Week 4 Traffic & Transfers

 

Well, here's home for the time being.  We reside on the 11th floor and have quite a view, especially of the traffic (that we'll get to in a bit).  We also get the sunrise some mornings thru the smog and an occasional sunset.  What looks like clouds is actually smoke from the coal fired power plants off in the distance.

Soooo... As promised the TRAFFIC!  Now you see why we walk, everywhere.  It is actually moving, like a caterpillar.  I'm currently studying for my driver's test.  Don't ask me why.  Sister Namgur (mission president's wife) thought it would be a good idea.  The only reason I would ever want one is to get out of the mess and go to the countryside and see the sights there.  As I've been studying and going through the rules and regulations, it's apparent to me that none of them are EVER followed.  If you want to pull out in traffic you just do.  It's expected or at least assumed that people will let you in.  It is very much "offensive" driving, which is opposite from everything ever taught.  There are so many cars in such a small area that it is grid lock 90% of the time.  The last photo is a typical parking lot.  You just pull in and if the spaces are filled you just park.  Everyone has their phone number posted on the dash so if you need to get out you just call them, and they come move their car (if they can).  We also found out why 90% of the cars are Prius'.  Japan has a law that once a car is over a few years old or has a certain number of miles on them that they have to be shipped out of the country.  So, Mongolia has become the salvage yard of Asia and boy they run the wheels off of them.  They love them because they run in the sub-zero temperatures on the battery and once, they warm up they can run on gas.  Thought I was exaggerating, didn't you? 

We had an amazing opportunity to meet some new friends who shared a meal with us in their home.  They live in a beautiful traditional ger (yurt).  They were over the top gracious.  They made many of the traditional Mongolian dishes for us to try, which are their daily staples.  Shorlog is the meat on the skewers, didn't ask what type of meat, bartseg are the fried dough bites, huushuur are the fried pockets filled with meat, buutsz are the meat filled dumplings, aralth are the dried curd squares, araig is the fermented mares milk that they all drink from the same metal bowl.  I can't say everything was awesome and tasted amazing but 90% of it was. 

Sister Robinson and Elder Francis were leaving the area, so the grandmother made Sister Robinson a traditional Deel and Elder Francis a tie.  They are both beautiful.

Our Elders from the MTC arrived this week.  It was great to see them.  They are all amazing and will be an asset to the mission.  We had the privilege of fixing them breakfast before they all left for their various assignments. 

Transfers this week and part of our assignment was to prepare masks (for less than stellar air quality), and vitamins C & D for each companionship.  

We went to the outdoor market.  It was completely overwhelming at the amount of stuff there.  It actually gave me more anxiety than Walmart and that's saying a lot.  Just a few photos of some handmade boots and saddles.  The place puts Home Depot to shame. They stack everything and everyone in such a small area it's difficult to move around.  I'll try and get a few more photos the next time we go.  We had to do it in small doses.  It makes eating an elephant look like a snack.

Oh, and speaking of traffic, we stopped to grab lunch at the KFC and while we were waiting (forever), this kid brings his scooter up the flight of stairs and into a completely full eating area and parked it.  He rolled it over and propped it up against the wall and plugged it in.  We overheard him explain to the person setting next to it that he needed a charge.  I guess we should have used it as a seat because there weren't any available.

We had the opportunity for our first speaking assignment on Sunday night.  We spoke to a portion of the YSA group here in Ulaanbaatar.  They are amazing and full of life.  We are looking forward to getting to know them better as we serve side by side with them.