Mongolian Facts

Here are some facts about Mongolia. I hope you find this interesting! I sure did.

1. Mongolia has one of the lowest population densities in the world with only 1.5 people per 1 square km. You wouldn't know this from living in Ulaanbaatar, but once you head out to the countryside, it becomes much more evident.

2. 4 million Mongolians live outside of Mongolia.

3. Mongolia is the 18th largest country in the world. And also the largest land-locked one. Although, according to another website, it is second to Kazakhstan. It is roughly the size of Alaska.

4. The currency is the Tugrug. $100 Canadian dollars is worth 117,472.42 Tg. Or rather, 100 Tg is worth about 0.85 CAD.

5. The language is Mongolian and they use a Cyrillic alphabet.

6. The average life expectancy is 62.9 years old, for men. The woman's is about 69 years old.

7. The telephone poles here have a base that is concrete. Without this concrete base, the poles would snap off due to the pressure of the frozen ground.

8. Mongolians (both men and women) regularly perform the "Farmer's Blow" in public.

9. Mongolia is one of the highest countries in the world, with an average elevation of 1580 meters.

10. The Mongol Rally is an annual eight thousand mile journey by car (1000cc) or motorbike (maximum 125cc) from London to the capital of Mongolia. Participants in the rally raise money for charity.

11. Mongolia boasts the famous Przewalski horses (know here has the Takhi) that have an extra 2 chromosomes than regular horses. These wild horses have 66 chromosomes to the 64 of domesticated breeds.

7. Mongolian men wear their belts below their bellies while the Chinese wear theirs on their belly.

8. There are "walking phones" here. You will often see a man or woman stationed with a regular looking house phone, but on the sidewalk. If you need, you can make a phone call for about 100Tg (about 85 cents).

9. If you accidentally bump into someone, especially with feet under a table, you must shake hands. This proves it was truly an accident.

10. The population consists of 90% Mongolians. The next highest is Kazakh at 4%.

11. People in the countryside live in homes made out of felt and wood called 'gers.'

12. According to one website, Ulaanbaatar is the only major city in Mongolia.

13. The current President is Enkhbayar Nambaryn.

14. 0.76% of Mongolian land is arable.

15. The economy of Mongolia depends upon mineral mining, livestock and animal products, and textiles. Minerals are a primary export, including copper, tin, gold, molybdenum, and tungsten.

16. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, knows who Chingis Khan is (known to us as Genghis). Not only knows, but loves him.

17. There is now a Canadian Embassy here.

18. A traditional beverage here is 'airag', made from fermented milk.

19. The diet is heavily meat based. I met a man who told me he's never cold because he eats fat before going outside.

20. Mongolia is well-known for the archaeological finds, namely dinosaur relics. You also can meet people in the countryside who will try to sell you dragon eggs.

21. One last one. There is a reason people wore/wear fur! Because it is warm!

Tsagaan Saar

It is the Mongolian New Year here, called Tsagaan Saar. It involves eating lots of food and visiting with family. We got a 5 day weekend! I think the teachers were just as excited as the students! On the last day I was part of the "Spirit Day" committee. We dressed in traditional clothes, had to solve a riddle, took place in a "horse race" where the students were both the horse and the rider, and committed 'Random Acts of Kindness'. Plus, we were treated to a traditional concert including song, dance and throat singing. They were students from the local College. Oyunaa was also generous enough to put on a traditional meal for us. There was far too much food, but delicious and a nice way to end the very full day, with very full stomachs! It was a blast, but a great deal of work.

My students and I have been involved with something called the "Flat Stanley Community Project." We write letters to another class in a school very far away, and they do the same for us. Thus far, we have exchanged with Maine and now London, UK. We spend some time googling the area our Stanley's will go and learning about the place. I think they enjoy it, but I also do it so they learn to think about someplace other than the US. There is a huge world out there, and the center of it is not America. We also wrote letters to the President of Mongolia, telling him about how we've been learning about communities and some suggestions to make ours better. I was a little concerned about sending them because they often referred to things as "disgusting." But, I spoke with one of the Admin and they thought it was a fabulous idea. We still have yet to hear back!

Another funny teaching story. I know I already mentioned it, but it still makes me laugh!
Miss M: "Um, Tengis, didn't we start a new novel in reading comprehension? I don't see a new title or even a new chapter heading."
Tengis: Stares at Miss M with crazy eyes.
Miss M: "Well, don't you think you should have written that?"
Tengis: "Miss M! It must have been all those beers I was drinking!"
Miss M: She cannot speak, as her head is on her desk, laughing.

Some of us teachers here had the opportunity to enjoy the Eagle Festival. It was an outdoor event, and despite the many, many layers I was wearing, it was still cold. Actually, I was okay, save for my feet. We enjoyed the riders coming in with their eagles and a couple of competitions. First, the rider was separated from their eagle and it was released. The rider then had to call it. Some of the eagles went astray and just landed on the ground, but many came when called. The second was a competition where the rider dragged a fox pelt behind their horse and the eagle had to come and capture it. The last competition was one I had trouble watching. They released live foxes and let the eagles hunt them. I hope that what the others said, that some of them got away, is true. I did however witness a dead fox draped across the back of one of the rider's horses. We were only there for about 2 hours, but due to the cold, it felt much longer. I felt as though I were walking around on wooden posts rather than legs! Also, one of the male teachers went for a camel ride. He got thrown from the camel and was knocked out! He's okay, but lucky. I guess the camel has finally managed to live up to their reputation. I have only ever had one wipe its nose on me, but am always asked if they truly spit.

We have the never ending month of March upon us! Last year I remember it going by so slowly. Plus, there will be report cards and parent-teacher interviews as well. Thank heavens I have Bali to look forward to in April! Ah, swimming at will! We have been in a cold snap here, and last Monday it was -32 degrees Celsius in the morning. Yikes! That's not including the wind chill, so I don't know fully what it was. It seems to have broken though, and as of yesterday, was what could be deemed "nice" again.

I also have some other news. I have accepted a position for the following two years in a small African country called Eritrea. It's motto is "13 months of sunshine." After the harsh winters here, it does sound enticing! It is a very small school and community and am looking forward to spreading my wings across a different continent. How lucky am I? To have the opportunity to live and work in such wonderful, interesting places! I guess I'll have to rename my blog!

We've had some excitement here. A new store opened up near to the school! It seemed for the first week it was all anyone could talk about. I finally made my way there a couple of weeks ago, and it's nice. It's great to not to have to go all the way into town just to buy a few things. I feel badly for the old store I visited, as I'm sure they miss our business. That reminds me, I need to buy juice!

My class and I went on another field trip! We visited the Museum of Traditional Medicine here. Unfortunately, it was all in Mongolian, but the kids were happy to translate for me! They were really cute because they'd be listening and then they'd say, "Miss M! That is so interesting!" They know I can't understand what was happening or being said, so they'd tell me. It was a bit strange, as we had to wait for this tour guide to come, and they pacified the kids by putting on 'Kung-Fu Panda', but when she finally showed, she didn't do anything!

It was too cute though, because after lunch the kids were putting on their jackets and getting ready to go. I had to tell them we have a half-hour still until we leave and to put their jackets away. When the bell rang they all lined up as usual and started chanting, "Field trip! Field trip!" We actually did nothing on Friday. For the first period, we got new library books. Until lunch time, we watched "Journey into the Centre of the Earth" and then made Valentine crafts. We had lunch, recess, and then went on the trip. When we got back, we finished our crafts. No wonder they love me! Plus, I bought them popcorn and chocolate! It made me laugh though, as after the movie, first of all, they applauded! Secondly, they kept asking me, "What's the next surprise?"

My new teaching assistant is working out very well. She is determined and gets things done. She also does anything I ask. I wonder if she's a bit too good at her job, as if I ask her to make a phone call or anything, she won't come back to the class unless she has some definitive answer for me. On occasion, I think a couple of parents have been harassed! That's just her though, doing her job. The kids initially were somewhat disrespectful toward her, but they are good now. However, I did find out that she's the one who told the kids that a carpenter was someone who helps you with their carpets!

One of my students made me laugh, because I was asking him about why he didn't properly write something down. He looked at me with swirling eyes and then replied, "Miss M! It must have been all those beers I was drinking!" I literally had to put my head down on my desk and laugh!

I have my April vacation all planned and booked. I'm off to Bali. If I fly with Korean Air it is much cheaper and I have booked with a place that costs about $20 a night. I'm happy I finally get to go there, and swim! While my trip to Vietnam was great, there was not nearly enough swimming involved!