Saturday I went to meet Hannah, the newest Fulbright who just arrived. I met her and her friend Jon, who she met at the guesthouse, and we went off to a Mongolian cafe for their first taste of suutei tsai. I told them about basic things to look out for in UB, namely pickpockets, drunk men, and muggings. Literally seconds after enlightening them about the crime and safety issues in UB, I got attacked by a drunk man! This on the main street, in the middle of day, walking with friends, surrounded by locals.... it was totally bizarre... the man ran at me like he was going to tackle me. I pushed him away, set my feet squarely, raised my fists defensively, shoved him in the chest and then pushed past him to rejoin Hannah and Jon. It all happened so fast that I didn't have time to analyze the situation at all.
I was a little shaken, but tried to remain calm for Hannah and Jon, since this was literally their first experience in UB! Yikes! Of all days!
We had our suutei tsai, got phones and sim cards, and I showed them my apartment. We planned to go to the Zaisan memorial the next morning.
Sunday, joined by Philip, one of the English teaching Fulbrights, we got up early and headed out into the brisk morning (-20F is just brisk at this point!). We took the bus to the base of the mountain and climbed up the steps and had a wonderful view all to ourselves. After about 15 minutes we were too chilly and went back to the center of town and got hot drinks at a cafe. Then I got a text from a fellow Fulbrighter. Could I watch a puppy for a few days while we tried to find it a home? Since it was going to be a few days until my roommate moved in, I said sure! So we all went to my apartment to await the arrival of the puppy.
They brought the pup over and she was sooooo cuuuute! Right away we put her in the bathtub and gave her her first bath ever, which she was NOT impressed with. Then we dried her off and fed her some puppy food and warm milk, which she liked a lot. Everyone liked playing with her and petting her but no one could keep her. I kept her overnight and played with her and fed her lots of food and she quickly transformed into a happy, vigorous puppy. After asking around I called my Mongolian brother Danzka to see if he knew anyone who wanted a puppy. (It's harder to find homes for female dogs in Mongolia because spaying and neutering is not widespread, and the female will be the one with all the puppies). Surprisingly, but very fortunately, Danzka was planning to get a puppy very soon! He came over with his uncle and friend and they looked her over, patted her, cuddled her, chose to name her Bambi, and then took her back to their place! Yay!
With a roommate moving in soon though, I won't be taking in any more puppies. I found out that one of the English teaching Fulbrights, Holly, who was looking for a cheap place in a central location. She will be moving in in the next week or so.
Next, I will be writing about making buuz at my Mongolian family's house on Saturday. Tsagaan sar, the Mongolian new year festival, is approaching and each family makes hundreds if not thousands of mutton dumplings.
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