Thursday, January 31, 2013

Peace Corps Mongolia!

Mongolia: a country with a long history.  A country of nomadic people.  A country with mountains, deserts, and everything in between.  Here are some of the cool facts that I have learned about Mongolia since discovering that I will spend the next two and a half years there:


    250px-Mongolia_(orthographic_projection).svg.png


  • Mongolia is historically known as the kingdom of Ghengis (of Chingis) Khan, who ruled the Mongol hourde at its height in the 13th century.
    • Side note on Ghengis Khan: about 1 in every 200 men in the world (0.5%) share the same y chromosome.  It is hypothesized that all of these men share the same y chromosome because they are all descendants of Ghengis Khan!
  • Mongolia is a landlocked country located between China and Russia.
  • Mongolia was a part of the USSR, and gained independence in 1992.  Since then, Mongolia has been a democracy.
  • Mongolia, with just over 3 million citizens and around 1.5 million square kilometers of land, is the most sparsely population country in the world.  It is roughly the size of Alaska.
  • It gets very cold during the winter.  It is common for temperatures to drop down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit (or -40 degrees Celsius, as they are the same temperature).
  • Mongolia is said to have incredibly beautiful blue sky and sunny weather a majority of the time.
  • More Mongolian women attend college than Mongolian men.
  • The official language of Mongolia is Mongolian, which is written in Cyrillic (although it is more similar to Turkic languages than Russian).
  • The most common religion in Mongolia is Tibetan Buddhism.
  • The Peace Corps has sent volunteers to Mongolia for over 20 years, since 1991.
  • As a volunteer, I will live with a host family during the first three months, when I will be in training.  After that, I will move into one of three possible living spaces: an apartment complex, a two-room wooden house, or a traditional Mongolian 'ger,' which is a type of round semi-permanent tent.  

More information to follow!  Please comment or contact me if you have any information about Mongolia or would like me to focus my Mongolian research in a certain direction.  I am very excited to learn more about Mongolia and the Mongolian people.  I think that the Peace Corps did a great job placing me in Mongolia, and I hope that I will be able to make a difference during my time there.  I know that it will be a life-changing experience for me!





Tuesday, January 29, 2013

I bought a camera!

This is an initial review of the camera I just received, a Sony alpha NEX-F3 mirrorless digital camera.  It is a step up from a normal point and shoot, with many versatile features and interchangeable lenses.  I think it will be a good beginner camera for me, since I have never used a more complex camera for any length of time.  Here are some random photos I have taken so far:


The NEX-F3 has a tiltable LCD screen, so you can take pictures of yourself!  It is sort of awkward to do this though, since adjusting the lens and everything is difficult when the camera is facing you.  I'm sure it will get better with practice.

One of the many features allows for a gentle blurring of the background.  You can choose the amount of blurring (or clarity) you prefer, which can create some neat photos.

In comparison to any other camera I have owned, the low light photos are phenomenal.  This shot was taken with only a small candle as the light in the room.  I definitely want to try some nice twilight and night landscapes soon.

Here is another added effect: you can choose a darkened halo like this, or many other filters that can add a lot to a photo.  

And to finish this post, here is my latest knitting project: a pair of mittens!  Well, not a pair yet, as I only have the right mitten done.  I am going to make a headband or hat to match as well.  It is my first foray into two color knitting that isn't double knitting (meaning that it isn't reversible), and it is an interesting technique!  I bought a book of hat, scarves, and mittens patterns that include more two color patterns to develop this skill more.  And now that I have this great camera, hopefully I will be better at documenting my creations!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Adventures in the Strip District

The Strip.  Where to begin when describing such a wonderful place?

The strip district is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh full of shops and street vendors, and it is the place to be every Saturday morning, when it is packed with lots and lots of shoppers.  I like to go every week that I can make it--mostly just to enjoy the atmosphere, although there are some great shops with good deals.




One of the best coffee shops I have ever been to--everything I have ordered here has been delicious!




















A beautiful Polish Catholic Church.  The interior is full of stained glass and the stations of the cross in Polish.


A whiskey tasting at a distillery nearby!


Important places in the strip that I don't have pictures of yet: the best taco stand in the world at Reyna's Mexican Grocery, a Saturday morning farmer's market, several other coffee shops, and other specialty stores (Penn Mac, a Biscotti Company, an urban winery, and so many more).  Every time I go to the Strip, I discover more.  It is one of my favorite places in Pittsburgh!