Tidbits

This will be a short post–wanted to get in at least one more before I leave.

Last week we had snow on the mountains here and again yesterday.  If this is a sign of winter coming early this year, it’s time I headed for home.

The first of goodbye celebrations with a couple of friends on the banks of our river outside Muron

My boss came to work the other day and said many people have been stopping her and asking when I am leaving.  Then I came home and read an email from the person who is house-sitting for me and she said people are asking her every day when am i coming home.  I am beginning to feel as if I have a foot in both places and am eager to see family and friends and reluctant to leave so many good friends here.

I certainly don’t have time to fret about anything.  I’m teaching English every morning for an hour and a half and then am really busy with our handicraft shop.

A view of the inside of our handcraft shop

The shop is  very active and the handcrafts are selling well.  I am also expecting that my favorite woodcarver will be able to sell some of his carvings at a handcraft shop in UB.  It’s taken a good two years to get this all going but I think everyone is happy about the shop and it will continue to flourish.

And even though I’m leaving soon, I’ve just initiated some new conversations about encouraging a couple of new local businesses involving organic projects.  I figure with technology enabling us to almost eliminate the barriers of space I can keep right on working with my Mongolian friends whether I’m here or back home in the States.

My friend, Esse, after a victory at Hatgol's Naadam

I didn’t get to write earlier about our local Naadam.  I went to two this year since Muron’s was scheduled for late in July and most Naadam are in early July.  A friend and I went up to Hatgol for their Naadam and discovered one of my friends was wrestling and won!  I think I did say Muron was having a big Naadam this celebrating the 300th anniversary of Chingunjav, a Mongolian hero.  Lots of people came–but I think I really like the little Naadams best.  This year there was a very big horse race but it was so far out of town I didn’t get to see it.  Really all you see since it starts many kilometers away is a herd of horses flying toward you at the finish line with little 8-10 year old boys (and maybe a girl or 2) astride mostly bareback.

Two boys on left are winners of a couple of the horse races at Muron's Naadam

The day after the Naadam , Khovsgul’s governor held a party for many of the more prominent people who attended Naadam.

Two Mongolian men at the Governor's post-Naadam party

It was a beautiful day out in the countryside catered by Muron’s best chef.  Perhaps a couple of hundred people there and I was the only non-Mongolian.  I like that!  Lots of picture taking–I’m including a couple: two men dressed in typical Mongolian style and one of me with a famous wrestler (don’t know his name).

Judy and a famous wrestler at Governor's party after Naadam