BRRRRRRRR!!! Or as they say in Mongolia, TEET TEET TEEEEET!!! It's COLD here in Kharkhorin, Mongolia. Temperatures have already dropped down to -38 celsius which translates to -36 F. Not much difference when temps dip down that low. During the day it's about -13F. Tomorrow I'm going to attempt to sleep in 3 hour increments so that I can keep my fire going and not face another painful wake-up experience. For the past week, every morning has entailed frozen water and a visible breath. Luckily, Peace Corps issued us with sub-degree sleeping bags and mine is my savior for sure. I sleep like a mummy with electronics floating at the bottom of my bag. My portable dvd player has already called it quits, though I'm trying to prevent my other technological devices from freezing to death. A life without dvd entertainment is doable, but without music?! I think not. My singing cannot sustain my sanity through the next winter months. I shall be reading a lot and will definitely be an alien when it comes to pop culture in America.
So what other aspects of the cold does the cold affect? Imagine going to the bathroom in an outhouse when it's -30 or so out...I can do the outhouse during the day, but if I have to pee and it's nighttime I call upon my trusty bucket. Peeing in a bucket may sound...? I dunno...something along the lines of lacking class? But I see my bucket as a bathroom of luxury. I can drink all of the tea I desire with a bucket as a bathroom. The outhouse-my alternative, which I normally have no problem with and actually prefer over a toilet with poor plumbing and an untrustworthy flush, comes with wind being blown up my hiney (sp?) and visible steam coming from my pee. No thanks!!!
I have a 20 minute walk to school and back. Luckily there is a store half-way there. Some days I go into the store and buy one thing so that I can merely warm my fingers and toes up for a few minutes before facing the cold again. The other day I wore three pairs of gloves, three bottom layers, two pairs of socks, and three top layers. I'm considering adding an additional hat layer. My fingers and toes still are freezing cold once I get home or to school. And there is always that small part of your face between the hat and scarf that faces the cold and wind with no protection. I need a made-f0r-Siberia burka. That would be perfect.
Picture: My best Mongolian friend, Handaa, and I all bundled up before going outside and leaving the "Shin Jil"/New Year's concert last year.
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