Friends and places in Ulaanbaatar!

The last few weeks have been super busy as I have spent time in the office in LEI getting ready for the new semester tomorrow. There will still be lots to do, but all is ready... :)

But there has still been time for friends and visits to places and churches in the city. The weather has generally been good, though the nights are cooler now. No doubt the freezing cold of winter is approaching!

Take a look at what Kathy and I have been up to in the last couple of weeks.

Kathy and I went to a movie with Nasim and Baaska one evening....

Me, Baaska, Kathy and Nasim

A few weeks ago we visited the church of our friends Gansukh and Oogii. The church met in their home and some activities with the church people took place afterwards. Nice time!

Gansukh is speaking during the church meeting

Lunch time!

We tried to all jump together, but I guess we need some practice...... !!

The view from our window often offers new and sometimes beautiful scenes...

Our Saturday evening meal and Bible study has continued. It is a great time to be together. All of you are invited :) Here are photos of some of the friends who visit....

Munguu and her nieces Hariuna, Khoran, Altjin and Bilgee wait for the meal while Kathy and Anu get it ready... :)

Some of us are ready for the meal while others are soon to arrive... :)

Nasim having a good time showing some of his slight of hand tricks ...

Nasim and I headed to Sukhbaatar Square afterward to see a concert going on...

Classes at most schools opened on September 1st. There is a grade school near MIU, so I stopped by to take a few photos.....

A time at Wendy's Coffee House with our friend Tanya :)

Basketball, Friends, Rest... :)

Exercise is an important part of life, right? After Kathy and I and our daughters moved to California in 1986 I began playing basketball with friends every week or so. I love playing basketball. I love the competition. It's a great outlet for a person to do their best and face challenges. I love the exercise. It's a great help in staying healthy. I love the mental aspect.... making plays, using each player's strengths and skills to the advantage of the team, and getting the mind off all the problems and issues going on in life. I love the fact that a team with less skill, strength, and coolness can beat a team loaded with talent and fame by using smartness, experience and the element of pure desire. As in many aspects of life, victory can so often go to those who have the bigger hearts.

Mongolians love basketball. But there are not many places to play. I have played at outdoor courts, but the style is quite different. I have had some great times with the Horton family and another friend named Oyuma. I have found an indoor court, which you can see in a few photos. Some of you may be able to guess where it is :)

Kathy and I have found time to take walks and do some Tae Bo in our apartment (of course you would laugh if you watched us!), and recently we have used the workout facilities at a nearby hotel for a few dollars. Jogging for exercise is difficult because the roads are bad, the open manholes remain a challenge (!!), and the crowds and their manners are so different.

Anwyay, it's been good to rest a bit. This past week I began working in the office at the university. Lots to do in preparation for the coming semester. I look forward to it! Take a look at the photos of friends we have spent time with. Always great to be with people.. :)

Can you guess where these photos were taken?

Our friend Nasim! He is from Afghanistan, and is studying at MIU.

Our friend Zaya, who graduated from LEI and will be attending MIU.

Here is a random photo of Ulaanbaatar (at the left)  that Kathy took after takeoff from the airport on our way to China.

Baaksa, our friend we met at the grocery story at our apartment building.

Student orientation day at MIU this week. Our friend Noel is speaking

A recent view from our apartment. Despite so much to the contrary, there are times when the city looks beautiful.

Our friend Chimgee :)

A couple more photos Kathy took after takeoff from UB on route to China.

Time with Russian students at Terelj :)

Friday was the last day of the summer course at Language Education Institute in MIU. Along with many other students who took the summer course, 16 students from Russia came to study. On the final day the teachers and I took the Russian students to Terelj National Park. Great time, despite the rain.

I love the fact that LEI has students from all over Asia. Our department is looking to expand to have branches in Russia and a few other places. The Russian students have gone back to Ulaan Ude, their home town in Russia, not far from the northern border of Mongolia. Most of them look very Mongolian to me. They were excited to be learning English at LEI.

I had a great time, despite being tired from the trip Kathy and I took to China. The fall semester will be starting soon at MIU. I look forward to it! We are in the process of hiring a few more English teachers. I trust it will be a good year for all of us.

Me with the LEI teachers, Ricardo the LEI director, and the Russian students who finished the summer English session

Some of us in a cave in Terelj

The teachers and me

This Mongolian girl lives in Terelj with her family. She is an expert horseback rider already!!