Friday, November 21, 2008


They are really putting us to work now! We have scheduled approximately 10 classes to teach in the next little while! English, Career Workshop, Starting a Business, Computer Use, Michigan Language Test, Test Preparation -- well, you get the picture! I resurrected a small computer lab and we are trying to get it put to use. There seems to be alot of excitement and interest concerning the classes we are scheduling. We hope they all work out!

We are also posting some new pictures. Thought you might like to see the living room of our apartment. Kind of drab, but it is one of the bigger living areas among senior apartments. We hope to spruce it up a bit before we are through.

The other picutes are of one of the markets they like to use around here. If you look carefully, you will see small sections of the building, each with their own proprietor (so to speak). The counter you are seeing is home to about 3 or maybe four business, each having 10 or 15 feet along the display your looking at. This is how many people make a living here. Very small businesses that would never support anyone in the States but which do provide a meager living here in Mongolia.


Note the meat section. No one knows how long the meat sits there on the counter before it is purchased. You just tell them what you want and they start slicing off of the larger pieces. Note particularly the tasty looking pigs heads! Yum!

The owners tend to be very honest. Some missionaries just hold their money out and the owner takes what is needed to make payment! Personally, I prefer counting it out! It's been interesting to become familiar with their currency. They have no coin; bills only. They have bills for 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, etc. It is really a fascinating environment we find here!

13 comments:

The Fendleys said...

It's about time!! We were starting to get a little worried. No really, we know that you are very busy and that is where your priority should be. But it is very nice to hear some from you, and see more pictures. It is very different from what you are use to, isn't it? I would be a little concerned about getting any meat in those conditions, but if that is how they do it over there I guess you don't have much of a choice do you. Your living room looks very small, but nice. The girls say Hi and they love you.

Ryan Cowley said...

Thanks for the update! Love the pictures! Where are you setting up a computer lab? How do you teach the classes - with an interpreter or just wing it? Ditto Amy on the meat thing. I think I would turn into a vegetarian! ;)

We love you!!

Jason said...

I think if you hadn't posted today, Amy might have shown up on your doorstep in the next couple of days...:)

Sounds like you have a lot of classes going. I wasn't aware that Mongolians needed to know "Michigan Language." Or that there was a test for it. Frankly, I wasn't aware that missionaries were allowed to use Michigan language. But I guess you gotta keep it real, yo.

I, for one, think the meat looks delicious. Aged beef is much better than fresh. And you should always cook your meat from room temperature. So they're saving you time and effort. "If I were there, I would definitely dive in," he said from the safety of the Albertson's meat market.

Should have known one of your first priorities would be getting a computer lab setup. That seems to be a habit of Dad's. Hey, remember at First Security when the bank got a computer? And it stood on a pedestal in the middle of the officer area? And we programmed it to say "Jason is cool" over and over again? That was awesome, huh? I'm still programming computers to say that!

Anyway, glad to hear things are going well and you are getting well adjusted. I'd offer to send you software for your lab, but I'm sure the pirated--I mean "alternately licensed" software over there is pretty cheap. If you need anything for your living room (paintings, a large screen TV, etc.), good luck finding it.

We love you. Talk to you later. I know we're supposed to Skype on Saturday, but it's the big BYU-Utah game. So if we don't answer, it's because we have religious obligations we're attending to...:)

Anonymous said...

Yes, Jason will be in mourning when his beloved Cougars LOSE to the awesome Utes!!!!!!!!

If you eat the pig heads, I will disown you.

Ryan Cowley said...

I second that motion! Down with the Cougars!

Ryan Cowley said...

I don't know how many of you will read this but if you right click on some of dad's pics and select open in new window, it will pull up the full-sized image. Then you can actually see the pig heads on the meat picture!! It is fun to see more of the detail.

Jason said...

Dad, do you see how many of your children have fallen from grace? They're actively cheering against the only true university in the state of Utah.

I just want all the haters to remember...Whit's a Cougar. So are 8 of his assistants. Or, and the president of the university. The only reason Utah has a football program worth mentioning is because they travelled south and hired some talent! ;)

I predict either BYU-Provo will win, or BYU-Salt Lake will win.

Ryan Cowley said...

Jason, I think most are just rooting for the school that was actually founded by BRIGHAM YOUNG!...or maybe they are just rooting against yBU.mundex

Anonymous said...

And the school that most of the apostles graduated from, let's not forget.

Anonymous said...

All those who have migrated North to Utah have seen the light and turned their backs on the prideful blue school.

Ryan Cowley said...

By the way, the last Cowley comment was Ryan!

Jason brings up a very excellent point. Look at the all the people who saw the light and relocated to the university that is about as opposite as possible from their alma matter.

And yes, Jason, it is a shame that some of us have "fallen from grace." But we will certainly pray for you and your family.

The Fendleys said...

Now children!!! Can't we all just get along?

Jason said...

Really, Utah State? Y'all wanna start talking now? Suddenly you bleed red? Cause I'm not counting a lot of Utah grads in the comments...

Don't be a hater. It's such an ugly emotion... ;)