2007 Memories (myspace survey)

My answers were mostly about Mongolia, so I'll include them on this site.

1) Where did you begin 2007?
In Mongolia. With my neighbors at Nyamtseveen's brother's apartment, drinking milk and champagne and watching the Mongolian equivalent of the NYC bash, with lots of music videos. I brought noise makers, which the kids loved, and we watched the town fireworks from the window. Then we all went to bed on the floor.

2) What was your status on Valentine's Day?
Taken

3) Were you in school (anytime this year)?
Yes. I was teaching at Chandmani-Erdene Complex School in Uliastai soum.

4) How did you earn your money?
From you, the taxpayer, for my hard work and dedication as a Peace Corps volunteer.

5) Did you have to go to the hospital?
Only to visit some friends "resting" and one friend who had a baby in Mongolia. Dude went to the vet a couple times.

6) Did you have any encounters with the police?
Only when the foreigners and the police both showed up at Casablanca for some karaoke. It was always a showdown (think Sharks and Jets) but the police, unfortunately, always won out. I guess the owners preferred staying out of jail over free English lessons.

7) Where did you go on vacation?
Thailand and Cambodia. Yes, it was awesome.

8) What did you purchase that was over $1000?
My trip to Thailand and Cambodia. Plane ticket back to the states, though that was on Peace Corps.

9)Meet anyone new?
Yes

10) Did you know anybody who passed away?
Yes.

11) Was anyone born?
Yeah, Altai's baby. Khashna's baby. And a whole lot of people got pregnant. This slot will be full for 2008.

12) Did you move anywhere?
From Mongolia to Middletown.

13) How did you celebrate your birthday?
Jess brought me tampons from Ulaanbaatar. Oh, wait, that was 2006. According to my journal, I read a little Diplomacy. Hmm, I think it was too close to when we left Uliastai for good. We were preparing for the good-bye festivities.

14) What concerts/shows did you go to?
Tried to go to a Bold concert. Turns out it was a scam. Lost 3000 tugruks ($3).

15) Are you registered to vote?
Yes

16) Who did you want to win Big Brother?
I didn't watch it. One of the few reality shows I'm just not into.

17) Where do you live now?
Middletown, OH

18) How did you spend your summer break?
Saying good-bye to all my friends in Mongolia. Waiting for culture-shock to set in. Catching up on "America's Next Top Model," all 6 seasons, or however many there are.

19) What's one thing you thought you'd never do but did in 2007?
Watch all 6 seasons of "America's Next Top Model." Be back in M-town for 5 months.

20) What has been your favorite moment?
Rock-climbing in Thailand. Finishing the never-ending city-wide talent show. Being compared to a falcon by my school's director while receiving a falcon statue.

21) What's something you learned about yourself?
Overall, I'm a pretty capable person. I adjust well to new things, places, and people. And I could totally make a career out of karaoke.

22) Any new additions to your family?
Dude has joined the home of my immediate family.

23) What was your worst month?
The month of rehearsals for the city-wide talent show.

24.) What music will you remember 2007 by?
Ozone, Last Christmas, James Blunt's Beautiful (cause my students loved it) all the songs on the Zavkhan Outreach program (top 40 from the year that a friend sent to us) and every song we sang at Casablanca.

25) Who has been your best drinking buddy?
Jess and David

26) Made new friends?
Yes.

27) New best friends?
I guess technically this was 2006, but I'll count Jess and David this year.

28) Favorite Night out?
Karaoke at Casablanca.

29) What sporting events did you attend?
Mongolian wrestling at Naadam.

30) What was your best month?
February -- Thailand and Cambodia.

31) Overall, how would you rate this year?
On a scale of 1-10, I would give it an 8.

32) Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
Mongolia

33) Change your hairstyle?
Yeah. After a year of no haircuts, I finally got it chopped off. But now it's been 4 months and it's not that short anymore.

34) Have any car accidents?
No

35) How old did you turn this year?
26

36) Did you have a New Year's resolution?
I'm not sure that I did. Probably just to make the most of the rest of my time in Mongolia.

37) Do anything embarrassing?
I think the sequined outfit I wore for the Latin American dance at the talent show was pretty embarrassing. Though not as embarrassing as the biker outfits the guys wore. Oh wait, I remember something more embarrassing. I had to do this Mongolian dance. In it, there was amove where I had to kind of bob my shoulders up and down really fast. It usually looks pretty cool. But my boobs are lot bigger than most Mongolians'. So when all my teachers came to watch me practice that dance, we all started cracking up when I got to that move. They tried to give me the thumbs up to make me feel better. And the guys seemed genuinely impressed by my mastery of the art. ;-) But I knew it looked ridiculous.

38) Buy anything new from eBay?
No. Some books from Amazon. Sold a Spice Girls shirt on eBay.

39) Get married?
No

40) Get arrested?
No

41) Be honest - did you watch American Idol?
Yes, because my mom recorded them and sent them to me. Ok, because I love it. But thanks to my mom sending it to me.

42) Did you get sick this year?
For the most part, I was pretty healthy. 2006 was the year of horrible "stomach rejecting Mongol food" issues.

43) Been snowboarding?
No. But did go sledding with the Uliastai PC crew.

44) Are you happy to see 2007 go?
Yes, because I'm ready to move on and move out. Hopefully I'll be moving at the end of January.

45) Been naughty or nice?
Nice, of course.