Monthly Archives: September 2011

Masters research update #1

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After a slow start I have finally made some progress on my research.  The first week here I edited my questionnaires with Darkhuu, and they are now fabulous.  A good friend had translated them for me, but she had misunderstood some questions that needed fixing.  After editing was done, we spent several futile days trying to print and then make lots of photocopies, which in a town without electricity is a bit tricky.  I have now collected 75 of the 100 surveys that I need and have identified 3 of my 9 interview participants as well as someone in the local government to ask about adoption.  I hope to start interviewing this week, so wish me luck.  Data collection I will conquer you!

Exciting book purchases

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When I was in Ulaanbaatar I bought some exciting books in Mongolian for reading practice.  Books are still relatively expensive and there are not many book stores but I was pleasantly surprised to see an ever increasing selection.  Current books on my shelf include the following:

Нисдэг Гэр  (The flying ger)

Харри хүү ба шидэт шохой (Harry and the purple crayon)

Өглөгч Мод (The giving tree)

Хуучин Хот (The old city)

Матилда (Matilda)

Хар Шувууны Цагаан Түүх (Heartwarming story of a dark raven)

Шерлок Холмсын тухай өгүүллэгүүд (Sherlock Holmes mysteries)

Урт Оймст Пиппи (Pippi Longstocking)

Харри Поттер ба Нууцат Өрөө (Harry Potter and the secret room. I can’t find the first one)

Update: Brian brought home the first Harry Potter book for me last week (November 7, 2011)

Nigel Allowishish Munson White

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Our sweet Nigel Pink Feather

Nigel, our most beloved cat and famed world traveler passed away at 6:10 in the morning on September 4th.  At the time of death he was surrounded by those who loved him the most and he went peacefully.  He was buried in the hills about 3 miles from town in a small valley with a lovely view of the Gurvan Saikhan mountain range.

For those of you who don’t know, I first met Nigel when I was a Peace Corps trainee in 2002 and he was a 6 week old stripy kitten.  He has lived in Hanhongor, Columbia Missouri, Ithaca New York, Ulaanbaatar Mongolia, Madison Wisconsin, and one final time in Hanhongor.  During his life time he moved between Mongolia and America 3 times and took trips to California, New England, and Ohio.  While he suffered from life long illnesses he had a very determined spirit and more attitude than any cat deserved.

He is greatly missed by everyone, including Santiago who seems to be extra bored these days.  While we wish we had gotten to spend another 9 years with the little stink ray as the days get colder we are glad that he is no longer tortured by an evil body.  Good luck Nig in your next life-we hope you are eating all the crunchy cat food your little heart desires!

Nigel’s last napping place.

First day of school

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The first day of school in Mongolia is celebrated with new school uniforms, new notebooks, and many speeches.  At 8 in the morning teachers, parents, and students (lined up by class) all gathered outside in the school courtyard.  Awards were given to teachers for last year’s work, several dance and music numbers were performed by the students, and the 11th graders gifted the tiny 1st graders with pens and notebooks.  At the end of the ceremony a 1st grader symbolically rang the first bell of the year and all the students headed into the school for their first classes.  As I don’t have a homeroom class, I was done for the day, but most teachers spent the morning welcoming their students and handing out textbooks.  The morning ended with a live televised address by the president of Mongolia which in true Omnogobi fashion was cut short by a power outage.  It probably wasn’t that interesting anyway.