(me, thinking OH MAN what now)
My sister sent me some flowers, can you cook them?
(me thinking OHSHIT I can't make marzipan flowers!)
Here it is, I don't have a heater
(me, sighing a massive sigh of relief)
NO problem! You have a CAKE MIX and you don't have an OVEN to cook it. I can do that, sure thing!
The other day our cleaner went in to our house to clean. We've got an alarm that we disable as we enter the house but she obviously forgot the code to the alarm. I got a frantic text message from her saying:
"Hey I couldn't off the door's noisy how is off?"
"Hey, I couldn't {stop} the door's {alarm that makes a noisy noise}. How {do I turn it} off"
So that was simple to fix. I told her the alarm code and it turned off.
This week has been highlighted with me quitting my volunteer position and all the shitness that goes with it. Other things have happened though.
On Sunday I went to Mongolia's only 5 star hotel in Terelj National Park. Having been to Terelj before, I wasn't expecting much. Turns out it's definitely 5 star and is this Western paradise on the Terelj River. I went with a new friend that needed to check out the venue for a work function. They can afford to stay there ($230/night including breakfast). All other people who stay in Terelj pay 20,000turik ($17) per night for a bed in a ger. This was SO much fancier. They wanted to know if we would like a three, four or five course lunch option for the function. I was way out of my depth. I felt like a little kid in a lolly shop. It was SO beautiful. I was touching everything (didn't break anything) and smelling the flowers and looking at the view.
Tuesday morning I had my presentation for work. It went well. It did what I was hoping: introducing myself and how I grew up and studied and worked, to normalise myself and to make my knowledge more available.
Only one guy fell asleep. Two people left to answer phones. Two people answered phone calls during the presentation. One person had a conversation with someone else. Which all in all, isn't a bad result for Mongolia. It's pretty standard. I had a powerpoint presentation and some other aids I was using and I spoke for about an hour and a bit. The powerpoint wasn't see-able because the sun was shining right in. It was a bit of an issue because the WHOLE powerpoint was just photos so I could talk and engage with everyone. And also because pictures speak a thousand words and mostly no one wants to listen to me speak in English.
At the end we came up with some topics to talk about in the future. Some are easy (farm diversification ideas and successes from Australia; communication methods between rural communities in Australia). Some are more difficult (legislation and operation of stock selling and auctioneering; technical details on farming techniques used in Australia relevant to Mongolia). But we communicated. Yay for communication.
I've been busy emailing people about my specific presentation topics, hoping someone can give me some ideas and a bit of inspiration.
I've also been busy learning how to write a project proposal. I don't like being told what to do - ever - but this time, for some reason, I'm over it. I can do this proposal and I am pretty sure it might make them realise I'm not a silly 25yo girl. It won't be perfect and it won't have all the information they need as I am no budget specialist, but I can do it.
Yesterday was a birthday party for a girl at work. It's her actual birthday today but lots of people were leaving to go on a work trip to the USA today, so party time was yesterday. At 5pm, there were two cakes, two bottles of vodka, lots of beers, peanuts and some other bits and pieces. Everyone had their own cups but the obligatory glass of vodka had to be passed around, from person to person. I don't think I'll ever get used to that. I got a bit drunk on Grey Goose vodka (turns out it's a lot easier to drink than shitty vodka) and then some red wine (that was opened with a lipstick holder and the cork was pushed in to the bottle). I left to have Japanese for dinner with a leaving volunteer and then headed home. It was actually a really lovely night. Dinner was really nice - totally chilled, no pressure, just chatting and having a lovely time.
This morning I got up early to make a cake for Khulan's birthday today. I put too much coffee in the icing but too bad. Turns out it probably doesn't matter as it seems she's too hungover to come in to work anyway. It won't go to waste so I don't really mind.
It's sunny again at the moment. Sunny and warm (jumper and boots weather) enough to be comfortable and get around without freezing bits off.
I really want pasta for lunch. I don't often crave anything in Mongolia because I just instinctively know I can't get it. But I am craving some decent pasta, ideally with fresh basil pesto. I know the latter won't happen. There aren't many decent places to go for pasta around here...... I know of one place that I could go but it's in the opposite direction to where I have to pay my phone bill.
Last night I ate Japanese deep friend chicken that tasted like KFC chicken. On top they put this weird chopped up egg stuff. Together, it tasted like KFC chicken with mayonnaise deviled eggs on top.
I am the RSVP person for the AFL grandfinal in Mongolia. I don't mind at all, as long as I don't have to talk shop with anyone about AFL. My only experience with AFL was disappointing, and whilst I won't say no to a decent Australian expat event, I will draw the line at watching FOUR quarters of football that goes for HOURS. It's okay, I'll just drink and talk like I do at trivia. It's on October 1st (Nikki's birthday) and we're filling an entire bar. It's also no-alcohol day in Mongolia. The first day of every month is no-alcohol day. You can't buy, sell or drink it. Let's just say the rules are being overlooked..........
My current thoughts on the situation (MY situation) is:
It's sad I'm going, it's annoying everyone at work is much more approachable and willing to ask me to do things as a result of seeing me cry on Tuesday.
I'm not going to dwell on it anymore. I've done it (I've had many people say YAY Sally for sticking up for yourself and actually doing something about it), I am comfortable with my decision and I'm moving forth.
I am going to completely stop caring about losing money on flights to London/UB because it's not going to happen. I'm not going to stick around in UB for five weeks in winter just to use those flights. Instead, I am still thinking Sri Lanka or Turkey (if I have a travel buddy) or Spain and Morocco on a tour if I'm lonesome.
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