Off to Mongolia we go...

This fall, we will be working and living in Ulaanbaatar ("UB" for short), Mongolia - the world's coldest capital city...

Burt will be completing his Clinton School Capstone project with the Business Plus Initiative, a USAID-funded project implemented by Chemonics International; Katie will be doing her Capstone project with the Lotus Guesthouse, a for-profit business whose aim is to financially support (as well as provide vocational training for) the Lotus Children's Center, an NGO that works with Mongolian street kids to provide shelter, food and education. We both feel blessed and honored to have these opportunities.

{Burt arrived in Mongolia on August 28 and started work on September 4. Katie is scheduled to arrive on September 20 and start work on September 24. Until then, we'll have to settle for our twice-daily "Skype dates" - Mongolia is 13 hours ahead of Arkansas and Texas...}

{Before coming to Mongolia, Burt visited his mom, sister and nephew Dallas in Sacramento... He was able to go to Dallas' first soccer game, take Dallas to Chuck E. Cheese, and hang out with his mom and sister...}

 

{Burt spent his first couple days in UB exploring the city, checking out where Katie will be living and working, and visiting a few museums...}

Sukhbaatar Square

Statue of Gengis Khan

National Museum of Mongolian History

Choijin Lama Museum

{On his first weekend in Mongolia, Burt and some new friends went hiking in the Bogdkhan Uul National Park, just outside of UB...}

Mongolia is known for its large population of wild horses...

... and camels!

{Burt's first day of work...}

Burt's office is on the 12th floor of the Express Tower...

{Burt's new apartment...}

Burt's apartment is on the 7th floor of this building...

...the best part is that it is not far from the Lotus Guesthouse, where Katie will be living and working!

{This weekend, Burt went horse trekking with a friend from work through a company called Steppe Riders...}

...he stayed at this ger camp,

 

 

...rode horses,

 

...which provided some amazing views of the beautiful Mongolian steppe,

a herd of goats

...hung out with local Mongolians, drank mare's milk and ate horhog, a traditional Mongolian meal made of goat, which was killed right in front of the group.

...it was a great time, and he's already promised to take Katie there when she gets to Mongolia.