Matematiko

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Monday, August 22, 2011

Decided to welcome my students back to school with a bit of a linguistic challenge. Can you guess which language is which?

Uzbek samosas

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Sunday, August 21, 2011

More Uzbek treats tonight from our neighbors: Samsa (or Uzbek samosas). Wikipedia has lots to say about the variants of samosas throughout Asia. I am thinking there's some kind of geometry thing going on there--why all these triangles and pyramids? A possible investigation for my math students?

PS: They were flaky and delicious...

Uzbek dumplings

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Saturday, August 20, 2011

We got an impromptu lesson this evening from our neighbors in making Uzbek dumplings. It's a very labor intensive process (just a dab of filling, please!), but the final product is fantastic.

Let's hear it for neighbors!

Here's what Wikipedia says on the subject: Chuchvara

Welcome to UB!

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Held a coffee hour this morning for our new colleagues. I kind of baked too many cinnamon rolls, but I managed to send some extra home with everyone. I think we're going to have a great year!

Coffee by a river

Terelj, Mongolia

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Spent the day in the countryside with friends today. Ended up playing by (and in) the river for several lovely hours and enjoying a picnic--and a coffee.

Pasta & pastries

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Monday, August 8, 2011

Happy to be home in Mongolia at last, even as we wrestle with the jet lag demons. Our very kind Uzbek neighbor has treated us to home-made treats two days in a row: stuffed pasta (chuchvara) yesterday and today some fantastic pastries. These kindnesses seem even greater when one is bleary-eyed with jet lag.

Yes, we are home!

One last trip to the park

Seattle, Washington

Thursday, August 4, 2011

A month in Seattle has quickly passed, and we have really enjoyed visiting some of Seattle's great parks--Seward, Powell-Barnett, Carkeek, Wallingford, Cowen. So many GREAT playgrounds, too. Tonight we had one last trip to the park before tomorrow's big flight.

Remember to vote for your Seattle Parks levy the next time it comes up. In Mongolia, such parks do NOT exist.

Kid at Kidd Valley

Seattle, Washington

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Okay, this is not in the category of great food, but I decided a trip to Kidd Valley should be part of our gastronomical tour of Seattle--which has included wonderful Ethiopian, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai food.

But A definitely approved of the french fries and the boysenberry shake--and it was lots of memories for me from my childhood, too.

Trainspotting at Carkeek

Seattle, Washington

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Today we headed to Carkeek Park for a morning at the playground and beach. But then we discovered an unexpected treat: trains! In the space of 45 minutes, we saw a passenger train go by, a mack truck chugging on the rails, two diggers rushing down the rails, wingless airplane bodies being transported along the trails, and this Herzog contraption--no idea what it is.

A was entranced to be "up close and personal" to so many interesting rail vehicles.