Mongolia — things I’m grateful for

Golden eagle festival, Ulgii

1. The people were so kind in Ulgii
2. Our food was fresh and delicious. Fewer cheese curds, more green veggies
3. There were two kinds of useful technologies for nomads: electric light and cell phones, mostly for weather forecasts.
4. Not being nomadic – getting to love my home all year long.
5. The golden eagles were beautiful and I got to hold them.
6. My wonderful children. Anika told me, “I like Mongolia…the people are so nice.”
7. People are so happy even though they have so little, by Western standards.
8. I met kind and interesting fellow travellers. I enjoyed talking to Peter Coyote (the actor!) about life and media. What a super nice guy – the kids hit it off with him, too. Dick Grace taught me that philanthropy is not about giving or us&them, but about compassion, and truly wanting to connect with someone and share human experience with them.

Gobi Desert

1. Anika and I flew a kite in the windy Gobi and had fun. We found more wind at the top of the hill the next day and did it again.
2. I slept poorly because I was cold, but Rachel was kind to me even though I woke up grumpy.
3. Flush toilets, even in the Gobi
4. Language translation and being able to talk to people
5. Comfortable shoes
6. Anika’s eye got better.
7. There was a guitar at the 3 Camel Lodge. I don’t remember many songs, but it was fun to play. Anika boasted that I knew 15 songs, and signed me up to perform for the group at the cocktail party at the flaming cliffs. It was actually pretty fun, even though I only played 3 or 4 tunes.
8. Anika turned 11 and celebrated in 3 time zones (3 days!): New Zealand, Mongolia, USA. She got desserts and gifts and was able to video chat with some of her friends back home, which made her feel so happy.