Preparing to leave

Thursday, June 23 -- In less than five days, this year's adventure will begin. The three weeks spent last summer in the Kyrgyz Republic building houses for Habitat for Humanity only whetted my appetite. Next Tuesday I depart for central Mongolia to do the same. The only difference this time is that I'm the team's leader!

I will be bringing 13 team members with me; their ages range from 18 to 65. Two are Canadians, the rest Americans. These I chose from nearly 70 applicants, and the decision was difficult. People were so very interested in participating, and all of them for very different reasons. Applicants came from as far away as Indonesia, the Phillipines, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.

My one regret? That I wasn't able to take the young woman from Fiji named Misti Savage! Her application came too late, but I was dying to know more about her. Her name evoked that of a heroine of some dime store romance novel -- either that or an adult video star. Sadly, we'll never know.

On Tuesday, June 28, I depart Boston for San Francisco. I'll meet most of the team there, and we'll travel on together to Korea. From there we'll transfer to Mongolian Airlines (!) for transport to Ulaan Bataar, capital of Genghis Khan's old empire. But wait! We're not finished yet. From Ulaan Bataar, it's still a 14-hour train ride (on nothing so plush as Amtrak or the Acela, I'm sure) into the interior of Mongolia to the town of Erdenet. This is where we'll spend the next three weeks working alongside Mongolian families who have been selected to receive the new homes we're building.

The town of Erdenet has a population of 74,000, making it the third largest city in Mongolia and is home to one of the world's largest copper mines, so I'm not expecting anything very beautiful.

I am told that mutton. camel and horse are the big three in the meat department, so I may take this very moment to go vegetarian. As in Kyrgyzstan, fermented mare's milk is the drink du jour. I understand we're slated for two evenings of Mongolian karaoke while in Erdenet -- perhaps the alcoholic horse's milk will give just the resolve I need to bring home first prize!

Apparently, everyone returning from Mongolia smells like an old sheep for quite some time. It is said to permeate everything, from one's body and clothes to one's hair, suitcases and other belongings. If I offend upon my return, please step away from me as gently as you can. I'll be dreadfully embarrassed, but only weeks worth of showers will rid me of this curse of the Mongolian mutton.

That's it for now. Mark this URL and check it from time to time. I'll make entries in it as often as I'm able to get to an internet café. Feel free to post your response as well. It will give me a little reading to which to look forward.