A feast for the senses

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, June 24, 2012

Thanks to Mom for a lovely dinner with friends and 
family tonight. It was lovely food and a lovely table. We had spanokopita, stuffed tomatoes, a great salad, and fresh strawberries for dessert. And the table was spectacular with her African table cloth and gorgeous fresh sunflowers. A feast for the senses...

Seattle's BEST pho

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, June 24, 2012

We've been home almost a week and we finally made it down to our favorite pho restaurant this morning: Pho Bac on Rainer Avenue South. The smell and taste of heaven.

We've been coming to this restaurant in its various incarnations for almost 16 years...it's good to be back!

Silver bowls

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Friday, June 15, 2012

Today, on our last day of work, we were presented with a silver bowl for our three years of service to the school. Other colleagues gave us a matching bowl of a smaller size. Mongolians use these bowls to drink from on special occasions.

These gifts are some of the few things we will take with us from this place--and both are precious for the work, memories, and colleagues they represent.

Korean good-byes

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Friday, June 15, 2012

We celebrated another farewell this evening--this time with Korean colleagues. It was good food and a chance to reflect on the preciousness of some of the people one meets along the way.

We will miss you and your children!

The Doctor is Out

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Thursday, June 14, 2012

Two years ago this name plate went up outside my door at school. I teach MYP and DP mathematics, but, due to a typo, I was inadvertently promoted to "DR Math." Over the years only a few of my students have noticed the mistake, but I always smile to myself when I catch sight of the sign. This is my last teaching day, however, so for now, the Doctor is Out.

DIY: Moving to Jordan

Love those sturdy boxes but they're big...

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Wednesday, June 13, 2012

When I look back on these last weeks I will remember how we moved to Jordan: two boxes at a time. Each week I head to the post office and mail two more boxes. The woman behind the desk at the post office now knows my face and smiles when I show up--again. Two more trips, and I am finished.

Please note: Moving yourself from Mongolia in this way entails two extra steps: each box must be inspected at the post office and sealed thoroughly in front of the postal worker. Bring your own tape and scissors... 

The good-byes continue

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Sunday, June 10, 2012

Last night we were invited to the home of one of Frank's Mongolian colleagues for a good-bye dinner. It was a special evening with good food and kids running around chasing one another. A lovely way to celebrate the good times we've had in this place. And the buuz were delicious.

XYZ

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Friday, June 8, 2012

At last, A and her classmates have finished the alphabet, and the last of the letters have been released home. We've now got them up in the living room just in time to take them down again. In the meantime, A has started learning a new alphabet (Arabic!) in preparation for our move to Jordan.

New alphabets to conquer!

Gardening lessons

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Friday, June 8, 2012

The end of the week is here at last, and the garden is finished, thanks to my students' hard work--and gardening lessons learned 30+ years ago from the grandparents. I also got advice from fellow teachers who have planted gardens far more recently than I.

Over the week, students tugged at weeds, dug up and turned over dirt, watered, and planted. Finally, I asked one student to sketch out a plan of the vegetables we planted (below). Just as we drove away, the skies opened up with a much-needed rain storm.

I am only sorry we won't be around to see how it all turns out--

In the neighborhood

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Today was Day Two of volunteering with my students. A short walk in the neighborhood took us to a mom-n-pop grocery in this recently painted but ancient-looking building. The legacy of the "old days" lives on in places like this--even dressed up in its fresh new pastels.

Buddha's Birthday

Their goal was to light a thousand lamps...

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Monday, June 4, 2012

Today I began a week of volunteering with my students at a Buddhist center here in Ulaanbaatar. The start of our week there coincided with the celebration of the Buddha's birthday in Mongolia. At the temple, hundreds and hundreds of oil lamps were filled and lit. The heat from the lamps was quite overwhelming on a warmish spring day, but the sight was dazzling...

My students (and I) were enchanted.

Birthdays, Uzbek-style

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Saturday, June 2, 2012

Last night we celebrated the birthday of our neighbor's daughter, a.k.a. A's "little sister." We started with heaping platters of plov and salad, half-watched "Karate Kid" on the big TV, and caught up a bit on world politics. Finally came the cake, a fluffy pink thing which we all enjoyed.

These special times we will miss.