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Ulaanbaatar

Spring is here!

An update from Week 5!

Mid-term season is in about 2-3 weeks, which means the semester's running like a hot steam train now. 

Also the weather has significantly warmed up -- from -15 degrees to 10 degrees, which is a very big jump! Feels like spring is finally here -- it might get cold again or even snow, but as of now I'm very much enjoying the warmth.


Things run in ordinary routines, but still everyday there is something new - if not, I try to find and do one.

Weekends are almost always full, except for times when I have a lot to do for the upcoming days. Hanging out with coworkers,, checking out new restaurants or spots in the city, discovering new things.. Everything is a learning experience!


Here are some pictures from the past couple weeks, as pics are worth more than a thousand words:




I try to cook a lot at home, but unfortunately it doesn't happen as much as I want it to.

When I do, it's mostly something we can eat easily on the spot & makes the minimal dishes!

Mongolian beer is pretty good too - my favorite brand so far is Golden Gobi.




Learning Mongolian is going pretty well. Sometimes I'm overwhelmed after a lesson, but then I try to allocate more time in reviewing the materials in case that happens. I've finished the "survival course" and now slowly getting into grammatical stuff. 

Whenever I'm walking outside, I always try to read the signs on the buildings and on the buses. If I find something I don't understand, I bring it to my Mongolian class to get it resolved. It's a good practice!




The hot pot place in downtown is my favorite restaurant so far in UB. If I had lived closer to this place, I would go here at least several times every month.

We visited this restaurant again after checking out an international church nearby. We were lucky to get seats right next to the window, looking over the avenue in front of the Chinese embassy! 




One Monday we ventured out to the west side of the city. Usually it takes more than an hour by taxi to get there from work, during the rush hour. But we did so just to get this bowl of Japanese ramen - and it was not bad! It was a happy day I finally got to satisfy my craving. :)




This past weekend we checked out an American deli/brunch spot, and near that place was this mural from the communist era.

The slogan in the middle says "Socialist Emulation" - since Mongolia used to be a part of Soviet Union, it is not hard to find these propaganda all around the city. Even now, these big and small remnants are a part of Mongolians' everyday lives.




Another one, in agriculture theme.




Also this weekend we went to see a ballet performance of "Don Quixote" at the national opera theater!

Mongolian ballet dancers are usually trained in Russia, which makes them amazing, experienced dancers.

One ticket costs 15,000 T, which is about $8 USD currently.

A movie costs about 8,000 T, so comparatively ballet and opera performances are not crazily expensive!




At the theater lobby. Felt very European - probably influenced by Russian architecture.




Inside the opera hall.

The decoration on the ceiling is very beautiful and elaborate. It took my breath away!




The hall is not too big, which allows the audience to enjoy the performance pretty close up.




My first time seeing ballet in real life - success!

On another note, the "communist clapping" of the audience freaked me out. Mongolians clap in sync, which is also a remnant of the communist lifestyle from decades ago. It gave me goosebumps to hear it in person, right in the place I was at.




Finally found a pho place - not great, but satisfying enough.

Mongolians cook meat with its blood, which makes any meat dish have a very distinct smell. 

Many foreigners find this repulsive - I used to be, but now I've gotten used to it.




Research is going well too - we're still in the study phase and we're exploring different ways we can bring this idea to.

Although not everything is as optimal as we want it to be, we try to make the most out of the time we have and, most importantly, have fun.




Went out with coworkers for a quick bite during lunch time! These are Khushuur (хуушууp), which are Mongolian-style fried dumplings. Inside there are meat, potatoes, or kimchi. 

They are originally from Russia, but Mongolians have changed them to fit their taste buds -- thinner skin, more meat, etc. It was very cheap (40 cents each) and very delicious! Mongolia is the land of meats.


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