Banuuu.

Sorry there has been quite a gap in my writings just not muchh has really happened it feels liike but, looking back on the week, I feel it warrants a blog- besides I want to tell you all my exciting weekend planss... ;)

So yes, I last wrote to you on Mondayyy... Since then I have been a much larger part of family life and have taken to sitting with them in the communal room. It has meant I have been exposed to a lot more of Mongolian culture as well. I have helped Granny cook a meal - well chopped an onion but I think that counts- and been shown Dok's sowing which, I must say is exquisite. Unfortunately. Tommi also got a call on monday which has meant he has had to leave for the countryside. Goodbye English conversation at homeeee.. It has made trying to communicate where I am going this weekend interesting though.... Have ended up getting Zulaa to ring home for me to explain? In other way it is funny miming food, drink etc.

It has also meant that I have been exposed to Mongolian TV? As well as watching 101 Dalmatians in Mongolian, yesterday I managed to catch Top Gear and then watched Extreme Wipeout USA... oh yeah I is cool. I also have started semi following a Mongolian Soap... what is is called and what is happening I do not know. I do know however that someone has just died as there are a lot of slow montages set to dramatic music and some hysterical tears (the acting leaves a lot to the imagination). The advertising out here is also absolutely mental. Pepsi and coca cola really are waging something of a proxy advertising war out here... Also, random film music is on these adverts, like the title song to the animated 101 Dalmatians is on what appears to be a recruitment ad? Most odd.

As for my lessons, it really is so rewarding. I have eight classes in all but two of them are just horrible. Their attitudes stink and they just don't want to speak English. Seeing as I am the English speaking teacher, this makes an hour and a half lesson go so. Slowly. But yes, my other classes more than make up for it. I especially like the class that I take twice a week at the Children's Palace. I was so so tired on Tuesday and they picked up on it so one of them gave me a back massage- felt so loved. This week I have been doing family with them and giving them words to describe people but I also gave a brief English Literature lesson (which they loved!) and a lesson on travel this morning at the Golden Bridge Center. I feel particularly loved there as all of the people from the afternoon classes have started coming in early to hear a native speaker. Today, in a class which is normally 8 to 10, there were 20?! Crazy- extra chairs had to be brought in.

As an aside, Harry, I also semi- completed your task which has left me branded as the "crazy-enthusiastic English volunteer". I was going through words you could use to describe appearance, one of which is "stunning". Anyway to illustrate this, I ask the class "what does the verb, to stun mean?". A girl at the front of the class was on her phone so I ran towards her going "MLEHMLEHMLEHMLEHMLEHHHHH". Face. Was. A. Picture. So yes. Task completed? ;)

I also started my proper Health and Safety Training this week which has meant about 20 more children have been trained there. I have actually run out of certificates so more have been sent from London!? That makes 60 so far. And four more classes still to go. I had news back from the head of the project at the British Safety Council and he wants to cover my story when I return to Blighty. It also seems like I am in the running for this 100 pound prize for strong outreach! Helltotheyes Henners.

Today I am in the Projects Abroad office and (Zulaa has told me to mention this ;)!) she and Zolo cooked me Mongolian Dumpling soup after she saw my facebook status about it yesterday! I say Mongolian dumpling soup but it was actually Korean Ramen (reallllll spicy- my stomach is going to make me regret that later) with dumplings floating in it. I have to say it tasted pretttty darn good even if my throat was set alight by the kajun pepper? Pictures were taken. :P

All that is left to say now are my weekend plans! Tonight I get more Western Food *yay* as Jemma and I are having a girly movie night with ice creammm mmmmm. I'm staying at hers tonight and then am going shopping with Kate and Jenny in the morning followed by a quiz night tomorrow evening at somewhere called the Taj Mahal (God knows where that is!). THENNN I am working at the Children's Palace (hello second sunday in a row working) with some Japanese Chilren followed by the ballet at 5 which I believe this week is Swan Lake. And then I am into week three? Crazy how fast the time is going.

Anna (the crazyenglishvolunteer)

<3 xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Volunteers in Mongolia went to the "Terelj" National Park in this Saturday. We gathered in sunny day suddenly by the time we got there weather changed and started snowing. I just can say that it was such a beautiful snow ever. Every one of us was happy with the snow.

 First of our station was Ovoo. This is a type of shamanism cairn. When travelling, it is custom to stop and circle an ovoo three times in clockwise direction, in order to have a safer journey. They were interested ovoo’s story and took a picture with it. 

Next we rode a camel. Two humped camels are mostly found from Mongolia. Mongolians believe that the camels are very wise and humble animals in the world. Volunteers said that they were feeling like communicating with their mom when touching and smoothing the camel.     

Furthermore, we rode a horse and had a lot of fun and round forest. Some of them don’t know how to ride a horse but   they were naturally riding it.

Even though it was cold, our delightful atmosphere keeps us warm.   We were happy about our journey.

 Gooood afternoonnn!

With regard to the title of this blog, that's right, me. It was however, a fluke. Sorry Tisha Tash I am not going anywhere fast with learning Mongolian- it is the hardest language ever! All the letters make different sounds and their alphabet is different 80% of the time anyway- just AHH! :P So far though (be proud peeps) I can say: Genghis Kahn, hello, thank you, bye, what's up?, knife, fork, spoon, sugar, dumpling and yes.

I am in a routine now and really can't believe how fast this week has flown by??? I come home in four weeks?? Just nuts.... So soooo much has again happened and I am just exhausted from it all to be quite honest!! My feet haven't touched the ground long enough to even think about home or anything for that matter! Here is a week in the life of Anna-whilst-in-Mongolia...:

Monday- 9-12 at Golden Bridge Language centre

- 12-6- Projects Abroad Office-  on computers printing things, preparing lessons, facebooking, voices project.

Tuesday- 9-17:30 Mongolia Childrens Palace

Wednesday- LIE IN! Projects Abroad office in morning

15:45- 17:30 Mongolia Children's Palace

Thursday- 9- 17:30 Mongolia Children's Palace

Friday- 9-12 Golden Bridge

12-6 Projects Abroad office

Saturday- volunteer outings

Sunday- day off (theoretically) :P

In between these times, I have to fit in socialising, the journalist group, lesson planning and everything else. Hard work this is! I thought life would be quite leisurely here as I was originally only assisting in lessons and working just 3 days a week but no, no rest for the wicked as it is quickly turning into a stress test :P! Still loving it though- every pant-poopingly (sooo coining that term) scary second!

So on Wednesday I didn't start my work until the afternoon (and I came into the office and wrote to you all) and another supervisor was concerned that I had so much time off so got me ANOTHER placement for Monday and Friday mornings- bugger. ;) This one is at the Golden Bridge language centre which is right next door and interestingly, is affiliated to the university of Cambridge of all places! It is part of a chain and is the largest language in Mongolia. I felt mighty important ;)- it turns out I am their first volunteer.

The head honcho dude (technical lingo there) was really nice and keen to have me there teaching the intermmediate and higher students. He also seemed keen to help me with the health and safety awards and although he said it would not really be useful in the school, his wife had contacts of children's homes, NGO's etc where it would be more needed. I actually went into Golden Bridge today (my first day) and it emerged that they have a lot of Mongolian volunteers there who want to make a difference but don't know how. I, being the saint that I am (paha- I'm so self-righteous), have set up a one day programme (thsi sunday- goodbye day off :() to teach them how to teach health and safety. They can then go into underprivelaged areas and teach young children without the language barrier. It's like the old saying- give a man a fish and he will eat for a day but give him a fishing rod and he will eat for life. Well, unless you overfish or something?

The head of Golden Bridge also mentioned something about a teaching program in the countryside to miners (uranium and coal) over a weekend? He casually asked me if I was interested- I OF COURSE said yes- so I really hope that comes to something as I really don't have any time to get out and see the real Mongolia with all of this charitable crap? (ooo hello dark sense of humour?)

Yesterday was my first full day at the Children's Palace where I learnt I get more free internet- YAY! But yes, contrary to my job description, I will actaully be teaching alone?? So yes, some frantic googling has been done and I have invented some basic language games. I managed to blag this week with talking about my life in England which I have now done six times. At one and a half hours a time, there are only so many times you can do a Scottish accent with the same enthusiasm. It is also really funny that when I asked them if they knew any famous English people, they always said Simon Cowell?? Closely followed are footballers from the boys- it turns out the nickname "Shrek" for Wayne Rooney is an internationally sweeping thing?

In my last blog, I think I said something about the school actually being quite well off but after sharing lunch with my supervisor there yesterday I have changed my mind. The nice building is a facade for the small amount they actually have. True, they do have hundreds and hundreds of books donated by the Asia Foundation  in the classroom, but they are essentially useless. Their main purpose seems to be to assume US dominance over another frontier. For example, they possess 15 copies of Anthony and Cleopatra (clearly the remnant of a US highschool) and 3 copies (brand new) of the Story of Buzz Aldrin- I only wish I was joking.

It made me unspeakably angry and I had an emotional moan at the teacher about America. Yes, at- language barriers are wonderful things.  They do however have the money to spare to provide a poster of the United States and information posters detailing American culture. The really sad thing is that the Mongolians don't even realise that they have been given, excuse my language but I feel I am justified. We're going to get them books guys when I come home as it just isn't right- it really effected me in a way that I didn't think this trip would- they too are human beings and deserve better. If we don't have a use for book, what on earth possesses us to pack it off to Mongolia?? I'm sure on this front English NGO's are just as guilty.

Can you feeeeel the anger burning through the screen?

Right I REALLY should do this health and safety booklet in preparation for Sunday. And email Sebastian at the BSC and lots of other things- again spent far too long on this. Journalism meeting at 3pm too. 

See you in four weeks chumlings and wish me luck with the horse riding tomorrow... HA! I really am missing you all so so much!

Here, take this parcel of huggage and lovage. If not desired return to Sukhbaatar district, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

My name is Ariunzul, 25. My nick name is Zulaa. I am from Mongolia.

I've been working at the Projects Abroad as a Social manager since March, 2011.  I am a Vegan and healthy as well. As a child, I always dream to have my own special school. That's why after my graduation I’ve worked as a teacher for one year. During my work time I often announce free charge of English training course. Sometimes I go to orphanage house and teach one hour class.

One day, I was introduced Projects Abroad and it really  impressed me that people all around the world are helping each other as one people and serve for the society as possible as they can. Therefore I just wanted to broaden myself to serve for the global society.

That's why now I am here to join to help others with full of happiness.   

I ask that all the tribe of many colors join together for the loving as one family.