Smog and Cold

Taken from our window about 12 in the afternoon yesterday!

Visibility is quite limited!

Winter has come in full force now in Ulaanbataar with usual mornings at about -26F which is about -33C.  Not too much difference right?  But thankfully, it is a dry cold and so it doesn't feel terribly terrible!  Richard still walks to work in the mornings!  I like the warmth of the bus myself (0 degrees)!! but because we go to work at different times its okay!

The thing we have to be careful about is the air we are breathing.  Because of the levels of toxicity we don't want to be out in it too long, otherwise we will be susceptible to bronchitis and all the upper respiratory problems which so many have here.  Just last week our good friend, Tom, ended up in the hospital with bronchitis.

This is the picture at the same time today!!!

Getting worse!

And we thought California had bad smog!!

 Last night we were walking out near Sukhbaktar Square and it was snowing a little.  There was a Christmas tree set up in the square and another next to it at one of the prominent buildings.  It was such a a beautiful night with the snow and the lights - it actually felt a little like Christmas!  Here there are no advertisements for Christmas but in some of the shops there are decorations.  Its kind of nice not to be inundated with the materialistic side of Christmas!

One of two Christmas trees in UB

But someone told me last night they are New Years Trees!

Nevertheless it started to feel like Christmas!

Walking through Sukhbaktar Square

Loved the lights!

This is our last week here in Mongolia before we travel to the US for Christmas with family and friends.  We are looking forward to a break and a time of fellowship and fun with loved ones. 

Picture UPDATE

October trip to Paradise with MIS

The Bridge we had to walk to get to Paradise - it was every man at his own risk!

Everyone brought meat and food to share

This is the Mustangs Homeroom

The meat was Korean BBQ and it was DELICIOUS!!  These kids can cook!

Michelle Lee, our Director on the left

Sunny, our Chinese teacher on the right and Bilgae (student)

It was beautiful in its own way

Trying to get a decent photo!!!

Everybody was wowed by the ducks! The only wildlife we saw!

Hanging out and talking in the cabin

This is Parker from Oklahoma - a new teacher this year

These horses knew how to run!

The locals come to gawk at the inexperienced horse riders!

Tommy had a real stubborn horse

He wouldn't budge and his eyes are telling me so!!

This is Lucy and she's a dog lover!

This is Ara who is not a dog lover climbing the tree to get away!

Birthday cake for Faith

There she is blowing out the candles

Then they smashed her face in the cake and it was a food fight after that!

Sunny got it good!

Pretty sight

This cow was walking next to me back to the bus. He had his eye on me

One last look at the river

Our school portrait

This is Kimberly from Canada who joins in on our Bible study and two of the pixies!

The Happy Group

Except for Nergui on the right - she doesn't look too happy

Playing Spoons on Game Day

Pure tension

This is Zolboo

Hurry up and pass!

Zolboo's sister Tsoomo

Grabbing for the spoons

Look at the determination!

The loser had to sing a song!  Richard sang a love song to me

Here is Altjean

Nergui, Richard, Emily, and Anu

Signing Off..........