Street rat! Take that!

Dear Drum,

I didn't think it was in code though several sections might have been gibberish, but in compensation I thought I could shower a little more attention on you. Never fear- another post card shall find its swift way to your pigeonhole though!

Mongolia gets weirder by the day. Some things have become a lot more acceptablet- the staring, the mental traffic, the Cyrillic alphabet which I'm gradually getting a handle on or the bizarre food. But other stuff will keep me amazed for the next two weeks I think.

I'm still reeling over the whole TV anchor/talkshow thing. It's very hard to imagine when you're sat in the studio with only a camera guy and your script. It feels a lot more like one of Leady's practice videos that will never get seen again. That is until I sat down in the pub yesterday and there was a chorus of 'I watched you on TV yesterday!'.

Oops.

I have to question some sections of the TV station- I know that I've arrived with very western perceptions of things getting done when theyre supposed to, of having make up and wardrobe departments, drivers etc. But there doesnt seem to be any concept of that at all. Sometimes when they cant get the translator they just have me announce old English news- some stuff I'm announcing happened in April! HOw can this possibly be a news station??! But I'm still loving it- I'm even trying to get involved with the UB post (the english newspaper here) because theyre looking for editors and journalists. The last intern i my place had an article published- IN A NEWSPAPER AND ON TV AND INTERVIEWED IN ONE YEAR??! Thatd be incredible.

(Incidentally, on the cards for future TV moments are several interviews about music and entertainment- I find this hilarious. There is finally a time when my not knowing who Chad Michael Murray is will be an obstacle. I'm reviewing various Mongolian bands like Altan Urag, The Lemons, Khulan etc. who I've actually grown to quite like. Its a pity theyre not on iTunes... But also I'm expected to feature upcoming music. Like katy perry, Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and Glee. There could not be anyone less able to do that. It gets worse though. Mongolia and specifically my TV station is trying to get Western celebrities to visit to increase publicity. Like Jey-Li and Arnold Schwarzenegger. But they need western interviewers. Enter yours truly. Oh, and the interviews are live. WHAT HAPPENED TO MY LIFE?)

Another volunteer and I are also running a journalism class at the local university. I cant think of anything more ironic and bizarre than me teaching journalism students about journalism- I dont even have a degree or any sort of qualifications in it yet somehow Im regarded as an expert. But dont worry, I've been keeping the classes suitably immature. In Thursday's How To guide I was sure to include Miss P's PEE and FART lessons. My Australian co-teacher was so unimpressed....

The wardrobe issues havent improved either. At least half my clothes have holes in them or are held together with safety pins. A couple of days ago my work skirt ripped all the way up to my waist. Even I then had to admit something had to be done.

STREET KIDS. I've travelled a shitload and this is something that even I still find mindboggling. They're everywhere. And sometimes we go Western on them and try to help in orphanages or give them money. Other times, I found myself with an attitude I hope I never bring back to the UK. Everyone gets warned that theft is rife and protect your belongings with everything you have- never let your guard down. But I get told that wherever I go and I have never had bad experiences. Generally, I've been shown best of human nature- shop assistants who have handed over envelopes containing shitloads of money that I've dropped, taxi guys whove rung people on my phone to bring it back to me etc...

Here, take your eyes or your hands off your possessions for more than a few seconds and expect to have them go walkabouts.

My wallet got stolen as I was jumping onto a bus and took my hand off it to catch the rail.

My camera got stolen when I was in a bar, someone tapped me on the shoulder and I turned around. Boom. Bizarrely though I found my SIM card on the floor. Politest thief in Mongolia?

Strangest yet was my tussle with a street kid. Walking along the street with my iPod in a street kid starts asking me for money. Rule No.1 is you never give them money (someone else will just take it off them and/or if they see where you keep your money...) But then he starts shaking my elbow. Up until now my hand has been on my iPod but I go to take my headphones out and suddenly the music stops. Putting my hand in my pocket, I grope around but all I have is an empty pocket. In a matter of seconds the boy has reached into my coat pocket, unplugged it and put it in his. I was honest to god gobsmacked- to the point I didnt want to accuse him of stealing because it just seemed too ludicrous. I grabbed him by the wrist before I even thought it through and demanded it back, at which point he started swearing- evidently the only English words he knew. Of course I'm now stood in the middle of the high street, a Western girl holding a local boy by the wrist as he struggles, swears and shouts in Mongolian. British embarrassment kicking in I desperately want to let go, but at the same time...IPOD??! Eventually two Mongolian strangers turn up- one of whom can speak English. I still have my headphones in at this point, tragically disconnected to any music so the case is leaning slightly more towards my side. But as soon as I have it back the Mongolian man raises his arm to hit the child- he doesnt, but there was an education in street life. Aladdin had never seemed less glamorous.

Anyway love, I'm sure you've got essays to do and things to procrastinate over so I shall leave you with all my love and the promise of more contact. And of course, a visit to cambridge next year.

xxxx