Adventures of Cal and Anne: January 2014

It does not seem like a year has passed since we watched the fireworks on Sukbaatar Square and here
we were, doing it again!! They still amazed us and went on for about 20 minutes, non stop. We have tried in vain to get a video clip included so a still picture will have to do!

New Years is the time when Mongolians give presents to their families (Santa even came to the Square with two of his reindeer).

Winter has set in but does not seem as cold as last year yet. When we were running to catch a "Meeker" (little bus) out in a small town east of Ulaabaatar we met this girl and had to stop to take her picture. It looked like she had applied white mascara to the tips of her eyelashes!

We were visiting the family of the little girl with the hands and feet problem. It is a genetic disorder that causes the skin to be too thick. She has been using some different kinds of cream brought over from USA and Canada last summer. Now it looks like we can get one of the Mongolian Returned Missionaries who is a pharmacist to get it made up here in Mongolia.

Her hands have improved quite a bit
now just have to work more on the feet

She is a darling girl!!

Mongolian Clothes Drier

Two Sister Missionaries who went with us

Friends from next door came for a picture

Mongolians take good care of their cows. When they are pregnant, they put a nice warm blanket on them. This was our first up close and personal chance to see them. The family are very proud of their cows and calf.

Shopping occupies quite a bit of time. There are limiting factors. The size of our apartment limits how much we can store when we do get it home, but even bigger is the fact that we can't really buy more than we can carry at one time. We live about four blocks from the "ZOK". It is an indoor market that had a big renovation last summer, you can buy anything from meat to clothes there. We have certain spots that we always use, like the fruit lady. We can really do most of our shopping there.

Sometimes they choose interesting names for their businesses!!

I do have some big shopping bags
but this day did not take them

Never know who you will run into on the street

There was a beautiful Christmas Concert put on by the big Church Choir. They sang many of the songs in English, even though most do not speak English!!

Christmas day started off with opening our gifts - an overwhelming spread including three big boxes delivered by the AP's on Christmas Eve from Melissa Dalziel (Barb's Sister-in-law)- just like Santa!