Testing

After a busy week of language class, we were ready to crash for the weekend. However, there was still work to be done, and we were asked to participate in the activities. On Friday, one of our co-workers called and asked if we would help her and two other teachers give a test to prospective English students on Saturday. Seeing this as a great opportunity to get into the classroom scene, we offered our time. On Saturday, we were met and escorted to the west side of town by one of the teachers we were helping. The reason she came all the way into town to get us was we had not yet ridden a bus. Now, we are all about buses, but when you still don't speak the language making sure you get on the right bus can be a challenge. The bus ride itself was fun with plenty of bumps, jars, and jerks. We made it to the west side in record time due in part to the fact that most everything gets out of the way of a bus. We helped with the test which took about three hours. There were not a lot of possible students, but a large majority of the test takers passed. Afterwards, our co-teachers provided dinner, tacos and cornbread. It may sound like a weird combo, but it was a great taste of home. Following dinner, we rode home in a taxi. This was our first solo taxi ride. Taxis here are almost all privately owned vehicles of people looking to earn a little extra cash. We were able to converse with the driver enough to get home. Plus, we put a smile on our driver's face when Jennifer and Jess, one of our teammates, sang along with the radio. In Mongolian, I reminded the driver that they are foreigners and then had to confess that I am too. That made him smile even more!
We will not actively teach until next semester, but being in the classroom was a nice reminder of what we are here to do. We also enjoyed the opportunity to visit more with three of our co-teachers and see them in action. I guess it gives us something to look forward to as long as we can survive language study.