A month of masks

From mid-October through mid-November school was canceled here in Mongolia. All because that portly little pig made his way from Mexico to Mongolia. Our November break was supposed to be one week though it turned into four. Traveling was suspended for two of those weeks also. Everyone dusted off those handy dandy bird flu masks and put them back on to face a pig this time around. I was scolded left and right because I chose not to sport the mask.

A month without work, without any movie theatres or other forms of entertainment can drive a person to the outskirts of the looney farm. I became familiar with saying "Zavgui- hitzuu, zavtai- hitzuu" - Being busy is difficult, having free time is difficult. ha. You know you're getting close to the farm when you start thinking of ways to make swine flu masks. Thoughts wander to bedazzling masks...and then you actually do it though finally put your foot on the break when it comes to the idea of starting a mask fashion company. My sitemates and I spent part of our break sewing jewels onto our masks. Marisa made a skull and crossbones on hers. Lindsay- a set of plump lips and mine had a toothless sexy mouth. ha. My friend Ashlee put a pig snout on hers. The boys that were with us scowled at the idea, though after awhile couldn't resist and joined in on the mask-making fun.

I traveled for a bit during the break to the nearby aimag center Arvaikheer. When we first entered the outskirts of town we had to stop to get our temperatures taken and write down contact information for police because of swine flue. The first thing I noticed upon entering the town was the new color of masks. I thought, "Hot pink is SO the "in" color for masks here". haha. In my town the "in" mask was black so I was impressed by this new color.

Overall, the break was enjoyable. Between bedazzling masks, creating homemade Halloween costumes with exercise bands and foil, and sledding in bathtubs(and breaking them), it was a good time. I will take away many memorable moments from this time that can only develop out of sheer boredom.

The break definitely had me pumped up for school to start again also. I have started working with teachers other than English teachers now. I'm branching out and it's great! The lunch ladies help me put on my monthly cooking class. (This month is spanish rice and beans because I have found beans in my town!!! BEANS!!!amazing) I worked with the health teacher this week to teach lessons on AIDS to 10th and 11th graders since Dec 1st was World AIDS Day and the sports teachers have let me use the gym for my first fitness classes this week. I'm teaching "Turbo Jam" to my teachers and they LOVE it! Their excited to get "shin jil" (New Year's) bodies. No bikini bods here- shin jil bods! Work is going so well!