June

June was our first month back in Mongolia. I wish I could say that it was a great month, but it was really hard. The first months back to an adopted country are shocking.

The wonder and adventure that came with our first move in 2005, had long since worn off and the bleak reality of some parts of life here really hit us hard. It's back to being the butcher the baker and the candlestick maker. It back to inventing the things you need instead of heading to Lowe's. It's making every meal from dirty carrots and fly riddled meat. It's hard.

However, it's also great because we can see how far we have come in the years we've invested here. We can speak (however simply) in our new language, we know where to shop, how to survive without as much thought, we have friendships (however fragile) with national friends to catch up with.

Also the kids thrive here in someways because they have more time to putter, play and imagine without the interruption of going somewhere (meanwhile mommy is going crazy at home!) Because this is the home they've known they longest and they fit here. Their culture shock will be going back to America in some ways. They call them Third Culture Kids- kids that grow up outside their own culture, but aren't from the culture they grew up in. Strange, huh? That is why my kids "play" with their stuffed animals by eating them-- they see the link between ole' Bessy the cow and the hamburger on the table! When I see them playing like that it freaks me out and makes me crack up at the same time!
Anyhow, back to memory lane...

Our house work isn't done yet. We have some work to do here in our Mongolia kitchen because our walls were falling down! Thankfully we were able to hire help!
Kitchen after- we did the tile ourselves- fun
Painting the living room- not easy two radiators, two windows, one staircase and seven doors later it's done! Again Sharon watched our kids so we could paint before moving. This will be our 3rd move in 7 weeks!
After all that work at our California house and this house, what does Peter do? Get sick of course- for 2 whole weeks this is what he looked like with a fever in bed. Poor guy- and poor me- I'm not a good nurse!
Sierra's haircut- I'm so proud of it because I did it myself!! It has grown out a lot, but still looks great!
From Super Walmart- to shopping here
From driving 80 mph all over the US to strolling through the square here.
From the beautifully packaged meat at Fresh and Easy to this...
From the bakery at a pretty store, where a hamburger buns and tortillas are just a toss in the cart away, to making my own.
Sierra has loved our dog Sam since she was a baby, 9 months in the States didn't make her forget.
Sierra and Peter, loving the river! This year we found Bunnell island- Weston keeps asking if it's still there. Hopefully it is!