People usually eat in odd numbers like three, five or seven because odd numbers are considered auspicious and symbolic of growth and positive energy.
I loved eating buuz this week because there’s something comforting about their familiarity, and homemade buuz are especially delicious.
Since Bad Bunny won Album of the Year at the Grammys, I’ve been listening to his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos (DTMF). I’ve also had the remix of Stateside by PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson on repeat ever since Alysa Liu performed at the 2026 Olympic Gala. Her performance was absolutely mesmerizing, and every time I listen to the song, I can vividly picture her skating to it.
Before the holiday season began, the most fun activity I did was sledding in the mini Gobi Desert with my friend who was visiting. I had forgotten just how fun sledding in the snow can be, and Mongolia has the perfect conditions for it: soft, thick snow and wide hills that are perfect for racing down.
What made the day even more special was visiting a nomadic family friend of mine. We ate a delicious, hot, homemade tsuivan, went camel riding and then headed straight to the hills for sledding. It felt surreal to do all of that in one day. It was easily one of the most fun days I’ve had here!
I just started reading Authentic Mongolia, written by a tour guide I recently met. The book ties together academic research, historical findings, her personal stories and widely shared oral traditions passed down through generations.
