Mongol Comings (and goings)

The new Chinggis Khan statue in front of the parliament building

Tossed to the bustling urbanity of Ulaanbaatar, I have spent my first week in a most un-Peace Corps like way. Yoga lessons, chocolate milkshakes and fries, a pedicure (urm, birthday present), and a banquet with Mongolia’s business community held in a scaled back reconstruction of Genghis Khan's capital.

Oh yes. And I started my fellowship too.

UB, as it is affectionately known by the expat community, is alive and well. I never got to know the city in extreme depth during Peace Corps (I was always manically focused on showers and cheese during my infrequent visits in from the countryside), but it seems just the same. “Just the same”, but with a vigorous and growing veneer of construction, big cars, Irish pubs, and billboards advertising an array of luxury goods. The marks of a growing economy I take. I was happy to see a stall on the street selling saran wrapped goat heads (plastic fork and knife included for ready take away) though. I would be sad to see the small charms of Mongolia completely outgrown.

Tomorrow I’m off to the western side of the country. I expect it will be very dusty and satisfying.