Has gone by since I last posted.  I’m not sure why that is, except that I feel like a very different person.  I’m not sure if all expats go through this, but so many of the anchors of my life are missing now.  This isn’t always a bad thing – I think our ability to adapt to novel circumstances is one of our strongest qualities.  But it makes it hard to maintain continuity, and I notice that I blog more at my other site than I do here now.

That being said, I think I still need a place to run my mouth on generic things, like how I still haven’t figured out how prices work.  I swear, there is no rhyme or reason here, just 3 different prices.  I am assuming one is some sort of standard (ie, per kilo), but hell if I can figure it out.

The other major change in my life was a total overhaul of my monthly budget.  After a while, you settle into a routine – I spend X dollars a week on lunch, Y dollars a week on groceries, Z dollars a week on books.

Here, my categories have changed.  Lunch is a basic set amount.  Dinner wildly fluctuates. And groceries are impossible to determine in advance. And then there’s the alcohol, which could probably top out my spending.

I’ve given up trying to get a handle on it, and have gone with a rougher way to budget, setting aside a specific amount per month and drawing down (in an envelopes kind of way).  Not how I like to do it, but works in a crude manner.

I’ve also pulled out a significant portion from one savings account to another, hoping to save up for future travel plans and transitioning between living situations.  I’m hoping this will all work!

So, as a reminder that cynicism is not always the way of the world, check this out.   (Sorry, it won’t let me embed)

After being sick for 6 days and feeling a bit down, this really lifted my spirits.  Pass it on.

If there is one thing I am learning here in Mongolia, it’s how much we take things for granted.  I lived in the same city for 14 years, and I’ve forgotten how much easier life is when you know everything.

I have finally moved into my new place, and realize that I don’t know where to buy laundry detergent, and towels, and a coffee machine.  I know where to do most of my grocery shopping, but it’s far away and requires waiting until the weekend.

On the other hand, there is a certain excitement to learning something new.  It’s a lot to learn, but it’s the novelty can be fun.  For a while anyway!

So I expect to get ripped off a lot in the next few weeks, at least until I can learn the language and argue back (well, maybe not with the taxi cab drivers).  I also expect a lot of frustration and annoyance  (as has already been experienced with my bank).  These are the things, I think, that teach us patience and expand our perspective.  They also make us realize how good we can often have it.

PS – I am also blogging at Land of Blue Skies.

I had good intentions. I was going to get a cheap apartment, shop in the market, and since I hate vodka, not drink too much. All in the name of staying on budget and maybe even saving.

Heck no.

I’m taking the fancy apartment.  Still shopping in the market, so maybe that’ll help.  And who knew you could get pretty decent wine in Mongolia.

I’m still within my budget, for the most part.  I don’t expect too much in the way of savings though. There was a recent article in the New York Times on “hyperopia”.

You know buyer’s remorse?  That guilt or disappointment you feel after you buy something frivolous or unecessary?  Well, there’s saver’s remorse too.   It’s also possible to not live enough.

You should save, of course.  But all work and no play leads to an early grave (to paraphrase).  And hyperopia leads to missed opportunities and regrets.  It’s as they say, no one on their deathbed wishes they’d spent that extra hour in the office.

So in the interest of sparing my future self the regret of not making things a little easier, I’m going to cut myself a break and live a nicer lifestyle than I had planned.  There’s time for saving later.

I am at a loss on how to budget right now. You never realize what you take for granted in your life!  What you like to eat, and knowing you can get it.  What you like to do, and knowing how to find it.   Even just knowing how much things cost can really help.

Right now, I have no place to live (so no idea on rent or transport), no good sense of what my research will involve (so no idea on technical costs), and no grasp of the language.  Heck, I’m not even sure where the nearest ATM is (though I do know the exchange rate!).

Times like this, it’s so good to have an e-fund or a nice little cushion.  I’m so glad I really saved up these past few months.   I don’t mind dipping into the savings for now, to tide me over for a few weeks.  I am hoping to settle in soon, though.  I like adventure, but the routine has its comforts too.

I am sitting on a lanai in Oahu watching the sunrise.  My friend has already left for work (early morning workout), and I’m raiding her fridge for breakfast.   There is a magnet on the fridge that says:

If nothing ever changed, there would be no butterflies.

A nice sentiment. It might be a bit cheesy, but I like the truth behind it, especially right now.

I am traveling and do not always have access to internet so posts will be scarce.  I will return imminently.

1. Get rid of unnecessary items. Most are gone, though a few things remain.  Trying to decide what to do…

3. Pack up everything for storage. I’d say I’m about 60% of the way there.  Not done, but more than halfway.

4. Sell furniture. Two dressers and the desk are gone.  Will likely just put the office chair on the sidewalk.

5. Find time for yoga, dance, and maybe even running. Sigh. No.

6. Finalize plans for Mongolia. Need to pick up my passport from the embassy, and waiting to hear about next steps for the apartment.

7. Get remaining medical issues cleared out. Last dental appointment this week.

8. Submit thesis for publication! Sigh. Nope.

9. Restrict spending. This was not too bad! I also had friends over for a dinner party and got some food cleared out of my cabinet.

I’m gearing up for my imminent departure, which requires completion of some major tasks at work, and of course, the packing/cleaning/meaning.  So things are pretty quiet around here.

I did, however, spend a few days in sunny Southern California (for work, but it was still nice!).  The weather was fantastic, and I did get to recharge a bit, even if I was working almost the whole time.   It really makes me think about how much I need sun and warmth.

I also learned a few things about myself.   I used to think that I was not a people person, but such is not the case.  I am just easily frustrated, which has nothing to do with anyone else, and everything to do with me.  And is, I think, something more readily addressed.

But I do have a few impressive people skills – most importantly, my ability to create an environment for open communication.  In some ways, I make an excellent mediator. It has me thinking a bit about conflict resolution, and whether I might have the appropriate skill set for that.

I also seem to have the ability to be a horrible nag, and yet also get people to delivery anyway.

1. Get rid of unnecessary items. Not much done this week as I’ve been out of town.  Did leave some things on the sidewalk.

2. Finish report. Got a lot of work done at the meeting and am confident I have something fit for internal review.

3. Pack up everything for storage. Was out of town….

4. Sell furniture. Hoping to clear this out the last weekend in February.

5. Find time for yoga, dance, and maybe even running. Not much this week, though I am going to try to make yoga today.

6. Finalize plans for Mongolia. Need to pick up my visa, and I think I have an apartment.

7. Get remaining medical issues cleared out. Still need to address billing issue!

8. Submit thesis for publication!  I think I will have a chance to address this later this week.

9. Restrict spending. This was so-so.  I am out of town right now so at least I am on per diem.

Week 3 will be focused on everything that didn’t get done.