What we learned from living in Mongolia

A "ger" tissue box I wanted to write about our time in Mongolia for a number of reasons. I have lived overseas several times in my life, but many of my experiences are lost to me because I never consistently wrote about them. You always think you are going to remember things, but you start … Continue reading What we learned from living in Mongolia →

Our farewell tour

My parents, 2004The day my dad diedThe day after my mom died I'm writing this from Palm Desert, California, which we're visiting for the weekend. It's probably my last time here, and it may be Emma's, though this town has been part of our family history since my parents moved here in 1994. I've spent … Continue reading Our farewell tour →

How it all began

I am writing a book based on our experience in Mongolia, and this morning I wrote out how it all got started. People still ask me how we ended up going to Mongolia. Here's how: The email subject line was “Teach in Mongolia?” It was from a professor in my department at UCSD, sent out … Continue reading How it all began →

A rainy weekend at Lake Khuvsgul, Mongolia’s “Dark Blue Pearl”

As our time in Mongolia began winding down, Emma and I wanted to take one more trip outside of Ulaanabaatar. There is so much of the country we didn’t have time to see because she was in school and I was working. We thought about the Gobi, but we see so many desert landscapes in … Continue reading A rainy weekend at Lake Khuvsgul, Mongolia’s “Dark Blue Pearl” →

Saving animals in Thailand

Elephants at the Wildlife Friends Foundation sanctuary It’s been a while since I’ve been able to post here. In California, my schedule is much more hectic, and I have less time to write. I still think about our time in Mongolia and our friends there all the time, and I try to follow the Mongolian … Continue reading Saving animals in Thailand →

Eco Town: Building community in Ulaanbaatar’s outskirts

Ecotown On a hillside overlooking the western end of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, rests Eco Town, a community served by an organization that is trying to improve life in the city’s unplanned settlements known as ger districts. Eco Town is the name of an NGO run by Odgerel Gansukh, a man who has a vision of community … Continue reading Eco Town: Building community in Ulaanbaatar’s outskirts →

“Thirty Minutes, Three Temples!” A visit to the Choijin Lama Temple Museum in Ulaanbaatar

This post is mostly going to be photos. I finally made it to the Choijin Lama Temple Museum yesterday. Emma and I had tried to go together last spring, but it was closed, and then we ran out of time. So it was near the top of my list for this quick trip back to … Continue reading “Thirty Minutes, Three Temples!” A visit to the Choijin Lama Temple Museum in Ulaanbaatar →