Sports Are Universal

Since arriving to site a little over 2.5 months ago, I participated in a few sports tournaments. The first tournament was held by the medical college in honor of the 45th anniversary. My team took bronze for volleyball. About 4 weeks ago I participated in yet another tournament, this time it was the annual Health Systems Provincial Tournament. The tournament consisted of both men's and women's team's representing the following organizations, Red Cross, Health Department, General Hospital, and Soum (Village) Family Clinics. The competition was tough and the stakes were high, but my team prevailed! We managed to take the silver medal for volleyball and gold for basketball. I also won MVP for basketball. Both tournaments were great and I really enjoyed yet another opportunity to integrate myself into the community.

Women's Basketball
Gold Medal
Health Systems Tournament

Women's Volleyball
Silver Medal
Health Systems Tournament

Women's Volleyball
Bronze Medal
Medical College 45h Anniversary Tournament

Women's Basketball
MVP Trophy
Health Systems Tournament

Top Chef Mongolia

Hey guys!

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to cook and more importantly I love to eat! So I figured I share some delectable delights that I've created here in Mongolia. I would have to say that I have a pretty well balanced diet. Mongolian cuisine is heavily comprised of meat and root vegetables (i.e. Carrots, potatoes, garlic, radish, cabbage, onions etc.) so it was a bit of a challenge at first trying to figure out what my Peace Corps diet would be. Prior to coming to Mongolia, I was a vegetarian/borderline vegan for about a year and a half. Shortly after arriving at my host family's home my host mom prepared a vegetarian dish (veggies and rice) and then proceeded to say "I don't know how I'm going to feed you." After which I responded by saying bring on the meat (except pork). I figured "when in Mongolia, do as the Mongolians. So during the 2.5 months of training, I pretty much had meat on a daily basis. Now that I'm on my own and have the freedom of preparing my own meals heres what I've managed to create. Bon Appetit! 

Sous Chef Riddick

Tuna Melt

Rice Pudding

Korean Kimbap Prep (Egg and Rice)

Dried Seaweed

Finished Product! Kimbap.

Grilled Cheese

Prepping for Potato Salad

Grilled Cheese Again...

Watermelon

Hot Mexican Chilli

Chilli with Cheese

Corn Bread

Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed Peppers

Spaghetti

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Omelet

Vegetable Curry

Veggie Curry

Tomato Basil Pizza

Tomato Basil Pizza

Bon Appetit!

French Fries

More Soon To Come!

City In The Sky

Once again greetings from Mongolia! Today's post will just have a couple a pictures documenting my life thus far in Mongolia. Enjoy!

View of the Monastery at dusk from my apartment

Here are some pictures from the 1st annual Govi-Altai Medical College International Conference, I gave a presentation on Behavioral Science theology. Of course with the help of a translator, my Mongolian isn't that good yet. Anne Biro a nurse from Alberta, Canada gave a presentation on effective nursing practices. Fellow Peace Corps Volunteers Mezelle Moore and Leah Iyescas also gave presentation's on infectious disease control and nursing in America respectively. The conference was an overall success, later on that evening there was a ceremony celebrating the college's 45th anniversary.

Conference Panel

M23 PCV's Leah, Mezelle and I
Location: Altai Square

Mezelle Moore

1st Annual Govi-Altai Medical College International Conference

Anne Biro, Gundegma (My Translator) and I

College Board of Trustees

Traditional Mongolia Insturments 

Mongolian Kazak Performance

Me

Inside the Monastery 

Walking home from work one evening

At Dusk in the countryside

Walking home from work one evening