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Ulaanbaatar

On UB, but not on UB

So, this first blog post under the category "Ulaanbaatar" is not from Ulaanbaatar (UB), but from Seoul.



1.

Due to the nationwide week-long break of Mongolian Lunar New Year (Tsagaan Sar), the visa process had been significantly delayed. The original plan to enter the country on Valentine's day went straight out the window, but because of that I was able to slow down and enjoy my time in the homeland with family and friends :)


Thankfully I am able to enter the country this coming Saturday (2/20) and start the semester right away two days after that (2/22). It'll be a tight weekend to introduce myself, move in, catch up with the research, and prep for the classes, so just hoping that I can get on the track as soon as possible and settle down & make myself at home!



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2.

My sister and I were able to secure a place to live that is just two-minute walk away from our work -- PTL! My sister is already in UB, and she worked hard to find a suitable place for us. It is a one room studio, already furnished with two twin beds, internet, fridge, stove top, oven, microwave, washer, bathtub, etc. The price is very affordable too (i.e. 400k Mongolian tugrik per month, which is ~ $200 USD), so it was a pretty easy decision. We have signed a 6 month contract, since we are planning to stay in the country until mid-August.



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3.

Waiting out until the grad school decisions come out is quite agonizing.. Few days ago I saw on The Grad Cafe forum that someone mentioned the word "Februgatory" -- the purgatory of February, in which grad school applicants agonize and stress about the upcoming acceptances and denials. I feel ya.



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4.

Still got some errands to run -- a couple more visits to the doctor and some last minute shopping to do. Time to kick off the laziness and get things done in the next couple days until I fly to the coldest capital in the world!


Tomorrow is my birthday, I've realized. A proper celebration feels superfluous this year, especially -- but mom still ordered my favorite pecan pie! That will be very much sufficient.





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