Mar 09 2008
Post-PDM
Just got back from my Peace Corps training. I left it slightly saddened, as it’s the last time my group will be all together in one coordinated body before our close of service conference…in about a year or so. It was an extremely helpful event, and while it focused on a lot of things I knew about already (primarily project management and development), it was a good refresher and extremely important in that it made me work closely with my supervisor for 3 days. It’s pretty much the longest I’ve ever worked with her, and I think we both left feeling more comfortable working with one another despite the language barriers and with increased respect for each others’ abilities. Or so I like to think 
At the same time, I was pretty out of it the entire time I was in the capital. My bad cold from last month evolved into a sinus infection that made me super unsocial and generally available to only do things that had to be done. Thus I didn’t get to hang out with many people, or drink, or play games, or anything. It still comes and goes, the pressure and all, but I’m on day 5 of my antibiotics…
I also got to watch Michael Moore’s “Sicko” which was quite good - made me angry and want to change things, so I should prolly watch it every few months or so to keep myself agitated to do good work. Or some such.
During PDM, I managed to somehow pack two sets of long underwear and no changes of clothes, so the tshirt I wore into town almost two weeks ago is pretty disgusting. I’m not sure how I managed that…but coming back to Khovd has been very nice from a rest and time-alone standpoint; staying in a guesthouse where you sleep six to a room in bunkbeds is super not fun when you’re not feeling well, and especially so after being in town for about two weeks. And it’s “warm” here - as in, a bit above freezing during the daytime. And I’m down to one layer - no long underwear! - and my medium weight wool socks. It’s strange…but you know, it wasn’t all that bad, really. For a couple months you really have to bundle and then it’s back to reasonable temperatures…
Also it seems that whenever I leave town that’s when all my packages appear. Nicole’s and Melissa’s came in - amazingly, it took about 2 months, and I have no clue why - but hey you all, it’s here, no worries. And Bonnie’s came in too. Super sadly, the banana nut bread she made for me did not survive the trip - I almost cried as I threw it away, as I could see the wonderful pecans beneath the mint green mold… 
But she sent me wonderful notes and t-shirts which you will soon see on here.
Oh, finally, I think there may need to be an “Angry Non-Vegetarian Club” based on conversations at PDM. The slogan, which will make us immediately angry? “Ovo-lacto-pescatarian”
