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It is amazing how much more meaning that word has taken on since I met Nick. I will explain why a little later but first I feel I must catch you guys up on what has happened over this last week.

Nick was set to arrive in Mongolia on August 30th at 10 pm. The only problem was that it was a weekday and the airport he was flying in to was over 6 hours away from my new place. Since his visit was scheduled during what was supposed to be my first week of teaching, it seemed impossible for me to be able to meet him at airport. I definitely wouldn’t have made it there in time without him having to wait for a few hours and then we would not have been able to find a ride home that night, causing me to have to miss my lesson the next day. So, after a little discussion and the help of one of my teachers, we decided I would have someone meet Nick at the airport and help him find me the next day.

But, in the common trend of my relationship with Nick, things came together in unexpected ways. Two mornings before Nick would be arriving, my director came to me and said that he would be leaving for a conference in UB (where nick was flying in to) and there would be no need for me to sit at the school without him since my classes were not finalized yet. A few hours after that conversation, I received a text message from my teacher saying she was actually in my town getting her daughter settled in to her new University and that she would be leaving tonight for UB to prepare for Nick’s arrival. After a little discussion, I decided to hang back for a few hours and leave with my teacher and not my director. I frantically and excitedly threw a few items in my backpack and was out the door to catch the next meeker ride with my teacher and her youngest daughter to Darkhaan where we would take the overnight train to UB. Nick was still unaware of the entire situation.

The train ride was quite the experience, equipped with conversations with drunk men, holding the hand of an 8 year old and running up and down the platform as we frantically tried to find our train, and then fighting other people off before finally pushing our way through the door to find her mom and a bunk where we would crash for the night. We stayed up playing games with a string that I had torn away from my bag, laughing, and eating almonds. As interesting, awkward, and terrifying as the experience was, it looks rather dull in comparison to the excitement that sat inside my chest. In two days I would soon get to look into the eyes of the man that models courage in ways I only dreamed of. The one that has shown me more than anyone that love is a verb. It is choice. It is challenge. And it is a fight. I stayed up most of the night, long after my teacher and her daughter began to find rest. Part of me trying to imagine what that reunion would look like, the other part terrified that my bag would get stolen from where it lay beneath my head. =)

I spent the next day doing a little shopping, reading, catching up with a fellow Volunteer, who is one of the most giving, compassionate and incredible females I have ever met, and sitting at my favorite coffee shop in town. The anxiousness was almost overwhelming as the hours ticked away, leading to the moment I have been waiting for the last 3 months. Everything was planned and almost felt surreal as I watched Nick walk off the plane and into the same airport where I was waiting. No words of mine could do justice to what I felt in that moment. As he walked through the double doors, I hide behind a pillar and watched my plan take effect. I snuck up behind him, tapped his shoulder, and witnessed by far the greatest look of surprise I have ever seen. I don’t think I have ever hugged someone so hard in my life.

The next day we set out toward Erdenet where we would settle for the next 2 weeks together. However, we had no idea what sort of adventure we were in for when we climbed into the backseat of the taxi that would take us to our destination. After about 30 minutes into the 6-hour drive, it came to our attention that there was some sort of oil leak or problematic situation with the engine. We continued to stop about every hour or two to check gages and keep the car from overheating. Nick and I didn’t mind. This gave us ample time to stretch, explore many mountains, street side temples, and take plenty of pictures. The last pit-stop exceeded every expectation or hope I had of ever showing Nick the heart of Mongolian culture, and the best part is that it was all unplanned. Our driver proceeded to off-road the taxi up a random mountain, through dry river beds, weaving in and out of herds of sheep, and eventually squeaking to a halt at the front door of a typical Mongolian ger. We sat in silence, faces stiff with confusion, unable to move for the fear that the first noise out of our bodies would be a laughter so eruptive, it would alarm the 8 Mongolians that surrounded us. We looked out the cracked, dusty windows and into the eyes of complete strangers. The events that followed were so surreal and bizarre that I can only list them and allow you to create matching images on your own.

-We ate an inside out goat out of a big metal bowl.
-We rode a white Mongolian pony with a saddle fit for a 5 year old. This led to some complications for Nick when the horse began to trot.
-The family then brought us inside of the ger for the drinking and eating of fresh yogurt and airag (fermented horse’s milk). We exchanged phone numbers and attempted to teach them how to work a Canon digital camera.
-I was then dressed in a herder’s del, set down on thimble-sized stool, and placed underneath an aggravated cow. For the fear of being trampled if I waited too long, I tugged on those utters like a child playing with silly putty. The milked shot out making a noise similar to rain against a tin roof as it landed in the bucket that I squeezed between my knees.
-Nick stepped up next. Apparently annoyed animal faces are a universal language because the herders erupted into laugher as the cow looked back at Nick, grunted, and took 5 steps forward. Nick looked up at us helplessly from his seat and whispered, “It’s not working.”
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Since that wonderful escapade I have started working at both of my schools and getting acquainted with the beautiful land of Erdenet. It feels incredible to have Nick with me. To understand what I have been living in and around the last few months. Someone that actually speaks my language and knows me just as well, if not better, than I do myself. That sort of comfort was hard enough to find in America. And over the past few days I have come to realize just how valuable the most simplistic forms of communication are. I wish you could all be here with me to see what I see. Smell what I smell. Touch what I touch. I want to share smiles, laughs, fears, nervousness, excitement, joy, and hugs with you. I completely understand that this type of living is not for everyone. But, the fact that I am unable (due to time, money, and resources) to communicate and share every occurrence, incident and happening with you makes my heart hurt. I hope you get it. I hope you can wrap your mind around how desperate I am to share all of this with you. If only I could record each moment and play them back for all to see. It kills me to know that my words will never do justice to what I see and feel. And it may take years to unravel and unpack how this experience will affect my life. Bear with me cause this quest for understanding is just beginning. I apologize in advance if I make no sense. It is not because I do not understand, but rather that my mind has yet to catch up with my senses.
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This last week was my first week of teaching. So far it has just been a few English classes and 1 life skills class. I couldn’t help but giggle on the first day because I was under the impression that I would have 10-15 students. As time passed and more bodies piled into each chair that lined the room, I realized that my counterpart and director lied to me. Before beginning the lesson, I had 32 names on my role sheet. And some students were even filtering in throughout the lesson. That is more students than a typical class at APU. We had a great time and I look forward to getting to know them as the year goes on. They are super intelligent and their desire for knowledge is unbeatable. Not just the students but Mongolians as a whole. They blow my mind. I want that thirst. That drive. It is undoubtedly admirable and hopefully contagious.
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So two days ago was the first birthday I have ever celebrated outside the U.S. border. Nick and I baked a German chocolate cake- my favorite- (thanks mom!), and spend time shopping, hiking, and cooking. The most exciting moment however came at the end of the night. Nick and I decided to pack a dinner and hike to the top of a mountain to watch the sun set. Little did I know that Nick had a few other intentions. We threw some steaks, rice and veggies in a Tupperware and headed out. After completing the hike of death, we threw down the blanket and broke out the food. We chatted for a bit, took some pictures and enjoyed the night’s cool air that brushed against our cheeks. Periodically, Nick would reach into his backpack and pull out another surprise. First was the wine (2001 Faustino de Crianza- YUM!), equipped with 2 wine glasses we used when we shared a bottle together in a park and watched the sunrise in the beginning of our relationship . He had somehow managed to bring them all the way from the States. Then was the candles and later the ring that now rests gently on a finger that will only belong to him. That’s right. As the sun went down, tears soaked my cheeks and I agreed to one day be Mrs. Bogardus. I am sure many of you have questions and I wish I had time to address all of them but I don’t. We don’t have many of the details mapped out just yet but I promise to give them to you as they unfold. All I know is that I look at Nick and see my future. He is home. He is courage, strength, love, compassion, trust, and hope embodied into one soul. I admire and love him in ways I never thought possible and it will be my greatest honor and blessing to call myself his wife.

For now, I will leave you with some pictures of our many adventures in Mongolia thus far.

All my love,
Kim


reunited and it feels so good!


my little accomplice.


best teacher ever.


the taxi.


pit stop number 476,309,786.


saddle up!


yogurt. YUM.


how do i work these?


friendship monument between Russia and Erdenet.


on the way up.


dinner in the apt.




breakfast. (look at those sweet new blankets and sheets! thanks mr. and mrs. bogardus and mom)


engagement view




magnets.


wine. ring. candles. check. check. aaaand check.


ring!




home.