Spring semester is underway at LEI !

Lots of things have been happening around our university these days. I am posting photos this time about three things:

1. Visits to some high schools to tell them about Mongolia International University and Language Education Institute where I work ...

2. Our LEI talent show!

3. Nowruz, the Persian New Year that many at our university celebrate.

First, our visits to high schools. It has been good to go out with Chimgee, Nagi, Ricardo and Yulia to some schools in the last month or so. It's so interesting to see the schools, the way they are run, the differences between them, and the students.

Ricardo, me, the principal of one of the high schools, and Chimgee

Chimgee, Ricardo and Yulia at one of the Russian high schools

We had a great time at the LEI Talent Show. Kathy and I and two others were judges at the competition. Lots of students put on some great shows. We have been doing this for the last several years.

C1 - The winning class!!

Nowruz, the Persian New Year that many at our university celebrate, was a great time. So interesting to see the dancing and performances and to taste the food!

And some  final shots of Maagi's birthday at LEI, of me on one of my walks along the railroad, and of little Gracie, the daughter of one of the families in our church. Fun time!

Spring is coming. Since Mongolia gets so cold during the winter, many activities are done indoors. People outside of Mongolia are often surprised by the skills that Mongolians have in many things. The Mongolians love dancing of all kinds. Kathy and I went to see our friend Degi compete in a ballroom dance competition recently at the Mongolian State University of Agriculture. Unfortunately we had to leave just after the younger dancers competed. But it was great to experience it all :)

I have also continued taking long walks to get exercise. Enjoy photos of my walks :)

With my friends Degi and Amra

Four girls after volleyball practice where I sometimes play basketball.

The temperature sometimes gets to -34F (-30C) and they still love to play....