Peace Corps Volunteers

Our son Daniel and his wife Mary served a two year Peace Corps Mission in Guinea West Africa a few years back.  When they heard we were going to Mongolia on our mission for the Church they asked us to keep an eye out for any Peace Corps volunteers serving here.  We met two of them, Kate and Aaron, and invited them for dinner.  They are really nice and we enjoyed our conversation.  We thought they would be in better living conditions than Dan and Mary so we didn't feel too sorry for them.  We had a dinner with one of Debbie's great salads and French bread, grilled salmon with homemade hollandaise sauce, rice pilaf, carrots, broccoli and a brownie with Russian ice cream and chocolate chips. Afterwards they said it was the best meal they have had in Mongolia.  We then found out they are in an unfurnished apartment with no stove, refrigerator, microwave or much to make a meal with.  They said the Peace Corps is working on getting them something.  They eat at restaurants a lot and not many of them are good.  The food served here is very bad to mediocre.

Anyway, it was fun having them over.  They have a different role that most English teachers here.  They both have degrees in English and Education Leadership, so they are here assigned to schools to teach teachers how to teach English.  They teach them different techniques and styles.  Most Asian teachers only teach grammar because they don't speak English.  The students we have met that have had years of English education cannot speak any of it.  We are so surprised that they don't even know the alphabet.