an eighth birthday in Mongolia

The eighth birthday to be celebrated in Mongolia was mine! I'm somewhat hesitant to write about the day I had yesterday because I don't really know if there's any way to fully express how loved and cared for I felt as I crawled into bed last night. I woke up this morning still feeling happy!

My mom asked me a couple days ago what I was doing for my birthday and I told her I didn't know. For those of you who know me well, you'll know how happy I was to be able to give that answer. I love surprises! I love the anticipation!

We started celebrating my birthday the night before -- partly because Mike's parents were leaving to go back to the States the morning of my birthday and partly because they knew that the traditional family breakfast probably would not work out very well with me. :) Heather gave me the first of her presents that night -- a funky pair of earrings. It was fun to wear my first gift all day yesterday. It felt like Heather was there celebrating with me everywhere I went.

CB told me to come down for breakfast whenever I got up the next morning and -- though some of the kids were doing school when I walked in -- the red "you are special" plate and some cards were waiting for me on the table. I had a yummy breakfast of crepes and yogurt and Heather made some coffee for me. Mmm-mmm-mmmm... Good way to start the day.

I had to go into work, but Joel surprised me by refusing to let me pay for the fabulous chicken salad I had for lunch. Thanks, Joel!

And now the real fun begins...

My only instructions from the family were to come down ready for dinner at 5:30. So come down I did and this is what I found waiting for me:

A beautiful table laden with candles and color and surrounded by this family that has become my own. And who should come to usher me to the table, but Joel! Knowing my love for (and obsession with) good food, they had asked Joel to prepare a fancy meal for my birthday dinner.

The Menu

Greek Salad
red leaf lettuce tossed with goat cheese, thinly-sliced grape tomatoes,
cucumbers, black olives, sun-dried tomatoes, and vinaigrette

Shrimp in a Garlic-Butter Sauce
with sweet Thai red chili jam

Strawberry-Lemon Sorbet
(to cleanse the palate)

Beef Wellington
with red wine au jus

Roasted Potatoes

Julienne Carrots

Green Beans with slivered almonds

An assortment of crackers and cheeses

Dessert Crepes
with ginger sauce

Pellegrino

And as if I weren't already completely overwhelmed by the family's thoughtfulness, CB and Laurel had asked my friend Kelly for the recipe of my favorite birthday cake (ever!) and made it for me that afternoon.

Kelly's Birthday Cake
chocolate layer cake with chocolate ganache filling
and homemade butter cream frosting

Wow. Wow. Wow.

The Suchy and Park families (our teammates and friends from the co-op, respectively, who need to be properly introduced in another post) came over to join us for cake and coffee and I spent the rest of the evening talking and laughing with people who have taken such good care of me here in Mongolia and who have come to be dear friends of mine. I couldn't have planned the day better myself.

Heather took charge of my camera for the whole of the night and it is thanks to her that I was able to sit back and enjoy my birthday and yet still have some pictures to share with all of you back home:

Here's the thing that I really loved about my birthday ... it wasn't so much that the fam gave me surprises and fancy food and visiting friends and wonderful gifts ... it was that they did those things because they wanted me to feel cared for and appreciated. They planned the day and the food and the gifts with me in mind. When I finally made my way back to bed last night, I felt warm and flushed from all the attention and love they lavished on me. I also felt a deep sense of gratitude for Mike and CB and the kids. From my very first day here, they have welcomed me into their lives and made me a part of their family. They have sought to know me in the same way they know each other. In some ways, yesterday felt very much like a celebration of our year together -- and really, isn't that what birthdays are supposed to be -- gathering together with friends and family and celebrating another year of being blessed and loved by one another?

I've realized a number of times this year that I could not be doing what I'm doing without this family. I couldn't do it. And I wouldn't want to. Throughout the past seven months they have encouraged me and comforted me. Mike and CB have been my advocates. They have given me counsel and guidance. I have had some really great discussions with Mike and he has challenged me to think twice about some of the things I argue so fiercely about. I am grateful for him! CB is my haven when I need to share the emotional struggles I have over here. She has let me vent my frustrations and my worries and has been with me in some of my ugliest meltdown moments. I am grateful for her! (You'll have to revisit the other birthday posts for more gushing about the rest of the family and how each of the kids brings a spark of joy to my life.)

Thank you to Mike and CB and Heather (who I suspect was as much part of the planning process as her parents) and the rest of fam: Kyle, Caleb, Cameron, Laurel (for the cake!), Holly, Casey, and Linden. Thank you, thank you, thank you for a wonderful day!

spring

the finer things in life...

peanut butter toast. and tea., originally uploaded by Wanderings.

Linden and I have developed a bit of a routine these last few months. Part of that routine involves tea and peanut butter toast. It started because I was in the bad habit of putting off breakfast until it was time for school (and then I felt guilty eating in front of her), but it's turned out to be one of the highlights of our mornings together. It slows things down a bit, helps Linden get into school mode, and it gives us some time to chat. It's during our "snack" that I usually hear the things that are going through her mind.

Sometimes, though, snacktime doesn't do its job. When that happens, we have recess.

Tastes Like Horse (ed.13): Joel's -- A Slice of Heaven

I've mentioned Joel's before. Who (or what) exactly is Joel's? It's a new restaurant in the Bubbling Springs building. (The small restaurant that was there this summer had moved out by the time I arrived in November.) Joel's opened a month or two ago and has been an unlooked-for blessing.


Joel's, originally uploaded by Wanderings.

Joel -- the owner and chef extraordinaire -- is a British ex-pat who's been living in Mongolia for a number of years now. He's been the head chef at a number of restaurants during his time here, but moved into our building because it was a great fit for his catering business. As a way of saying thanks (for the opportunity and for the affordable rent), he provides YUMMY and cheap food for the building (and the many other patrons who knew of him before or have since heard of him). He keeps his prices low and even has a student's menu with smaller portions. Needless to say, he's made the families at the co-op very happy.


untitled, originally uploaded by Wanderings.

A couple weekends ago, Holly and I decided that Joel's new milkshakes were a perfect excuse for some quality girl time. We ordered up some nuggets, fries, a British sausage roll and two chocolate milkshakes. We had fun enjoying the "better-than-McDonald's" food and brainstorming redecorating ideas for the restaurant. Holly's plan includes new curtains and giant polka-dots on the walls. Who knows? Maybe it could be a project for the Co-op.


mmmilkshake, originally uploaded by Wanderings.

Aside from the tasty food, I really enjoyed getting to spend a little time with Holly. Before Joel moved in and opened his restaurant, there weren't any places close enough to home that I'd feel comfortable taking one of the kids to by myself. Now, thanks to him, one-on-one time with the kids is an option. Over here I find myself increasingly thankful for these small blessings.


girl time, originally uploaded by Wanderings.

a photo shoot

Posting two days in a row?! Has she lost her mind?!

It's possible, of course. More likely is that she's realized how little time she has left in Mongolia and is in a rush to catch up all of the posts she's been putting off to another time.

A couple weeks ago, I was asked to take pictures at a girls-only event the kids' youth group leader was putting together. The girls were all asked to wear jeans and white shirts. They showed up for youth group and spent an hour or so having their make-up and hair done and then I did a photoshoot with them before they sat down to enjoy an afternoon tea. I had a lot of fun taking pictures of the girls, so I thought I'd share some of my favorites. I've had quite a few of them in my classes and have gotten to know most of the rest of them just from being around at the school. It was fun to be with them in a more informal setting.

I've put the pictures into a simple slideshow. Those of you from SGC should see at least two familiar faces in there -- Heather and Laurel both participated.

Co-op Graduation 2009

untitled, originally uploaded by Wanderings.

The Co-op graduation was this past Friday. Among the record-breaking NINE graduating seniors were Heather and the eldest daughter of our teammates. It was a bittersweet day for families and friends. We celebrated their completion of high school. We celebrated a group of people who demonstrate a great deal of faith and character. But there was sadness, too, and we grieved -- some more than others because (for many of the people in the room) last Friday was the beginning of goodbyes. Six of the nine seniors will be heading to the States in the coming months. Going to college feels much more painful on this side of the world. Home and family will be so far away -- so much farther than heading out of state or even across the country for school. I'm starting to feel a bit more of what my parents were feeling as I ran towards the future without a backward glance. My parents were not part of the crowd who was eager for the empty nest. Now that the parents are my peers and friends, I find myself feeling keenly their loss. (I'll stop here before I delve too deeply into sentimentalism ... I was much more choked up at this graduation than the short 6 months I've been here would justify.) Suffice it to say that in the midst of their sadness, they are at peace and know that this is in some ways the fulfillment of their calling as parents -- they have raised their children to be men and women and now they're heading out into the world.


untitled, originally uploaded by Wanderings.

What I liked about this graduation:

• The seniors (with Mike's help and input) planned the entire ceremony: complete with initial fake-out entrance (in which they marched around the perimeter of the room before heading back out the doors, only to re-enter 20 seconds later for their formal entrance up the center aisle) and "Eye of the Tiger" departure music.

untitled, originally uploaded by Wanderings.


• Mike gave the commencement address, but giving a traditional "Welcome to the Real World and Good Luck" speech, he shared the seniors' own words. (Earlier that week, the seniors had a chance to share some words of wisdom with the younger middle-/high school kids at the co-op. Mike summarized what each of the seniors said and shared specifically why he was so encouraged by each of them. It was very moving to hear how thoughtful the seniors had been in preparing their words and also to hear Mike encourage them and the rest of us with his affirmation of each of those students.)

untitled, originally uploaded by Wanderings.


• Each of the seniors was able to stand up and give their thank-yous to their friends and family.

untitled, originally uploaded by Wanderings.


• If I remember correctly, each of the kids mentioned Mike in their list and I saw over and over again that here in this school, Mike has the opportunity to be a principal in the way it was intended to be. To the kids at the co-op, he is teacher, mentor, and friend. How many of us can say that about our own principals. (I don't think mine even knew my name.) Mike has a gift working with these students and it is a joy to watch and experience. He cares about these kids -- really cares -- and I think it leaves a mark on their lives -- a mark of the very best kind (probably similar to the one a youth pastor or worker left on ours, if we were privileged enough to have an adult who cared about us and poured some of his/her life and wisdom into it. Thanks, Alice!!!)

untitled, originally uploaded by Wanderings.


• Parents/friends/siblings had the opportunity to share during an "open-mic" time.

untitled, originally uploaded by Wanderings.


• The slideshow that included pictures of each of the kids from infancy up through their time together at the co-op.
• The caps and tastles made by Mike's mom and Heather.
• The dresses the girls had made especially for today and the boys dressed up in suits.
• Most of all, (here I'm echoing what Mike said as we were reflecting on the graduation later in the weekend) you always want to say to a group of graduates that you're proud of them and of the people they have become (and are becoming). You always want to be able to say that they are young men and women of character. You want to say that they have left a legacy that they can be proud off. But this past Friday -- looking at the nine students we had gathered to celebrate -- we could say all of that and mean it. Really mean it.
  

Congratulations to the graduates. I really am excited to see where the years take you.

untitled, originally uploaded by Wanderings.

Pig Wig Can Hit

This was taken about a month ago, but it's taken me awhile to find the time, energy, and determination to do another video of Linden reading. They're a lot of fun, but a lot of work, too. I now have a lot of respect for people who do it for a living!

For the grandparents who are still stateside. With love from Linden.

Tastes Like Horse (ed. 12): мантуун бууз

tastes like beef, originally uploaded by Wanderings.

This picture is from last summer, but you'll have to forgive me since I didn't have my camera with me when Joel served up some tasty mantuun buuz (pronounced "mahnten bodes") at his restaurant the other day. Unlike their sad, meat-filled cousins, these buuz are quite tasty. It's the same filling in a different package, but OH does that make all the difference. Instead of seasoned, minced meat (beef, mutton, horse - take your pick) and onions wrapped up in a plain, droopy, wonton-style dough, you've got seasoned, minced meat and onions folded into a warm, springy, yeasty bread dough and then steamed until the bread is almost sweet and the meat is juicy. Mmm-mmm-mmmmm.

They may not look like much to you, but when your other options in the "Mongolian Cuisine" category are limp, greasy [regular] buuz or heavy, oily khuushuur, these almost-piroshki dumplings start to sound pretty tasty.

Mongolian folk wisdom from language class

It's a bit surprising how often something in language class reminds my teacher of a Mongolian proverb. Then again, since there seems to be a proverb related to or containing every noun in the language, I suppose I should be expecting them by now. Here are just a few of them:

Keep love inside. Be hard on the outside. (One of the first she told me. She was explaining that Mongolian people don't say "I love you" to one another -- this includes husbands, wives, parents, children, friends.)

You are rich if you have many children. (A large family is more important and more secure than wealth.)

It's one crow calling another crow "black". (Like our pot/kettle saying, without the negative connotation.)

Do you have wooden pants? (A question for someone who is taking too long.)

Instead of trusting men, trust your own thumb. (Still don't really understand this one, but it has something to do with the idea that Mongolian men are unreliable.)

Too many words. The cow is gone. (Why it's not good to stand around talking when you should be working.)