Mongolian musicians at welcome reception
Yes, I managed to make it here - in one piece. Only problem - luggage didn't.
Today began at 5am with a boxed lunch on the bus to the airport. Leaving China was not nearly as nerve-wracking as entering! Our flight was a quick 2 hours. I got a window seat with the hope of seeing the Great Wall since our schedule didn't allow us to visit it. Unfortunately it was difficult to see due to the haze hanging around the city and later, when it cleared, I looked and looked but we must have had a different flight pattern.
We didn't get our health and passport clearance paperwork until we got off the plane, so everyone was positioning their forms on walls to complete everything. Again we were scanned for our temperatures and we all made it to baggage claim. Here is where things go amiss. Six of us on the trip (in addition to about 20 others) were standing at the baggage carousel far too long watching the same 4 bags tumble around. Finally, an airport worker came up and said "It's finsihed. Come back same time tomorrow" When we didn't move he led us to a counter, asked for our baggage check forms and wrote a phone number while he repeated the same message. We kind of slowly walked out to meet the rest of the group and explained our situation. Enke, our Mongolian speaking host, went over to verify and got the same story.
So, I have the clothes on my back, my computer, a brush, my medication, and some lotion. To think I spent all those months labouring over what to bring to Mongolia...
We had a bit of free time after we checked into our hotel and after our city tour, so I went shopping. I think I'm ok for a day or so. Keep your fingers crossed that my luggage actually gets here tomorrow.
We met our host families tonight at a reception. The reception was really wonderful. We had the chance to see our first Mongolian musicians and throat singer. The mother of my family is a school principal who speaks no English. She brought her 21 year old daughter who is studying to be a teacher. There are other children in the family ranging from age 11 to 26.
Well that's about all the time I have right now. Send an update as aoon as I can!
