Makes Kevin Something, Something

The good thing about squatting to take a shit? You don't have to worry about that cold, unforgiving toilet seat, only the strength of your knees and legs. The good thing about not showering every day is, not showering every other day either, though baby wipes and I have become close friends.

I still wear the same thing everyday, as I did back in the states, but now its slightly more out of necessity and things are a smidgen dirtier.

My host family is delightfully friendly. I'm living in a suom about 100k south of the Russian border. I am given food at 3 minute intervals. I eat more here then I did at home. Tea is given every 2 minutes. We have language class pretty much everyday and since learning to read Cyrillic, things have been far smoother. 9am-5pm or 6 everyday with a few breaks in between.

I've decided i want to wrestle in НААДАМ, the Mongolian summer festival that includes archery, drunks, wrestling and horseback events. I get to wear the ШУУДАГ and the ЗОДОГ which basically are excuses for men to run around in skimpy clothing. My white thighs will finally get the glory they deserve, nay, have been longing for.

Peace Corps has taken great care of us, many luxuries such my very own room with door AND lock have been afforded us. Even though I have no money, for once in my life I am not worried about it, which says a lot about Peace Corps.

I've milked cows, chopped wood, played Mongolian Street Basketball, eaten horse tongue, not showered in six days (Though I did swim in the river, so really three days), eaten horse meat, learned to speak very broken Mongolian that sounds like a yak choking on a turnip, missed home, fallen in love with Mongolia, climbed small mountains, enjoyed the never ending supply of mosquitoes, all the while balancing rock star status (i.e. everyone and their grandfathers starring at you 24/7, like you're a clone of a clone, and the first of your kind to boot) and that's only the last week, 26 months and 2 weeks to go.

Now should I cash in all my chips and open my supply of emergency Smuckers All-Natural peanut butter, or should I continue to play the waiting game?

My favorite part of this country? You never know what's gonna happen, just make sure you have a stash of toilet paper on you at all times. "Click it or ticket" would be a lost cause here.


Peace Corps says: this is my expressed, individual opinion and not that of Peace Corps.