Comments on: Breaking the ice at XacBank http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/04/breaking-the-ice-at-xacbank/ Kiva Fellows share their experiences from the field Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:29:35 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: J http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/04/breaking-the-ice-at-xacbank/#comment-15923 J Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:49:20 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2676#comment-15923 What a sweet post; kindness comes unexpectedly sometimes and just when we most need it. I love "klutz" stories, by the way. I think they make the rest of us feel not so alone!!! What a sweet post; kindness comes unexpectedly sometimes and just when we most need it.

I love “klutz” stories, by the way. I think they make the rest of us feel not so alone!!!

]]> By: milena08 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/04/breaking-the-ice-at-xacbank/#comment-3718 milena08 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:44:14 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2676#comment-3718 One time at a work function I mistook a bottle of coca cola for a bottle of ketchup. Without looking, I poured coke all over my burger. Hang in there, buddy. Tuesday was my first day at K-Met and I needed Sarah's help to figure out how to flush the toilet. I laughed at your post. :) ~Milena, KF6 K-Met One time at a work function I mistook a bottle of coca cola for a bottle of ketchup. Without looking, I poured coke all over my burger.

Hang in there, buddy. Tuesday was my first day at K-Met and I needed Sarah’s help to figure out how to flush the toilet.

I laughed at your post. :)

~Milena, KF6 K-Met

]]> By: Sarah Forbes http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/04/breaking-the-ice-at-xacbank/#comment-3625 Sarah Forbes Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:25:03 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2676#comment-3625 Perhaps I should be concentrating on empathizing with you and sending stories of all the times I've made a fool of myself here in Kenya, or taking the time to wish you good luck in Mongolia, but quite frankly, all I can think about is the image of you sitting at your newspaper desk, shaking Orangina all over yourself. It's cracking me up. Thanks for making my day better too, Mark! ~sarah, kf6-kenya Perhaps I should be concentrating on empathizing with you and sending stories of all the times I’ve made a fool of myself here in Kenya, or taking the time to wish you good luck in Mongolia, but quite frankly, all I can think about is the image of you sitting at your newspaper desk, shaking Orangina all over yourself. It’s cracking me up.

Thanks for making my day better too, Mark!

~sarah, kf6-kenya

]]> By: Lander Burr http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/04/breaking-the-ice-at-xacbank/#comment-3618 Lander Burr Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:59:33 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2676#comment-3618 Hey Man, My apologies for delighting in your misery, but your post just made my day better. Best of luck with your work. Hey Man,

My apologies for delighting in your misery, but your post just made my day better. Best of luck with your work.

]]> By: Jim Anderson http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/04/breaking-the-ice-at-xacbank/#comment-3617 Jim Anderson Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:53:04 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2676#comment-3617 Keep up the good work, Mark. And welcome to Mongolia. If all you've done is crack a coffee mug and haven't cracked your head on the ice, then you're doing fine. Would love to hear more about how it's going, give me a call. Jim Mercy Corps Financial Services Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 9984-8398 Keep up the good work, Mark. And welcome to Mongolia. If all you’ve done is crack a coffee mug and haven’t cracked your head on the ice, then you’re doing fine. Would love to hear more about how it’s going, give me a call.

Jim
Mercy Corps Financial Services
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
9984-8398

]]> By: Sierra Visher http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/04/breaking-the-ice-at-xacbank/#comment-3616 Sierra Visher Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:43:02 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2676#comment-3616 On the first day at Prisma, I couldn't turn the water in the bathroom off. It just kept streaming out...I can almost hear the lempira's its costing Prisma pinging in the bottom of the sink. It just doesn't stop! The stupid nobs spin with out any traction! GAH!! I have to ask for help, and the security guard (also gun-toting) comes in and pushes down on the nob. I actually had to push it down to start it, so I don't know how I possibly could miss pushing down to stop it. While I was looking for the security guard, the floor flooded. You are doing great, and I can't wait to see pictures of Mongolia!! On the first day at Prisma, I couldn’t turn the water in the bathroom off. It just kept streaming out…I can almost hear the lempira’s its costing Prisma pinging in the bottom of the sink. It just doesn’t stop! The stupid nobs spin with out any traction! GAH!! I have to ask for help, and the security guard (also gun-toting) comes in and pushes down on the nob. I actually had to push it down to start it, so I don’t know how I possibly could miss pushing down to stop it.

While I was looking for the security guard, the floor flooded.

You are doing great, and I can’t wait to see pictures of Mongolia!!

]]> By: Jan & John http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/04/breaking-the-ice-at-xacbank/#comment-3615 Jan & John Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:44:27 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2676#comment-3615 Hang in there Mark. Do it for all of us us - Kiva Friends are as excited as Kiva itself is about XacBank and waiting patiently to hit the lend button on loans to Mongolia :) And now we will also be watching for more of your posts to allow us to see what you see and feel what you feel. Thanks for being there. Jan Hang in there Mark. Do it for all of us us – Kiva Friends are as excited as Kiva itself is about XacBank and waiting patiently to hit the lend button on loans to Mongolia :) And now we will also be watching for more of your posts to allow us to see what you see and feel what you feel. Thanks for being there. Jan

]]> By: Sarah Lawson http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/04/breaking-the-ice-at-xacbank/#comment-3613 Sarah Lawson Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:10:21 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2676#comment-3613 Hey Mark, Don't feel bad about breaking the mug. I too, have had some moments with the staff here - burning my leg on the Kiva contact's motorcycle the first day, having the Director walk in on me in the bathroom (that was awkward), and generally stumbling on everything in this office because I am so much taller than everyone. Or at least that is what I tell myself. The good thing is, they expect all these things from foreigners and are fine with it. Now that I actually do a few things right they are very surprised (maybe even too surprised). Despite all these faults, everyone does seem genuinely to like me. There must be something endearing about being a self-deprecating American :) Sarah Hey Mark,

Don’t feel bad about breaking the mug. I too, have had some moments with the staff here – burning my leg on the Kiva contact’s motorcycle the first day, having the Director walk in on me in the bathroom (that was awkward), and generally stumbling on everything in this office because I am so much taller than everyone. Or at least that is what I tell myself. The good thing is, they expect all these things from foreigners and are fine with it. Now that I actually do a few things right they are very surprised (maybe even too surprised). Despite all these faults, everyone does seem genuinely to like me. There must be something endearing about being a self-deprecating American :)

Sarah

]]> By: Kieran Ball (KF6) http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/04/breaking-the-ice-at-xacbank/#comment-3612 Kieran Ball (KF6) Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:34:07 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2676#comment-3612 I know quite a few people who will be delighted to know that breaking things brings good luck, from a Mongolian point of view at least but I'm sure globally applicable, as it is a perfect comeback to any complaints from uptight perfect hand-eye coordinated snobs. I was wondering who the lucky Fellow going to Mongolia would be and now I know, I'm so jealous! All the best for your new adventure. I know quite a few people who will be delighted to know that breaking things brings good luck, from a Mongolian point of view at least but I’m sure globally applicable, as it is a perfect comeback to any complaints from uptight perfect hand-eye coordinated snobs.

I was wondering who the lucky Fellow going to Mongolia would be and now I know, I’m so jealous! All the best for your new adventure.

]]> By: Lhagva.E http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2009/01/04/breaking-the-ice-at-xacbank/#comment-3611 Lhagva.E Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:02:01 +0000 http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/?p=2676#comment-3611 The guy who tried to cheer you up was Gantulga.TU (Head of E-Banking Dept, Marketing Div) and its a true that Mongolians believe if someone breaks a glass or a chinaware it brings good luck in some way. I heard someone break a mug outside in the hall and I was thinking it might have been somebody from the law department. We have a saying here in Mongolia "If you drink the water, you must follow the customs" what I am trying to say is that if you want the best out of UB and Mongolian people be willing to participate in everything we have to offer. /excessive drinking will be mandatory/ The guy who tried to cheer you up was Gantulga.TU (Head of E-Banking Dept, Marketing Div) and its a true that Mongolians believe if someone breaks a glass or a chinaware it brings good luck in some way.

I heard someone break a mug outside in the hall and I was thinking it might have been somebody from the law department.

We have a saying here in Mongolia “If you drink the water, you must follow the customs” what I am trying to say is that if you want the best out of UB and Mongolian people be willing to participate in everything we have to offer. /excessive drinking will be mandatory/

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