Nicole So

Wow O.O IS THIS THE GLOBAL WEBSITE???

It looks sooo different!!! But it’s the good kind of different =) thank you Tony!!! You’re AWESOME, you know that? =)

Anyways, I haven’t been on for a very long time =P Have been busy cramming for IB Exams.  But wow~ So much have changed since I last visited the site!  And and now just that the website looks different now, but also the Fijians’ pictures are up!! Now I can officially stalk them and get to know them x) haha, sorry, sounds kind of creepy but =P Too bad >=) This is our baby~ It’s hard to let go.  But seeing them do the bottle drive and so full of enthusiasm definitely reminds me of us last year, and how we were all so eager and fired up.  Don’t let the flame die Fijians and keep on working hard!  Plus study hard too!  Those who are in IB, I would strongly advise you to review your materials and organize your notes in the summer, then again in the winter (summer for gr11 materials; winter for gr11/12 materials)  =D And that is all for now.

Quickest blog ever~ Now back to study >=)

It’s so weird.  Unlike many of my classmates who’ve been feeling quite upset yesterday about the whole “passing the torch” idea and the new Fijians invading out territory…I feel kind of down today.  I guess I wasn’t so upset yesterday because I’ve already been really upset way before then.  I’ve been upset when we were coming back from the trip.  I’ve been upset when we ha our “last class” before the interview had began.  I’ve been upset when the interviews began and during weeks of the interviews.  I’ve been upset when there’s the meeting on Thursday after school where Mr. Matheny told you guys to e-mail him that evening.  But not yesterday.  However, today was different.   I was also feeling a little down from seeing my classmates being down.  And to be frank, seeing the posts on the website…I am currently having mixed feelings.  On one hand, I feel kinda unhappy and protective because it feels like the site doesn’t only belong to the Mongos anymore.  But on the other hand, I am incredibly excited to see all the Fijians’ posts!  The excitement and reading your inner thoughts and feelings, =) it is something I enjoy doing~~ (kinda of stalkerish, but =P oh wells~)  And what’s even sweeter is how many of you thanked us for our efforts.  Personally, I don’t think I’ve done much.  In fact, I don’t know many of you (but don’t worry, that will change.  Especially since I will be stalking many of you and making sure you guys don’t mess is up for us xP haha kidding!), it’s amazing to read the littles notes you have for us.  =)  We are not really passing the torch, but simply lighting a new one =)  I like that!

But I guess, the passing the torch idea isn’t so bad, because it’s true and it’s a part of life.  It’s a part of growing up, learning to let go.  Yes it sucks, but I guess that’s like one of the “last” lessons GP will be giving us.  Telling us to trust the new gr11s who will be working hard and loving their project in Fiji, as well, sharing the experience.  From IB (esp in Mr. Eastwood’s unit on covalent bonding =D <– haha, don’t mind be reviewing for the May exams), I learned that “sharing is caring.”  And indeed, after experiencing something as amazing as the trip to Mongolia, I am glad to see such promising(I think that’s like the perfect word to describe you Fijians…promising =D), enthusiastic, eager group of students having the opportunity to experience the same thing we did.  And I hope that with that, we will indeed create that Domino Effect Eisenhower had proposed in fear of the invasion of communism (haha, history time =D) and make this world a better place.  Yeah.  Maybe that’s it.  I’ve always wanted to make a difference in the world, make the world a better place…and in addition to building the school and providing education to a developing country, by passing on this opportunity for knowledge, for experiential learning, people from our community will be affected too.  I’m sure many of you had intended to come in this trip to “help other people” and make a difference in the world.  Yes that is very true.  But more importantly, you are also helping yourself…actually, the people there, are helping you and teaching you valuable lessons you might have not realized or overlook when you are living such a previewed life.  I am incredibly happy of you guys and I know you guys won’t let us down.  Right away, seeing all of you blog, seeing all of your excitement, seeing the challenges (challenge to beat us…ha~ in your dreams! KIDDING =P), I feel…I feel like a big sister =P  And please, don’t’ mind us.  We “hate” because we care =) and more importantly, our bitterness is not towards you guys, but the situation, so nothing personal, okay? =) Knowing that such a great group of kids are coming into GP, I don’t feel as upset.  My anticipation and anxiety and eagerness and excitement for the Fijians are helping me cope with my =( and my bitterness =P I can’t wait to see the Fijians get into action!

Fijians, are you ready?  Ready, get set…GO MAKE US PROUD =D

Cheers everyone =) and add oil!

Again, welcome to the family =) Colts to Fiji 2011~

Just as promised, a blog dedicated to our gr11s =)

Firstly, I would like to say congratulations to all the gr11s who’ve made it to the team.  Welcome to the family =) You know, when the Paraguay people and Mr. Matheny told us last year that we are a “family,” I think I underestimate the term used, it did not connect to me all that much.  Yes, although people here and there will go like “we are a family,” to be honest, I did not believe in that 100%  However, don’t worry, if you feel the same initially, I can assure you that it will change 360 degree when you get back from the trip.  By that I don’t mean the trip is that moment where it changes everything and blah blah blah =P (sorry, I use blah blah blah when I get lazy…hope you don’t mind…and blah blah blah does not mean it’s BS or whatever =D) However, by getting back from the trip, I mean that it’s that significant which indicates the ending to your Global Perspectives journey.  And I guess what I’m saying is that, it is after being in touch with Global Perspectives, after the whole journey is over, after that experiential learning which cannot possibly be described solely with words, you will understand and you will feel that connection as a family; thus the quote “I hear and I forget.  I see and I remember.  I do and I understand.”  =)  You’ll get it eventually, don’t worry.  And if you don’t think you’re getting it as quickly as your peers, that’s okay too =)  Because I am a slow person too, and for me, it takes a longer time for me to feel everything and for everything to sink in.  But, it will come =) trust me~

Although I am in IB, by no means is the Global Perspectives unmanageable.  So if you are scared of that, don’t panic!  It’s alright =) Just make sure you are on top of things and be really organized =) okay? okay. =D If you need any help or want to talk =D FIND ME!!!!! Wow, lol, I seem kind of desperate, and quite creepy…but don’t worry lah =D I’m friendly ^^ lol x) okay~ But yeah, if you need any advice, any pointers or anything at all, don’t hesitate to ask!  You can ask anyone!  You can ask the teachers, anyone of us Mongos; just don’t be shy =D

You know, being in the classroom today, I felt quite bittersweet.  I thought I would be glaring at you guys with my evil green eyes, but I didn’t, which surprised me.  The meeting on Thursday afterschool was really heavy for me, and I can totally relate back to them time when I was in your spot and I was there listening to Mr. Matheny give his talk.  But today =) hehee =P strangely, I just wanted to like, somehow hug all of you guys, if my arms are long enough =D  Weird, yes, but I thought you guys were so cute~  Now, I understand what some of my classmates has been saying about “passing the torch.”  Strange because normally, I am not good with good byes and when the interviews were in session, I felt like I was being kicked out of my own territory.  But today, for some awkward reason, I feel like accepting you guys into the family.  Wow…I sound quite mean…maybe I should stop it =P  I don’t sound very…comforting =P  But I think it’s a good thing =)  I am learning to accept, move on and pass on the legacy.  Don’t let us down we’ll be watching >=)

Anyways, that’s it for now =) I’ll maybe blog more some other time.  Now the May exams taunting me and so, I must get back to work.  Congrats everyone once again, and if anything, I guess my piece of advice for you will be to enjoy each and every moment.  Although the trip was amazing, it’s the journey that builds up the trip which made the trip that much more memorable.  Live the moment.  Breathe the moment.  Enjoy it while it last.  It may be hard at times, especially trying to balance your school life too, but I guess…global perspectives is like eating a desert (name your favourite desert!)  If you think about it, too much of that, wouldn’t make it special anymore…so what do you do?  The best think would be to savour the taste and enjoy every bite of it, righT? (and and with the desert metaphor, the journey to the desert can be further interpreted with the different courses of meals!!! Wow, this is what IB’s turned me into xP great~)

OKAYOAKY!~ I’ll stop now.  =D  SEE YOU ALL AROUND AND I CANT WAIT TO MEET EVERYONE OF YOU!!!! =D

I remember when I just got back from trip, I would blog qutie often because I find comfort being in touch with my Global Perspectives peeps.  I would get really excited when I am up at 3 am in the morning due to jet lag, and see someone else on the site as well.  Although physically I am by myself at that late in the night, I won’t feel as lonely.  Furthermore, it’s really fascinating reading the blogs of my peers.  I would stalk the site everyday, and reading their blogs, I will find comfort too, beucase I know that I am not the only one who feels …whatever I was feelign at the moment.

However, that stopped after a while.  I haven’t been blogging for a long time, not just for the GP site, but also for my own blog.  I’ve been meaning to blog, especially for myself, beucase I’ve been wanting to disect and analyze every aspect of the trip.  As mentioned before, the trip is just too overwhelming, and just too much to take in all at once.  So, my method of approaching it I guess, would be to perserve it and then tackle it a little by little.  However, I realized that that’s a problem.  I knew it from before, but then didn’t pay too much attention to it.  As time passes by, my memory of the trip has become more and more distant.  I don’t know how much do I still remember.  But then I guess, at the same time, it will put more emphasis on the memories that I am clear about.  It’s okay… I know that I will be able to do what I want, dissect and analyze even the smallest detail of the trip, eventually.  Right now, my focus will once again be school, with the May exams which represents my two years worth of academic career.

But back to what I was saying, I haven’t been blogging because I am very scared.  I am terrible with good byes.  Yes, I understand that one must move on, and because it’s been short, it’s short and sweet.  It is what makes the trip that much mroe special and that much more wondeful.  But at the same time, I am unable to tell myself not to be unhappy.  I’ve been scared to blog, I’ve been scared to do that “a picture is worth a 1000 words” final project…I remember planning out everything for the project, but then I have been putting it off till just recently, and that’s not simply because I am lazy.

I remember on Thursday afterschool, how the Colts to Mongo walked to that familiar classroom for the meeting for the future GP students.  I did not like that at all (please don’t take it personally gr11s).  In fact, I did not want to walk into the room.  But, I guess I took up all my guts and did in the end.  I felt really heavy during then, and it was not becuase of the thick textbooks I was carrying.  I remember.  I remember when I was at the same position as the students standing there.  I remember how the Paraguay GP students stood at the spot where I was standing at, and supposedly glaring at us bitterly.  I did not notice their stares, but I would understand why.

Now thinking of it, before I know it, the dreaded Maywill be arriving, and then after that, I will be graduating.  Things are moving fast, faster than I expected.  But, am I ready for it?  I don’t think so.  If only there is someway I can just click the pause button.  If only there is some way I can pause so I have time to reflect and think about the trip; If only there is some way I can pause during the trip so I can absorb every moment of it; If only there is some way I can pause back in the past and start everything all over again.  But the truth is, I can’t.  Things move on, whether you like it or not, whether you are ready or not.  So I guess what I have to say to the future GP students is, good luck and please enjoy it, every moment, every aspect, every breath of it.  Don’t worry, I’ll write another blog for you guys soon.  But yeah =)  And and most importantly, congratulations =)  And welcome to the family!

It’s interesting because normally I will only blog for myself under my free will, but now, I want to blog here because I feel that sense of connection.  Again, it’s back to the whole comfort thing.  Whenever I am on this site, I feel more connected to the last two weeks.  Seeing another member on makes me feel less alone, because I know that I won’t be alone, at least not this time, we are all in this together, all 30 of us, plus the teachers and everyone else =)  Today is slightly better.  But then again, I hope it’s not a temporary thing (me feeling better that is…).  Although my preference goes to something more like a merry-go-round or the Ferris wheel, my emotions are more like a roller coaster, it’s always so up and down, and worst of all, it’s quite unpredictable.  The littlest things can make me upset, but I guess on the bright side, the littlest things are also what makes me happy and cheers me up.

Earlier, I was just taking a look at the pictures posted on facebook, and I came up to one where I was peeling an egg.  Ahh, my hard boiled egg.  Interesting because in Mongolia, I wanted to eat that egg 1.) because I like eggs and 2.) I feel more connected to home.  Now, I am eating a hard boiled egg again, but it is because I want to feel more connected to Mongolia.

I know I have to move on, and I guess I am doing that one step at a time.  After this post, I will work incredibly hard on my lab!  Yes x) my biology design lab that never fails to haunt me (before AND after the trip, how wonderful).  I’ve played enough, I’ve played hard, and now, especially knowing how important education is (and being our main vision for the kids in Mongolia), I will work hard in school.   Additionally though, this summer, I am planning to get a job and save up for the grad trips.  I really REALLY want to go to Nigeria =) but we’ll see about that lah.  Anyways, that will be one of my goals.

“Don’t cry because it’s over.  Smile because it happened.”

It’s easier said then done, but try to think that way.

Thank you everyone =)  The two simple words cannot comprehend and translate my emotion and appreciation I feel towards everyone (not even close) but I think that’s one of the closest, simplest and shortest thing I got.  So, thank you =)

ilu.

I was debating with myself for quite some time in deciding what I should do first.  Should I send out some e-mails I’ve been meaning to write?  Should I blog on the Global Perspectives Site?  Should I blog for myself?  I’ve been debating to see which order would give me the most effective results, but in the end, I guess I’m just too tired to think about the order, since it wouldn’t make that much of a difference in the end (hopefully).  So here goes nothing =)

The trip is over, and yes I am feeling very VERY sad about it.  I didn’t know I would feel this unhappy, but I guess Global Perspectives has become a part of my life, a part of me, that this “sudden” end to the journey is quite very hard to accept.  Yes, I know that in many ways, it will still be a part of me (and thank goodness for the grad trips) but then really, global perspectives doesn’t belong to me anymore…it belongs to the next group of students who will be fortunate enough to experience the same yet very different experience we have had.  It is now time to pass down the torch, whether I am ready or not.

The trip is slowly beginning to sunk into me.  At first, even during the closing ceremony, maybe because things are happening all too quickly, I felt rather indifferent about it.  Here, the word indifferent must not be taken literally, rather, the essence of it must be considered.  Many of the aha! Moments my friends are getting I have understood quite well for some time due to other experiences, so they weren’t much of a surprise to me.  And for that, I was not very happy because in my mind, I was like…is this it?  Is this the end to the journey?  But I didn’t even find that pot of gold that I’ve been meaning to search for.  Yes, I’ve picked up a few gold coins, but things did not hit me as hard as it did to the other people because (not to praise myself or anything by any means but…) as I’ve said, the things that other people were aha!-ing about, I already aha!-ed.  Thankfully, while talking to a good friend on the trip, he said to me things that actually changed my perspectives quite a bit.  And after the mini talks we had, things are slowly beginning to sink in.

Yes, there are so much to take in.  I guess for me, things don’t’ hit me until a little bit after.  I react slow, but I guess it’s better late than never.  The things I’ve already understood, that’s great because for others to understand it also, it only reinforced my original ideas and knowledge.  Initially, I guess I was hoping that the whole global education journey will change me and make me a stronger person.  And that I will dig something even deeper, even deeper down than the things I already knew, and for me not to be able to dig that like how I dug the piles of rocks at the site, I was a little terrified and disappointed.  But now, I am starting to uncover the most basics and with those basics, I know that it will lead me to the answers I’ve been seeking for.  Yeah, this all seems like me just rambling on and on, but it makes sense, at least to me.  As one of the students have shared during one of our discussion circles, there is so many layers to it.  I was scared that I was only being an IB kid and overanalyzing the whole thing, but I’m not.  There are layers to it.  And I will need to take some time to think about it.  So if you see me strangely quiet, it is either I am thinking, or I am still a little down from the trip.

It’s really weird to wake up here at home, all alone and without 29 other students.  I am so used to doing things as a group that I didn’t realize how lonely I can be without al the other people around me.  Indeed we are all in this together.  Through the thick and through the thin, through the cold and through the stinkiness, through the happy and embarrassing moments and through the crying and departing times.  We are through it all together.  I am incredibly thankful for the friendships I have gained from the trip because I can honestly say that without this trip, I wouldn’t have met and connected with so many people who’ve been all around me.  It is really y weird actually, how just because I am in IB, I feel so disconnected from the regular students.  There are many students that I would not know have gone to our school if it was not for the trip.  It’s weird because when I look at school and when I look in the yearbook, I can identify so many faces but I didn’t realize how many people I did not know until this trip.  And one of the aspects which made my trip so special is indeed the people I am with.  It weird, as I’ve mentioned before, how I was dancing at the disco parties we went to in Mongolia.  I’ve always asked myself why?  I did not understand.  But maybe the answer to that is simple.  I am comfortable with the people around me, and I can dance care freely because I know that even if I looked like a dork, the people around me wouldn’t mind.  It’s these little moments with these special people that I will always remember and treasure in my heart forever and always.

I am still really upset but then looking at the pictures on Facebook did brighten my day.  They trigger memories and moments, happy memories and happy moments.  And receiving the e-mails with the links to the songs we are familiar with =) can’t say more but thank you <3 I know those two simple words have been said repeatedly throughout the trip, but I would sincerely like to thank each and every one of you.  Thank you to my 29 Mongo buddies.  Thank you to the 4 amazing teachers.  Thank you to the goofy photographer.  Thank you to the dental team.  Thank you to the man who is always young at heart.  Thank you to the pilot I like to share my candies with.  Thank you to the people who’ve been keeping up with us and stalking the site (much like how I am stalking the site these days =S odd, but I guess it’s my way of still feeling connected with everything and as well, read my fellow classmates’ blogs).  Thank you for out site manager for keeping in track with everything and always being there for the team.  Thank you for the hammer back home who never left us (you’re on the trip with us the whole time! Just ask Joyce =D) Thank you everyone.  Thank you thank you thank you.

<3

Remember to cherish and to love.  Remember to look at the scenery around you and the faces around you.  Remember to not take things for granted.  Remember that words are great, but sometimes action speaks more than words.  Remember not to forget.

I see and I forget.  I hear and I remember.  I do and I understand.

That quote holds a different meaning for me now.  When I first read the quote, I understood it, perhaps due to my past background and experience.  But after the trip, more meaning is attached to it.

I understand now =) I’m not completely there yet, but I’m slowly getting there, slowly understanding.

Note:

There’s just too much and everything is so overwhelming, I know I am missing alot and I did not cover everything.  But I’ll take it one step at a time. =)

Right now, I am super duper tired from the trip and can’t comprehend properly.  But I would still like to make a quick post before I doze off (aiming to sleep at 12am though~ as what some had suggested)

Yes, we did talk about the whole idea that it’s over but it’s not the end…but it’s undoubtedly over, the whole global perspectives experience.  Indeed, there are ways where I can continue doing humanitarian projects as such, but right now I feel incredibly sad being home.  Home sweet home? =( Don’t quite feel that way.  Feeling the PTD, post trip depression.

I’ll blog more later, right now I am too too tired.  But yeah…I am home.  The whole experience had been too fast.  I have always looked forward for the trip, but knew that the journey to he trip was as equally as important.  Now reflecting back at everything, it seems to be so surreal.  Can you believe it?  While our classmates are studying and taking notes, we are digging rocks and hammering nails on the other side of the world in hopes to advocate some sort of change for the future.  That seems quite unbelievable.  But now that is over.

=(

The other day after I blogged, I was quite upset and angry, and was releasing that emotion by working 108345 times more efficient that I normally was.  What happened?  Well, while we were digging a big hole for the outhouse for the school, a technique some brilliant classmate discovered was that by making fire and burning it onto the clay-like soil, not only will it provide us with warmth from the cold, but it will also soften the soil.  And so that’s what we did.  However, while burning the fire and trying to keep the fire going, one of the local Mongolian workers threw a car tire in there.  And when I tried to talk to the Mongolian about how wrong it was and asked why he did that, his response was that “oh, it’s okay, we have so much fresh air around us so it’s okay.”  I was angry by that because just because the village is fortunate enough to be located in this beautiful land surrounded by mountains, and is not incredibly urbanized and filled with many cars and cement street roads, does not mean that they can do pollute the environment.  In fact, there is actually a big nasty factory that is producing a lot of black smoky carbon dioxide everyday, apparently to keep the city’s water warm.  I think that just because they are fortunate enough to have a lot of clean air around them, that does not justify their actions because the pollution will not be “balanced” out by the clean air.  By burning a tire there, yes, although it does keep the fire going, it was harmful to the environment and to our health.  So with that, instead of arguing with the villager, I was angry and expressed that through digging the whole aggressively.

I guess this is partly why I am doing what I am doing.  This is why we are building a school  Even though I was extremely upset and angered, I hope that by building a school, we can change the attitudes people have for the better, and change the future generations so they won’t repeat the same mistakes they may be doing right now.  By providing them education, we can pass on the knowledge and pass on the message.

Yesterday I was fortunate enough to work with the dental team.  Wow, what an experience! I loved it, absolutely loved it.  Guess what?  I got to pull someone’s teeth out (more than one person’s actually), and get to put that needle thing in to make the patients’ mouth numb.  It was SO cool!  I got to help people of all ages.  I learned so much from that short 3 hours or so.  I remember how I was really new and clumsy and did not think I was helpful at all.  In fact, I was really scared of the blood and the sight of the teeth being pulled out when watching the dentist.  I thought that I would not be able to do the same when the Peter asked me whether I want to give it a try or now.  Nonetheless, towards the end, I was starting to get the hand of it and began to become more comfortable with what I am doing and what I am supposed to do.  Yes, the injecting of the needle and the pulling teeth was really fun, but do you know what was the best?  It was seeing the smiles and the people’s face.  I remember one man who was extremely thankful afterward, and he thanked the dentist and I from the heart (he showed that by shaking our hands and then putting his hand on his left chest =D).  I almost cried because it was so touching.  And I remember how I was helping a few kids, and afterward, the kids remembered me when I left the room, and said good bye to me.  Oh, the kids are so adorable.  Mongolian children and babies are the cutest!  I remember how I was pulling this man’s teeth out, and he wanted to keep it in the end, and he was so thankful of me because he has been in pain for the longest time. His teeth were so decayed and rotten, I could not imagine how the man could have lived through the days with the kind of teeth he had.  I learned so much, and that experience definitely gave me the confidence I want and need to pursue what I want and dream of.  =)  Thank you!!!!!

Okay, I won’t drag on now.  It’s snowing right now =) So pretty!  Ahhh, I still miss the foods at home, the chicken wings and all the good food, but guess what?  We got Mongolian BBQ yesterday, the real deal~  Now that was yummy! ^^  Anyways, That’s really it for now.  Take care folks back home! =D

Today is day 3 of building the school and the walls are already up.  Throughout these days, I’ve been busy trying to help my fellow classmates dig up the piles of dirt that’s almost as tall as me, and level the ground for the school.

Yesterday, right after blogging, I began to work, but felt that I was really slow in comparison to my classmates.  I even tripped over a big rock yesterday while carrying a pile of dirt and ripped my pants.  But with patience and determination, I think I am starting to get the hang of things. I just learned to use a pickax!  How cool is that?  Yes, although earlier I accidentally hit my knee with while pick axing, I am getting so much better at it now.  Although I feel sore all over, I call it the soreness of success (see my brilliant use of alliteration? X) Just kidding!)  I think I am getting sick, but do you know what’s my remedy for keeping myself healthy and good? A positive attitude!  And so far, it’s working fine =)

We also visited the vodka factory yesterday.  One thing I notice was the women who were working there, the women who were cleaning the glass vodka bottles and putting them into crates.  What’s weird was that, to be honest, I felt somewhat indifferent by that sight.  I felt scared because I felt like I was really cold-hearted.  The reason, perhaps, for why I felt indifferent may be because it’s not a sight that is new to me.  Because my dad has a luggage factory in China and I’ve seen things like that before, the sight of the women did not surprise me.  But, I don’t think that “justifies” my emotionless feeling towards the women.  That was what scared me.

However, while I was digging earlier, I was thinking.  I thought that the repetitiveness of the digging reminded me of the Myth of Sisyphus.  How Sisyphus had to push a rock up on the mountain, then watch it fall.  Push it up again, and watch it fall again.  That repetitive hard manual labor, reminds me of what I Was doing, reminds me of the women in the factory.  Yes, I am having fun while doing what I am doing, but that is because I know I am not going to be doing it forever.  I know it’s for a good cause, and I am contributing to something greater.  However, it made me realize that perhaps I felt indifferent in the factory because I know that I don’t want to be in the positions of those women, or the workers in my dad’s factory.  I know that I will not be there because I am going to work hard and pursue my dream career.  And maybe because I know I don’t want that, I feel emotionless.  Don’t get me wrong, I still felt sympathetic for the people here, seeing the difference between our lifestyles.  But then I know that I want something different, which pushes me even harder to pursue my dreams and achieve what I desire.

I guess that’s al I have to say for now, because it’s time to get back to work!  I think I took too long to blog yesterday so to compensate, I will keep mines short for today =P  I still miss the foodback in Canada, still miss chicken wings, but then the food here is yummy still!  Can’t wait for the cultural night tonight!  Tonight is our turn to plan events for the Mongolian kids, can’t wait to show them hockey and show them a little bit of our Canadian culture.

Take care everyone! =)

Woot! First blog for the trip.  So far, everything’s been excellent.  The So was in Seoul xP so yay, another thing off my list of things to do before I die.  Anyways, because our flight to Mongolia was canceled due to the poor weather conditions here in Mongolia, we got to stay in Korea for a night.  However, to be honest, up to that point, I did not really feel it yet.  I did not really feel the trip, or feel the excitement everyone else was feeling  Perhaps it is due to the work I still have to finish, because even in the night at Korea, I was rushing to finish up my design lab. Or perhaps it is because there are so many feelings in me that I don’t even know how I was feeling, that mixture of feeling  Nonetheless, for me, the trip really began when we set foot off the train from the capital city into the village of Zuunkharaa, that I was able to feel that the trip is real.

Everything’s been amazing.  I love the food, I love the people, I love the cultural nights the students had worked so hard on to put on for us.  Surprisingly, although I miss the foods in Canada, such as bagels and chicken wings, I am eating more here than back there.  I am eating more than ever x) Do you know why? Not only does the food taste good, but it gives me warmth.  Yes, the weather is super duper cold here, but what is keeping my warm is the food, the welcoming, the people.  The Mongolian kids are so friendly here, and many of the kids are our age too.  In fat, yesterday, they put on a dance for us.  Wow, it’s weird because that is my ìFirstî dance.  I did not even dance at my own boat cruise or winter formal  I am giving a lot of my firsts away here actually =___= do you know who is the first guy I shared a drink with?  Unfortunately and sadly, it is Mr. Matheny.  When we first got off the train, many of the kids and villagers greeted us at the train station and as a part of the welcoming, we had to drink freshly squeezed milk from a bowl.  Yeah. There goes my first.  But nevertheless, it is these kinds of warm greeting and friendliness that provided me with the warmth I need.  It’s the warmness from within.
The first night in Mongolia is what I would describe as a unpleasantly enjoyable experience.  We got to live in the yurts at a campsite and the scenery there is amazing.  It’s beautiful.  It’s stunning.  The snow covered mountains surrounds us and at night, you can see stars!  So many beautiful twinkling stars roofing our camp site.  That sight is unforgettable and I will always remember it.  It was as beautiful as the night sky in Bamfield, except in Bamfield, there was the milky way. =P But still, it’s all great.

However, because the stoves were not working properly, we had to sleep in the cold in negative 25 ish degree Celsius.  That was cold.  But you know what?  As I said, it was an unpleasantly enjoyable experience and I did not mind.  It’s back to the whole warmth from within idea.  The teachers walked around the whole night, trying to keep the fire going.  Although the fire did not provide us with warmth, the teachers did.  They did not sleep just for us and for that, I kept on going because if they can do it, so can I.  It’s quite funny because the weather was so cold, that the solution which I put my contact lens is, actually froze and turned into an ice cube.  To keep warm, we all stood by the stove that was working in the big yurt, where we eat our meals.  =( I burned myself because I accidentally touched the stove.  But it’s okay!  It’s all good.  Not only do I want to make my mark in Mongolia, but Mongolia wants to make a mark on me x)  Funny =P

But you know what else is keeping me warm?  By our campsite is a tiny fragile looking house.  In the house lives an old man and his granddaughter.  It’s quite saddening to see how they must live in conditions like this, and how they only have each other.  But at the same time, I feel warm because the unconditional love the grandfather is providing for his granddaughter is heart warming.  Although the little girl who is only 3 years old may not have a lot of material goods, she is by no means poor because she is rich in love.  And when she grows up, she is going to appreciate her grandfather’s love, and that kind of appreciation is something some kids today in the 21st century forget because many things are taken for granted.

After the first night in the yurt, we have moved into dorms where there is central heating.  I miss the yurts.  Although we now have washrooms and actual toilets, I miss the yurts and having to do our business in nature.  Yes, it sounds awkward, but if you think about it, toilets are the same from city to city.  You see the same stall while sitting in the same toilet bowl. (sorry for sounding disgusting, but please try to follow along) But in the experience in the yurt campsite, we were able to see the amazing view that is exclusively Mongolia’s.  Now, looking at that at a bigger picture, I like the village of Zuunkharaa so much better than my first night in Mongolia in the capital city which developing and on its way to becoming a big city.  Here at the village, again, the view and scenery is breathtaking.  I think that generally, cities are quite standardize and very similar to one another As well, cities are quite isolated.  But here in the village, you get you get to see something that solely belongs to Mongolia.  That is what I think makes the trip to Mongolia so special.  =) Guess what, I got to see the sunset and the sunrise on the first day, while we were still in the campsite.  Now that is also something that I will never forget.

Can you believe it?  It’s been day 4 of our trip and today’s date is March 17.  I did not know that until just a second ago.  I realized thy whenever I am on trips, I loose track of time.  AS if it’s not significant anymore, to keep track of every second of the day, and just live the moment and enjoy the time you are having. Unlike weekdays in school, where every minute of the day is measured out, here I am just enjoying what I have in front of me, breathing the moment.  That is great =)

Anyways, I’ll stop blabbing now because other students are anxiously waiting to express what they have to say.  Although I really miss eating chicken wings =P It’s okay lah, I’ll be back soon.

Please take care folks back home, and sometime, just take a step back and breathe. There is no need to hurry in life, even if you are in IB.  Sometimes, just take a moment and look around you, look at the scenery, look at the people.  =D After all, we all need to breathe.

Cheers and take care everyone!

P.S. Interesting because just like the Handmaids Tale, we too, have a wall.  In the first day while we are still in the campsite, some people were too lazy to go all the way to the out house so they did there thing at ìthe wall.î  Just an interesting note and connecting the things I see with the things I learned in school x) Anyways, CHEERS~ =D