“Mongolia – expect the unexpected.”  What a great way to describe this amazing country.  Visitors are in for a treat!  They will see things that they don’t usually see anywhere else in the world.  They will be welcomed into a culture that remains one of the least touched by “progress” and will also learn to be flexible and not bound by their watch.

Anyone coming to Mongolia will come with questions:  What exactly will I be doing?  Where will I be sleeping?  What will the food be like?  Will I really be of any use?  Except for an emphatic YES to the last question, there are no precise answers to these questions.

Mongolian travel is ideal for campers, meat and dairy lovers, extroverts, type-B personalities, and nature enthusiasts.  Surviving in the Mongolian countryside is just a matter of being prepared.

·         Visitors travel with staff from V.E.T. Net and mostly consist of four to six people, one of whom will be able to translate.  Ministry focus is on team members and various types of countryside people, including veterinarians, herders, children, believers and non-believers.

·         Daily devotion is very important.  Visitors are asked to share anywhere from a few times during their trip to perhaps every day.  At first, they like hearing each member’s testimony, and after that, whatever is laid upon their hearts to share.  Mentoring the Mongolian teams is very important as they consist of young Christians who are growing in their faith and are eager to learn how to live out the Christian life through God’s Word.  There are also plenty of opportunities to share with non-believing veterinarians, herders and their families.

·         Travel is primarily in a Russian van, bumping along dirt “roads” that are riddled with potholes.  Smooth roads are VERY RARE and it is usually very dusty.

·         Mongolia is a huge country with changing weather.  Depending on the time of year, it can be either very hot or extremely cold!  It is not unusual to have what appears to be four seasons all in one day, one week, or one month.

·         Sleeping accommodations could be in gers (Mongolian felt homes as depicted in the picture to the right), school dormitories, veterinary clinics, or small houses.  A warm sleeping bag is a must during winter travel, and it is recommended that those who have trouble sleeping on hard surfaces bring an inflatable air mattress of some type.

·         There is very little to no privacy during the entire trip. Gers are not conducive to privacy as they consist of a single room.  Unexpected guests and meetings are frequent and do not respect time of day.  It is possible to have unexpected guests in the middle of the night.

·         Meal times are flexible, and never to be expected at “normal” times.  Dried apricots, peanuts, and reasonable chocolate can be found in Ulaanbaatar, but these more familiar foods are extremely difficult to come by outside of the city.  Some parts of the Mongolian diet may be un-appetizing to Westerners, however, Mongolians are a very accommodating and friendly people and they usually understand this.

·         In the summer, teams usually cook their own meals outside and sometimes by the road.  These meals mostly consist of mutton, beef, soup, and noodle dishes. 

·         In the winter, visitors eat with local families in their gers and may be offered things such as bowls containing boiled sheep intestines and organs, horse meat, lots and lots of mutton and noodles, and the occasional potato, carrot, or onion.  Many milk products, such as a salted milk tea (“soo-tai-tsai”, a regular drink at every meal), hard dried yogurt curds, fermented mare’s milk (“airag”, very potent drink that can cause stomach upset to those unfamiliar with it), dried yak butter and cheeses are usually offered.  Pepto-Bismol and Imodium are recommended for those with weak stomachs.

·         Showers are few and far between, if even possible in Mongolia.  Many times bathing involves wet wipes and plenty of deodorant.  Because of the dust, many visitors feel dirty all the time, especially after wearing the same clothes every day.

·         Toilets are usually just holes in the ground with two pieces of wood to stand on over the hole.  To date, no one has ever fallen into one, though people have dropped their cameras and other items into them.  Sometimes these “outhouses” have walls and doors, and sometimes they are out in the open.  On the road, the “toilet” may be behind a large rock or bush or anywhere else a person can find.  Not surprisingly, these toilets are not equipped with toilet paper.

·         There is always some down time, which is usually a good opportunity to journal, read the Bible, or to prepare lessons.

·         The Mongolian people really like to talk with Westerners and love to hear about their lives and ask many questions.  They also enjoy seeing pictures of Western life.

Cross-Cultural Differences

Cultural mistakes are not usually a big deal with Mongolians, if they sense genuine concern from the offending party …

Gift exchange is acceptable, but not necessary.  It should be something from the visitor’s home country and not very expensive.  When giving or receiving, always do so with both hands, or just the right hand, but never with just the left hand.

When sleeping in a Mongolian ger, a person’s feet should ALWAYS be towards the door side of the home.

If something is considered important, it should NEVER be placed on the floor.  This is considered “dirty” and by placing an item on the floor indicates that it is not respected.  The Mongolian people are very careful with hats, clothing and books, which are never to lie on the floor.  Backpacks and bags are acceptable to go on the floor, but not a purse.

It is not proper to place feet on furniture, sit on desks or tables, or to walk barefoot through an office, though it is necessary to wear shoes within the V.E.T. Net Office and Clinic.  When entering a private home or an apartment, it is proper to remove shoes.

Do not touch the head of an adult Mongolian.

Another custom is to shake the hand of a person when accidently kicking them or stepping on them.

Often, when greeting a visitor to his house, the Mongolian man will offer his snuff bottle.  It is usually offered to both male and female visitors.  The bottle should be accepted with the right hand or with both hands, then lift the cap off the bottle and smell the lid.  This will usually suffice if a person does not want to fully sample the snuff, then the bottle should be handed back using the right hand or both hands.

The lady of the ger or house usually offers something to eat or drink, which should always be accepted.  A visitor should attempt to never refuse anything.  A small sip or bite should be taken, and then the rest can be left on the table.  An empty plate indicates a desire for more to eat.  Mongolian food is bland with mainly mutton, rice and noodles.  Mongolians are a very ceremonial people, so trying the food shows honor to the host.

And finally, certain gestures of the hand are not acceptable.  When addressing a Mongolian, do not point a finger at them.  This is very disrespectful.  If it is necessary to communicate with hand gestures, use an open hand towards the person, but not a single finger.