I have my visa. So unless someone close to me dies or I contract West Nile Virus from all the unprotected outdoor work I have been doing lately, I. am. going. to. Mongolia.
My sister Joanne picked up the visa from the Mongolian Embassy this morning. I knew the window opened at 9:00a, Joanne sent me a phone picture of the Embassy shortly thereafter, but nevertheless at 9:15 I called the Embassy directly to make sure that it was okay my sister was the one doing the pick-up. They confirmed that she had just picked it up, and I rejoiced for about 3 seconds... until I noticed I hadn't gotten any kind of confirmation from my sister. She could have gotten mugged in between her picture of the Mongolian Embassy and their verbal confirmation!
I called her several times. For some reason the call kept going dead. So I texted, texted. Finally I received the text "It has been gotten." That was certainly a comfort but it was really the picture (I can see it!) of the visa that sealed the deal. FINALLY!
I think the Verizon folks got a message from God to start conditioning for life in Mongolia, i.e. not being able to talk with my sister every day, because for some reason our phones have suddenly become incompatible. That is, I can't call her. She can't call me. Texts only. The cut-off has begun.
I've started to pack, by which I mean I've put out the 3 potential suitcases I'm going to bring (although I may limit it and my misery to 2 suitcases-full) and starting making piles around the house. One pile is on the guest bed. The other pile is made up of things thrown into the coat closet by the kitchen. They'll all make it out of there and into my portables soon enough.
Some unusual things I've been recommended to pack:
- a year supply of tampons (this an expensive thing in Asia)
- deodorant (this is not a thing overall in Asia)
- monistat (because everything is pretty much hang-dry)
- hiking boots
- thermal underwear
- microfiber travel/camping towel
- down sleeping bag (to 0F, darn. I got to 15F)
- down jacket (down is easily smushable)
- rain jacket (when it rains, it pours)
- face masks (the air pollution is abominable in UB from coal being fired for warmth in the ger districts. my mom, a nurse, has snagged me a box from work)
- favorite spices (haven't bought any for myself, but I've gotten 3 canisters of Old Bay for gifting)
- dramamine (impossible to find anywhere, apparently)
And some things for the kids, etc.:
- stickers
- pictures of where I live
T-5 days.
(I think I just lost my breath writing that.)
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