Ten-Twenty Years Ago

Part of the homework for our workshops includes written essays.  A recent question led many of the teachers which are our students to write about conditions in Mongolia during the changeover in 1991.  Our students range in age from 22-47 years old, so some of them actually remember when the Soviets left in 1991.  Conditions were difficult with the changeover since Socialism wasn't here to help them any longer.  Instead, the nation was now independent, and just as a toddler wobbles and falls over when learning to walk, so Mongolia had much wobbling as they learned to develop an infrastructure and get supplies imported as well as produced right here in their motherland.  We have read many heart-wrenching stories from our students.  Let me share some incidences:

One woman who is our age, had to endure her husband moving to Korea since there were no jobs here for him.  He went to work in Korea to provide for their family.  They were separated for two years while he earned enough money to send back to them. 

Another woman remembers standing in long lines to receive the rations handed out.  Rations included bread, some meat, butter, potatoes and vodka (of all things!).  Food was scarce and money was more scarce.

Today I read an amazing essay from a woman under 30 years old.  She remembers being a college student right here in Ulaanbaatar in 2000.  She was out of money and food.  There was nowhere to turn.  There were no money transfers set up within Mongolia...at least from the city where her parents lived.  She had informed her parents of her upcoming need and they had arranged for her sister to fly to UB with food and money.  However, the flight was cancelled and she ran out of food and money before her sister could come.  She writes that she lived off of very little food for two days, and there was great joy when her sister finally arrived. 

Many of these students' essays have made me empathize, laugh, or cry.  Even though their English isn't perfect (hey, we're working on it!), they can express themselves deeply.  What a joy to get to know them on a deeper level through their writing.

A little cultural insight: in the last photo, notice the two students who very easily communicate while standing closely together.  It is very natural to not need "personal space" as we Americans do.  When I walk with another woman (Mongolian), we walk arm-in-arm...it's totally natural to them.  It's how Heather (our third daughter) likes to walk with me, so it's a very nice feeling!