Taking control

August was the month I set my limit at. If I am still unhappy with my position at the end of August, I will do something drastic.
Shit. It's come around a lot sooner than I imagined.

Did I tell you I did a typing test the other day? I can type 64 words per minute. I don't know what that means. But that's how exciting my job is.

Baby steps. This weekend I will update my resume.

There's nothing binding me to this position I'm in. The people are nice and I like to learn things about Mongolia with them, and I love that I have had a lot of field time but I am depressingly unhappy with my job and I don't need to be. I've been putting off things thus far, hoping something will take place. But I guess my knowledge of pastural management isn't going to increase overnight and no one's going to desperately need ME to do any work because the nature of pastural management research isn't desperate.....

I was talking to another volunteer last night at our Mexican dinner (which was just as yummy for lunch today). She was in a job where her workmates were lovely but she had no work and wasn't needed. She stayed in her position but gave me the advice: if you can get a job doing something else somewhere else, do it. If you can get paid to do it, definitely do it.

I don't want to disappoint anyone but I think the only person that would be disappointed would be me, for giving up. It's not like I'll be giving up though - I'm just not needed.

I just don't want to do it anymore.

At 5pm on Sunday I am attending the wedding of the receptionist at work. She only just started but is getting married and has to invite our whole office. Tough gig. Sunday night weddings sound a bit taboo to me. Hangovers are never welcome on a Monday morning.

At 3pm on Sunday I am attempting my second Mongolian haircut. Here's to hoping I come home with most of my hair still in tact.

Also, still no baby.

Mexican dinner

Today I was reassured by our landlord of our safety. He owns a Mongolian security company, and after a minor scare at our front door yesterday (which turned out to be harmless), he rang twice to make sure we know that in the future should someone come to the door, we should call our landlord who will then send over two guards that will check our front door and decide if we should let them in or not. I imagine after waiting for that long, the doorbell ringers would have left well and truly. But it’s so lovely that he’s looking out for us!

I got to work at 10:30am again today. Did nothing, again. I left at midday – naughty, I know. But we had a dinner party planned for this evening that had to be prepared. Shopping at Mercury, the local fruit/veg/meat market had to be done so we had fresh food for our Mexican party. It was a farewell to other volunteers who are about to leave Mongolia after a long-ish stint here. Below: shopping at mercury

The evening was lovely. The people were beautiful. The food was amazing. Singing, playing the eucalale (neither of which I participated in). Laughing, chatting, sharing stories. It was a great night. And now I am sleepy. Below: the dinner party

Uzbeki dinner

DELICIOUS! There’s a new restaurant in UB. It’s across from the Flower Centre just off Peace Ave. They serve Uzbeki food. The menu isn’t long but it’s long enough to give you options. I don’t think it would matter what you chose, it’d be delicious. So much flavour and well cooked beef! The service was delightful –smiles and all! Even my green tea was great. I ate three times as much as I needed but there was no way I could save that for lunch tomorrow. It was too good to wait!

 

Above (clockwise): a full bowl of homemade noodles and lots of flavour; the Uzbek rug on the wall; a full plate of homemade noodles, an egg and lots of flavour; all gone – too good to leave behind!

The place was really nicely decorated. Next time we’re going to bring a group and sit around this really cool table!

Dinner was very satisfying. Icecream is always a good way to top it off. My eyes were bigger than my belly and I certainly bit off more than I can chew but I don’t regret it. When icecream comes in a bag that you can carry, what’s stopping you?

 

 

 

Left: my icecream in a carry bag. Yes I am in an oversized hoodie but it’s comfortable.

 

 

 

 

Whilst work was unproductive today, I did hand in my report (although am yet to feel the wrath of that fire). I also started cleaning my room at home. A change is as good as a holiday so I moved my room around. I had never thought of it before, but I’m glad I was inspired while I was eating my last Cherry Ripe log that mum sent over with dad (don’t send anymore, I’m getting so fat!). I now have my sewing machine perched on my dressing table and I have an area big enough to cut out patterns on my floor. Yay!

The homeless people downstairs are a bit disconcerting. They’ve made themselves totally at home which I am, I guess, very grateful for. The fact that I get to sleep in warmth and cleanliness and they don’t is not a nice thing to be facing every day. They’ve got a coat rack that they dry their blankets on and hang their coats on. They have their accumulated pile of plastic bottles (that they sell to recyclers). They sit and sing songs together and share food. They even put their makeup on in the morning. They are literally sitting in the corner of a yard, exposed to all the elements.

I am just starting to worry. They can see directly in to our house. Whilst we are on the third floor, they could still easily identify us as their vantage point looks directly into our bedrooms. If they get sick of seeing us living in comfort/see we have spare clothes/get inspired by something, there’s nothing stopping them ambushing us as we leave our apartment stairwell downstairs. It sounds silly, but after my last few experiences it’s justifiable to worry.

We have water back – hot and cold. Our washing machine isn’t working anymore. It still washes, kind of. I think it’s going to die soon.

I think I have decided that I will actively seek a mining job here. Tonight I was thinking about it and I got really excited – and I wasn’t imagining anything else other than being involved in a mining company. Not even specifically drilling or geology. I’m sure it’s because my current role has no light at the end of any tunnel. But – what’s stopping me. I don’t have to be tied to this job I’m in. I said I’d do it, but I’m not doing anything I was suppose to be doing. I’m not doing anything. And even once I take the initiative to do some work, it’ll be MY idea – not theirs – which means it is much less likely to be used in the long run. And whilst I’d disappoint some, it wouldn’t be the end of the world as I’m not actively helping anyone like I came here to do anyway.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Face time

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Need some Sally face time? See above. Now you can’t miss me anymore. Sometimes you have to practice taking photos of yourself in order to know how to take nice photos of other people. Mainly because they get annoyed at being the subject, and also maybe because I’m a little bit bossy.

xox

Some people will never learn.

Moving to a new country always poses lots of threats to the lifestyle you were used to. It means you can't buy the bread you like for lunch, you can't go to the restaurant that serves delicious cheap Vietnamese pho, you can't go to the cheap movies around the corner or know who to trust to buy a car. Likewise, you don't know what shampoo to buy. I've trialled a few and nothing's made my hair shine. I purchased a more expensive organic shampoo a couple of weeks back thinking it was doing the trick. My hair had finally almost come back to life.
Until I saw the dandruff. Climbing the roots of my hair like I've dyed it and got white regrowth. Bugger. Now I have to find anti-dandruff shampoo to get rid of it and then find a new shampoo.

Yesterday was hot, today is cold. I'm not even sure if it's officially autumn yet but it feels like it.

A friend of a friend arrived in Mongolia. He's staying at our place (which conveniently has running water now - both hot and cold). It's really, really nice to have someone new around - especially when they're willing to talk about rocks and rigs and stuff.

I just dumped my report I've been working on for the last week on the table of the guy that asked for it. With no content asked for I had to wing it. There's some controversial stuff in there (e.g. Mongolian's are lazy at work during work hours, the project needs to follow up and audit all implemented funding, I don't fit in at work because I don't know what's going on). Hopefully it sparks something and I might actually be used. Who knows.

After arguing with my boss the other day about teaching English lessons (the program I am here on does not fund us to teach English, we are here to build the capacity of our workplace), nothing came of my work schedule except to know that all everyone thinks I am here to do is sit around and teach English. This is entirely untrue. I spent an entire month full time, writing my application to get this job where I am suppose to be doing pastural management.

Now I'm apparently heading out to Arkhangai, west of UB next week to attend a conference designed to teach 200 nomadic pasturalists a thing or two. It sounds fantastic except I have no purpose to be there. Next week we have a meeting with our program organiser and she's got wind of the lack of work I have. So maybe - just maybe - when I attend this trip, I might have a purpose. It's ridiculous. I get to go on cool field trips without the essay/report at the end. I get to just enjoy it and probably learn more because of it. BUT I want homework. I vaguely remember asking primary school teachers for more homework because I didn't get enough. AND I'M DOING IT AGAIN. Some people will never learn......

Our half eaten hot pot

We have water back on again. Now I don't want to go home. Bugger. I like staying with the people I'm staying with - it's really fun and we eat delicious food. Last night we went to go to the movies but Harry Potter was sold out (I wasn't upset) so we went and had MaxiPot for dinner. It's a hot pot place that has to be my favourite food I've had thus far in Mongolia. There was so much fresh stuff!

We had one hot pot each and added heaps of vegies. I had mostly tofu as I'm a bit off meat at the moment. But the tofu was good.

The best part was instead of having to watch Harry Potter, we got grape slushies instead! I've been craving a slushy since I ran in to a slushy machine in the mall a week or so ago. The slushies hadn't had time to slush up yet, so were just cordial which is boring. The grape flavoured slushy was completed slushed and it was great! The were downstairs in the Tengis theatre. It meant I didn't get to sleep until 3am - I think there was a bit too much sugar in it. Oh well.

I'm not struggling yet, mainly because Nikki's at home on the couch looking after mum who is sick. But as soon as she has that kid I can bet you my soul that I'm going to be beside myself that I'm not at home. I don't know if it makes it easier that Tegan's not at home either. I don't think it does. I know she's not too happy about it either. TOO BAD. I'm in Mongolia and I'm going back to Australia soon enough. It just doesn't seem soon enough. (p.s. my sister Nikki is due to have her baby today and I'm due to be an aunty at approximately the same time)

I AM struggling at work. It's total bullshit. I want to blame myself because I applied for a position that I talked my way in to, and talked myself into thinking I could do it. But I'm over blaming myself because I could do something - I can do anything if I want to - if THEY wanted me to. But there doesn't seem to be anything they want/need.

Except to teach English. My boss today repeated three times (because I argued against her three times) that I need to start English lessons because no one is busy and everyone is in the office. I said I am not comfortable conducting English lessons until I have some actual work to do, because I am not here to teach English. If I wanted to teach English I would have chosen to move to a country where the food is at least edible!

Just in case you want to write me a letter or send me a package..... (hint hint) this is my mailing address. You can also find it under a blog I wrote called 'Contact Details'.

Munkhtuul Sodnomtseren

Sally Mayberry

Central Post Office

POB 2935

Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia 211213

Another video blog

A pretty lame attempt at talking……..

That’s the way it’s gonna beeeeeeeeee little darling

You’ll be riding on the horses yeah-ehhhhhhhh

We didn’t ride the horses this time but we sung the song on the way home.

Backtracking to Friday, I was sick again. No work for Sally. I just didn’t go to the office – I actually got some report writing done that’s not too bad. I’m still crook, chesty shitty thing again.

Party time at open mic night – different venue to the usual Xanadu gig and not as many people. I bought a glass of rose that had been sitting opened in the cupboard for at least a year. It was just the most disgusting thing ever. I’d prefer passion pop anyday over that disgustingness.

Saturday morning was an early start for a big day. The group of Australian volunteers (including myself) went for a day trip to Hustai National Park. It’s a two hour drive west of UB. The park itself isn’t visibly different from anywhere else around the area, except there are no gers because no one’s allowed to live there. There’s only one road that you have to drive on (unlike the rest of Mongolia where if one road is bumpy, you make a new one).  We met the Mozzies – the Mongolians who have studied in Australia under the Mongolia-Australia scholarship. 28 people each year head to Australia to complete their masters or alike. They have to come back to Mongolia to work post-completion. A khorkhog was organised for lunch. I skipped it. I’m not a bit meat eater at the moment.

While everyone was eating their meat and pickled vegetables, I was watching two storms roll in. Mongolian storms are great. They’re actually worth watching. You can see them roll in, feel the change in the air, smell the rain coming and then watch them dissipate or move their wrath forward.

It was wonderful to watch. The storms were coming in at 90degrees from each other and they both were rumbling. Once they hit it was fairly heavy rain but they moved quickly.

But not quick enough: we caught them again when we went for a drive in the park. Someone spotted some horses. The horses are the Prezwalski Horse – or the Takhi as the Mongolians call them. They’re the horses that were/still are breeding at Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. The Dubbo horses died fairly early on, but the actual breeding program is obviously successful as we saw some horses! We had one hour to get a bit closer. You’re not suppose to get within 300m of the horses. They were a long way away though, at the very top of a very steep mountain. I wasn’t going to go and then thought – what the hell. Exercise is good even if we don’t get a better vantage point.

This photo was taken with the zoom on my SLR, zoomed right in. You can see the horses as a brown line of little dots hiding under the big rock in the middle of the photo.

The walk was fairly intense. We walked quickly and with purpose and had a strategy. We totally made it! We found the horses! It was so, so, so SO cool. These horses in their natural habitat – once extinct and now living again courtesy of a world wide breeding program. And we were standing there, watching these horses with their little baby horses eat and play. We couldn’t stay because of our time limit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Either way we planned it, we were going to get wet. Ascending the mountain we watched another storm roll in. We could hear and feel the rumble of the thunder and it didn’t bother us. We were after the horses.

Within the first minute of our descent it started raining. Not the fine little droplets of rain that you can usually stay relatively dry in. It was the HUGE droplets of rain that PELT down and feel just like hail. If I was standing perpendicular to the ground, the rain was hitting me at a 30 degree angle which meant there was no escaping it. I tied my new cap over my camera which worked a treat. My cap was under my shirt. That didn’t help much because I was dripping wet within seconds.

It wasn’t an annoying rain though. It was so beautiful up there with the horse, looking out at the view, walking down the ridge in perfect temperature, being hit by heavy rain. The rain just made it more beautiful.

BUT we did get wet. Below: Dad’s new hat that he’ll get second hand when I get home (too expensive to buy two and I need one for the last month of summer and I know dad will want a cap with a hand-embroidered ‘Hustai NP’ symbol on it). The hat saved my camera. Yay! And right: my friends and I post-walk. Absolutely drenched, squelching in our boots. Note: the orange hat under my shirt where my camera was

Sally and the mini ger (and a rock) VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

On the way home we spotted a LOT of marmots – they’re a lot cuter when they’re alive, instead of looking like bloated teddy bears with no legs (when they’re cooked).

Everyone was super tired. We were almost to the main paved road when we hit some unstable sand in the bus. The driver thought he’d just fang it to try to get out. I yelped and got up- knowing he’d just made a deeper bog. There was no step to get out of the bus. Perfect getting-bogged conditions though. It wasn’t hot or cold, it was on sunset so there was no need for shade. The sand was dry by due to the rain was sticky enough that we could move it with ease. We collected some rocks/wood to help and dug out the wheels to no avail. A 4WD came to the rescue and pulled us out – and we were on our way! We sang the chorus of Daryl Braithwaite on the way home, still on a high from seeing the Takhi even though we were soaked to the bone.