The Bee and "Being"

The 2010 Kharkhorin Spelling Bee was a success! My sitemates Marisa, Lindsay and I organized a spelling bee for the secondary students in Kharkhorin. We had 5 students from each grade from each of the three schools compete in the bee. Some of the students who normally win other competitions didn't do as well in this competition. I think it was beneficial to give new students a chance at winning. It definitely boosted some students' self-esteem. It really helped students to not only focus on spelling but listening. Hopefully the bee will be a future tradition and even younger students will compete next year.

After the bee, I kept thinking about next year. I kept thinking about how next year we could involve 5th graders in the competition because it would definitely make them focus on their ABCs. I thought about how next year we could have it at my school and even have teachers participate. Then I realized that "we" will not involve me next year. I keep having bittersweet moments when I realize that I am leaving and I appreciate things even more. An example would be when my eej (Mongolian mom) came over to chat last night. I was doing the dishes and she of course wouldn't listen when I told her that she didn't need to help. We sat side by side- me washing, eej drying- and talked about school and my family and friends' impending trips to Mongolia. We talked excitedly about eating Mongolian and American food with my family this summer. We joked about school 'gossip' and my never-ending battle with a mouse living in my ger. During these laughing moments, I manage to get a little sad because I realize that I will leave. Eej tells me she will be bored and sad when I leave. She says she likes talking to me and will miss me when I leave. I think it will be a very difficult thing to leave Mongolia. I will miss my Mongolian families and friends a lot. The best thing is being in the moment and appreciating every moment I have here- whether it is a moment of cold misery as I build a fire, of sheer valor as I yell at the beastly wind, or of simplicity and joy as I chat with my fellow teachers. It's a somewhat idealistic (especially during a cold morning) and cheesy feat but I'm working on it- every moment.