March 17, 2010 – Taatsk

It’s Day 2 on the work site and there is a lot that I anticipate. It’s certainly different from the first day, the excitement I had when first working has ebbed away slightly but I still really enjoy building the school. It’s wonderful to be outside working, especially in the cold because working really heats you up. I don’t have many complex and deeply philosophical things to say, but I simply enjoy working and it’s definitely a bonus to have our friends surround you. A day at the work site is a myriad of friends, hard work, the difficult challenge of trying to get  a job done and the priceless feeling of success when you look down at a job well done. The cultural nights themselves are quite interesting and I wonder what tonight will bring. The opening ceremony was amazing, with the dancing and the experience of Mongolian culure. It was a real eye opener to see the inside of a Mongolian  school and witness how their education was different from ours, but at the same time it was really similar. I got to talk to a few of the people here and they are all really nice and friendly. What really impresses me is how interested they are in us and what we’re doing. Every person I have met in Zuunkhaara has asked me questions and introduced themselves. I even have my own Mongolian name now (Taatsk).