hillclimbing with suzy, the american accounting trainer, and one of the guard dogs

khudree - my translator

just up on a horse

after lunch, we gathered under the trees for songs, poetry and more vodka

the whole group for a souvenir pic

the affair was for leavers. there were display of emotions - happy and sad. i will still be around for a few more weeks. i cannot feel it yet but i know it is forthcoming. well, i will keep my eyes dry and my heart light until then.

terelj revisited

went to terelj on a saturday with the newly arrived batch of volunteers. there were 3 of us old-timers who joined the group. almost the end of summer, yet it was raining the whole night before our departure, and still was until late morning. david, gek and i walked to the office, through the rain and puddles. we reached the office with half-drenched trousers, which is why when we arrived at the ger camp, david and i had to wear improvised blanket skirts as we hang dried our pants by the fire.

with marielle, a dutch volunteer who just came back for a short-term placement. she is a nurse.

with the new volunteers by the river

two women (leslie and gek)

one hour from UB

the ovoo - buddhist practice is to get 3 pieces of stone, walk around it and throw one as u make a wish. recommended to do it 3 times.

my garden

by my window, i have put several plants which i planted in old bowls and plates. i have taken some soil from a fellow volunteer's placement when i visited their greenhouse somewhere in the ger districts of the city. the plants were courtesy of friends - one former volunteer gave me her geranium, aloe vera and tiger plants when she was leaving mongolia, a volunteer friend for a church organization spared me some mayana cuttings from his workplace, a colleague gave me an aloe vera cutting from his home, and some spider plants i got from my office.

a good friend left with me some stones which i accessorized on my pots and plants. i have added a terra cotta ceramic mug and buddha as a breaker in the cluster.

the plants are very healthy. they face the morning sun. in the winter i water them once or twice a week but now in the summer it is done almost everyday. since i have transferred the geranium in a bigger pot, it has grown bigger and flowered in bloom. i have replanted my mayanas which are now very robust and sturdy.

i have sown some chillis and are now in a basket bowl. the tips i have already plucked for some tinola (chicken stew) cravings. the leaves add great flavor to the stock and to the dish as a whole.

i still have some other plants placed around my flat. i have even put some inside my bathroom. well, it is my home gardening if you can call that.

youth art weekend

on a saturday, i was invited to be one of the judges in a poster-making contest among out-of-school youths, conducted by red cross chinggeltei district. the venue was in their office which was in a ger district.

theme for the poster was about volunteering for community development.

look at the time sked on the right! mongolians use the 24-hr clock format (or military style).

the participants of varying age, finishing their work.

time to display them for judging

rating art...

introducing volunteering thru art

the audience was very attentive

the judges coming up with the final decision

awarding the participants with token gifts

the top 5 winners and their artwork

volunteer summer conference

it was held in bayan khangai, northeast of the capital. about an hour's drive. the countryside vista of summer was a refreshing sight having stayed in the city during winter and spring. however, swarm of horseflies and other insects welcomed us upon our arrival.

group pic of vols

the big ger was where we had most of our meals

where we spent our sleeping hours

what a sight!

building for the comfort rooms/ballroom/conference hall/bar

after lunch at the ger

lazing out in the sun...

a mongolian child

at st luke's hospital, philippines

'twas a dream come true since i was a kid-- to be hospitalized. only i did not think of the specific circumstances.

after 5 days in seoul, i was asked by the insurance company to leave for the philippines for final treatment.

i got admitted at st. luke's medical center. there were more tests and medication. i had my infection treated, my stone and stent removed.

bespren rhonna visited

some 'fancy' meals at the hospital

there was no view...