#anyways happy lunar new year to all who celebrate!!! peace and love and well wishes

[dangans-ur-ronpas]

happy year of the dragon 🐉🎆🧨

click for better quality bc tumblr chewed this like a dog

[thecandywrites]

Of Heaven and Fire Part 15

Oh this is gonna get worse. Hopefully it’ll hurt so good.

@probablyclever​ @imherefortheforthefanart​ @funmadnessandbadassvikings​

Of Heaven and Fire 

Part 15

“Brock, this is your mate, Benyana,” Rhoslan introduced as she came to give you a side hug as she brought you closer to him. 

“Where did you get her from?” Brock asked as he looked you over, trying to figure out where you had come from. But you could tell he was having difficulty processing this. 

“She’s a moura, from the mountain colony of Suchi and you were the one who got her.” Drad answered as Brock scrunched up his face in disgust at the mention of Suchi. 

“So we conquered Suchi and she was my victory bride?” Brock tried asking but you could tell he didn't believe that as he started to look at you with suspicion. 

“Uh...kind of?” Rhoslan grimaced at you. 

“So where’s the rest of her people as our slaves then?” Brock asked as he noticed the other mouras on the edge of the crowd looking on curiously before everyone around you boomed a ‘No!’. 

“No, it is illegal to enslave a moura, the penalty is death on the person and death to their family.” Everyone informed him. 

“How about we go home and rest.” Rhoslan insisted as she gathered Brock and led him home as you and the shaman followed too and once in the living room Brock just kept looking at you like you were a spy. 

“Brock, what’s the last thing you remember?” Rhoslan asked. 

“We just celebrated the Lunar New Year, last night didn’t we?” Brock answered and you winced and grimaced and blew out a breath of defeat and cursed under your breath. 

“What does that mean?” Rhos asked you as even the shaman sat back and looked on curiously, because even he looked 30 years younger. But you sensed he didn't have the same memory loss Brock did. 

“It means that there is a reason why all moura’s choose to get reborn in the ashes on new years, it must be because of this,” you gestured to Brock. “It’s because it obviously resets the memory to the last new year, when moura’s do this, they lose a day, he’s lost the last 6 months. It means he won’t remember me or anything that has happened since then.” You revealed.

“Do the memories ever come back?” Rhoslan asked hopefully but you could only shake your head no as tears welled in your eyes. 

“I should go,” you stood up as you watched as he looked relieved that you said that. 

“It’s obvious that my presence is agitating him. Which makes sense, I'm a stranger to him now and I'm in his house, that would agitate anyone. Be kind and gentle with him for the next few days until he settles back into time.” You suggested before you left and went to your house where you sobbed, your brother following you and consoling you. 

It was so hard to keep your distance from him over the next week, because ever time you saw him, you just wanted him to look at you like he used toas his family took him out and showed him how the trees had not only gotten their leaves but were now producing fruit, how it was now late summer and the fields were still a month or two away from harvesting. Kari showed him how she had grown and how the changes to the clan that you and him had brought about had helped the clan. 

When Kaive and Cugas went out into the ships to gather fish and other seafood, they came back with full ships, the cargo’s still iced as the iced cargo’s were loaded onto Drauch and Drauch went with the wind to Suchi and came back with unimaginable wealth for the seafood and how half the clan was living on Drauch along with other mouras who had chosen the orcs as mates.  Funny enough, the same people that the orcs had initially caught when they had attacked back in the spring. Almost like they were fated to be together and you were happy that you weren’t the only moura in the clan and they were all too happy to keep you company while you kept your distance and let Brock get reacclimated to time and the season.

But you noticed that every time Brock saw you he suddenly seemed to frown before he would turn around and leave and he did his best to avoid you altogether. And as much as this hurt, you tried to see this from his eyes. If this had happened to you, to wake up from the ashes and suddenly find out you're mated with a stranger, you would be weary if not uncomfortable and you would want to resist it. It was only natural you supposed. Mouras liked to fly free and you probably signified a cage to him. You just needed to give him time and space. And honestly, this wasn’t unheard of. There had been a few couples who were reborn in the ashes together and once reborn, hated each other and lived a lifetime apart and the next rebirth would fall in love again. But he had already lost so much. You couldn’t bear to see him go through the ordeal again. He had won you over once, now it was your turn to win him over. But it didn't help things when your baby bump emerged and seemed to grow a little more each day and the whole clan had spun all kinds of tales of what had happened in the last six months and some of it was true and some of it was legend and while his family made sure to just tell him the facts of what had happened. Brock still had eyes and ears and who knew what he had been overhearing since his rebirth. 

One day soon after you were harvesting the produce in your garden around your house when Brock suddenly appeared before you, looking particularly agitated. 

“Is it true?” Brock growled angrily. 

“Is what true?” You repeated in confusion as you stood and faced him. 

“That you’re carrying my child.” Brock hissed, keeping his voice down and looking particularly embarrassed. 

“Yes, it is.” You affirmed as you placed your hand over your bump as your son soon began to kick you. He always did when his father was near. If Brock had his memories, he would be overjoyed and would have cuddled your belly and would have wanted to feel every kick. But, now, that was the last thing Brock would want to do. 

“Well you should know that I do not have to claim you or it.” Brock announced staunchly. 

“I know that.” You calmly returned. “You told me shortly after you impregnated me that orc warriors will often lay with many women before battle and that if he came back, he claimed who he wished to, he may even take all the children he fathered and dump them on his favorite to raise.” You recalled. 

“That’s right.” Brock nodded in agreement with a smug smirk. 

“But you should know that if you try to take our son from me, I’ll slit your throat myself.” You threatened evenly and for the first time, he cracked a grin at you. But there was a maliciousness to the curve of it. 

“I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you.” Brock sneered before he turned back. 

“How do you know it’s a son?” He suddenly asked as he turned back towards you. 

“Moura’s have ways of knowing what we’re carrying.” You answered simply. 

“Why do you hate me so much?” You asked as you could practically see the hateful rage roll off of him. 

“Because you don’t belong here! You shouldn’t be here. So since I’m never going to claim you or your child, you should go back home, where you’re wanted. Because I sure as hell don’t!” Brock insisted. 

“But what if I want to stay here anyway? My home is already here. Besides my son will still be half orc, he should be here, with his clan.” You calmly countered as you gestured to your home then to the other clan members who were walking by, curiously looking on. 

“I’m told it wasn’t built here but moved here on a cloud. Moura’s do shit to clouds don’t they? You can pick it up and move it, in fact you should. Sooner than later.” Brock insisted. 

“Why?” You questioned curiously. 

“Are you stupid?! I just said that you don’t belong here, you stick out like a sore thumb and an orc clan is no place for a moura!” Brock argued hotly. 

“Those moura’s seem to be doing just fine.” You nodded over to a couple of couples who were at the blacksmith’s nearby, the mouras getting their orc counterparts new armor. 

“Well….you’re...you’re different!” Brock yelled before everyone turned and stared which embarrassed both of you. 

“How am I different?” You asked, forcing yourself to remain calm in an effort to diffuse his own anger. Because that’s what he used to do with you before. 

“Because you just are!”Brock roared. 

“Go home to Suchi, where you’ll have parents and siblings and friends who can care for you and support you. Because you won’t find any help or support from anyone around here!” Brock hollered before he stomped away, leaving everyone who overheard it- staring at Brock in confusion before you gathered your produce and went back inside, tears running in streams down your cheeks. 

“What the fuck was that?!” Dastrin, Brock’s right hand man and closest friend demanded as he chased after Brock from the blacksmith. 

“None of your business!” Brock snarled. 

“Yes it is my business! She is the next warchieftess, the clan has already decided. Before your rebirth in the ashes you announced that she was carrying your one and only heir and that she would reign as warchieftess until your son was of age. She has done nothing to disqualify herself from that position. Why are you treating her like the enemy when all she has ever done since she set foot in the clan is to help us because she has been our greatest ally?” He questioned. 

“Because she is not our ally! She never was, she did all that to save her own skin and to help Suchi. That’s where her loyalties lie. She is the enemy! A spy! She never stopped being the enemy, she somehow put a spell over everyone to love her. Besides I'm sure it was just a political alliance on Suchi’s part, give us a moura bride in exchange for peace for their own precious colony so we don’t attack and raid them. Those unions are always strained. This is no different.” Brock insisted as Dastrin growled in frustration. 

“What kind of nonsense is that?! No. You have it all wrong. How is she the enemy?" Dastrin demanded. 

“She just is, I look at her and I know something isn’t right about her, I just...I hate her, I hate everything about her.” Brock pouted as he crossed his arms over his chest as Dastin raised a disbelieving eyebrow. 

“Maybe it’s your memories of your strong love for her that are trying to come through and you’re misunderstanding them.” Dastrin suggested. 

“No! I have no memory of that woman at all. She could have fucked any orc or hell any of her previous suitors and gotten pregnant, she’s just trying to entrap me to be warchieftess by saying it’s mine. She’s like all the other power hungry bitches here.” Brock growled. 

“Well, if that's the way you feel about her and you don’t want her, then I guess that means she’s free for the taking, I already have one moura and she’s amazing, but I’ll take two especially one that’s already pregnant with a son.” Dastrin shrugged as he went to walk to your house, passing by Brock before Brock put a blade to his throat to keep Dastrin from going any further which caused Dastrin to grin smugly. 

“You take a step in that woman’s direction and I’ll slit your throat.” Brock seethed, feeling an overwhelming sense of possessiveness. 

“So let me get this straight, you don’t want her, you want her gone, but you’ll kill any other man who expresses an interest in her?” Dastrin questioned. 

“I..it’s...I’m protecting you! She has magic, she’ll put a horrible spell on you! Like she has with everyone else!” Brock insisted as he pulled the blade back and put it away once Dastrin took a step back. 

“Well moura’s do have magic, but not the kind you’re implying.” Dastrin nodded. 

“Look either claim her, or get out of the way so others can because I can tell you  half of your unmated commanders would give everything they own and pledge their undying loyalty to her right here right now if it means that she makes them the amazing food she has made for you and heal their wounds the way she healed yours and house them in that mansion of hers and they’ll happily adopt that pup in her womb before planting many more. She’s the most brilliant and coveted woman in the clan because she’s the wealthiest woman in the clan, if not one of the prettiest. I saw the angels, the heavenly mouras, the fae, the merfolk and elves all tired to court her and she turned them all down for you. I saw as they all took her rejection with grace and still gave her more gifts so that she has more wealth than any kingdom’s treasury. Because not only is she moura, she’s also part and angel and part siren, I saw it myself when I was on the ships with you. She dove down to the depths and got those water dragons to only ice the holds to preserve the fish for Suchi and the other colonies and every merfolk and siren and selkie alike were eating out of her hands. But she didn’t take to any of them because her heart was already set on you and that was only a couple of weeks after you got her. She could have been a queen of any realm she wanted. But instead she chose to come here. She’s the closest thing to a goddess this clan has ever seen and everyone likes her because she has earned our trust and respect because she fought for us and protected us and educated us and our clan has been nothing but blessed since she came." Dastrin explained before he had Brock look back at your house. 

"Look. Look at the very ground she inhabits. Look at how the vegetation is especially lush just around her house. She is a blessing just being here. Why do you want to drive her away? Don’t you think that driving a blessing away will invite tragedy and curses to our clan?” Dastrin questioned as Brock glared at your house. If it was anyone else’s home, he would be impressed but because of yours, he could only look at it and hate it because it was yours. 

“We don’t need her blessing! We were just fine before, we’ll be fine without her.” Brock insisted. 

“No we weren’t! We weren’t fine at all! Hurricane Breaker was at our throats, our fishing nets were never full and you could gather all the gold the clan had into a single chest and it wouldn’t even be half full and you could gather all our produce into a single storehouse. We were poor and desperate.” Dastrin argued. 

“So desperate in fact that you went to the shaman the day after the Moon Festival because we could only find and kill a single bear to roast for it for the clan. And all of us went to bed hungry that night. And the next morning you got up and went to the shaman and asked him to show you how to fix all these problems and he showed you your mate, he showed you Benyana and told you that if you went to Suchi- she would fly into your arms and would fix all your problems and with her as your warchieftess Stormbreaker would enter into a golden age and become greater than Hurricane Breaker ever was and ever will be.” Dastrin explained because Brock had spent the day after the Moon Festival in the Shaman’s home and when Brock had emerged, Brock had never been so excited and determined about anything in his life.  

“And you know what? That’s exactly what happened! You went there and she flew right into your hands as a missile hawk and you took her home and even though you had to tether her to keep her from flying away at first, she did everything the shaman said she would! She fixed the problems the fleet had with the ships being iced by those water dragons since the ice would cut the nets as they tried to bring the nets up on board, she found a way to make a truce with Hurricane Breaker by suggesting that instead of looking south at us, to look east to their own mountains and to set up trade with their own moura colony and they listened to her. No fight, no war, no raid, nothing. None of us ever had to see battle. She just sat there, looking like a vision and told them to sell their own catches to the other colony and they obeyed her and now they’re making almost as much money as we are. But Suchi is a bigger colony and we have better fishing grounds and catch more fish so we sell more fish so we make more money. The clan has never been better than it is right now and it’s all because of her.” He explained. 

“Now that she’s here, look- the fields are overflowing with grains of all kinds in varieties that are better and hardier than the ones we’ve used before. The gardens are bursting with fruits and vegetation and all the food bearing trees are nearly falling over because the weight of the fruits and vegetation is nearly causing the tree branches to break off the trees. The store houses are already showing signs of needing more room if not many more storehouses which are being built as we speak because we never had this kind of abundance in so many different summer crops because we’ve never planted this kind of variety before and everything we plant grows. We can’t make enough nets because the extra large catches keep straining them now. Even now the net weavers are weaving from sunrise to sunset every single day because the demand for them is just that high.” He revealed before he walked Brock over to the closest little stream. 

 “I mean look in the estuary, it’s teaming with fish and the waters in the estuary are now clear and sparkling and clean and the water even tastes sweeter than it used to be. The estuary has never teamed with fish before. You can walk across the river on the backs of the fish if you wanted to. The land is finally producing for us to it’s full. Because before the only reason we settled here is because no other clan wanted this land. The water in the estuary was muddy, the fish weren’t that clean and the river flooded the plains all the time and the mosquitoes used to eat us alive and the flies used to swarm the few fish we managed to catch. The merchants who used to snub us now do trade with us and we get the same quality products that Suchi got instead of the leftovers or the broken and damaged.” Dastrin reminded him. 

“This spring, every rabbit and boar had full litters, every deer had twins and even every bison and elk did too along with the bears and squirrels and trash pandas, you can't throw a stick in the woods without hitting some critter now. There’s more game in the woods now than there ever was and no one has gone hungry since she came and now all our cattle and herds have doubled and then tripled and now we have more animals than we can ever eat and they’re reproducing faster than we can butcher them and our lands are expanding and the clan itself is expanding and everywhere you look, there’s construction and business starting and people who are not moura or orc are coming to settle here and we’re becoming a town and soon we’ll be a city and then a kingdom and it’s all because you were sick of the way things were and you wanted a better life and a better way of living and you suceeded in getting the initial spark but you have put so many great things in motion and you put us on a path and if we don’t keep walking on it, we’ll be lost. We even have not one but five healers and medicine flows like water through the clan and every home now has a medicine garden in addition to their own food garden and recipes for every medicine are written on hides and nailed up in the city square. There’s even talk of a school opening up that even our young ones will get the same education that any other place does, if not better.” Dastrin explained as he gestured to the school that was being built. 

“I’m just scared that if you send her away, it will all stop. We’ve all gotten used to this, going back to the way it was before will be too hard for us and those who haven’t moved to Drauch yet, will move there and Drauch will just have to be flown from the sea straight to Suchi. Because none of us will want to live here.” Dastrin warned him before he turned and returned to his mate Kallimisa who was standing at a respectful distance nearby. 

"Everything OK?" She asked as Dastrin wrapped his arm around her and led her away. 

"Brock's just being stubborn as usual." Dastrin dismissed. "What do you want for lunch?" He asked before he passed Rhoslan who was marching to Brock before she grabbed him by the ear and drug him home as he cried out and whimpered the whole way and tried to fight her but couldn’t get traction. 

“Mom! Stop! You’re embarrassing me!” Brock complained. 

"Oh I’m embarrassing you?! No. You just embarrassed yourself and your father and I. You wanna act like you're two?! I'll treat you like you're two!" Rhoslan growled and pinched even harder and dragged him more forcefully. 

"How come I just heard from half a dozen different people that you are harassing Benyana?!" Rhoslan demanded once they got in the house where Dead was glaring at Brock from his seat. 

"I was not harassing her! I never even touched her!" Brock argued as he rubbed soothingly at his ear. 

"Just because you didn't hurt her with your hands does not mean you didn't hurt her with your words. You embarrassed her in front of the whole clan! How could you do that? You brought shame to yourself and our family!" Rhoslan accused. 

"I did not!" Brock defended. "Its not my fault she's thin skinned and got her feelings hurt by my words, all I did was tell her the truth."

"Benyana was not the one who told us about it, she hasn't left her house! But word is already spreading that you rejected her and her babe. Now half the male orcs in the clan who are not in mated pairs are going to try to claim her in the old ways, she could lose the baby because they won't be gentle with her and they'll make a whore out of her. Is that what you want to see? Just because you don't remember her, you want her to be ravaged by violence? She won't be your warchieftess after that I can tell you that right now. She may be fierce and strong in her own ways but if two or five or ten orcs gang up on her, she'll be finished. And all her sacrifices for you will have been for nothing because you turned into a thankless, ungrateful, pig headed stubborn jackass since your rebirth. Why?! Why are you being so difficult?!" She demanded. 

"Because it's wrong!" Brock repeated. 

"Why is it wrong?" Drad asked. 

"I don't know! I can't explain it. Why does the wind blow? Why do the rains fall? We don't know why but we know that they do. Every time I hear someone say her name it's like driving thorns into my skin and every time I see her it's like seeing a vulture circle around me. Like she's waiting to devour me if I drop my guard." Brock tried to explain. 

"But if you had any honor at all you still would not treat her the way you did just now. Even if I was the one who got her for you, you would still treat her well because you had a duty to her and you respect me enough to show appreciation for the great gift of her as a bride. And even if she was a victory bride you would claim her and claim the seed you planted in her for the sake of the peace and alliance to preserve her honor and dignity along with yours and ours. You had no right to treat her the way you did today." Rhoslan defended. 

"That is why you will respect our decision of Kellore." Drad commanded. 

"What?! No!" Brock blanched. Kellore happened when a warchief sent an engagement offer to a fellow clan, sight unseen and it was considered an engagement and once the woman arrived at the clan, she was accepted into the household of the warchief and was a daughter of the current warchief until the mating of the pair and it would protect the woman from any other courting rituals. It was the orc’s version of an arranged marriage. 

"Yes you will or I swear to the gods I will disinherit you from being the next warchief and Cugas' line will inherit it." Drad threatened. 

"Well if you do that, Benyana will no longer want to be with me but with Cugas." Brock insisted. 

"Brock, Cugas has already paired with Benyana’s brother and Cugas and Kaive have already said that Benyana’s babe will be their heir too, so either way Benyana’s son will be the next warchief, he is destined to be so and there is nothing you can do to change that. Besides, Benyana has never wanted power or control. She grew up in circumstances more humble than ours and she didn't ask for any of this. You were the one who put all of this on her and it was because of your actions that she had to deal with the fall out and she dealt with it better than anyone else ever has. She’s proven herself to everyone else. So give her a chance to prove it to you again that you two are a good match and that she is a good fit and is capable. Both of you took leaps and both of you caught each other numerous times. Yank your head out of your own ass long enough to give her time to prove herself and be kind, be respectful, be patient and be understanding with her or I will disown you, kick you out of this house and this clan and she will take your place in this family and this clan so help me gods." Drad commanded as Brock just glared angrily at his father and just sat in a chair and pouted before you came into the house since Kari had left and got you. 

“What’s going on?” You asked before Rhoslan went to you and informed you of what happened and explained the ultimatum Drad just gave to Brock before you came in as they could all see your red puffy eyes from your crying. 

“Drad, please don’t make this harder for Brock than it has to be,” you pleaded. 

“It’s for his own good and the good of this clan.” Drad insisted. 

“Drad, like I’ve explained before, this kind of thing happens. It’s not as uncommon as you think. It’s ok. I would rather be a single parent then mated to a partner who hates me. The harder we push this, the harder he is going to push back and the harder he is going to resist this. It’s the moura in him. Moura’s hate cages and what they hate more is the thought of slavery. And he is going to feel that being mated to me is the same as being enslaved to me, right?” You asked Brock who looked relieved that you managed to put into words how he had been feeling but just couldn’t verbalize and articulate. 

“If there’s a chance for us to at least be friends and at least be on pleasant speaking terms, then let me earn his trust and respect and admiration the way he earned mine. And if our relationship can progress from enemies to friends to maybe something even more in the very distant future- then let it be his choice every step of the way and something he wants, not something that has to be forced on him and not something that has to have his existance threatened against. That’s not going to help anyone, least of all him or me or especially my son. We have time. We don’t have to rush any of this. Please.” You pleaded. 

“Very well. But, Brock will still treat you with respect and dignity at all times along with kindness, courtiousness and consideration. And you are in a delicate condition. You must be protected at all times and if any harm comes to you, or especially to my grandson. Their lives will be asked for as recompense, no matter who they are.” Drad commanded. 

“That’s fair, I agree.” You nodded before everyone looked to Brock who huffed through his nose. 

“Agreed.” Brock reluctantly agreed. 

[littlemessyjessi]

Imbolc Festivities! 2018!

Hello again, my little enchanting creatures!

Welcome to another post on Witchy Weirdness, my series of magical craziness, lol.

If you'd like to read more you can find it, HERE !

Well, I just wanted to make a quick little post about tomorrow which is February 2nd, 2018...Imbolc!

It's super exciting because our next sabbat! Yay!

I love this holiday in particular because it's our first step in welcoming spring back to the earth and man, oh man, I'm READY!

It's extra special this year because we're having it in the same week as the wonderfully special lunar event that just happened on January 31rst!

Sooooo cool!

Now, I just thought I'd share a few things with you about Imbolc and how I plan to celebrate and perhaps it'll help you out as well!

Please remember that magic is all relative to you personally as are your celebrations and rituals!

Do you, baby and shine bright like comets in the night sky! Whooohoo!

Ok, so what's Imbolc?

Well, for a lot of people it's a lot of different things.

In short, it's a celebration that welcomes spring back to the earth after the long winter.

Now, depending on where your at....it could very well still be snowing and feel like Jotunheim...but I digress.

This is a time to welcome the sun BACK to the earth and look forward towards the sunshine and planting seeds that will bring more life to the planet and our lives.

The seeds do not have to be actual seeds if you're not a gardener but rather seeds of hope.

This can be a time for cleasing and new manifestations.

Imbolc is actually a Celtic festival ( a fire festival at that) that celebrates the welcoming of the light back to the earth and it is also a celebration of the Celtic goddess, Brigid.

Fitting since it coincides with St. Brigid's Day.

Ok, so now that I've bombarded you with information...here are just a few things you can consider to celebrate tomorrow.

So let's just break it down in a few different areas here.

Scents: rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, cinnamon (an excellent warm, fiery representation of the sun)

Colors: white, orange, red, also green (a symbol of the impending spring)

Stones: sun stone, garnet, ruby- but honestly guys any stones will do.  Just do you.  And this is a great time to cleanse your stones and take advantage of that 'spring cleaning'

Food: Seeds (to symbolize growth).  You could totally do a seeded everything bagel or a lemon poppyseed muffin.  Perhaps a seeded trail mix.   Dairy (symbolic of the birthing of lambs and therefore new milk which was sacred to the Celts)  It was customary to offer millk to Brigid.   Often times it was made into cheeses and other dairy products and baked into breads, cakes and pies and combined with other solar ingredients (like eggs and honey).  

Other foods you might enjoy this day could include potatoes (to this day I can not say that word without going full on Samwise.  Tolkien fans holla!), cabbage,  raisins,  pancakes (symbolic of the sun), chamomile, lemon, honey.

Symbols: besoms/brooms, bridey doll/ corn dolls, crosses (Brigid's cross), spring flowers, seeds, lambs, foxes (linked with Brigid).

Anyway, these are just a few ramblings for you guys and I hope you all have a very, very Happy and blessed Imbolc!!!

And also please know that I am not an expert.  

I'm just a country witch who walks her own crooked path but I understand that knowledge is a blessing and it is meant to be shared.

While I don't favor myself as an expert...if you can find happiness and peace with some of my practice...I wish you all of the light in the world with it.

Many blessings and may Brigid's light find you!  

[memorylang]

Living a Memoir at Lunar New Year’s /Цагаан сар/ | #26 | February 2020

Christians tend to label a confluence of coincidences, "providence," or at least "serendipity," whereas Buddhists and some Asian cultures consider such more, "destiny" or "fate."

Regardless, wow! I met Mongolians mentioned in a memoir I began reading the week before, which took place in my city 26 years ago. And their family adopted me as a new foreign son, the way they did with foreigner volunteers decades ago. I even connected online with a Peace Corps Volunteer from Mongolia’s fourth cohort, who served at the uni where I serve in Mongolia’s 30th! 

All this happened during my unforgettable first Mongolian Lunar New Year’s, Цагаан сар /Tsagaan Sar/ 2020.

End of Lunar New Year’s First Night

We’d all loaded into the car when my community member driver, the older adult I spent Lunar New Year’s Eve with, noticed he forgot his phone and asked me to call it.

I picked his contact from my list and passed my phone to him. He chatted in Mongolian with whichever relative picked up. Meanwhile, his couple teenage sons got out and walked back toward the blocky five-story apartment building. My friend handed back my phone, while his sons looked up at the highest floor, where we’d left from. 

Oh, my God. 

Before I processed what was happening, the older son raised up his hands then cupped them down. The two turned and hustled back. 

The family dropped my friend’s Nokia five flights out a window.

The boys got back in the car, handed their dad’s phone back, it worked fine, and we took off. They acted like they’d done this before. (Granted, my friends and I during middle school used to punt one of our Nokia across the concrete quad at lunch. It was fine.) 

Thus, my first night of Mongolia’s Lunar New Year reminded me I’m in Mongolia. 

The First New Day /Цагаан сарын эхний өдөр шинийн 1/

Anyway, I last left off walking on the snowy day down the hill to the family of the woman from the memoir, I met at the coffee shop. 

As I neared the apartment complex, I messaged over Messenger where I was. My hands were cold, haha. My new friend came outside to greet me, then led me right with her. In the distance, I saw the American couple being led by another local left. An American friend and I waved to each other. I felt glad they had people to spend the holiday with. 

As my new friend led me up the apartment stairwell, she commented her friends used to tease her for her walks in the cold when she as at uni. She would go the reverse direction I came, up the snowy hill, to reach where I serve, and she’d be covered in snow. 

She also said her relatives were glad to see me and happy I wasn’t worried about the Coronavirus. She said she shared with them my expectation that as long as people practiced cleanliness I needn’t worry. (We’d no cases in Mongolia back then, and our government quarantined all suspected cases.)

When I got inside, we’d no rush, since we awaited more relatives. Then we’d begin traditional greetings I learned at the Peace Corps winter conference. I felt pretty stressed, since this’d be my first time, but my friend reassured me they’re a fairly nontraditional family. My friend introduced me to the different children. Someone mentioned having made 800 бууз /boe-z/, which I thought was a lot. Then people explained most years are more like 2000 or 3000! I felt floored. Other families said similar. 

Then the rest arrived. I felt amazed we fit 19 people in that single room. I felt Americans would seat at best eight to 10 people in that same space. But I love Asia. We make it work. 

Greetings went well, too! I followed in line with the teens. I felt anxious when they brought money and I hadn’t known to present any, but my friend said I was fine without. I repeated then teens’ one-by-one raising our arms below my friends’ father’s and mother’s then leaning in to sniff near the sides of their cheeks. It felt pleasant, rather serene. We then walked the room and greeted the children’s parents in similar fashion. I surely breathed a relieved sigh after.

We settled in. Someone mentioned headlines of the Coronavirus reaching Korea, so we felt for them. We would pray. The father said grace, gave warm wishes for the new year, and we ate. I really loved that food. It included my first fish in so long! 

Toward the end of the meal, having gotten to chat with my friend a bit, she asked if I had the book, Brian’s “There’s a Sheep in My Bathtub” memoir, on me. I did! I pulled it out, and she flipped through it pointing to photos of her and her family. I felt shocked! I had no idea these were the same people. 

My first meal of my first Tsagaan Sar, I was celebrating with the same family that foreigners years ago met. And I'd inadvertently read about them our week before. My friend said they usually had the foreigners celebrate Tsagaan Sar with them, so they felt cheerful getting to invite me. 

Holiday Hike

After eating, with plenty of idle time, we decided to hike Mt. Bayan-Undur. I felt glad, since I couldn’t hike it during the morning groups, who feared government hiking bans. We ascended the path I’d walked with fellow Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) and locals during our summer.  

My friend explained Mongolia is in Northeast Asia, since it's culturally different from Central, Inner and East Asia. I found the label fascinating. Although Mongolians face south, I find north my favorite cardinal direction. 

My friend also told me more about her PCVs and the missionaries who used to teach at the uni where I teach now. Even the oldest colleagues I collaborate with taught alongside missionaries! I had no idea other foreign volunteers and PCVs have known each other for years in my city. I considered how my PCVs’ and my friendship with our fellow Americans echoes a decades-long story of English education in this Soviet-built Mongolian city. 

Then my friend related stories about how Mongolian Christians’ lives have changed in the last couple decades. World Christianity fascinates me. She mentioned one of the missionaries, a former instructor at my uni, would visit in May! So I might get to meet him. Furthermore, the memoir’s author is even her son’s godfather, so they still keep in touch. She said the author’s considered translating his memoir to Mongolian. How exciting! 

The memoir’s author and his family arrived in 1993 and left 1996. In parallel, my mom reached America from China in 1993, birthed my brother 1996, and I was born 1997. In 2020, here I am in Mongolia. 

After our hike up part of Mt. Bayan-Undur, my older friend from the night before came to pick me up to meet his father on the other side of town. So I bid my new friend farewell, and she said she’d talk to her family about having me come again soon. 

Older Friend’s Family Gathered

As we settled in at my older friend’s family’s apartment, someone mentioned headlines of Coronavirus reaching Korea. People seemed concerned, especially since Mongolians work there. Then we settled in to eat. My friend had me sit in one of the honored seats near his father. 

His father gave a toast I didn’t quite understand. Luckily, my older friend doesn’t like to drink, so he told his relatives I don’t drink. Still, they handed me the traditional cup. I gave it three sips, then returned it.

From the father, I received the most affirming nod, as though I showed due respect. I felt glad. Then we ate so much delicious food. 

I wrote before of how children at the orphanage really loved my Peace Corps pin. But actually, many Mongolians seem to. I had it pinned to my traditional Mongolian shirt (which people also enjoyed me wearing), and my pin became a go-to explanation of Peace Corps. The emblem has an American flag, a Mongolian flag and its elegant peace symbol, ringed in gold, against my silver цамц /tsamts/ (shirt). 

At this home, I received a tool kit as a gift. I found it odd, since I’m not too handy, but girls received accessories. One of the other men later used his kit’s box cutter to sever and rewire phone charger cables. I felt amazed. 

Then my older friend’s generation played a game that confused me about stacking dominoes. They told me to watch to learn. But after watching and not learning for some hours, I grew sleepy. 

A bit after the oldest men started smoking, my friend rounded up his boys, wife and me. But before we took off, the family distributed even more plates of food. So, I struggled through a very full, though tasty, plate of the warm бууз and cold salads. Then we took off. My older friend forgot his phone, we used mine to call his, then his sons caught it outside. 

I enjoyed the comfort of being in a vehicle with a family I knew could get me safely home. I don’t jive well with unfamiliar drivers in unknown cars. On the ride back, my friend asked what Mongolian songs I knew. So, I sang "Аяны шувууд" followed by the English song I know, "All of Me." My friend recorded the audio, with this younger son joining me. I felt pleased to be part of that memory. Home with a full belly, I slept soundly. 

The Second New Day /Цагаан сарын 2-р өдөр шинийн хоёр/

Tuesday, my Second New Day, began slower than my first. I informed people if they’d see me, I’d happily see them. 

Otherwise, renewed in my reading spirit, I blazed through the finale of the memoir on 1996’s events. The day’s reading neared a hundred pages. Overall, I finished it in nine days instead of seven, so, not bad! I read, too, “Land of the Blue Sky” by Peace Corps Mongolia (2008) and Baabar (2005) on Mongolian Buddhism and shamanism. 

I felt pleasantly surprised I celebrated this Tsagaan Sar holiday, of Buddhist and shamanist traditions, first among a Christian family. 

Finding Courage

The most terrifying moment for me came from knocking on my neighbor's door. A week or two before, he invited me to visit during Tsagaan Sar. I felt moved by his offer, but I told him I meant to see my host family this year, instead. 

Well, traveling home didn't pan out. So this year, I redressed up in the traditional costume, knocked, and waited outside the door. While I certainly wasn’t starving, I figured I might as well visit, have food there, so I wouldn’t have to cook during a season surrounded by food. 

Standing there felt weirdly like a Hallowe’en custom (though, Hallowe’en was banned last year). But other Peace Corps Volunteers insisted, as weird as inviting ourselves to Mongolians’ homes feels, this is the custom. And anyway, my neighbors invited me first. 

I knocked intermittently at least three or four times. I prayed God would have someone come out. Then someone came, I stepped in, and people looked at me, very confused. 

I explained a man invited me. I guess they realized whoever invited me was out, because they asked me if I could return that evening. I asked if tomorrow would work, and they said sure. What a relief. 

Nontraditional Traditional Celebrations

So despite the day being Marti Gras, I ate nothing for breakfast nor lunch. I’d eaten so much Monday! Sill, by evening, I hungered. 

One of the doctors from our speaking group whose husband’s in the hiking group invited me and the single nurse over for dinner. Finding the door felt more convenient, knowing my other doctor friend lived in the same stairwell. 

Many who know about Tsagaan Sar think of its countryside traditions. So I found it interesting to spend this year with my less traditional city. In places I went, we either spoke mostly Mongolian language, pretty much all Mongolian language, or pretty much no Mongolian language. Locals seldom wore traditional outfits, so they commended me for doing so. Mongolians joked I was more Mongolian than them! 

Even that Tuesday night, beyond the semi-naked toddlers playing around, the traditional part was the phenomenal food and that we received gifts for coming. So, it felt like a fairly normal, delicious dinner. 

After dinner, I successfully found taxis still leaving from the usual taxi stop. As usual, I thanked everyone over Messenger I got home safely. One more day to go! 

The Third New Day, Ash Wednesday /Цагаан сарын 3-р өдөр шинийн гурав/

This year, Tsagaan Sar’s Third New Day coincided with the Catholic start to Lent, Ash Wednesday, a day of religious fasting. All Masses were canceled to prevent the Coronavirus, so my priest said just trying to fast would work. 

So, I hoped to spend the day mostly among Christians, who could more likely honor my daylight fasting despite the cultural Tsagaan Sar tradition of over-stuffing ourselves. At least, I hoped they’d honor my abstinence from meat. 

I kicked off the morning returning once more to the coffee shop, where I spent the week before. The Americans and the English speaking group met. There I returned to my friends the memoir and thanked them for lending it. Some group attendees were curious about my Peace Corps service, so they asked about it. I affirmed why I came to Mongolia, that I love Mongolia, and why I love Mongolia. 

As a cool treat, the shop owner, a “coffee coach,” gave us a taste of hand drip and siphoned international coffees and showed us the roaster his shop uses. Just when I began to wonder if he was finished sewing the Bible cover, he returned Mom’s Bible, as well! I felt the beautiful cover’s deep red with gold seemed fittingly Chinese in color, despite being Afghani in style. I felt cultural links then to places where both my parents were.  

Back With Monday’s Family

After the coffee shop session, I returned to the Christian family, in a different relative’s home. It's such a relief to be around fellow Christians. I like being frank about my faith. 

Since Peace Corps is non-religious, I worry sometimes others can misconstrue talking about myself in terms of American diversity as spreading my religion. So, I keep it to myself unless asked. Similarly, whenever Mom wanted me to be safe when I left home, she insisted I not talk about religion. China wasn’t open about it. So, I aligned over time with John 13:35, people will know I’m Christian by how I love. 

I recalled reading in the memoir that my friend and her community would fast 24 hours as a form of prayer. I asked about this, since Catholics’ Friday fasts in Lent are generally more lenient. My friend explained when her community fasts, they just drink water. She begins from the morning and goes to another’s home to resist temptations all day. Then she sleeps and can eat again the next morning. I felt inspired by that dedication. (On my fourth Friday of Lent 2020, I later tried this style of religious fast.) 

At her relatives’ home, I still nibbled when offered, since I didn’t want to seem rude. I just didn’t seek refills or seconds. I acknowledged Catholic fasting allows for small snacking, just no big meals. I was fine. The food tasted great!

For English practice, my friend, an English teacher, assembled the children and had them practice with me. They asked me about my Peace Corps service, so I reaffirmed why I came to Mongolia, that I love Mongolia, and why I love Mongolia. I enjoyed their questions. Then they played a card game that people in the English speaking group this morning chatted about, Муушиг /Moe-shig/. 

Signs and Wonders

That visit, too, people in the family commented with horror how the Coronavirus situation in Korea escalated. Mongolia has a good relationship with Korea, so when things go wrong there, Mongolians feel upset. 

On TV, Mongolian news anchors and reporters wore face masks. The health minister came on with an official announcement, so my friend translated for me. The domestic travel ban extended even more days past Tsagaan Sar. I worried how other Peace Corps Volunteers would get back to their sites. They had been stranded for weeks. 

Meanwhile, a flight of Mongolians recently came in from Korea. And almost all passengers were in my city. A couple Coronavirus suspects lived in my apartment building. So, police would be watching my building in case those suspects tried to leave quarantine. Apparently any more flights from Korea were canceling, too. I admired how seriously Mongolia took COVID-19 prevention. 

After we saw on TV the remade Orientalist “Around the World in 80 Days,” then the extremely timely Korean film, “Flu” came on. Korean films often seem dramatic in their portrayals of sadness to me. In the film, an American played the obtrusive villain, which felt warranted… Peace Corps Volunteers hadn’t heard the U.S. enacting many national policies to hold back the Coronavirus, since headlines said leaders still debated its severity. 

Korea’s situation made me realize Coronavirus fears in Mongolia rapidly ramped up. 

My Last Supper of Tsagaan Sar

My supervisor called to invite me over for my last Tsagaan Sar meal. I hadn’t seen my colleagues in weeks with the extended winter break, and I missed them. Thankfully, with sundown, I could eat a full meal, too, and I felt famished. Though I still meant to visit my neighbors, I didn’t have their contact info. So, I hoped I could come another day. I knew my supervisor better. 

I thanked my new friend, she said she could help introduce me to more of hers, then I took off. 

When I reached my supervisor’s place, I felt surprised she had a cute bulldog. Few Mongolians owned pets. At dinner, I enjoyed much the same awesome foods I’d had the past three days, with a different juice and candies. I loved the Russian potato salads. 

My supervisor introduced me to her husband and children, too. Her husband asked me questions about my Peace Corps service, so I reaffirmed a third time why I came to Mongolia, that I love Mongolia, and why I love Mongolia. I practiced my Mongolian, which felt fun. My supervisor insisted I spoke well. Usually we just speak English in our department office, so I felt surprised. Her son was learning English, too, so I gave him writing tips. 

I felt glad to get to bond with my supervisor. I hear Peace Corps Mongolia Volunteers usually do more with their colleagues’ families in the countryside, but I serve in a city. So I appreciate the opportunities I get to know them better. It felt a wonderful finish to my first Tsagaan Sar. 

The End

Then I got another call. Meanwhile, the family began taking apart the ceremonial food tower and giving me some with бууз to take home. I wondered if one more local wanted me to see them before the Lunar New Year's ended. The caller ID appeared of my sitemate stuck a few provinces over. They did not usually call during peaceful times. 

Check my email, then we need to talk, I got. 

The urgency cued we could be entering the Peace Corps phase I truly did not foresee coming. 

Walking down the apartment steps, across the snow and to the car with my supervisor, I assumed what came next, for my Peace Corps China friend experienced this one month before. But I felt shocked how real this was. 

I gave commentary and thanks to my supervisor while reading the email as she drove me home. Our director returned from Washington, D.C., with an unprecedented decision. I needed to pack up for a phone call the next day, because Peace Corps was evacuating Mongolia. 

You can read more from me here at DanielLang.me 

[happysandwichparty-blog]

Disney Lunar New Year Celebration - Year of the Dog

Around Christmas we picked up annual passes for Disneyland, so we took a trip out last weekend (February 9th-11th)! We tend to visit Disneyland in February for our anniversary and we had been going at the end of the month, when our actual anniversary is, but it has been horrendously busy the last two years so we opted to go a bit earlier this year. I was actually incredibly excited about this as Disney has a Lunar New Year celebration in California Adventure, and it was right when we were to be there. Sign me up for all of the tasty food!

We actually arrived late in the afternoon on Thursday the 8th, and we head into the park because I’m impatient and wanted tasty snacks. Oh, I also wanted to do AP things. Despite having had annual passes once before i’d never actually done any AP exclusive things.

I picked up my button. Happy camper right here. We also took some pictures and we also wrote out of New Year wishes, we are very creative and decided on world peace.

Now, while there are are some performances, parades, face painting, and character photo opportunities during the Lunar New Year celebration, let’s be honest I’m here for the food.

But if you actually want to see Mulan and Mushu in the park, this is a great opportunity.

On to the main event of this entry, FOOD!

There were two things I wanted right away and went straight for - sticky rice with pork and pork soup dumplings.

First up - Sugarcane Shrimp Skewer (Chao Tom)

My husband wanted these and I was keen to taste them. They were tasty, but I actually thought the sauce they came with, a sweet and sour, was more tasty. These weren’t bad though and I would definitely suggest them!

Pork Soup Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao)

Now, I don’t think these were truly soup dumplings, because I hear that soup dumplings are a little difficult to make and there was no “soup” in the actual dumpling. But, that aside, these were so tasty! We actually went back the next day and ate more of them. Definitely a stand out from what we tried. Only down side is it’s three dumplings for $7...

Sticky Rice with Pork (Banh Chu’ng)

VERY STICKY. No really, it’s way stickier than I was expecting and I had already heard previous to ordering this that it was sticky. Despite being a little difficult to eat and messy it was pretty good. There was a large piece of pork in the center. Very hardy snack.

Beef Pho (Pho Bo)

We eat Pho a decent amount, this wasn’t perfect but it was very tasty. We ordered one of these to share and I actually went back to order a second one. My favorite thing about this Pho dish was it was the size. Usually bowls of Pho are HUGE. The size was perfect. There was plenty of beef in the bowl, no skimping there. For the price, about $10.50 I believe, I would definitely suggest this if you like Pho. Great lunch option.

Mango Pudding

If you have read my Japan blogs, I’m a damn sucker for mango, so of course we ordered this. It was a very thick pudding and was pretty sweet. I wouldn’t say don’t order it, but definitely maybe pair it with something more savory or salty. The pho would be great with this, and what do you know, you can order them at the same place.

Red Bean and Raspberry Jelly (Yang Gaeng)

Another item ordered by my husband. There is is a thicker jelly underneath the top layer you see here. This wasn’t as sweet as the mango pudding and was quite tasty. It would pair well with any of the other snacks.

Banana Milk (Banana Ooyu)

Another of my husbands choices. I had never actually heard of banana milk until I married him, and we have now had it multiple times. This drink has no lid, which was slightly annoying. If I had to describe it, to me it tasted like drinking a really liquidy banana bread batter. It wasn’t bad, but banana milk isn’t really my thing anyway. The husband liked it but did say it was a bit sweet, he didn’t finish all of it.

Passion Fruit Green Tea with Lychee Boba

I’m going to start by saying I have a love hate relationship with tea. Green tea seems to be one of the only tea I like. I thought I would give this a try and it may be a tea id actually like. It was tasty, but incredibly sweet. The lychee boba made it even more sweet. This could be because I’m not an avid tea drinker however. All in all, I didn’t hate it, but another drink we didn’t finish because of how sweet it is.

Almond Milk Tea with Pudding

I’m going to be very straight with you on this one. If you find yourself at California Adventure on the two remaining days of the Lunar New Year celebration and you want to try some of the snacks and drink - DO NOT BUY THIS. No I’m serious, just don’t. Spend your money on dumplings instead.

I mentioned above I have a love hate relationship with tea. The love portion of that relationship relates to one thing - Almond Milk Tea. I have had a stupid amount of almond milk tea from many places. I’ve had the good and the bad. This actually ranks with some of the worst things I’ve ever tasted, period.

If you are thinking, oh it’s probably the pudding because who puts pudding in drinks, nope the pudding was fine. I had my share of weird things in drinks while in Japan. What made this so terrible was how overpowering it was in all regards. It tasted like someone took liquid almond and liquid sugar and mixed them together without tea or milk involved. It was so sweet that I wanted to puke after drinking it. I never thought I would have something that was too sweet, but here it is. 

It was the same consensus between the two of us. I took three sips of this, my husband took two, and we threw out an almost full drink. And then we talked about how laughably bad it was for the next 20 minutes.

I don’t know if we just got a jacked up drink or what, but I would avoid this like the plague if they ever offered it again.

All in all, other than the almond milk tea, everything we had was tasty and I would definitely eat it again! The drinks were a bit too sweet, and maybe it wasn’t a perfect representation of the traditional dishes, but it was nice to try something different while at the Disney Resort!