Today I met my friend from UPS to talk. We talked about how different words are used in English, then also talked about the word "sacrifice" and how that relates to our spiritual needs. I asked when we should get together again. We usually either get together on Monday evenings or Wednesday lunch hour. This week it was postponed until today, Friday, lunch hour. She said, "Well, what are you doing Saturday and Sunday?" I thought, "How strange...we're getting together today...why again so soon?" I asked what she had in mind. She reminded me that I had offered for her to see a good movie I have, one of spiritual significance. So, we'll be doing that this weekend.
Then, a woman (Amaraa) who made some things for me that I'm buying, met us at the same restaurant (it was planned). The two women didn't know each other, but got to meet. Amaraa asked me about my hobby of cooking (we had talked previously that I like to cook). She wanted to know if I'd teach her and some friends how to make pizza. I commented that Nara (from UPS) has been wanting to learn to make pizza, so the three of us set a time for Dec. 13 in the evening. I've been thinking of starting cooking classes, so maybe this is the beginning!
Then, as I left the place where I met these women, I took the elevator. It was full when I stepped on. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that a woman to the side of the elevator was galking at me BIG TIME. I finally looked over there and saw that it was our jujor* from our last apartment! I just loved her so much! But she speaks NO English and my Mongolian is sparse! I looked at her and smiled big and waved. When we got off the elevator I said, "Sain Bain Oo!?" (How are you?). She replied: "Sang sang, sain bain oo?" (Good, good, how are you?). Then she said, "Hahn Been vey?" (Where do you live?). I'm sure she has thought we left the country, since we moved away from the apartment. I told her where we moved to, and then I tried to think of something more to say. I know dumb questions like "how old are you" which just didn't fit this scenario! So we walked together to leave the building and she said a long stream of words and I looked at her helplessly. She said, "Mongolth heath, anglish, jacken." Which means, Mongolian language, English, very little. I responded, "Beech bas." (me too!). I was so aggravated! We walked together for another minute or two on the sidewalk, in silence, but knowing we liked each other. It was time for me to cross the street to my bus stop, so I said "Byerstay....tentsen da ta ta been." (Bye! Nice to see you!). She smiled and waved (probably didn't understand what I said! baaaaaaaa!).
Today, I also received a text message from a student teacher who is under one of the teachers who takes our workshops. I had proofread an essay she had written back in September. She had revealed her heart deeply, concerning her father's extramarital affair and her great fear that she would never be able to trust a man to marry her and love her and not leave her. I had written some notes back to her and hoped we could meet together. Since the proofreading, we've been to the classroom where she teaches twice, and gone on a field trip with her class once. Today's text was asking for more English help. We have plans to get together on Thursday next week.
I reflected on all of this while making supper back at home. I had this pressing feeling that I need to study the language more. But, then, I thought of how I had booked three appointments with English speakers in the past two hours, so how could I even imagine that I'd also have time for meeting with non-English speakers? I still want to study more, but the pressure was relieved from my heart as I thought of my purpose of being here and how it can be fulfilled quite nicely with all the contacts who can speak MY language! And, I'm still learning little bits of Mongolian every week by spending time with them.
*jujor: a worker for an apartment building who keeps the hallways clean, takes the trash out, etc. The word for a Mongolian janitor, which is assigned to a specific building.
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