So. I am here.

The journey to Mongolia was interesting, especially the 15-hour layover at Moscow. I don't know what I was thinking leaving the airport without a map or knowing a word of Russian-- I guess I had figured there would be some kind of tourist information desk either at the airport or at least at Red Square. WRONG. So, there I was outside the transit area at the airport, determined to get into the city but equally determined not to pay 1500 roubles to take a taxi to the city. Finally, I managed to get someone to tell me which bus goes to downtown Moscow (the airport is a bit outside the city)-- fortunately, the Russians use the same numerals despite the different script. Then, in what was admittedly rather scary, I took this bus to wherever it would take me, figuring I would get to Red Square from there. I had to change a bus, then a train, then walk eight blocks, but I did make it. best of all, I made it by asking for directions from nice old Russian women who did not speak a word of English; trust me, until you have received long, complicated directions from someone who does not speak your language and can only gesticulate wildly, you havent truly travelled! But I was proud of myself: I managed to take public transport to get to Red Square and back in 100 roubles instead of the 3000 I would have paid as taxi fare, and I did it without any major incident (okay, so i slipped and scraped my knee once, but you try chasing hurried old Russian women on icy streets because they are your only way of getting to your destination, and we'll see if you dont fall a couple of times too! :P).

Then, Mongolia. I was met at the airport by the high school principal, one English teacher and one Japanese teacher (who, it turns out, is my roommate). The moment I stepped out of the airport with them, i felt icicles form in my nostrils. I'm not kidding-- every time I step out into this -35 degree weather, everything inside my nose simply freezes; it's a sensation like none I have ever experienced! My roommate, Miho, and I share a lovely little studio apartment; there is no central heating, but we do have two radiators, so although it isnt warm and toasty, one's okay inside with a couple of sweaters and a hat. I'm not complaining; it could be SO much worse (we even have running hot water most of the time!). They did offer me my own room if Miho and I couldnt live together, but we both chose to share... I miss my private space, but I am glad to have an English-speaking person around.

Today was my first day of classes. Can't say much yet because this was only introductions, tomorrow will be the same, and next week, all the students have a holiday while the teachers prepare new lesson plans. Classes start in earnest after that. I have to admit to being a bit uncomfortable in this school; the high school prides itself on being "Japanese-style", which they take to mean high educational and achievement standards, but which also translates as too-strict hierarchies and sometimes ridiculous formalities as far as I am concerned. I'm struggling to come to terms with the way the students are ranked and segregated based on their achievement, the weird "thank you teacher, see you" that the students somehow manage to chant in perfect unison every time i leave the room, and the "teachers dont wear jeans" kind of attitudes amongst the staff. In some ways, it reminds me of high school n India, and now i wonder I got through that so well; in other ways, it is an even stricter and more rigid version of many of the things I even then thought ridiculous. Fortunately, as a foreign teacher, I have a little more freedom to design my own classes (for example, i do not need to follow the textboks they use), but only after preparing my lesson plans and having them approved will I really know how this term is going to turn out.

Well, that's all for now. I am using the computer in the principal's office since it is free right now, but I need to find a more regular and more reliable means of staying connected. Kep emailing me-- Mongolia is isolating, and I want my cheerleaders around! ;)