This is "normal"

Today has made me begin to reconsider, once again, my idea of what is normal. In the states, I think we have some idea of what is normal and what is a comfortable living situation and so forth. We come to a conclusion based on what we know and equate that to normal. Normal, however, I’m coming to realize more and more is so relative. Many would say life here in Leo’s soum is normal, but for us it is completely out of the normal.
In Leo’s soum where we arrived today, we saw and moved into Leo’s house for the night. Leo’s house is a 10 by 20 feet rectangle with a wood burning stove, a twin sized bed, some shelves for books and food, and a small closet in the corner. His entire material life in Mongolia is in this space. Lit by one light in the center, the space depends on the wood burning stove for all of its heat. The toilet is an outhouse where you stand on two planks and do your business into a hole in between. It is cozy and has tell-tale signs of Leo living here like coffee on the shelves, a French-English dictionary, and a head light on the desk. This has become Leo’s normal. It doesn’t phase him that cows and yaks live right outside of his house or that there is no shower here. It doesn’t phase him that in the morning its frighteningly cold and that his house isn’t very well insulated. This is normal for Leo. I see this, I see Leo and my pride in his hardiness and resoluteness to do this year of service increases. He is incredible not blinking an eye at having to boil water to drink or brush his teeth, not grumbling at all at the small space that is his, not taking for granted anything that he is able to have and having such a simplistic perspective of what he actually needs. He lives in such a simplistic and grateful manner than he gives me a model for which I hope to strive. This home is normal to Leo.

Leo’s soum, Tsaaganuur, has also become normal to Leo. T is remote, isolated, and poor. It is composed of hashahs which are simply walled compounds that are home to families. The houses are made from clay walls, and cattle and yaks are present everywhere. There is much in disrepair and the pathways are dusty and rocky. It is very spread out and there are mountains upon mountains surrounding the village. There is also a beautiful lake on the outskirts for which the town was named. We have only spent a couple of hours here this afternoon, but it is fascinating and beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. When we arrived here, I was mostly struck by the isolation of this village. For Leo, however, this has become normal. T has become home and the chilliness of the wind and the homes and yaks are common sight. For us, it is a blast to all the senses and a challenge to understand and see our Leo here in this foreign town.

For now, I will end. We’ve spent all night and afternoon visiting with the Director of Leo’s school and his family and it has been wonderful. We’ve many stories to share and we’re seeing in beautiful ways how Leo has made a life here.

Coming from America and a pretty spoiled life, I am finding myself physically challenged by the weather and much more, but also spiritually and emotionally challenged as I begin to reconcile my way of living with the way of life here for so many Mongolians and for my brother. I am challenged by Leo’s life here, by the life that has become so normal for him and for the courage with which he has taken on this experience.