This is a private blog and in no way reflects the views or position of the United States Government nor the United States Peace Corps.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Cheeseburger in paradise

Alli and I are at the Internet cafe right now together and in a couple of minutes we are going to check out this cafe that is supposed to have cheeseburgers. I dont want to get to excited because cafes tend to run out of stuff on a regular basis, or dont have what they say they have in the first place. Example- We went to a cafe two weeks ago that had a big picture of a pizza on the front of it and we walked in and tried to order a pizza and they were like "we dont have pizza you must be crazy". Just one example. So if this place actually has cheeseburgers ill freak. Then Im going to eat seven.
Things are definatley busy here we have tons of work to do but it helps the time go by. Alli is staying with me this weekend and we are going to learn how to make buzz tonight(mongolian pierogies). We recieved two packages so and made coffe for the first time in three weeks this morning. It was fantastic. Tommorrow we are going to make my host family mac and cheese, should be interesting.
-Brandon your last post was great I laughed all night.
-Grandma I am going to try to call you tonight, wait for me to finish speaking before you start because of the delay.
-Dad glad to hear that you are still married and didnt forget nancy's birthday.
-Mom send us some pictures on our email of the sunflowers.
-All parents, calling is tough and expensive. We are only going to be able to make a few phone calls until august 9th when we finish training. When we get sworn in as volunteers we will get a cell phone and you can call us whenever you want but for the next month and a half I will most likely only call grandma and alli will try to call lavonne. We love everyone and think of you often.

10 comments:

Cathy said...

So glad you all are there safe and sound, getting settled and trained. We are all so anxious for any news. What an experience!

Now that you've received several packages, what are the things that you most like getting and something that you'd like that you haven't gotten?

My wrist is all healed. I feel I have about 95% of the mobility back so I can't complain. It's been much better than I thought it would be.

Will you all get to be together after your training? Don't like it that this married couple is separated!

Love, Cathy

Cathy said...

We are all so thrilled that you both are there getting settled and enjoying the experience. Will you all get to be together after you finish your training? Don't like it that the newlyweds are separated!

So missed seeing you all before you left. My wrist is all healed now and I think I have about 95% mobility in it. It's been much better than I ever imagined.

Since you've had afew packages now, what are some things that you espeically liked having or something new that you need?

Love, Cathy

Anonymous said...

Hey guys...glad to hear your getting some time together and searching out alternative food sources...think if we open up a White Castle there we could make some money?

We all know your busy and do not really have much time for communications but we would love to see some pictures of you two and your host families.

Love ya both and please take care of each other - this is a very special time in your life and this experience will always stay with you as a special bond...you have no idea yet what this will mean until much later in life.

Lova Ya's....

Aunt D said...

Laundry by hand and pooping in a hole before hailing a cab to an Internet Cafe. How bizarre!

You are truly having an adventure at the other end of the earth! Do tell us a little about the people in your families. What do they look like, wear, laugh at, get mad about, value, appreciate, celebrate, etc.? Who is in charge? How are women treated?

Glad you are having some time together---that should take away some of the stress of all the newness (strangeness?) and make it all easier to bear. To be sure it would be very lonely to do this alone!

Take care and thanks for keeping in touch. We love hearing about everything!

Love you! Aunt Diane

Anonymous said...

Well it sounds like you are immersing yourselves in the culture. It seems weird that all you do is talk about the food there but you're losing weight. I guess there is more to that walking thing than I thought.

I just love hearing about your daily lives. It seems that everytime I went to someplace I read about, it was just like home. Lots of fast food places, regular stores and everyone dressed like I did.

Glad you got together. For days it seemed like a soap opera. Will they? Won't they? I'm sure you have developed a system to communicate now.

Matt and Alli had a baby boy on the 18th. Cooper Jace Ellis. He had some breathing problems but all are home now and figuring out their new routine. All different kinds of life changes.

I'm sure all your parents would like to be able to talk to you and hug you. However, it's very nice that they at lease have this.

Love to you both.

Anonymous said...

Hello my two beauties - so great hearing from you. I have this picture in my mind of you walking into a cafe and ordering two cheeseburgers and in the background hearing "cheeseburger,cheeseburger, cheeseburger, pepsi - no coke" ala the Billy Goat on lower Wacker in Chicago. (If you haven't been there, then this means absolutely nothing to you!) Anywho, we are waiting to hear if you actually got the seven cheeseburgers!

Good news from the Univ of Wis - Madison on Jazzy's head tumor. We took him friday for his third formulin shot and the tumor has shrunk from entirely filling his nasal cavity and left nostril, down to a tumor the size of an egg!! woo hoo, jazzy! So we have to take him back in four weeks for what they think will be the final evaluation and shot. Then we will take him back there every six months for maintenance. He is such a nice horse, so glad they could save him.

Grandma was thrilled to hear your voice saturday, Mike. She said the connection was so clear that you sounded like you were right next door.

I miss you both. So glad it is going well. Sounds like your routine is getting well established and is becoming comfortable. Good for you! We love you.

Love, Mom and Bri

marina said...

Hey cousins,

Sounds like the world is made of loonies that pretend they sell pizza, how dare they!
I am so excied to hear all the details of your surroundings and lifestyle. Although it sounds a little intense I'm sure its invigorating to know you're experiencing a whole new set of life. Just imagine I'm still stuck in my car driving three hours a day. I read your blogs and think, "I'd rather be pooping in a hole and walking everywhere", but i'm not sure about the lack of coffee. Messini called and said to say hello to the new mongolians :) Love you guys and remember I need visuals, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

blance said...

Hi guys,
Sorry I haven't put a post up in a while, I was in Florida visiting my dad. You can click here to see some pics. It was great...went to the dog track, which was cool. Laid on the beach, the waves were amazing (the lifeguards had to save 400 people in one day and a girl got bit by a shark). I was body surfing in this one particularly big wave, and it took me down, shot me toward the beach like and cannon (spinning the whole time) and then dumped me on my head and flipped me end over end. When I stood up some punk kid was laughing at me; I was all the way back at the shore. Lord knows it takes more than a tidal wave to take me out.

I'm going to send that package out this week.

Good luck

lavonne said...

wow
i am now addicted to reading messages on blogs - although i have the urge to answer them all
like Mel - i read for several lines before i realized you were talking about a horse! and i have been to Billy Goats what a treat. Allie did i tell you aunt Cathy broke her wrist? Aunt D do you remember you had an Uncle D - and Blance why were you still on that beach? I too need visuals Marina - why don't you go take some????
oh mike and allie
we miss you
mya misses you but not if she has to take a car ride to visit you
so what didn't you take with you that you wish you had of
besides all of us?
love to you
Lavonne and Jim too---

Sirmutt said...

Jim said,

just thought of you eating all those real burgers in Mongolia.if a hamburger is made of beef then why not call it a beef burger, duh. either way at McDonalds it is an oxymoron to mention anthing that resembles a burger.

can we call you mongrols yet?

miss you. I am doing fine.

Jim