Sain Bainuu!
I'm the membership coordinator for Friends of Mongolia, and a former
M-7 (ages ago I know) in Bulgan Aimag, Bugat Soum.  Just wanted to
invite all of you to join Friends of Mongolia. For in country PCVs,
if you have your PCVC contact us (we seem to have lost touch) we'll
make sure our newsletter gets sent to the PC office in UB.  For
RPCVs, you can get free NPCA memebrship for a year after COS, and if
you check you affiliate as FOM you will get that membership as
well.  We have a website www.friendsofmongolia.org, a list serve,
and a newsletter for members.  We're also doing some fundraising and
have many members who may be useful resources for information and
networking.  So please check out our website and join!
Cheers,
Lara Ho
Friends of Mongolia Membership Coordinator
P. O. Box 44132
Washington, DC 20026

Hi all,

I have recently been invited to Mongolia as a Peace corps volunteer. My
assignment is to teach English in a secondary school so i will most
probably be situated in a rural community.  I would like any advice as to
the feasibility of bring electronics and equipment (i.e. laptop, digital
camera, iPOD, camcorder) with me. Is it possible to find internet cafes in
a rural area? Will the harsh weather damage any equipment?  Please advise.


Many thanks!
Lier



___________________________________________________________
Win a castle for NYE with your mates and Yahoo! Messenger
http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

You can take all of it if you want.  You might have to take extra care of it
all.  You might not have electricity.  I'd get insurance on all of it.  But
it just depends on how attached you are to it, how much you want to use it.
Based on your desire, you'll make it happen.  In the two rural areas I lived
there were no internet cafes.  A lot changes fast in Mongolia though.  Good
luck.

----Original Message Follows----
From: lier <inkyrain@...>
Reply-To: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com
To: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Mongolia_2003] technology in Mongolia
Date: Fri, 17 Dec 2004 16:04:35 +0000 (GMT)

Hi all,

I have recently been invited to Mongolia as a Peace corps volunteer. My
assignment is to teach English in a secondary school so i will most
probably be situated in a rural community.  I would like any advice as to
the feasibility of bring electronics and equipment (i.e. laptop, digital
camera, iPOD, camcorder) with me. Is it possible to find internet cafes in
a rural area? Will the harsh weather damage any equipment?  Please advise.


Many thanks!
Lier



___________________________________________________________
Win a castle for NYE with your mates and Yahoo! Messenger
http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

Hi,

After completing my Peace Corps service in Georgia, I went to Korea
to teach a little more. I currently live and teach in Korea. I am
finishing a contract and would like to board the Trans-Siberian
Railway to Moscow via Beijing. One itinerary could take me through
Mongolia. Instead of taking a pre-fabricated tour, I would like to
meet PCVs and their host families for a shared experience or an
exchange of culture. I learned from experience that a host family
always welcomes a friend, especially when that friend brings
stories, some chocolate or other snack and perhaps a book for the
family.  I would like to do any or all of these. I also know how
relieving it is to be out of the fish bowl when I "new" person comes
into the scene if only for a day. If the idea is remotely possible,
I would like to hear from any PCVs currently in Mongolia. I will
keep up on the news by having digests sent from this site to my e-
mail.
Thank you. Peace and health,
Sean
RPCV Georgia 2001-2003

Hey Sean,
I'm an X-PCV in Ulaanbaatar. I finished service last June.  I was out in the
East (beautiful) of Mongolia.  I'm living with my girlfriend and teaching at
a private school in the capital.  My host family from training would love to
meet you (on the train line).  They think it's great when I bring other
foreigners. It's possible that you might meet my girlfriend's family as
well, although they are a ways out from the city.  Regardless, I'd be glad
to give you some help when you get into the city.  In truth, I'm interested
in picking your brain about teaching in Korea as well.  It is something that
I've been thinking about as a next move.  You can get me here at hotmail or
by phone (976) 99746232, perhaps when you get in the city.
     Cheers,
Chris

----Original Message Follows----
From: "Sean" <sean_m_reed@...>
Reply-To: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com
To: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Mongolia_2003] a brief stop in Mongolia
Date: Sat, 08 Jan 2005 16:37:47 -0000


Hi,

After completing my Peace Corps service in Georgia, I went to Korea
to teach a little more. I currently live and teach in Korea. I am
finishing a contract and would like to board the Trans-Siberian
Railway to Moscow via Beijing. One itinerary could take me through
Mongolia. Instead of taking a pre-fabricated tour, I would like to
meet PCVs and their host families for a shared experience or an
exchange of culture. I learned from experience that a host family
always welcomes a friend, especially when that friend brings
stories, some chocolate or other snack and perhaps a book for the
family.  I would like to do any or all of these. I also know how
relieving it is to be out of the fish bowl when I "new" person comes
into the scene if only for a day. If the idea is remotely possible,
I would like to hear from any PCVs currently in Mongolia. I will
keep up on the news by having digests sent from this site to my e-
mail.
Thank you. Peace and health,
Sean
RPCV Georgia 2001-2003

I'm not a Peace Corps member, but I'm interested in acquiring an
Mongolian Saddle.  Is there any way to import one to the United
States?  I would like to go to Mongolia, but right now I cannot
afford the trip.

Thank you,

Anna

Hello past, present and future Peace Corps volunteers. Last month I accepted
an invitation to teach English in Mongolia with the Peace Corps. After nearly a
month of carrying on with my life, avoiding the the thought of preparing for
this
huge endeavor, I have finally decided it's time to begin. A current PCV told me
about this chat room. It seems that it has faded out -- though the old messages
are helpful. But if any M-16s do stumble on this site, I'd love to chat with you
about your preparations and all that good stuff.

For anyone over there now, or who has been over there, I"m curious how
everyone deals with the winters. Some say they don't notice it. Others say it's
horrible. I'm trying to mentally prepare for both, but it definitely helps to
hear
other's experiences.

Also, how social are the communities? How easy/hard is it to become a part of
the community and bond with the people and students?

Hope to hear from someone soon.
-Jenny

Hi Jenny,

I'm an M-16, too.  I'm out in San Francisco, so it seems likely that
I'll be welcoming you all into my fair city for Staging.  I was just
writing my recruiter when your message came in.  (I'm subscribed so
they come to my email.)  I was asking for contact info for another
volunteer in San Francisco who is an M-16, too, to see what her plans
and packing list were looking like.  If I do get her info, I'll see if
she'll post here her ideas.

I've gone through all the posts on this site and there were a few good
messages about packing -- what to bring and not what to bring.  I've
pasted one of the best below my sig.

For preparation, I've got a big list going -- mostly clothes that I
think will stand up to a good beating and still keep me warm.  I'm
planning on bringing an old laptop to use for music, etc, which I can
then donate when I leave.  I'm a music junkie and couldn't live
without my music.  It seems like we'll have electricity, as teachers
in a fairly good-sized town.  I'm assuming a lot there, based on the
fact that we'll be teaching at High Schools or what-have-you.

I'm trying to keep it simple and light, but I'm a minimalist in
general.  When I go hiking (3-5 days), my pack weighs in at about
20-25lbs, even  snow camping.  That said, it seems everyone overpacks
and I'm sure I'll be wishing I'd left a ton of stuff at home.  Jaime
(below) suggests that you can get a lot of local stuff at good prices
or ship stuff from home for use later.  In my mind, I'd rather bring
two large bags with me with all my stuff, rather than trust everything
I want to bring to some foreign (or domestic for that matter) customs
officer.

A friend of mine was Peace Corps Nepal and she's been following my
preparations and has given me tons of good advice.  She nixed the
solar battery charger immediately, which some others on this message
board recommended against, as well.  I figure its gonna be a bit like
living at home and a bit like camping, with more emphasis on the
'living at home' bit.  Bring what you want, but bring only a few items
of quality.

I'd be interested in hearing about your teaching experience and if you
have any ideas or plans for adapting your teaching to Mongolia.

-Sean





From:  "jaimeforsyth" <jaimeforsyth@y...>
Date:  Thu Apr 17, 2003  5:01 am
Subject:  Just bring what makes you happy!

ADVERTISEMENT
Sain bain uu, Soon to be Peace Corps Volunteers,

I'm an M13 here in Mongolia (i.e., from the 2002 PCV group) and have
enjoyed reliving all the packing uncertainties I went through last
year as I read through some of your emails. The best advice I got
from a current volunteer, "Just bring what makes you happy."

Other than that, the best advice I can contribute is: Don't spend a
lot of money beforehand. It's more fun, less stressful, and much
much much cheaper to buy things here (or have them custom-made) then
it is to schlep everything here only to find out that you could have
gotten something suitable here for a fraction of the price. Also, if
you spent alot of cash on something in the States, you'll probably
feel obligated to get it back to the US, too, and mailing from here
is horribly expensive and carrying additional stuff is no fun either.

With that said, I'll try to save you a few dollars and a few pounds
of luggage:

1. Vitamins: Once you're sworn in, the PC will provide Centrivite
multi-vitamins, Calcium supplements, Vitamin C/E/B6 and Iron
supplements (and any other prescription drugs). Just bring enough of
those for the summer.

2. Sunscreen/bug juice/moisture lotion: I think we got all of this
in our med kits (when you first arrive)...Lubriderm moisture lotion,
DEET bug lotion (you might want to bring your own), and a thick,
greasy SPF 28 sunscreen (definitely bring your own). Caveat: This is
from last year; things can always change.

3. School supplies: You can get notebooks, folders, pens, glue, post-
its, markers, paper clips, all that kind of stuff in UB, if not in
smaller aimags. The only thing that I haven't seen is good quality
chalk, blackboard erasers, stapler, scissors. Also, the markers
aren't the best quality. Still, who wants to haul all that stuff
around? Bring what you can't live without and have a care package
sent later if you really can't find it here. There are a few
stationery/office supply stores in UB.

4. Seeds: ADRA (an NGO) provides free seeds (mostly vegies, not sure
about herbs) and is conveniently located next to the PC office in
UB. We just had a big distribution to all the PCVs that wanted them.

5. Wool tights: The women wear wool-like tights under skirts that
can be picked up in any market for < $1.40. You can also get other
(nicer) options for a little more money.

6. Pillow: If you're at all particular about what you sleep on,
bring a pillow. Options here range from flat-as-a-pancake to the
Rock of Gibraltar. I bought a travel pillow case and stuffed my down
jacket in it for the summer, and that was fine, but was glad to have
a 'real' pillow waiting for me in my 'winter' box in UB.

7. Summer (i.e., smaller) sleeping bag: unless you're planning on
taking some backpacking trips, you might not want to bother; it's
just one more thing to carry back and forth from the States, and one
more expense. You can get fleece, cotton, or silk sleeping bag
liners made for you here for a fraction of the cost. I haven't seen
them, but I know they make sleeping bags here for really cheap and
you could buy that or a quilt if you need extra warmth in winter.
Recurring theme: You can get almost anything made here for cheap!
One PCV just asked if I knew anyone who wanted to buy the sleeping
bag that she had brought with her, as she was already worried about
the hassle of bringing it back next year.

8. Coats/winter boots/accessories: You can get everything you need
here; these people are the experts. Most of the PCVs have had local
seamstresses whip together various types of coats or jackets for
them, and there are plenty of hats, gloves, and scarves here.
Typical examples (these are the low end typical)...Women's long, down
coat: $14; Custom-made long, wool coat: $18-$27, fleece jacket with
Mongolian designs: $14. (Even if a zipper breaks or seam gives out,
you can have it repaired on the spot at a repair shop or by a local
seamstress for about a buck.) Traditional Mongolian boots can be
bought or custom-made for around $30-35, I think. One thing that I
brought which worked better than a scarf at minus 40 was a neck
gaiter (aka, neck warmer). As it's just some fleece stitched into a
tube, which I'm sure can be made here, but you can probably pick one
up cheap at this time of year...or make it yourself. If you have
favorite gloves or mittens, I'd probably bring those, but you will
certainly have alot to choose from here. (Note on the boots: If you
know you have a problem with cold feet and want to take your chances
with the high tech boots you can get in America, check out Baffin
boots, www.baffin.com . After I was erroneously told that I wouldn't
be able to get wos. size 9 shoes here, I bought a pair of Baffin
Acadia boots online rated to -94 F (I wanna know who had to test
them!), and they're relatively lightweight and were toasty at minus
45; and my feet get cold really easily.)

9. Great things to bring to your training site: Frisbee, hacky
sack, deck of cards (Uno is good, too). You will make instant
friends of every kid in the area when you bring out the Frisbee.

10. Watch batteries: They have watch repair shops all over the
place, at least in UB. Because they usually last around 2 years, I
just saved myself the hassle by replacing my battery right before I
left.

11. Duct tape: So far, you can't buy it here, and it's infinitely
useful.

12. Photo album: Your host family and every other Mongolian you meet
will love to see the pictures of your family and friends. They're
more interested in people than scenery.

13. If you bring a sports magazine (with pictures of NBA players)
and a teen magazine (with pictures of the latest pop princess...last
year it was Britney Spears) you will make a teenager or ten very
happy. (note: basketball is very popular here and most towns will
have at least one basketball standard for the boys to play. Even
poor people also often have satellite dishes, and are familiar with
some NBA players. One little boy asked me if I knew Allen Iverson.)

14. Wire hangers: Easy to pack, and almost everyone's home in the
US seems to have a bunch from the dry cleaner. Handy to have,
especially since they bend into lots of different shapes for lots of
different uses. Even furnished apartments don't seem to have many
hangers to speak of, and in a ger, it's easy to bend them to hang
anywhere. You can buy plastic hangers here if you need to.

15. Tupperware: Pack anything that needs protecting into tupperware
containers. They're great to have afterwards for storage, especially
since the cheap Chinese ones here aren't leakproof.

16. Toiletries/make-up: You can get everything you need here
including American toothpaste and toothbrushes, and I'm starting to
see floss occasionally. For women: they have all your cosmetic
needs...all of them. They even have Revlon, Estee Lauder, and
Clinique products if you don't want to try the Swedish or Korean
brands. Tampax tampons are available, but they're more expensive
here.

17. Dried fruit: I've seen raisins, apricots, and plums pretty
regularly.

18. Food: I saw someone had a list of everything s/he would bring.
Everything on the list can be found in UB ...maybe not every time you
check, but on a sort of regular basis. There are times when we're
out of Skippy/Jif peanut butter or macaroni and cheese or whatever;
but you just learn to grab things when you see them, even if you
don't need them at the moment. UB has a good selection of fresh
fruits and vegetables all year round; it's more hit or miss in other
places.

19. Plastic egg container: Only 1 volunteer seems to have found one
of these in Mongolia, but since you get eggs piled in a plastic bag,
it's a very handy thing to bring (from a camping store).

20. Plastic insulated mug and spoon: It was a hassle to find a
spoon when you just wanted to have some noodles in your room, or to
stir the ubiquitous "Coffee King". Having an insulated mug that was
bigger than 6 oz. and had a handle in which your fingers actually
fit, would be a nice thing, though not a necessity.

21. 1 liter, wide-mouth Nalgene bottle: It must be the unwritten
rule, because I think every single PCV has one. Besides the obvious,
they're also handy to use as measuring cups. I brought 2 for some
reason, but really only needed one.

22. Solar battery re-charger: I have a brand-new, never been opened
one that no one here seems to want to buy from me. One of the
problems is where to put it where it can get 12 hours of sunlight
(not that you have nearly that much in the winter) while you are
away. If you have a ger, you don't have any windows either. The
perception of one person who used one was that the batteries were
never fully charged. You can buy an electric battery charger here
that will charge 4 AA batteries in about 4 hours, and you can
probably get that much electricity in one day even in the smallest
soum (town); that is, unless the power's completely out, which it can
be for a period of days every now and again. You can supplement by
bringing a family-size box of batteries that you can draw on when you
need to. You can buy Western quality batteries here for the regular
retail price, i.e., not as cheap as from a US shopping warehouse.
The Chinese ones available everywhere are terrible.

23. Laptops are great because it can be your journal, stereo, video
game, and DVD player depending on what type you have. You can store
all your CDs on it, and bring small battery operated speakers, or buy
some here if you will have electricity in your site. Buy a padded,
snug-fitting, zippered pouch to store it in; and ALWAYS keep it
zipped up to protect it from all the dust here. I talked to someone
living in a ger and he never had a problem due to the cold; he used
coal during the coldest parts of the winter, which retains its heat
much longer than wood. You can also buy small gel packs that can be
heated and put in with the laptop (in the laptop's insulated bag) at
night if you think it will be a problem. (I haven't had to test this
theory) As far as theft: I brought a laptop lock which I've never
used, but it's good to be concerned about theft. Some of the
volunteers who have been victims of theft from their ger, never had a
problem with their laptop, because in a small soum, you cannot
possibly show up anywhere with a laptop without it being obvious that
you took it from the volunteer. Most thefts were children stealing
money or anything that looked cool and was small enough to hide. And
if you don't live in a ger, you will probably have a good enough lock
on your door that anything inside is safe. Yes, you have to be
willing to accept risk if you bring it, but there are alot of long,
winter nights to consider and I haven't yet heard of anyone who was
sorry they brought it. Also, the PC has a technology initiative, so
you could also use your laptop as a teaching tool and introduce your
local Mongolian friends to the possibilities. While most are too
poor to own one themselves, more and more are available in schools,
internet cafes, or gov't sponsored student computer rooms. The PC is
offering a computer workshop in a couple weeks for PCVs and one each
of their community members who are interested in learning how to
train other people on computer skills.

24. Heavy-duty ziploc bags are great for all sorts of things. For
example, rice and sugar come in cheap, plastic bags that are easily
broken.

25. Books/magazines: Pack everything you could possibly want, or be
willing to donate to the PC library, into boxes and ship to yourself
at the PC office in UB via the "M bag". This is the slow boat to
Mongolia, anywhere from 2-6 months but it's only $1/lb. It's only
for printed material.

26. Musical instruments: Half a dozen of our group brought guitars
or fiddles and I haven't heard any complaints and they were great to
have around. If you have an expensive instrument, I'd keep it at
home and find something cheaper to bring with you.

27. Dispelling rumors....No, you will not have to forage for wood,
nor is it likely that you will have to chop it if you don't want to.
Wood is so scarce in most of your communities that you will probably
have coal at least in the winter, or maybe some will use dung at some
point (really, it smells more like the vegetation it used to be than
anything nasty). The few forests are being depleted so rapidly that
it's illegal to cut the wood in most cases, though that law is
thoroughly ignored; still, it's not a good precedent to set for the
PC to have the volunteers illegally taking wood if you happen to live
by one of the increasingly rare forests. The PC has arranged with
all sites to have fuel and water supplied. In reality, some people
get their water brought to them and some get it from the local well.
(One volunteer joked that the only foraging he had to do was the
verbal foraging to try to talk his director into having fuel
delivered in a timely manner.)

28. If you need something desperately and don't have anyone to ship
it to you; REI, LL Bean, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble will ship
here. Amazon, for one, is great if your package doesn't arrive in a
timely manner; they'll re-ship it for free.

29. Things I saw in emails or on lists that you don't need to bring:
lighters (readily available because cigarettes are so cheap); hammock
(unless you have other ideas besides stringing it between 2 non-
existent trees); slippers (e.g., you can buy toasty wool felt ones
here); extra bandannas (they have the same made-in-China ones here
that we get in the US).

30. Most volunteers suggest that you bring socks and underwear,
including a pair of good, silk long underwear from home; as the
quality is not as good here for those kind of things or in the case
of silk (or other high-tech fabric) long underwear, I haven't seen it
here. Quick-drying hiking socks from EMS, REI, or any good outdoor
store will be a good investment.

31. If you have a favorite hat with a big brim, bring it. The
temperature got up to 110 degrees F one day last summer and the heat
wave seemed to last for a really long month. Having a wet bandanna
around your neck when it's that hot is also helpful.

32. No, there are no McDonald's here, but there is a little store
that has a pretty accurate fake "7-11" sign. There was a fake
McDonald's called "MonDonald's" (i.e., "MONgolian mcDONALD'S), but
McDonald's attorneys got in touch and made them change it
to "RonDonald's". Mongolians have never heard of McDonald's, so it
was pretty much a waste of time.

33. SARS: Mongolia is being amazingly proactive in preventing the
spread of the virus. New or possible cases are reported every day (I
think we only have a couple confirmed), most of the population is
wearing face masks (a very odd sight on the streets), the biggest
open-air market in the country is closed indefinitely, public events
are cancelled, all the bars and discos are closing at 10 (can't quite
figure that one out), and all the buildings have their door handles
wrapped with gauze soaked in some disinfectant, i.e., they're wet. I
can't imagine that it would be able to spread to the point that we
would get evacuated. (Cross your fingers)

34. Thermarest self-inflating air mattress: It's likely that you
will have plenty of chances to sleep on floors, and if you mind, this
is really comfortable to have and packs up pretty compactly. You can
also buy the 'chair' accessory, made out of nylon, that will turn
your mattress into a comfy floor chair, which is easily portable for
travel. Even though I live in an apartment, this is my most
comfortable chair (sad to say). The mattress is also my guest bed as
most of us(all of us?)don't have an extra bed or maybe even an extra
couch for guests.

35. It's hard or impossible to find good quality cotton t-shirts;
bring them from home if you like to wear them.

36. Splurge on some good quality sunglasses with all the appropriate
UV protection; there's alot of sun here!

37. If you get the same amount of paperwork that we did, it would be
handy to bring a lightweight, durable folder with dividers to keep it
all straight. You might be able to find something you like in UB,
but you won't get there for shopping for some weeks after you arrive.

38. Hiking boots: You don't need really heavyweight boots, as
you're mostly walking around on bare ground (or very uneven
sidewalks),i.e., it's not particularly rugged, just a bit uneven,
dirty, and often littered with broken glass. There are plenty of
shoe repair shops if you wear something out or something breaks, as
people can't easily afford to buy new things. In the winter, you'll
be switching to insulated boots anyway. They also sell all sorts of
variations of lighter weight hiking shoes/boots here (both cheap
Chinese and Western quality).

39. Teva (or Teva-like) walking sandals: Best investment I made.
Good for walking on rugged surfaces, wading across streams, hiking
small mountains, and using sketchy-looking bath houses. And they're
very lightweight.


In general, pack for the summer as if you are going on an extended
camping trip; i.e., pack light. Also, bring an extra duffle bag to
carry all the extra stuff the PC will hand out during the summer:
filters, books and folders mostly, and anything else you accumulate
over the summer. Everything that you don't need for the summer can
be sent directly to the PC in Ulaanbaatar, clearly labelled "Winter
gear - leave in UB" or something like that, so you don't have to deal
with it until you leave for your permanent site.

I've rambled. Hope some of this was useful to you and will look
forward to eventually meeting all of you this summer.

Bayartai!
Jaime

Hi Jenny,

I'm an M-16, too.  I'm out in San Francisco, so it seems likely that
I'll be welcoming you all into my fair city for Staging.  I was just
writing my recruiter when your message came in.  (I'm subscribed so
they come to my email.)  I was asking for contact info for another
volunteer in San Francisco who is an M-16, too, to see what her plans
and packing list were looking like.  If I do get her info, I'll see if
she'll post here her ideas.

I've gone through all the posts on this site and there were a few good
messages about packing -- what to bring and not what to bring.  I've
pasted one of the best below my sig.

For preparation, I've got a big list going -- mostly clothes that I
think will stand up to a good beating and still keep me warm.  I'm
planning on bringing an old laptop to use for music, etc, which I can
then donate when I leave.  I'm a music junkie and couldn't live
without my music.  It seems like we'll have electricity, as teachers
in a fairly good-sized town.  I'm assuming a lot there, based on the
fact that we'll be teaching at High Schools or what-have-you. 

I'm trying to keep it simple and light, but I'm a minimalist in
general.  When I go hiking (3-5 days), my pack weighs in at about
20-25lbs, even  snow camping.  That said, it seems everyone overpacks
and I'm sure I'll be wishing I'd left a ton of stuff at home.  Jaime
(below) suggests that you can get a lot of local stuff at good prices
or ship stuff from home for use later.  In my mind, I'd rather bring
two large bags with me with all my stuff, rather than trust everything
I want to bring to some foreign (or domestic for that matter) customs
officer. 

A friend of mine was Peace Corps Nepal and she's been following my
preparations and has given me tons of good advice.  She nixed the
solar battery charger immediately, which some others on this message
board recommended against, as well.  I figure its gonna be a bit like
living at home and a bit like camping, with more emphasis on the
'living at home' bit.  Bring what you want, but bring only a few items
of quality.

I'd be interested in hearing about your teaching experience and if you
have any ideas or plans for adapting your teaching to Mongolia.

-Sean





From:  "jaimeforsyth" <jaimeforsyth@y...>
Date:  Thu Apr 17, 2003  5:01 am
Subject:  Just bring what makes you happy!

ADVERTISEMENT
Sain bain uu, Soon to be Peace Corps Volunteers,

I'm an M13 here in Mongolia (i.e., from the 2002 PCV group) and have
enjoyed reliving all the packing uncertainties I went through last
year as I read through some of your emails. The best advice I got
from a current volunteer, "Just bring what makes you happy."

Other than that, the best advice I can contribute is: Don't spend a
lot of money beforehand. It's more fun, less stressful, and much
much much cheaper to buy things here (or have them custom-made) then
it is to schlep everything here only to find out that you could have
gotten something suitable here for a fraction of the price. Also, if
you spent alot of cash on something in the States, you'll probably
feel obligated to get it back to the US, too, and mailing from here
is horribly expensive and carrying additional stuff is no fun either.

With that said, I'll try to save you a few dollars and a few pounds
of luggage:

1. Vitamins: Once you're sworn in, the PC will provide Centrivite
multi-vitamins, Calcium supplements, Vitamin C/E/B6 and Iron
supplements (and any other prescription drugs). Just bring enough of
those for the summer.

2. Sunscreen/bug juice/moisture lotion: I think we got all of this
in our med kits (when you first arrive)...Lubriderm moisture lotion,
DEET bug lotion (you might want to bring your own), and a thick,
greasy SPF 28 sunscreen (definitely bring your own). Caveat: This is
from last year; things can always change.

3. School supplies: You can get notebooks, folders, pens, glue, post-
its, markers, paper clips, all that kind of stuff in UB, if not in
smaller aimags. The only thing that I haven't seen is good quality
chalk, blackboard erasers, stapler, scissors. Also, the markers
aren't the best quality. Still, who wants to haul all that stuff
around? Bring what you can't live without and have a care package
sent later if you really can't find it here. There are a few
stationery/office supply stores in UB.

4. Seeds: ADRA (an NGO) provides free seeds (mostly vegies, not sure
about herbs) and is conveniently located next to the PC office in
UB. We just had a big distribution to all the PCVs that wanted them.

5. Wool tights: The women wear wool-like tights under skirts that
can be picked up in any market for < $1.40. You can also get other
(nicer) options for a little more money.

6. Pillow: If you're at all particular about what you sleep on,
bring a pillow. Options here range from flat-as-a-pancake to the
Rock of Gibraltar. I bought a travel pillow case and stuffed my down
jacket in it for the summer, and that was fine, but was glad to have
a 'real' pillow waiting for me in my 'winter' box in UB.

7. Summer (i.e., smaller) sleeping bag: unless you're planning on
taking some backpacking trips, you might not want to bother; it's
just one more thing to carry back and forth from the States, and one
more expense. You can get fleece, cotton, or silk sleeping bag
liners made for you here for a fraction of the cost. I haven't seen
them, but I know they make sleeping bags here for really cheap and
you could buy that or a quilt if you need extra warmth in winter.
Recurring theme: You can get almost anything made here for cheap!
One PCV just asked if I knew anyone who wanted to buy the sleeping
bag that she had brought with her, as she was already worried about
the hassle of bringing it back next year.

8. Coats/winter boots/accessories: You can get everything you need
here; these people are the experts. Most of the PCVs have had local
seamstresses whip together various types of coats or jackets for
them, and there are plenty of hats, gloves, and scarves here.
Typical examples (these are the low end typical)...Women's long, down
coat: $14; Custom-made long, wool coat: $18-$27, fleece jacket with
Mongolian designs: $14. (Even if a zipper breaks or seam gives out,
you can have it repaired on the spot at a repair shop or by a local
seamstress for about a buck.) Traditional Mongolian boots can be
bought or custom-made for around $30-35, I think. One thing that I
brought which worked better than a scarf at minus 40 was a neck
gaiter (aka, neck warmer). As it's just some fleece stitched into a
tube, which I'm sure can be made here, but you can probably pick one
up cheap at this time of year...or make it yourself. If you have
favorite gloves or mittens, I'd probably bring those, but you will
certainly have alot to choose from here. (Note on the boots: If you
know you have a problem with cold feet and want to take your chances
with the high tech boots you can get in America, check out Baffin
boots, www.baffin.com . After I was erroneously told that I wouldn't
be able to get wos. size 9 shoes here, I bought a pair of Baffin
Acadia boots online rated to -94 F (I wanna know who had to test
them!), and they're relatively lightweight and were toasty at minus
45; and my feet get cold really easily.)

9. Great things to bring to your training site: Frisbee, hacky
sack, deck of cards (Uno is good, too). You will make instant
friends of every kid in the area when you bring out the Frisbee.

10. Watch batteries: They have watch repair shops all over the
place, at least in UB. Because they usually last around 2 years, I
just saved myself the hassle by replacing my battery right before I
left.

11. Duct tape: So far, you can't buy it here, and it's infinitely
useful.

12. Photo album: Your host family and every other Mongolian you meet
will love to see the pictures of your family and friends. They're
more interested in people than scenery.

13. If you bring a sports magazine (with pictures of NBA players)
and a teen magazine (with pictures of the latest pop princess...last
year it was Britney Spears) you will make a teenager or ten very
happy. (note: basketball is very popular here and most towns will
have at least one basketball standard for the boys to play. Even
poor people also often have satellite dishes, and are familiar with
some NBA players. One little boy asked me if I knew Allen Iverson.)

14. Wire hangers: Easy to pack, and almost everyone's home in the
US seems to have a bunch from the dry cleaner. Handy to have,
especially since they bend into lots of different shapes for lots of
different uses. Even furnished apartments don't seem to have many
hangers to speak of, and in a ger, it's easy to bend them to hang
anywhere. You can buy plastic hangers here if you need to.

15. Tupperware: Pack anything that needs protecting into tupperware
containers. They're great to have afterwards for storage, especially
since the cheap Chinese ones here aren't leakproof.

16. Toiletries/make-up: You can get everything you need here
including American toothpaste and toothbrushes, and I'm starting to
see floss occasionally. For women: they have all your cosmetic
needs...all of them. They even have Revlon, Estee Lauder, and
Clinique products if you don't want to try the Swedish or Korean
brands. Tampax tampons are available, but they're more expensive
here.

17. Dried fruit: I've seen raisins, apricots, and plums pretty
regularly.

18. Food: I saw someone had a list of everything s/he would bring.
Everything on the list can be found in UB ...maybe not every time you
check, but on a sort of regular basis. There are times when we're
out of Skippy/Jif peanut butter or macaroni and cheese or whatever;
but you just learn to grab things when you see them, even if you
don't need them at the moment. UB has a good selection of fresh
fruits and vegetables all year round; it's more hit or miss in other
places.

19. Plastic egg container: Only 1 volunteer seems to have found one
of these in Mongolia, but since you get eggs piled in a plastic bag,
it's a very handy thing to bring (from a camping store).

20. Plastic insulated mug and spoon: It was a hassle to find a
spoon when you just wanted to have some noodles in your room, or to
stir the ubiquitous "Coffee King". Having an insulated mug that was
bigger than 6 oz. and had a handle in which your fingers actually
fit, would be a nice thing, though not a necessity.

21. 1 liter, wide-mouth Nalgene bottle: It must be the unwritten
rule, because I think every single PCV has one. Besides the obvious,
they're also handy to use as measuring cups. I brought 2 for some
reason, but really only needed one.

22. Solar battery re-charger: I have a brand-new, never been opened
one that no one here seems to want to buy from me. One of the
problems is where to put it where it can get 12 hours of sunlight
(not that you have nearly that much in the winter) while you are
away. If you have a ger, you don't have any windows either. The
perception of one person who used one was that the batteries were
never fully charged. You can buy an electric battery charger here
that will charge 4 AA batteries in about 4 hours, and you can
probably get that much electricity in one day even in the smallest
soum (town); that is, unless the power's completely out, which it can
be for a period of days every now and again. You can supplement by
bringing a family-size box of batteries that you can draw on when you
need to. You can buy Western quality batteries here for the regular
retail price, i.e., not as cheap as from a US shopping warehouse.
The Chinese ones available everywhere are terrible.

23. Laptops are great because it can be your journal, stereo, video
game, and DVD player depending on what type you have. You can store
all your CDs on it, and bring small battery operated speakers, or buy
some here if you will have electricity in your site. Buy a padded,
snug-fitting, zippered pouch to store it in; and ALWAYS keep it
zipped up to protect it from all the dust here. I talked to someone
living in a ger and he never had a problem due to the cold; he used
coal during the coldest parts of the winter, which retains its heat
much longer than wood. You can also buy small gel packs that can be
heated and put in with the laptop (in the laptop's insulated bag) at
night if you think it will be a problem. (I haven't had to test this
theory) As far as theft: I brought a laptop lock which I've never
used, but it's good to be concerned about theft. Some of the
volunteers who have been victims of theft from their ger, never had a
problem with their laptop, because in a small soum, you cannot
possibly show up anywhere with a laptop without it being obvious that
you took it from the volunteer. Most thefts were children stealing
money or anything that looked cool and was small enough to hide. And
if you don't live in a ger, you will probably have a good enough lock
on your door that anything inside is safe. Yes, you have to be
willing to accept risk if you bring it, but there are alot of long,
winter nights to consider and I haven't yet heard of anyone who was
sorry they brought it. Also, the PC has a technology initiative, so
you could also use your laptop as a teaching tool and introduce your
local Mongolian friends to the possibilities. While most are too
poor to own one themselves, more and more are available in schools,
internet cafes, or gov't sponsored student computer rooms. The PC is
offering a computer workshop in a couple weeks for PCVs and one each
of their community members who are interested in learning how to
train other people on computer skills.

24. Heavy-duty ziploc bags are great for all sorts of things. For
example, rice and sugar come in cheap, plastic bags that are easily
broken.

25. Books/magazines: Pack everything you could possibly want, or be
willing to donate to the PC library, into boxes and ship to yourself
at the PC office in UB via the "M bag". This is the slow boat to
Mongolia, anywhere from 2-6 months but it's only $1/lb. It's only
for printed material.

26. Musical instruments: Half a dozen of our group brought guitars
or fiddles and I haven't heard any complaints and they were great to
have around. If you have an expensive instrument, I'd keep it at
home and find something cheaper to bring with you.

27. Dispelling rumors....No, you will not have to forage for wood,
nor is it likely that you will have to chop it if you don't want to.
Wood is so scarce in most of your communities that you will probably
have coal at least in the winter, or maybe some will use dung at some
point (really, it smells more like the vegetation it used to be than
anything nasty). The few forests are being depleted so rapidly that
it's illegal to cut the wood in most cases, though that law is
thoroughly ignored; still, it's not a good precedent to set for the
PC to have the volunteers illegally taking wood if you happen to live
by one of the increasingly rare forests. The PC has arranged with
all sites to have fuel and water supplied. In reality, some people
get their water brought to them and some get it from the local well.
(One volunteer joked that the only foraging he had to do was the
verbal foraging to try to talk his director into having fuel
delivered in a timely manner.)

28. If you need something desperately and don't have anyone to ship
it to you; REI, LL Bean, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble will ship
here. Amazon, for one, is great if your package doesn't arrive in a
timely manner; they'll re-ship it for free.

29. Things I saw in emails or on lists that you don't need to bring:
lighters (readily available because cigarettes are so cheap); hammock
(unless you have other ideas besides stringing it between 2 non-
existent trees); slippers (e.g., you can buy toasty wool felt ones
here); extra bandannas (they have the same made-in-China ones here
that we get in the US).

30. Most volunteers suggest that you bring socks and underwear,
including a pair of good, silk long underwear from home; as the
quality is not as good here for those kind of things or in the case
of silk (or other high-tech fabric) long underwear, I haven't seen it
here. Quick-drying hiking socks from EMS, REI, or any good outdoor
store will be a good investment.

31. If you have a favorite hat with a big brim, bring it. The
temperature got up to 110 degrees F one day last summer and the heat
wave seemed to last for a really long month. Having a wet bandanna
around your neck when it's that hot is also helpful.

32. No, there are no McDonald's here, but there is a little store
that has a pretty accurate fake "7-11" sign. There was a fake
McDonald's called "MonDonald's" (i.e., "MONgolian mcDONALD'S), but
McDonald's attorneys got in touch and made them change it
to "RonDonald's". Mongolians have never heard of McDonald's, so it
was pretty much a waste of time.

33. SARS: Mongolia is being amazingly proactive in preventing the
spread of the virus. New or possible cases are reported every day (I
think we only have a couple confirmed), most of the population is
wearing face masks (a very odd sight on the streets), the biggest
open-air market in the country is closed indefinitely, public events
are cancelled, all the bars and discos are closing at 10 (can't quite
figure that one out), and all the buildings have their door handles
wrapped with gauze soaked in some disinfectant, i.e., they're wet. I
can't imagine that it would be able to spread to the point that we
would get evacuated. (Cross your fingers)

34. Thermarest self-inflating air mattress: It's likely that you
will have plenty of chances to sleep on floors, and if you mind, this
is really comfortable to have and packs up pretty compactly. You can
also buy the 'chair' accessory, made out of nylon, that will turn
your mattress into a comfy floor chair, which is easily portable for
travel. Even though I live in an apartment, this is my most
comfortable chair (sad to say). The mattress is also my guest bed as
most of us(all of us?)don't have an extra bed or maybe even an extra
couch for guests.

35. It's hard or impossible to find good quality cotton t-shirts;
bring them from home if you like to wear them.

36. Splurge on some good quality sunglasses with all the appropriate
UV protection; there's alot of sun here!

37. If you get the same amount of paperwork that we did, it would be
handy to bring a lightweight, durable folder with dividers to keep it
all straight. You might be able to find something you like in UB,
but you won't get there for shopping for some weeks after you arrive.

38. Hiking boots: You don't need really heavyweight boots, as
you're mostly walking around on bare ground (or very uneven
sidewalks),i.e., it's not particularly rugged, just a bit uneven,
dirty, and often littered with broken glass. There are plenty of
shoe repair shops if you wear something out or something breaks, as
people can't easily afford to buy new things. In the winter, you'll
be switching to insulated boots anyway. They also sell all sorts of
variations of lighter weight hiking shoes/boots here (both cheap
Chinese and Western quality).

39. Teva (or Teva-like) walking sandals: Best investment I made.
Good for walking on rugged surfaces, wading across streams, hiking
small mountains, and using sketchy-looking bath houses. And they're
very lightweight.


In general, pack for the summer as if you are going on an extended
camping trip; i.e., pack light. Also, bring an extra duffle bag to
carry all the extra stuff the PC will hand out during the summer:
filters, books and folders mostly, and anything else you accumulate
over the summer. Everything that you don't need for the summer can
be sent directly to the PC in Ulaanbaatar, clearly labelled "Winter
gear - leave in UB" or something like that, so you don't have to deal
with it until you leave for your permanent site.

I've rambled. Hope some of this was useful to you and will look
forward to eventually meeting all of you this summer.

Bayartai!
Jaime

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Hello past, present and future Peace Corps volunteers. Last month I accepted
an invitation to teach English in Mongolia with the Peace Corps. After nearly a
month of carrying on with my life, avoiding the the thought of preparing for this
huge endeavor, I have finally decided it's time to begin. A current PCV told me
about this chat room. It seems that it has faded out -- though the old messages
are helpful. But if any M-16s do stumble on this site, I'd love to chat with you
about your preparations and all that good stuff.

For anyone over there now, or who has been over there, I"m curious how
everyone deals with the winters. Some say they don't notice it. Others say it's
horrible. I'm trying to mentally prepare for both, but it definitely helps to hear
other's experiences.

Also, how social are the communities? How easy/hard is it to become a part of
the community and bond with the people and students?

Hope to hear from someone soon.
-Jenny

Thanks for everyone's help. It is much needed. And thank you Sean for posting
the
super-long e-mail on packing. At the end of this post, I've included the
super-long
packing list an M-15 sent me. She has similar advice, with a few different
preferences.

As for my teaching experience -- I wouldn't say I have a lot. TEFL experience is
only
about 6 months. I volunteered to help teach in my town's adult education
program. It
was 3 days a week, working with students from ages 18 to 50. Most of them were
Spanish speakers. But there were others from Sudan, China, France, Russia and
two from Mongolia. Outside of class I tutored some students individually. But,
like I
said, it was only a 6-month time span. Currently, I'm a copy editor at my town's
newspaper. So I do have experience explaining to reporters what dangling
modifiers
are and why this comma is necessary and that one is not -- for whatever that is
worth.
What experience do you have? Are you bringing any teaching materials?

My current mission is to find a backpack. I recently went to try some out, and
found
that I need an extra-small pack. I'd prefer to buy one from an outlet or
somewhere on
the internet to save some money. Did anyone have any luck finding a pack online?
Any suggestions on size of a pack? And what type of pack?

Thanks again for your help. See you all soon.

------------------

Another long list:

As you might guess, every PCV's experience is different.  The most important
determinant of what you should bring is whether you will be posted in a
city/aimag or in the countryside.  For instance, a laptop would be impractical
if you are really "out there" because you may have electricity only during
certain hours or months.  Due to the current MIAT (local air carrier) issues,
though, my understanding is that PC won't be putting M16s in too far flung of
posts.

So, there's no way to predict your exact location or living environment, but it
helps to know what kind of volunteer you will be.  If you're a sector
(non-TEFL) volunteer, e.g. Business, Health, etc., then you will most likely be
in an aimag center.  (TEFLers are in both soums and aimags, depending on what
they prefer.)  Also, even though there are no guarantees about where you are
placed geographically, it's been my experience that PC tries to match you with
at least your living preference.  I.e. if you tell them you don't want to be in
a ger in the middle of nowhere, it's unlikely you'll get stuck out there.

Before I give you my packing advice, I want to emphasize that my experience may
not be representative of what yours will be.  In some ways, I feel like I'm
cheating the third-world gods because on a scale of one to ten, with one being
spartan and 10 being almost like home, my living situation is like an 8.5.  I
live in Erdenet, unofficially the second largest city, where I have 24/7 hot
running water, electricity, cable tv, etc.  On the other hand, my boyfriend
lives in one of the smallest soums (towns) with no amenities save electricity
from 6 to 11 pm during the winter.  He wanted to be in the middle of nowhere,
and I wanted to be near civilization.  Most PCVs fall somewhere along the
spectrum and are not at either extreme.  To balance out my advice, I'll include
some other sources/contacts at the end of this epic email in case you're
interested in other perspectives.

Wow, that was a long "preface", huh?  So to your specific questions:

Technology:
• Laptop- for me, this is indispensable.  I use it everyday.  i store digital
photos, write emails/blog/journal entries/(eventually)grad school applications,
play music and sometimes movies.  (you can get cheap DVDs in UB.  I wouldn't
bother buying any in the US if you don't own them already, unless there are
arty films that you're not likely to find here).  I don't know anyone who
regrets bringing their laptop.  Even some of my ger friends have them, but they
have to be esp careful because of the cold.  Also, it's super dusty (especially
in the Gobi) during the spring so be sure to bring a neoprene case that
insulates and keeps out the dirt.

Assuming that you bring your laptop, I'd recommend also bringing the following
(though surprisingly you can buy this stuff in UB also!!!):

• USB flash disk- larger capacity than floppy disks, less prone to viruses, more
commonly used in Internet cafes (which you will have periodic access to).  I
write emails in advance and upload them later.
• Digital camera- preferable, in my opinion, to a 35mm.  but if you're a serious
photographer, you may disagree.  It's easier to email photos home, and you can
get them developed in UB.   plus, Mongolians LOVE to have their photos taken
and you can choose which photos to develop.  Also, when you leave Mongolia in
two years you'll have a nice neat archive.
• MP3 player- don't know how much of an audiophile you are, but many of us have
IPODs or the like here. We find it saves on space, but other PCVs prefer to
bring their CD collections.  I'd skip on the speakers, since you can buy them
or a stereo once you get here.

Clothing & Shoes

• It's true that you can buy/have made stuff here, but it's good to have some
"high-tech" thermals so that you can still bend your limbs when you're wearing
three layers.  I'd recommend at least one silk set, one mid-weight, and maybe a
heavy-weight if you tend to be cold.  Also, I think wool blends are better than
purely synthetic bc the latter can get kind of stinky, esp if it's inconvenient
to wash/dry them often.
• I agree with most of what's suggested in the welcome kit, though I do wish
that I'd brought some white/light colored clothes because it's not as hard to
keep white as someone had made it sound.  The best piece of advice I got was
bring what you love and what makes you happy.  Or at least set it aside so your
parents can easily ship it to you once you find out your exact living situation.
• Shoes: my rule was only shoes that served as least two functions.  i'm really
glad I brought comfortable walking boots (dansko), all-season hiking boots
(asolo), and my tevas (multiple function as shower, river, light hiking, house
sandals).  Seriously warm winter boots can be custom-made here and will be a
great souvenir to take home.

  Household/Travel
• Silk sleep bag- not a sleeping bag, which is standard PC issue. it's like a
sheet that stuffs into a small bag the size of your fist.  saves you from
having to rent sheets on trains, a small comfort if you find yourself sleeping
in semi-icky places
• Nalgenes, pocket tools (i.e. leatherman or swiss army), and tiny LCD
flashlights are all great things to have.
• At the suggestion of an M12, I brought my down pillow and one super fluffy
towel.  Or, you can buy decent quality at Nomin's, the state department store.
I wrapped my winter coat around my pillow and carried it on the flight- didn't
count as a carry-on bc it's just my coat (never mind that it was summer in LA-
ha!)

General packing/shipping advice
• If you plan to do any traveling at all, whether within or outside of Mongolia,
one of your bags should be a framepack.
• As for gifts, I mentioned that Mongolian love photos.  The disposable cameras
I brought made great gifts.  They also seem to really like knick-knacks and the
novelty of American candy.
• If you're tight on space/weight allowance, send yourself winter clothes via
surface mail a week before your departure.  Airmail is expensive, and the
economy timing is just right for winter stuff.  You don't really need much
during the first three (summer) months bc you'll be living with a host family.
• I got vacuum seal bags from a travel store.  You can fit so much more in your
luggage when the air is sucked out of your clothes, etc.
• Don't bother to bring non-essential/OTC medical stuff.  The medical kit you
get once you're here is like a mini-pharmacy, replete with all the
basics…aspirin, bandages, dental floss, lotion, etc.
• Look into M-bags if you haven't already.  cheaper, slower rate for books and
printed material.  PC lounge has lots of books for exchange, but if there's
something you've been wanting to read, ship it.
• Have your friends and family send you the rest.  For instance, I'm kind of a
tea-snob, so thankfully it's easy to have premium, loose leaf tea sent from
home.  Here, it's mostly tea bags of flavored black tea.  By now, you've
probably heard of the ubiquitous milk-tea here.  Oh, and if you are a dark
chocolate lover, you should know that the chocolate is just okay here.  Even
the Russian stuff isn't super.  But once you get here we'll show you the one
brand (actually, Kraft) that is good. :)

Hi all!

My name is Sunaree and I'm invited for Mongolia leaving June 11th, but in youth
Development. I guess this is the first year for that program at this site. I'm
excited and
anxious and overwhelmed. Trying to work out leaving my job and moving and
packing and
all of that. Just thought I'd introduce myself. Any other non-TEFL volunteers
our there?

~sunaree

Are just guessing about staging being in SF, or do you have some knowledge about
it? Just
curious. SF would be SO convenient for me!

--- In Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com, "russianplane" <unlisted@s...> wrote:
>
> Hi Jenny,
>
> I'm an M-16, too.  I'm out in San Francisco, so it seems likely that
> I'll be welcoming you all into my fair city for Staging.  I was just
> writing my recruiter when your message came in.  (I'm subscribed so
> they come to my email.)  I was asking for contact info for another
> volunteer in San Francisco who is an M-16, too, to see what her plans
> and packing list were looking like.  If I do get her info, I'll see if
> she'll post here her ideas.
>
> I've gone through all the posts on this site and there were a few good
> messages about packing -- what to bring and not what to bring.  I've
> pasted one of the best below my sig.
>
> For preparation, I've got a big list going -- mostly clothes that I
> think will stand up to a good beating and still keep me warm.  I'm
> planning on bringing an old laptop to use for music, etc, which I can
> then donate when I leave.  I'm a music junkie and couldn't live
> without my music.  It seems like we'll have electricity, as teachers
> in a fairly good-sized town.  I'm assuming a lot there, based on the
> fact that we'll be teaching at High Schools or what-have-you.
>
> I'm trying to keep it simple and light, but I'm a minimalist in
> general.  When I go hiking (3-5 days), my pack weighs in at about
> 20-25lbs, even  snow camping.  That said, it seems everyone overpacks
> and I'm sure I'll be wishing I'd left a ton of stuff at home.  Jaime
> (below) suggests that you can get a lot of local stuff at good prices
> or ship stuff from home for use later.  In my mind, I'd rather bring
> two large bags with me with all my stuff, rather than trust everything
> I want to bring to some foreign (or domestic for that matter) customs
> officer.
>
> A friend of mine was Peace Corps Nepal and she's been following my
> preparations and has given me tons of good advice.  She nixed the
> solar battery charger immediately, which some others on this message
> board recommended against, as well.  I figure its gonna be a bit like
> living at home and a bit like camping, with more emphasis on the
> 'living at home' bit.  Bring what you want, but bring only a few items
> of quality.
>
> I'd be interested in hearing about your teaching experience and if you
> have any ideas or plans for adapting your teaching to Mongolia.
>
> -Sean
>
>
>
>
>
> From:  "jaimeforsyth" <jaimeforsyth@y...>
> Date:  Thu Apr 17, 2003  5:01 am
> Subject:  Just bring what makes you happy!
>
> ADVERTISEMENT
> Sain bain uu, Soon to be Peace Corps Volunteers,
>
> I'm an M13 here in Mongolia (i.e., from the 2002 PCV group) and have
> enjoyed reliving all the packing uncertainties I went through last
> year as I read through some of your emails. The best advice I got
> from a current volunteer, "Just bring what makes you happy."
>
> Other than that, the best advice I can contribute is: Don't spend a
> lot of money beforehand. It's more fun, less stressful, and much
> much much cheaper to buy things here (or have them custom-made) then
> it is to schlep everything here only to find out that you could have
> gotten something suitable here for a fraction of the price. Also, if
> you spent alot of cash on something in the States, you'll probably
> feel obligated to get it back to the US, too, and mailing from here
> is horribly expensive and carrying additional stuff is no fun either.
>
> With that said, I'll try to save you a few dollars and a few pounds
> of luggage:
>
> 1. Vitamins: Once you're sworn in, the PC will provide Centrivite
> multi-vitamins, Calcium supplements, Vitamin C/E/B6 and Iron
> supplements (and any other prescription drugs). Just bring enough of
> those for the summer.
>
> 2. Sunscreen/bug juice/moisture lotion: I think we got all of this
> in our med kits (when you first arrive)...Lubriderm moisture lotion,
> DEET bug lotion (you might want to bring your own), and a thick,
> greasy SPF 28 sunscreen (definitely bring your own). Caveat: This is
> from last year; things can always change.
>
> 3. School supplies: You can get notebooks, folders, pens, glue, post-
> its, markers, paper clips, all that kind of stuff in UB, if not in
> smaller aimags. The only thing that I haven't seen is good quality
> chalk, blackboard erasers, stapler, scissors. Also, the markers
> aren't the best quality. Still, who wants to haul all that stuff
> around? Bring what you can't live without and have a care package
> sent later if you really can't find it here. There are a few
> stationery/office supply stores in UB.
>
> 4. Seeds: ADRA (an NGO) provides free seeds (mostly vegies, not sure
> about herbs) and is conveniently located next to the PC office in
> UB. We just had a big distribution to all the PCVs that wanted them.
>
> 5. Wool tights: The women wear wool-like tights under skirts that
> can be picked up in any market for < $1.40. You can also get other
> (nicer) options for a little more money.
>
> 6. Pillow: If you're at all particular about what you sleep on,
> bring a pillow. Options here range from flat-as-a-pancake to the
> Rock of Gibraltar. I bought a travel pillow case and stuffed my down
> jacket in it for the summer, and that was fine, but was glad to have
> a 'real' pillow waiting for me in my 'winter' box in UB.
>
> 7. Summer (i.e., smaller) sleeping bag: unless you're planning on
> taking some backpacking trips, you might not want to bother; it's
> just one more thing to carry back and forth from the States, and one
> more expense. You can get fleece, cotton, or silk sleeping bag
> liners made for you here for a fraction of the cost. I haven't seen
> them, but I know they make sleeping bags here for really cheap and
> you could buy that or a quilt if you need extra warmth in winter.
> Recurring theme: You can get almost anything made here for cheap!
> One PCV just asked if I knew anyone who wanted to buy the sleeping
> bag that she had brought with her, as she was already worried about
> the hassle of bringing it back next year.
>
> 8. Coats/winter boots/accessories: You can get everything you need
> here; these people are the experts. Most of the PCVs have had local
> seamstresses whip together various types of coats or jackets for
> them, and there are plenty of hats, gloves, and scarves here.
> Typical examples (these are the low end typical)...Women's long, down
> coat: $14; Custom-made long, wool coat: $18-$27, fleece jacket with
> Mongolian designs: $14. (Even if a zipper breaks or seam gives out,
> you can have it repaired on the spot at a repair shop or by a local
> seamstress for about a buck.) Traditional Mongolian boots can be
> bought or custom-made for around $30-35, I think. One thing that I
> brought which worked better than a scarf at minus 40 was a neck
> gaiter (aka, neck warmer). As it's just some fleece stitched into a
> tube, which I'm sure can be made here, but you can probably pick one
> up cheap at this time of year...or make it yourself. If you have
> favorite gloves or mittens, I'd probably bring those, but you will
> certainly have alot to choose from here. (Note on the boots: If you
> know you have a problem with cold feet and want to take your chances
> with the high tech boots you can get in America, check out Baffin
> boots, www.baffin.com . After I was erroneously told that I wouldn't
> be able to get wos. size 9 shoes here, I bought a pair of Baffin
> Acadia boots online rated to -94 F (I wanna know who had to test
> them!), and they're relatively lightweight and were toasty at minus
> 45; and my feet get cold really easily.)
>
> 9. Great things to bring to your training site: Frisbee, hacky
> sack, deck of cards (Uno is good, too). You will make instant
> friends of every kid in the area when you bring out the Frisbee.
>
> 10. Watch batteries: They have watch repair shops all over the
> place, at least in UB. Because they usually last around 2 years, I
> just saved myself the hassle by replacing my battery right before I
> left.
>
> 11. Duct tape: So far, you can't buy it here, and it's infinitely
> useful.
>
> 12. Photo album: Your host family and every other Mongolian you meet
> will love to see the pictures of your family and friends. They're
> more interested in people than scenery.
>
> 13. If you bring a sports magazine (with pictures of NBA players)
> and a teen magazine (with pictures of the latest pop princess...last
> year it was Britney Spears) you will make a teenager or ten very
> happy. (note: basketball is very popular here and most towns will
> have at least one basketball standard for the boys to play. Even
> poor people also often have satellite dishes, and are familiar with
> some NBA players. One little boy asked me if I knew Allen Iverson.)
>
> 14. Wire hangers: Easy to pack, and almost everyone's home in the
> US seems to have a bunch from the dry cleaner. Handy to have,
> especially since they bend into lots of different shapes for lots of
> different uses. Even furnished apartments don't seem to have many
> hangers to speak of, and in a ger, it's easy to bend them to hang
> anywhere. You can buy plastic hangers here if you need to.
>
> 15. Tupperware: Pack anything that needs protecting into tupperware
> containers. They're great to have afterwards for storage, especially
> since the cheap Chinese ones here aren't leakproof.
>
> 16. Toiletries/make-up: You can get everything you need here
> including American toothpaste and toothbrushes, and I'm starting to
> see floss occasionally. For women: they have all your cosmetic
> needs...all of them. They even have Revlon, Estee Lauder, and
> Clinique products if you don't want to try the Swedish or Korean
> brands. Tampax tampons are available, but they're more expensive
> here.
>
> 17. Dried fruit: I've seen raisins, apricots, and plums pretty
> regularly.
>
> 18. Food: I saw someone had a list of everything s/he would bring.
> Everything on the list can be found in UB ...maybe not every time you
> check, but on a sort of regular basis. There are times when we're
> out of Skippy/Jif peanut butter or macaroni and cheese or whatever;
> but you just learn to grab things when you see them, even if you
> don't need them at the moment. UB has a good selection of fresh
> fruits and vegetables all year round; it's more hit or miss in other
> places.
>
> 19. Plastic egg container: Only 1 volunteer seems to have found one
> of these in Mongolia, but since you get eggs piled in a plastic bag,
> it's a very handy thing to bring (from a camping store).
>
> 20. Plastic insulated mug and spoon: It was a hassle to find a
> spoon when you just wanted to have some noodles in your room, or to
> stir the ubiquitous "Coffee King". Having an insulated mug that was
> bigger than 6 oz. and had a handle in which your fingers actually
> fit, would be a nice thing, though not a necessity.
>
> 21. 1 liter, wide-mouth Nalgene bottle: It must be the unwritten
> rule, because I think every single PCV has one. Besides the obvious,
> they're also handy to use as measuring cups. I brought 2 for some
> reason, but really only needed one.
>
> 22. Solar battery re-charger: I have a brand-new, never been opened
> one that no one here seems to want to buy from me. One of the
> problems is where to put it where it can get 12 hours of sunlight
> (not that you have nearly that much in the winter) while you are
> away. If you have a ger, you don't have any windows either. The
> perception of one person who used one was that the batteries were
> never fully charged. You can buy an electric battery charger here
> that will charge 4 AA batteries in about 4 hours, and you can
> probably get that much electricity in one day even in the smallest
> soum (town); that is, unless the power's completely out, which it can
> be for a period of days every now and again. You can supplement by
> bringing a family-size box of batteries that you can draw on when you
> need to. You can buy Western quality batteries here for the regular
> retail price, i.e., not as cheap as from a US shopping warehouse.
> The Chinese ones available everywhere are terrible.
>
> 23. Laptops are great because it can be your journal, stereo, video
> game, and DVD player depending on what type you have. You can store
> all your CDs on it, and bring small battery operated speakers, or buy
> some here if you will have electricity in your site. Buy a padded,
> snug-fitting, zippered pouch to store it in; and ALWAYS keep it
> zipped up to protect it from all the dust here. I talked to someone
> living in a ger and he never had a problem due to the cold; he used
> coal during the coldest parts of the winter, which retains its heat
> much longer than wood. You can also buy small gel packs that can be
> heated and put in with the laptop (in the laptop's insulated bag) at
> night if you think it will be a problem. (I haven't had to test this
> theory) As far as theft: I brought a laptop lock which I've never
> used, but it's good to be concerned about theft. Some of the
> volunteers who have been victims of theft from their ger, never had a
> problem with their laptop, because in a small soum, you cannot
> possibly show up anywhere with a laptop without it being obvious that
> you took it from the volunteer. Most thefts were children stealing
> money or anything that looked cool and was small enough to hide. And
> if you don't live in a ger, you will probably have a good enough lock
> on your door that anything inside is safe. Yes, you have to be
> willing to accept risk if you bring it, but there are alot of long,
> winter nights to consider and I haven't yet heard of anyone who was
> sorry they brought it. Also, the PC has a technology initiative, so
> you could also use your laptop as a teaching tool and introduce your
> local Mongolian friends to the possibilities. While most are too
> poor to own one themselves, more and more are available in schools,
> internet cafes, or gov't sponsored student computer rooms. The PC is
> offering a computer workshop in a couple weeks for PCVs and one each
> of their community members who are interested in learning how to
> train other people on computer skills.
>
> 24. Heavy-duty ziploc bags are great for all sorts of things. For
> example, rice and sugar come in cheap, plastic bags that are easily
> broken.
>
> 25. Books/magazines: Pack everything you could possibly want, or be
> willing to donate to the PC library, into boxes and ship to yourself
> at the PC office in UB via the "M bag". This is the slow boat to
> Mongolia, anywhere from 2-6 months but it's only $1/lb. It's only
> for printed material.
>
> 26. Musical instruments: Half a dozen of our group brought guitars
> or fiddles and I haven't heard any complaints and they were great to
> have around. If you have an expensive instrument, I'd keep it at
> home and find something cheaper to bring with you.
>
> 27. Dispelling rumors....No, you will not have to forage for wood,
> nor is it likely that you will have to chop it if you don't want to.
> Wood is so scarce in most of your communities that you will probably
> have coal at least in the winter, or maybe some will use dung at some
> point (really, it smells more like the vegetation it used to be than
> anything nasty). The few forests are being depleted so rapidly that
> it's illegal to cut the wood in most cases, though that law is
> thoroughly ignored; still, it's not a good precedent to set for the
> PC to have the volunteers illegally taking wood if you happen to live
> by one of the increasingly rare forests. The PC has arranged with
> all sites to have fuel and water supplied. In reality, some people
> get their water brought to them and some get it from the local well.
> (One volunteer joked that the only foraging he had to do was the
> verbal foraging to try to talk his director into having fuel
> delivered in a timely manner.)
>
> 28. If you need something desperately and don't have anyone to ship
> it to you; REI, LL Bean, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble will ship
> here. Amazon, for one, is great if your package doesn't arrive in a
> timely manner; they'll re-ship it for free.
>
> 29. Things I saw in emails or on lists that you don't need to bring:
> lighters (readily available because cigarettes are so cheap); hammock
> (unless you have other ideas besides stringing it between 2 non-
> existent trees); slippers (e.g., you can buy toasty wool felt ones
> here); extra bandannas (they have the same made-in-China ones here
> that we get in the US).
>
> 30. Most volunteers suggest that you bring socks and underwear,
> including a pair of good, silk long underwear from home; as the
> quality is not as good here for those kind of things or in the case
> of silk (or other high-tech fabric) long underwear, I haven't seen it
> here. Quick-drying hiking socks from EMS, REI, or any good outdoor
> store will be a good investment.
>
> 31. If you have a favorite hat with a big brim, bring it. The
> temperature got up to 110 degrees F one day last summer and the heat
> wave seemed to last for a really long month. Having a wet bandanna
> around your neck when it's that hot is also helpful.
>
> 32. No, there are no McDonald's here, but there is a little store
> that has a pretty accurate fake "7-11" sign. There was a fake
> McDonald's called "MonDonald's" (i.e., "MONgolian mcDONALD'S), but
> McDonald's attorneys got in touch and made them change it
> to "RonDonald's". Mongolians have never heard of McDonald's, so it
> was pretty much a waste of time.
>
> 33. SARS: Mongolia is being amazingly proactive in preventing the
> spread of the virus. New or possible cases are reported every day (I
> think we only have a couple confirmed), most of the population is
> wearing face masks (a very odd sight on the streets), the biggest
> open-air market in the country is closed indefinitely, public events
> are cancelled, all the bars and discos are closing at 10 (can't quite
> figure that one out), and all the buildings have their door handles
> wrapped with gauze soaked in some disinfectant, i.e., they're wet. I
> can't imagine that it would be able to spread to the point that we
> would get evacuated. (Cross your fingers)
>
> 34. Thermarest self-inflating air mattress: It's likely that you
> will have plenty of chances to sleep on floors, and if you mind, this
> is really comfortable to have and packs up pretty compactly. You can
> also buy the 'chair' accessory, made out of nylon, that will turn
> your mattress into a comfy floor chair, which is easily portable for
> travel. Even though I live in an apartment, this is my most
> comfortable chair (sad to say). The mattress is also my guest bed as
> most of us(all of us?)don't have an extra bed or maybe even an extra
> couch for guests.
>
> 35. It's hard or impossible to find good quality cotton t-shirts;
> bring them from home if you like to wear them.
>
> 36. Splurge on some good quality sunglasses with all the appropriate
> UV protection; there's alot of sun here!
>
> 37. If you get the same amount of paperwork that we did, it would be
> handy to bring a lightweight, durable folder with dividers to keep it
> all straight. You might be able to find something you like in UB,
> but you won't get there for shopping for some weeks after you arrive.
>
> 38. Hiking boots: You don't need really heavyweight boots, as
> you're mostly walking around on bare ground (or very uneven
> sidewalks),i.e., it's not particularly rugged, just a bit uneven,
> dirty, and often littered with broken glass. There are plenty of
> shoe repair shops if you wear something out or something breaks, as
> people can't easily afford to buy new things. In the winter, you'll
> be switching to insulated boots anyway. They also sell all sorts of
> variations of lighter weight hiking shoes/boots here (both cheap
> Chinese and Western quality).
>
> 39. Teva (or Teva-like) walking sandals: Best investment I made.
> Good for walking on rugged surfaces, wading across streams, hiking
> small mountains, and using sketchy-looking bath houses. And they're
> very lightweight.
>
>
> In general, pack for the summer as if you are going on an extended
> camping trip; i.e., pack light. Also, bring an extra duffle bag to
> carry all the extra stuff the PC will hand out during the summer:
> filters, books and folders mostly, and anything else you accumulate
> over the summer. Everything that you don't need for the summer can
> be sent directly to the PC in Ulaanbaatar, clearly labelled "Winter
> gear - leave in UB" or something like that, so you don't have to deal
> with it until you leave for your permanent site.
>
> I've rambled. Hope some of this was useful to you and will look
> forward to eventually meeting all of you this summer.
>
> Bayartai!
> Jaime

---

From: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of the_sun_at_cal
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 11:59 AM
To: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Mongolia_2003] Re: Calling M-16 volunteers to Mongolia

Are just guessing about staging being in SF, or do you have some knowledge about it? Just
curious. SF would be SO convenient for me!

--- In Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com, "russianplane" <unlisted@s...> wrote:
>
> Hi Jenny,
>
> I'm an M-16, too.  I'm out in San Francisco, so it seems likely that
> I'll be welcoming you all into my fair city for Staging.  I was just
> writing my recruiter when your message came in.  (I'm subscribed so
> they come to my email.)  I was asking for contact info for another
> volunteer in San Francisco who is an M-16, too, to see what her plans
> and packing list were looking like.  If I do get her info, I'll see if
> she'll post here her ideas.
>
> I've gone through all the posts on this site and there were a few good
> messages about packing -- what to bring and not what to bring.  I've
> pasted one of the best below my sig.
>
> For preparation, I've got a big list going -- mostly clothes that I
> think will stand up to a good beating and still keep me warm.  I'm
> planning on bringing an old laptop to use for music, etc, which I can
> then donate when I leave.  I'm a music junkie and couldn't live
> without my music.  It seems like we'll have electricity, as teachers
> in a fairly good-sized town.  I'm assuming a lot there, based on the
> fact that we'll be teaching at High Schools or what-have-you. 
>
> I'm trying to keep it simple and light, but I'm a minimalist in
> general.  When I go hiking (3-5 days), my pack weighs in at about
> 20-25lbs, even  snow camping.  That said, it seems everyone overpacks
> and I'm sure I'll be wishing I'd left a ton of stuff at home.  Jaime
> (below) suggests that you can get a lot of local stuff at good prices
> or ship stuff from home for use later.  In my mind, I'd rather bring
> two large bags with me with all my stuff, rather than trust everything
> I want to bring to some foreign (or domestic for that matter) customs
> officer. 
>
> A friend of mine was Peace Corps Nepal and she's been following my
> preparations and has given me tons of good advice.  She nixed the
> solar battery charger immediately, which some others on this message
> board recommended against, as well.  I figure its gonna be a bit like
> living at home and a bit like camping, with more emphasis on the
> 'living at home' bit.  Bring what you want, but bring only a few items
> of quality.
>
> I'd be interested in hearing about your teaching experience and if you
> have any ideas or plans for adapting your teaching to Mongolia.
>
> -Sean
>
>
>
>
>
> From:  "jaimeforsyth" <jaimeforsyth@y...>
> Date:  Thu Apr 17, 2003  5:01 am
> Subject:  Just bring what makes you happy!
>
> ADVERTISEMENT
> Sain bain uu, Soon to be Peace Corps Volunteers,
>
> I'm an M13 here in Mongolia (i.e., from the 2002 PCV group) and have
> enjoyed reliving all the packing uncertainties I went through last
> year as I read through some of your emails. The best advice I got
> from a current volunteer, "Just bring what makes you happy."
>
> Other than that, the best advice I can contribute is: Don't spend a
> lot of money beforehand. It's more fun, less stressful, and much
> much much cheaper to buy things here (or have them custom-made) then
> it is to schlep everything here only to find out that you could have
> gotten something suitable here for a fraction of the price. Also, if
> you spent alot of cash on something in the States, you'll probably
> feel obligated to get it back to the US, too, and mailing from here
> is horribly expensive and carrying additional stuff is no fun either.
>
> With that said, I'll try to save you a few dollars and a few pounds
> of luggage:
>
> 1. Vitamins: Once you're sworn in, the PC will provide Centrivite
> multi-vitamins, Calcium supplements, Vitamin C/E/B6 and Iron
> supplements (and any other prescription drugs). Just bring enough of
> those for the summer.
>
> 2. Sunscreen/bug juice/moisture lotion: I think we got all of this
> in our med kits (when you first arrive)...Lubriderm moisture lotion,
> DEET bug lotion (you might want to bring your own), and a thick,
> greasy SPF 28 sunscreen (definitely bring your own). Caveat: This is
> from last year; things can always change.
>
> 3. School supplies: You can get notebooks, folders, pens, glue, post-
> its, markers, paper clips, all that kind of stuff in UB, if not in
> smaller aimags. The only thing that I haven't seen is good quality
> chalk, blackboard erasers, stapler, scissors. Also, the markers
> aren't the best quality. Still, who wants to haul all that stuff
> around? Bring what you can't live without and have a care package
> sent later if you really can't find it here. There are a few
> stationery/office supply stores in UB.
>
> 4. Seeds: ADRA (an NGO) provides free seeds (mostly vegies, not sure
> about herbs) and is conveniently located next to the PC office in
> UB. We just had a big distribution to all the PCVs that wanted them.
>
> 5. Wool tights: The women wear wool-like tights under skirts that
> can be picked up in any market for < $1.40. You can also get other
> (nicer) options for a little more money.
>
> 6. Pillow: If you're at all particular about what you sleep on,
> bring a pillow. Options here range from flat-as-a-pancake to the
> Rock of Gibraltar. I bought a travel pillow case and stuffed my down
> jacket in it for the summer, and that was fine, but was glad to have
> a 'real' pillow waiting for me in my 'winter' box in UB.
>
> 7. Summer (i.e., smaller) sleeping bag: unless you're planning on
> taking some backpacking trips, you might not want to bother; it's
> just one more thing to carry back and forth from the States, and one
> more expense. You can get fleece, cotton, or silk sleeping bag
> liners made for you here for a fraction of the cost. I haven't seen
> them, but I know they make sleeping bags here for really cheap and
> you could buy that or a quilt if you need extra warmth in winter.
> Recurring theme: You can get almost anything made here for cheap!
> One PCV just asked if I knew anyone who wanted to buy the sleeping
> bag that she had brought with her, as she was already worried about
> the hassle of bringing it back next year.
>
> 8. Coats/winter boots/accessories: You can get everything you need
> here; these people are the experts. Most of the PCVs have had local
> seamstresses whip together various types of coats or jackets for
> them, and there are plenty of hats, gloves, and scarves here.
> Typical examples (these are the low end typical)...Women's long, down
> coat: $14; Custom-made long, wool coat: $18-$27, fleece jacket with
> Mongolian designs: $14. (Even if a zipper breaks or seam gives out,
> you can have it repaired on the spot at a repair shop or by a local
> seamstress for about a buck.) Traditional Mongolian boots can be
> bought or custom-made for around $30-35, I think. One thing that I
> brought which worked better than a scarf at minus 40 was a neck
> gaiter (aka, neck warmer). As it's just some fleece stitched into a
> tube, which I'm sure can be made here, but you can probably pick one
> up cheap at this time of year...or make it yourself. If you have
> favorite gloves or mittens, I'd probably bring those, but you will
> certainly have alot to choose from here. (Note on the boots: If you
> know you have a problem with cold feet and want to take your chances
> with the high tech boots you can get in America, check out Baffin
> boots, www.baffin.com . After I was erroneously told that I wouldn't
> be able to get wos. size 9 shoes here, I bought a pair of Baffin
> Acadia boots online rated to -94 F (I wanna know who had to test
> them!), and they're relatively lightweight and were toasty at minus
> 45; and my feet get cold really easily.)
>
> 9. Great things to bring to your training site: Frisbee, hacky
> sack, deck of cards (Uno is good, too). You will make instant
> friends of every kid in the area when you bring out the Frisbee.
>
> 10. Watch batteries: They have watch repair shops all over the
> place, at least in UB. Because they usually last around 2 years, I
> just saved myself the hassle by replacing my battery right before I
> left.
>
> 11. Duct tape: So far, you can't buy it here, and it's infinitely
> useful.
>
> 12. Photo album: Your host family and every other Mongolian you meet
> will love to see the pictures of your family and friends. They're
> more interested in people than scenery.
>
> 13. If you bring a sports magazine (with pictures of NBA players)
> and a teen magazine (with pictures of the latest pop princess...last
> year it was Britney Spears) you will make a teenager or ten very
> happy. (note: basketball is very popular here and most towns will
> have at least one basketball standard for the boys to play. Even
> poor people also often have satellite dishes, and are familiar with
> some NBA players. One little boy asked me if I knew Allen Iverson.)
>
> 14. Wire hangers: Easy to pack, and almost everyone's home in the
> US seems to have a bunch from the dry cleaner. Handy to have,
> especially since they bend into lots of different shapes for lots of
> different uses. Even furnished apartments don't seem to have many
> hangers to speak of, and in a ger, it's easy to bend them to hang
> anywhere. You can buy plastic hangers here if you need to.
>
> 15. Tupperware: Pack anything that needs protecting into tupperware
> containers. They're great to have afterwards for storage, especially
> since the cheap Chinese ones here aren't leakproof.
>
> 16. Toiletries/make-up: You can get everything you need here
> including American toothpaste and toothbrushes, and I'm starting to
> see floss occasionally. For women: they have all your cosmetic
> needs...all of them. They even have Revlon, Estee Lauder, and
> Clinique products if you don't want to try the Swedish or Korean
> brands. Tampax tampons are available, but they're more expensive
> here.
>
> 17. Dried fruit: I've seen raisins, apricots, and plums pretty
> regularly.
>
> 18. Food: I saw someone had a list of everything s/he would bring.
> Everything on the list can be found in UB ...maybe not every time you
> check, but on a sort of regular basis. There are times when we're
> out of Skippy/Jif peanut butter or macaroni and cheese or whatever;
> but you just learn to grab things when you see them, even if you
> don't need them at the moment. UB has a good selection of fresh
> fruits and vegetables all year round; it's more hit or miss in other
> places.
>
> 19. Plastic egg container: Only 1 volunteer seems to have found one
> of these in Mongolia, but since you get eggs piled in a plastic bag,
> it's a very handy thing to bring (from a camping store).
>
> 20. Plastic insulated mug and spoon: It was a hassle to find a
> spoon when you just wanted to have some noodles in your room, or to
> stir the ubiquitous "Coffee King". Having an insulated mug that was
> bigger than 6 oz. and had a handle in which your fingers actually
> fit, would be a nice thing, though not a necessity.
>
> 21. 1 liter, wide-mouth Nalgene bottle: It must be the unwritten
> rule, because I think every single PCV has one. Besides the obvious,
> they're also handy to use as measuring cups. I brought 2 for some
> reason, but really only needed one.
>
> 22. Solar battery re-charger: I have a brand-new, never been opened
> one that no one here seems to want to buy from me. One of the
> problems is where to put it where it can get 12 hours of sunlight
> (not that you have nearly that much in the winter) while you are
> away. If you have a ger, you don't have any windows either. The
> perception of one person who used one was that the batteries were
> never fully charged. You can buy an electric battery charger here
> that will charge 4 AA batteries in about 4 hours, and you can
> probably get that much electricity in one day even in the smallest
> soum (town); that is, unless the power's completely out, which it can
> be for a period of days every now and again. You can supplement by
> bringing a family-size box of batteries that you can draw on when you
> need to. You can buy Western quality batteries here for the regular
> retail price, i.e., not as cheap as from a US shopping warehouse.
> The Chinese ones available everywhere are terrible.
>
> 23. Laptops are great because it can be your journal, stereo, video
> game, and DVD player depending on what type you have. You can store
> all your CDs on it, and bring small battery operated speakers, or buy
> some here if you will have electricity in your site. Buy a padded,
> snug-fitting, zippered pouch to store it in; and ALWAYS keep it
> zipped up to protect it from all the dust here. I talked to someone
> living in a ger and he never had a problem due to the cold; he used
> coal during the coldest parts of the winter, which retains its heat
> much longer than wood. You can also buy small gel packs that can be
> heated and put in with the laptop (in the laptop's insulated bag) at
> night if you think it will be a problem. (I haven't had to test this
> theory) As far as theft: I brought a laptop lock which I've never
> used, but it's good to be concerned about theft. Some of the
> volunteers who have been victims of theft from their ger, never had a
> problem with their laptop, because in a small soum, you cannot
> possibly show up anywhere with a laptop without it being obvious that
> you took it from the volunteer. Most thefts were children stealing
> money or anything that looked cool and was small enough to hide. And
> if you don't live in a ger, you will probably have a good enough lock
> on your door that anything inside is safe. Yes, you have to be
> willing to accept risk if you bring it, but there are alot of long,
> winter nights to consider and I haven't yet heard of anyone who was
> sorry they brought it. Also, the PC has a technology initiative, so
> you could also use your laptop as a teaching tool and introduce your
> local Mongolian friends to the possibilities. While most are too
> poor to own one themselves, more and more are available in schools,
> internet cafes, or gov't sponsored student computer rooms. The PC is
> offering a computer workshop in a couple weeks for PCVs and one each
> of their community members who are interested in learning how to
> train other people on computer skills.
>
> 24. Heavy-duty ziploc bags are great for all sorts of things. For
> example, rice and sugar come in cheap, plastic bags that are easily
> broken.
>
> 25. Books/magazines: Pack everything you could possibly want, or be
> willing to donate to the PC library, into boxes and ship to yourself
> at the PC office in UB via the "M bag". This is the slow boat to
> Mongolia, anywhere from 2-6 months but it's only $1/lb. It's only
> for printed material.
>
> 26. Musical instruments: Half a dozen of our group brought guitars
> or fiddles and I haven't heard any complaints and they were great to
> have around. If you have an expensive instrument, I'd keep it at
> home and find something cheaper to bring with you.
>
> 27. Dispelling rumors....No, you will not have to forage for wood,
> nor is it likely that you will have to chop it if you don't want to.
> Wood is so scarce in most of your communities that you will probably
> have coal at least in the winter, or maybe some will use dung at some
> point (really, it smells more like the vegetation it used to be than
> anything nasty). The few forests are being depleted so rapidly that
> it's illegal to cut the wood in most cases, though that law is
> thoroughly ignored; still, it's not a good precedent to set for the
> PC to have the volunteers illegally taking wood if you happen to live
> by one of the increasingly rare forests. The PC has arranged with
> all sites to have fuel and water supplied. In reality, some people
> get their water brought to them and some get it from the local well.
> (One volunteer joked that the only foraging he had to do was the
> verbal foraging to try to talk his director into having fuel
> delivered in a timely manner.)
>
> 28. If you need something desperately and don't have anyone to ship
> it to you; REI, LL Bean, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble will ship
> here. Amazon, for one, is great if your package doesn't arrive in a
> timely manner; they'll re-ship it for free.
>
> 29. Things I saw in emails or on lists that you don't need to bring:
> lighters (readily available because cigarettes are so cheap); hammock
> (unless you have other ideas besides stringing it between 2 non-
> existent trees); slippers (e.g., you can buy toasty wool felt ones
> here); extra bandannas (they have the same made-in-China ones here
> that we get in the US).
>
> 30. Most volunteers suggest that you bring socks and underwear,
> including a pair of good, silk long underwear from home; as the
> quality is not as good here for those kind of things or in the case
> of silk (or other high-tech fabric) long underwear, I haven't seen it
> here. Quick-drying hiking socks from EMS, REI, or any good outdoor
> store will be a good investment.
>
> 31. If you have a favorite hat with a big brim, bring it. The
> temperature got up to 110 degrees F one day last summer and the heat
> wave seemed to last for a really long month. Having a wet bandanna
> around your neck when it's that hot is also helpful.
>
> 32. No, there are no McDonald's here, but there is a little store
> that has a pretty accurate fake "7-11" sign. There was a fake
> McDonald's called "MonDonald's" (i.e., "MONgolian mcDONALD'S), but
> McDonald's attorneys got in touch and made them change it
> to "RonDonald's". Mongolians have never heard of McDonald's, so it
> was pretty much a waste of time.
>
> 33. SARS: Mongolia is being amazingly proactive in preventing the
> spread of the virus. New or possible cases are reported every day (I
> think we only have a couple confirmed), most of the population is
> wearing face masks (a very odd sight on the streets), the biggest
> open-air market in the country is closed indefinitely, public events
> are cancelled, all the bars and discos are closing at 10 (can't quite
> figure that one out), and all the buildings have their door handles
> wrapped with gauze soaked in some disinfectant, i.e., they're wet. I
> can't imagine that it would be able to spread to the point that we
> would get evacuated. (Cross your fingers)
>
> 34. Thermarest self-inflating air mattress: It's likely that you
> will have plenty of chances to sleep on floors, and if you mind, this
> is really comfortable to have and packs up pretty compactly. You can
> also buy the 'chair' accessory, made out of nylon, that will turn
> your mattress into a comfy floor chair, which is easily portable for
> travel. Even though I live in an apartment, this is my most
> comfortable chair (sad to say). The mattress is also my guest bed as
> most of us(all of us?)don't have an extra bed or maybe even an extra
> couch for guests.
>
> 35. It's hard or impossible to find good quality cotton t-shirts;
> bring them from home if you like to wear them.
>
> 36. Splurge on some good quality sunglasses with all the appropriate
> UV protection; there's alot of sun here!
>
> 37. If you get the same amount of paperwork that we did, it would be
> handy to bring a lightweight, durable folder with dividers to keep it
> all straight. You might be able to find something you like in UB,
> but you won't get there for shopping for some weeks after you arrive.
>
> 38. Hiking boots: You don't need really heavyweight boots, as
> you're mostly walking around on bare ground (or very uneven
> sidewalks),i.e., it's not particularly rugged, just a bit uneven,
> dirty, and often littered with broken glass. There are plenty of
> shoe repair shops if you wear something out or something breaks, as
> people can't easily afford to buy new things. In the winter, you'll
> be switching to insulated boots anyway. They also sell all sorts of
> variations of lighter weight hiking shoes/boots here (both cheap
> Chinese and Western quality).
>
> 39. Teva (or Teva-like) walking sandals: Best investment I made.
> Good for walking on rugged surfaces, wading across streams, hiking
> small mountains, and using sketchy-looking bath houses. And they're
> very lightweight.
>
>
> In general, pack for the summer as if you are going on an extended
> camping trip; i.e., pack light. Also, bring an extra duffle bag to
> carry all the extra stuff the PC will hand out during the summer:
> filters, books and folders mostly, and anything else you accumulate
> over the summer. Everything that you don't need for the summer can
> be sent directly to the PC in Ulaanbaatar, clearly labelled "Winter
> gear - leave in UB" or something like that, so you don't have to deal
> with it until you leave for your permanent site.
>
> I've rambled. Hope some of this was useful to you and will look
> forward to eventually meeting all of you this summer.
>
> Bayartai!
> Jaime

From the literature I got:

'acquistion of life skills by disenfranchised youth through the explicit
teaching of
decision-making, self-esteem, emotional and stress management, and effective
communications skills'

could be a lot of different things. :-)

--- In Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com, "unlisted" <unlisted@s...> wrote:
> I was just guessing, but was wrong. I got some info in the mail and also
> talked to the office yesterday and staging will be in Los Angeles.
>
> Youth Development?  What does that entail?
>
> -s.
>
>
>   _____
>
> From: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com [mailto:Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com]
> On Behalf Of the_sun_at_cal
> Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 11:59 AM
> To: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [Mongolia_2003] Re: Calling M-16 volunteers to Mongolia
>
>
>
> Are just guessing about staging being in SF, or do you have some knowledge
> about it? Just
> curious. SF would be SO convenient for me!
>
> --- In Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com, "russianplane" <unlisted@s...> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Jenny,
> >
> > I'm an M-16, too.  I'm out in San Francisco, so it seems likely that
> > I'll be welcoming you all into my fair city for Staging.  I was just
> > writing my recruiter when your message came in.  (I'm subscribed so
> > they come to my email.)  I was asking for contact info for another
> > volunteer in San Francisco who is an M-16, too, to see what her plans
> > and packing list were looking like.  If I do get her info, I'll see if
> > she'll post here her ideas.
> >
> > I've gone through all the posts on this site and there were a few good
> > messages about packing -- what to bring and not what to bring.  I've
> > pasted one of the best below my sig.
> >
> > For preparation, I've got a big list going -- mostly clothes that I
> > think will stand up to a good beating and still keep me warm.  I'm
> > planning on bringing an old laptop to use for music, etc, which I can
> > then donate when I leave.  I'm a music junkie and couldn't live
> > without my music.  It seems like we'll have electricity, as teachers
> > in a fairly good-sized town.  I'm assuming a lot there, based on the
> > fact that we'll be teaching at High Schools or what-have-you.
> >
> > I'm trying to keep it simple and light, but I'm a minimalist in
> > general.  When I go hiking (3-5 days), my pack weighs in at about
> > 20-25lbs, even  snow camping.  That said, it seems everyone overpacks
> > and I'm sure I'll be wishing I'd left a ton of stuff at home.  Jaime
> > (below) suggests that you can get a lot of local stuff at good prices
> > or ship stuff from home for use later.  In my mind, I'd rather bring
> > two large bags with me with all my stuff, rather than trust everything
> > I want to bring to some foreign (or domestic for that matter) customs
> > officer.
> >
> > A friend of mine was Peace Corps Nepal and she's been following my
> > preparations and has given me tons of good advice.  She nixed the
> > solar battery charger immediately, which some others on this message
> > board recommended against, as well.  I figure its gonna be a bit like
> > living at home and a bit like camping, with more emphasis on the
> > 'living at home' bit.  Bring what you want, but bring only a few items
> > of quality.
> >
> > I'd be interested in hearing about your teaching experience and if you
> > have any ideas or plans for adapting your teaching to Mongolia.
> >
> > -Sean
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > From:  "jaimeforsyth" <jaimeforsyth@y...>
> > Date:  Thu Apr 17, 2003  5:01 am
> > Subject:  Just bring what makes you happy!
> >
> > ADVERTISEMENT
> > Sain bain uu, Soon to be Peace Corps Volunteers,
> >
> > I'm an M13 here in Mongolia (i.e., from the 2002 PCV group) and have
> > enjoyed reliving all the packing uncertainties I went through last
> > year as I read through some of your emails. The best advice I got
> > from a current volunteer, "Just bring what makes you happy."
> >
> > Other than that, the best advice I can contribute is: Don't spend a
> > lot of money beforehand. It's more fun, less stressful, and much
> > much much cheaper to buy things here (or have them custom-made) then
> > it is to schlep everything here only to find out that you could have
> > gotten something suitable here for a fraction of the price. Also, if
> > you spent alot of cash on something in the States, you'll probably
> > feel obligated to get it back to the US, too, and mailing from here
> > is horribly expensive and carrying additional stuff is no fun either.
> >
> > With that said, I'll try to save you a few dollars and a few pounds
> > of luggage:
> >
> > 1. Vitamins: Once you're sworn in, the PC will provide Centrivite
> > multi-vitamins, Calcium supplements, Vitamin C/E/B6 and Iron
> > supplements (and any other prescription drugs). Just bring enough of
> > those for the summer.
> >
> > 2. Sunscreen/bug juice/moisture lotion: I think we got all of this
> > in our med kits (when you first arrive)...Lubriderm moisture lotion,
> > DEET bug lotion (you might want to bring your own), and a thick,
> > greasy SPF 28 sunscreen (definitely bring your own). Caveat: This is
> > from last year; things can always change.
> >
> > 3. School supplies: You can get notebooks, folders, pens, glue, post-
> > its, markers, paper clips, all that kind of stuff in UB, if not in
> > smaller aimags. The only thing that I haven't seen is good quality
> > chalk, blackboard erasers, stapler, scissors. Also, the markers
> > aren't the best quality. Still, who wants to haul all that stuff
> > around? Bring what you can't live without and have a care package
> > sent later if you really can't find it here. There are a few
> > stationery/office supply stores in UB.
> >
> > 4. Seeds: ADRA (an NGO) provides free seeds (mostly vegies, not sure
> > about herbs) and is conveniently located next to the PC office in
> > UB. We just had a big distribution to all the PCVs that wanted them.
> >
> > 5. Wool tights: The women wear wool-like tights under skirts that
> > can be picked up in any market for < $1.40. You can also get other
> > (nicer) options for a little more money.
> >
> > 6. Pillow: If you're at all particular about what you sleep on,
> > bring a pillow. Options here range from flat-as-a-pancake to the
> > Rock of Gibraltar. I bought a travel pillow case and stuffed my down
> > jacket in it for the summer, and that was fine, but was glad to have
> > a 'real' pillow waiting for me in my 'winter' box in UB.
> >
> > 7. Summer (i.e., smaller) sleeping bag: unless you're planning on
> > taking some backpacking trips, you might not want to bother; it's
> > just one more thing to carry back and forth from the States, and one
> > more expense. You can get fleece, cotton, or silk sleeping bag
> > liners made for you here for a fraction of the cost. I haven't seen
> > them, but I know they make sleeping bags here for really cheap and
> > you could buy that or a quilt if you need extra warmth in winter.
> > Recurring theme: You can get almost anything made here for cheap!
> > One PCV just asked if I knew anyone who wanted to buy the sleeping
> > bag that she had brought with her, as she was already worried about
> > the hassle of bringing it back next year.
> >
> > 8. Coats/winter boots/accessories: You can get everything you need
> > here; these people are the experts. Most of the PCVs have had local
> > seamstresses whip together various types of coats or jackets for
> > them, and there are plenty of hats, gloves, and scarves here.
> > Typical examples (these are the low end typical)...Women's long, down
> > coat: $14; Custom-made long, wool coat: $18-$27, fleece jacket with
> > Mongolian designs: $14. (Even if a zipper breaks or seam gives out,
> > you can have it repaired on the spot at a repair shop or by a local
> > seamstress for about a buck.) Traditional Mongolian boots can be
> > bought or custom-made for around $30-35, I think. One thing that I
> > brought which worked better than a scarf at minus 40 was a neck
> > gaiter (aka, neck warmer). As it's just some fleece stitched into a
> > tube, which I'm sure can be made here, but you can probably pick one
> > up cheap at this time of year...or make it yourself. If you have
> > favorite gloves or mittens, I'd probably bring those, but you will
> > certainly have alot to choose from here. (Note on the boots: If you
> > know you have a problem with cold feet and want to take your chances
> > with the high tech boots you can get in America, check out Baffin
> > boots, www.baffin.com . After I was erroneously told that I wouldn't
> > be able to get wos. size 9 shoes here, I bought a pair of Baffin
> > Acadia boots online rated to -94 F (I wanna know who had to test
> > them!), and they're relatively lightweight and were toasty at minus
> > 45; and my feet get cold really easily.)
> >
> > 9. Great things to bring to your training site: Frisbee, hacky
> > sack, deck of cards (Uno is good, too). You will make instant
> > friends of every kid in the area when you bring out the Frisbee.
> >
> > 10. Watch batteries: They have watch repair shops all over the
> > place, at least in UB. Because they usually last around 2 years, I
> > just saved myself the hassle by replacing my battery right before I
> > left.
> >
> > 11. Duct tape: So far, you can't buy it here, and it's infinitely
> > useful.
> >
> > 12. Photo album: Your host family and every other Mongolian you meet
> > will love to see the pictures of your family and friends. They're
> > more interested in people than scenery.
> >
> > 13. If you bring a sports magazine (with pictures of NBA players)
> > and a teen magazine (with pictures of the latest pop princess...last
> > year it was Britney Spears) you will make a teenager or ten very
> > happy. (note: basketball is very popular here and most towns will
> > have at least one basketball standard for the boys to play. Even
> > poor people also often have satellite dishes, and are familiar with
> > some NBA players. One little boy asked me if I knew Allen Iverson.)
> >
> > 14. Wire hangers: Easy to pack, and almost everyone's home in the
> > US seems to have a bunch from the dry cleaner. Handy to have,
> > especially since they bend into lots of different shapes for lots of
> > different uses. Even furnished apartments don't seem to have many
> > hangers to speak of, and in a ger, it's easy to bend them to hang
> > anywhere. You can buy plastic hangers here if you need to.
> >
> > 15. Tupperware: Pack anything that needs protecting into tupperware
> > containers. They're great to have afterwards for storage, especially
> > since the cheap Chinese ones here aren't leakproof.
> >
> > 16. Toiletries/make-up: You can get everything you need here
> > including American toothpaste and toothbrushes, and I'm starting to
> > see floss occasionally. For women: they have all your cosmetic
> > needs...all of them. They even have Revlon, Estee Lauder, and
> > Clinique products if you don't want to try the Swedish or Korean
> > brands. Tampax tampons are available, but they're more expensive
> > here.
> >
> > 17. Dried fruit: I've seen raisins, apricots, and plums pretty
> > regularly.
> >
> > 18. Food: I saw someone had a list of everything s/he would bring.
> > Everything on the list can be found in UB ...maybe not every time you
> > check, but on a sort of regular basis. There are times when we're
> > out of Skippy/Jif peanut butter or macaroni and cheese or whatever;
> > but you just learn to grab things when you see them, even if you
> > don't need them at the moment. UB has a good selection of fresh
> > fruits and vegetables all year round; it's more hit or miss in other
> > places.
> >
> > 19. Plastic egg container: Only 1 volunteer seems to have found one
> > of these in Mongolia, but since you get eggs piled in a plastic bag,
> > it's a very handy thing to bring (from a camping store).
> >
> > 20. Plastic insulated mug and spoon: It was a hassle to find a
> > spoon when you just wanted to have some noodles in your room, or to
> > stir the ubiquitous "Coffee King". Having an insulated mug that was
> > bigger than 6 oz. and had a handle in which your fingers actually
> > fit, would be a nice thing, though not a necessity.
> >
> > 21. 1 liter, wide-mouth Nalgene bottle: It must be the unwritten
> > rule, because I think every single PCV has one. Besides the obvious,
> > they're also handy to use as measuring cups. I brought 2 for some
> > reason, but really only needed one.
> >
> > 22. Solar battery re-charger: I have a brand-new, never been opened
> > one that no one here seems to want to buy from me. One of the
> > problems is where to put it where it can get 12 hours of sunlight
> > (not that you have nearly that much in the winter) while you are
> > away. If you have a ger, you don't have any windows either. The
> > perception of one person who used one was that the batteries were
> > never fully charged. You can buy an electric battery charger here
> > that will charge 4 AA batteries in about 4 hours, and you can
> > probably get that much electricity in one day even in the smallest
> > soum (town); that is, unless the power's completely out, which it can
> > be for a period of days every now and again. You can supplement by
> > bringing a family-size box of batteries that you can draw on when you
> > need to. You can buy Western quality batteries here for the regular
> > retail price, i.e., not as cheap as from a US shopping warehouse.
> > The Chinese ones available everywhere are terrible.
> >
> > 23. Laptops are great because it can be your journal, stereo, video
> > game, and DVD player depending on what type you have. You can store
> > all your CDs on it, and bring small battery operated speakers, or buy
> > some here if you will have electricity in your site. Buy a padded,
> > snug-fitting, zippered pouch to store it in; and ALWAYS keep it
> > zipped up to protect it from all the dust here. I talked to someone
> > living in a ger and he never had a problem due to the cold; he used
> > coal during the coldest parts of the winter, which retains its heat
> > much longer than wood. You can also buy small gel packs that can be
> > heated and put in with the laptop (in the laptop's insulated bag) at
> > night if you think it will be a problem. (I haven't had to test this
> > theory) As far as theft: I brought a laptop lock which I've never
> > used, but it's good to be concerned about theft. Some of the
> > volunteers who have been victims of theft from their ger, never had a
> > problem with their laptop, because in a small soum, you cannot
> > possibly show up anywhere with a laptop without it being obvious that
> > you took it from the volunteer. Most thefts were children stealing
> > money or anything that looked cool and was small enough to hide. And
> > if you don't live in a ger, you will probably have a good enough lock
> > on your door that anything inside is safe. Yes, you have to be
> > willing to accept risk if you bring it, but there are alot of long,
> > winter nights to consider and I haven't yet heard of anyone who was
> > sorry they brought it. Also, the PC has a technology initiative, so
> > you could also use your laptop as a teaching tool and introduce your
> > local Mongolian friends to the possibilities. While most are too
> > poor to own one themselves, more and more are available in schools,
> > internet cafes, or gov't sponsored student computer rooms. The PC is
> > offering a computer workshop in a couple weeks for PCVs and one each
> > of their community members who are interested in learning how to
> > train other people on computer skills.
> >
> > 24. Heavy-duty ziploc bags are great for all sorts of things. For
> > example, rice and sugar come in cheap, plastic bags that are easily
> > broken.
> >
> > 25. Books/magazines: Pack everything you could possibly want, or be
> > willing to donate to the PC library, into boxes and ship to yourself
> > at the PC office in UB via the "M bag". This is the slow boat to
> > Mongolia, anywhere from 2-6 months but it's only $1/lb. It's only
> > for printed material.
> >
> > 26. Musical instruments: Half a dozen of our group brought guitars
> > or fiddles and I haven't heard any complaints and they were great to
> > have around. If you have an expensive instrument, I'd keep it at
> > home and find something cheaper to bring with you.
> >
> > 27. Dispelling rumors....No, you will not have to forage for wood,
> > nor is it likely that you will have to chop it if you don't want to.
> > Wood is so scarce in most of your communities that you will probably
> > have coal at least in the winter, or maybe some will use dung at some
> > point (really, it smells more like the vegetation it used to be than
> > anything nasty). The few forests are being depleted so rapidly that
> > it's illegal to cut the wood in most cases, though that law is
> > thoroughly ignored; still, it's not a good precedent to set for the
> > PC to have the volunteers illegally taking wood if you happen to live
> > by one of the increasingly rare forests. The PC has arranged with
> > all sites to have fuel and water supplied. In reality, some people
> > get their water brought to them and some get it from the local well.
> > (One volunteer joked that the only foraging he had to do was the
> > verbal foraging to try to talk his director into having fuel
> > delivered in a timely manner.)
> >
> > 28. If you need something desperately and don't have anyone to ship
> > it to you; REI, LL Bean, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble will ship
> > here. Amazon, for one, is great if your package doesn't arrive in a
> > timely manner; they'll re-ship it for free.
> >
> > 29. Things I saw in emails or on lists that you don't need to bring:
> > lighters (readily available because cigarettes are so cheap); hammock
> > (unless you have other ideas besides stringing it between 2 non-
> > existent trees); slippers (e.g., you can buy toasty wool felt ones
> > here); extra bandannas (they have the same made-in-China ones here
> > that we get in the US).
> >
> > 30. Most volunteers suggest that you bring socks and underwear,
> > including a pair of good, silk long underwear from home; as the
> > quality is not as good here for those kind of things or in the case
> > of silk (or other high-tech fabric) long underwear, I haven't seen it
> > here. Quick-drying hiking socks from EMS, REI, or any good outdoor
> > store will be a good investment.
> >
> > 31. If you have a favorite hat with a big brim, bring it. The
> > temperature got up to 110 degrees F one day last summer and the heat
> > wave seemed to last for a really long month. Having a wet bandanna
> > around your neck when it's that hot is also helpful.
> >
> > 32. No, there are no McDonald's here, but there is a little store
> > that has a pretty accurate fake "7-11" sign. There was a fake
> > McDonald's called "MonDonald's" (i.e., "MONgolian mcDONALD'S), but
> > McDonald's attorneys got in touch and made them change it
> > to "RonDonald's". Mongolians have never heard of McDonald's, so it
> > was pretty much a waste of time.
> >
> > 33. SARS: Mongolia is being amazingly proactive in preventing the
> > spread of the virus. New or possible cases are reported every day (I
> > think we only have a couple confirmed), most of the population is
> > wearing face masks (a very odd sight on the streets), the biggest
> > open-air market in the country is closed indefinitely, public events
> > are cancelled, all the bars and discos are closing at 10 (can't quite
> > figure that one out), and all the buildings have their door handles
> > wrapped with gauze soaked in some disinfectant, i.e., they're wet. I
> > can't imagine that it would be able to spread to the point that we
> > would get evacuated. (Cross your fingers)
> >
> > 34. Thermarest self-inflating air mattress: It's likely that you
> > will have plenty of chances to sleep on floors, and if you mind, this
> > is really comfortable to have and packs up pretty compactly. You can
> > also buy the 'chair' accessory, made out of nylon, that will turn
> > your mattress into a comfy floor chair, which is easily portable for
> > travel. Even though I live in an apartment, this is my most
> > comfortable chair (sad to say). The mattress is also my guest bed as
> > most of us(all of us?)don't have an extra bed or maybe even an extra
> > couch for guests.
> >
> > 35. It's hard or impossible to find good quality cotton t-shirts;
> > bring them from home if you like to wear them.
> >
> > 36. Splurge on some good quality sunglasses with all the appropriate
> > UV protection; there's alot of sun here!
> >
> > 37. If you get the same amount of paperwork that we did, it would be
> > handy to bring a lightweight, durable folder with dividers to keep it
> > all straight. You might be able to find something you like in UB,
> > but you won't get there for shopping for some weeks after you arrive.
> >
> > 38. Hiking boots: You don't need really heavyweight boots, as
> > you're mostly walking around on bare ground (or very uneven
> > sidewalks),i.e., it's not particularly rugged, just a bit uneven,
> > dirty, and often littered with broken glass. There are plenty of
> > shoe repair shops if you wear something out or something breaks, as
> > people can't easily afford to buy new things. In the winter, you'll
> > be switching to insulated boots anyway. They also sell all sorts of
> > variations of lighter weight hiking shoes/boots here (both cheap
> > Chinese and Western quality).
> >
> > 39. Teva (or Teva-like) walking sandals: Best investment I made.
> > Good for walking on rugged surfaces, wading across streams, hiking
> > small mountains, and using sketchy-looking bath houses. And they're
> > very lightweight.
> >
> >
> > In general, pack for the summer as if you are going on an extended
> > camping trip; i.e., pack light. Also, bring an extra duffle bag to
> > carry all the extra stuff the PC will hand out during the summer:
> > filters, books and folders mostly, and anything else you accumulate
> > over the summer. Everything that you don't need for the summer can
> > be sent directly to the PC in Ulaanbaatar, clearly labelled "Winter
> > gear - leave in UB" or something like that, so you don't have to deal
> > with it until you leave for your permanent site.
> >
> > I've rambled. Hope some of this was useful to you and will look
> > forward to eventually meeting all of you this summer.
> >
> > Bayartai!
> > Jaime
>
>
>
>
>
>   _____
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
> * To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mongolia_2003/
>
>
> * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> Mongolia_2003-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> <mailto:Mongolia_2003-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>
>
>
> * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .

Hello,

I'm an M-14 in Zavhan.  Sorry I don't really have time
to read all this stuff in the group E-mail.  I'll try
to answer any questions you have as I am in UB for a
while and will be able to use E-mail more often.

Keep in mind that it may take a few days.  I had a
chance to get to e-mail outside of UB, but some of the
messages were too big for the computers to open.


--- Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com wrote:

>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
> --------------------~-->
> Has someone you know been affected by illness or
> disease?

Yes, my first year our town was quarantined for the
plague.  Six people were infected and one nice lady
died.  But The Black Death isn't a problem for peace
corps folks because we carry around tons of
anti-biotics. The biggest problems for us are
diarrhea, colds, and venereal diseases.  Venereal
diseases are a huge problem in this country.  Other
major health concerns are alcohol, diarrhea, and heart
disease.  Hepatitis and other hygiene related illnesss
should also be a great concern.

> Hi all!
>
> My name is Sunaree and I'm invited for Mongolia
> leaving June 11th, but in youth
> Development. I guess this is the first year for that
> program at this site.

Hey Sunaree,

Younth development is really needed here and I think
the program will be very successfull.  I've done a few
things in related areas and I can tell you that
Mongolians love getting involved in cool projects.
But don't think too far in advance.  Think of small
projects that you can finish in one or two weeks.
Those you can implement and have imediate results that
build confidence in the Mongolians.  Then they end up
doing stuff on their own.  The most important thing is
to just break through apathy.


Good luck,
Bird

We each see the world from our own experience, and must remember that what we
know is only part of the truth.


>"Nobody makes a greater mistake
>than when he does nothing
>because he could only do a little."
>-- Edmund Burke



__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Plan great trips with Yahoo! Travel: Now over 17,000 guides!
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide

Hi all!

My name is Sunaree and I'm invited for Mongolia leaving June 11th, but in youth
Development. I guess this is the first year for that program at this site. I'm excited and
anxious and overwhelmed. Trying to work out leaving my job and moving and packing and
all of that. Just thought I'd introduce myself. Any other non-TEFL volunteers our there?

~sunaree

Hello,
My name is Owen and I was recently invited to the M16 TEFL program.  I
was wondering what type of winter gear people were bringing, since I
am from Arizona and am having trouble even finding anything.  Jaime's
comprehensive list helped, thanks a lot. Can't wait to meet everyone.
Owen

--- In Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com, "the_sun_at_cal" <sunaree@g...>
wrote:
>
> From the literature I got:
>
> 'acquistion of life skills by disenfranchised youth through the
explicit teaching of
> decision-making, self-esteem, emotional and stress management, and
effective
> communications skills'
>
> could be a lot of different things. :-)
>
> --- In Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com, "unlisted" <unlisted@s...> wrote:
> > I was just guessing, but was wrong. I got some info in the mail
and also
> > talked to the office yesterday and staging will be in Los Angeles.
> >
> > Youth Development?  What does that entail?
> >
> > -s.
> >
> >
> >   _____
> >
> > From: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com]
> > On Behalf Of the_sun_at_cal
> > Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 11:59 AM
> > To: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [Mongolia_2003] Re: Calling M-16 volunteers to Mongolia
> >
> >
> >
> > Are just guessing about staging being in SF, or do you have some
knowledge
> > about it? Just
> > curious. SF would be SO convenient for me!
> >
> > --- In Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com, "russianplane"
<unlisted@s...> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi Jenny,
> > >
> > > I'm an M-16, too.  I'm out in San Francisco, so it seems likely that
> > > I'll be welcoming you all into my fair city for Staging.  I was just
> > > writing my recruiter when your message came in.  (I'm subscribed so
> > > they come to my email.)  I was asking for contact info for another
> > > volunteer in San Francisco who is an M-16, too, to see what her
plans
> > > and packing list were looking like.  If I do get her info, I'll
see if
> > > she'll post here her ideas.
> > >
> > > I've gone through all the posts on this site and there were a
few good
> > > messages about packing -- what to bring and not what to bring.  I've
> > > pasted one of the best below my sig.
> > >
> > > For preparation, I've got a big list going -- mostly clothes that I
> > > think will stand up to a good beating and still keep me warm.  I'm
> > > planning on bringing an old laptop to use for music, etc, which
I can
> > > then donate when I leave.  I'm a music junkie and couldn't live
> > > without my music.  It seems like we'll have electricity, as teachers
> > > in a fairly good-sized town.  I'm assuming a lot there, based on the
> > > fact that we'll be teaching at High Schools or what-have-you.
> > >
> > > I'm trying to keep it simple and light, but I'm a minimalist in
> > > general.  When I go hiking (3-5 days), my pack weighs in at about
> > > 20-25lbs, even  snow camping.  That said, it seems everyone
overpacks
> > > and I'm sure I'll be wishing I'd left a ton of stuff at home.  Jaime
> > > (below) suggests that you can get a lot of local stuff at good
prices
> > > or ship stuff from home for use later.  In my mind, I'd rather bring
> > > two large bags with me with all my stuff, rather than trust
everything
> > > I want to bring to some foreign (or domestic for that matter)
customs
> > > officer.
> > >
> > > A friend of mine was Peace Corps Nepal and she's been following my
> > > preparations and has given me tons of good advice.  She nixed the
> > > solar battery charger immediately, which some others on this message
> > > board recommended against, as well.  I figure its gonna be a bit
like
> > > living at home and a bit like camping, with more emphasis on the
> > > 'living at home' bit.  Bring what you want, but bring only a few
items
> > > of quality.
> > >
> > > I'd be interested in hearing about your teaching experience and
if you
> > > have any ideas or plans for adapting your teaching to Mongolia.
> > >
> > > -Sean
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > From:  "jaimeforsyth" <jaimeforsyth@y...>
> > > Date:  Thu Apr 17, 2003  5:01 am
> > > Subject:  Just bring what makes you happy!
> > >
> > > ADVERTISEMENT
> > > Sain bain uu, Soon to be Peace Corps Volunteers,
> > >
> > > I'm an M13 here in Mongolia (i.e., from the 2002 PCV group) and have
> > > enjoyed reliving all the packing uncertainties I went through last
> > > year as I read through some of your emails. The best advice I got
> > > from a current volunteer, "Just bring what makes you happy."
> > >
> > > Other than that, the best advice I can contribute is: Don't spend a
> > > lot of money beforehand. It's more fun, less stressful, and much
> > > much much cheaper to buy things here (or have them custom-made) then
> > > it is to schlep everything here only to find out that you could have
> > > gotten something suitable here for a fraction of the price. Also, if
> > > you spent alot of cash on something in the States, you'll probably
> > > feel obligated to get it back to the US, too, and mailing from here
> > > is horribly expensive and carrying additional stuff is no fun
either.
> > >
> > > With that said, I'll try to save you a few dollars and a few pounds
> > > of luggage:
> > >
> > > 1. Vitamins: Once you're sworn in, the PC will provide Centrivite
> > > multi-vitamins, Calcium supplements, Vitamin C/E/B6 and Iron
> > > supplements (and any other prescription drugs). Just bring enough of
> > > those for the summer.
> > >
> > > 2. Sunscreen/bug juice/moisture lotion: I think we got all of this
> > > in our med kits (when you first arrive)...Lubriderm moisture lotion,
> > > DEET bug lotion (you might want to bring your own), and a thick,
> > > greasy SPF 28 sunscreen (definitely bring your own). Caveat: This is
> > > from last year; things can always change.
> > >
> > > 3. School supplies: You can get notebooks, folders, pens, glue,
post-
> > > its, markers, paper clips, all that kind of stuff in UB, if not in
> > > smaller aimags. The only thing that I haven't seen is good quality
> > > chalk, blackboard erasers, stapler, scissors. Also, the markers
> > > aren't the best quality. Still, who wants to haul all that stuff
> > > around? Bring what you can't live without and have a care package
> > > sent later if you really can't find it here. There are a few
> > > stationery/office supply stores in UB.
> > >
> > > 4. Seeds: ADRA (an NGO) provides free seeds (mostly vegies, not sure
> > > about herbs) and is conveniently located next to the PC office in
> > > UB. We just had a big distribution to all the PCVs that wanted them.
> > >
> > > 5. Wool tights: The women wear wool-like tights under skirts that
> > > can be picked up in any market for < $1.40. You can also get other
> > > (nicer) options for a little more money.
> > >
> > > 6. Pillow: If you're at all particular about what you sleep on,
> > > bring a pillow. Options here range from flat-as-a-pancake to the
> > > Rock of Gibraltar. I bought a travel pillow case and stuffed my down
> > > jacket in it for the summer, and that was fine, but was glad to have
> > > a 'real' pillow waiting for me in my 'winter' box in UB.
> > >
> > > 7. Summer (i.e., smaller) sleeping bag: unless you're planning on
> > > taking some backpacking trips, you might not want to bother; it's
> > > just one more thing to carry back and forth from the States, and one
> > > more expense. You can get fleece, cotton, or silk sleeping bag
> > > liners made for you here for a fraction of the cost. I haven't seen
> > > them, but I know they make sleeping bags here for really cheap and
> > > you could buy that or a quilt if you need extra warmth in winter.
> > > Recurring theme: You can get almost anything made here for cheap!
> > > One PCV just asked if I knew anyone who wanted to buy the sleeping
> > > bag that she had brought with her, as she was already worried about
> > > the hassle of bringing it back next year.
> > >
> > > 8. Coats/winter boots/accessories: You can get everything you need
> > > here; these people are the experts. Most of the PCVs have had local
> > > seamstresses whip together various types of coats or jackets for
> > > them, and there are plenty of hats, gloves, and scarves here.
> > > Typical examples (these are the low end typical)...Women's long,
down
> > > coat: $14; Custom-made long, wool coat: $18-$27, fleece jacket with
> > > Mongolian designs: $14. (Even if a zipper breaks or seam gives out,
> > > you can have it repaired on the spot at a repair shop or by a local
> > > seamstress for about a buck.) Traditional Mongolian boots can be
> > > bought or custom-made for around $30-35, I think. One thing that I
> > > brought which worked better than a scarf at minus 40 was a neck
> > > gaiter (aka, neck warmer). As it's just some fleece stitched into a
> > > tube, which I'm sure can be made here, but you can probably pick one
> > > up cheap at this time of year...or make it yourself. If you have
> > > favorite gloves or mittens, I'd probably bring those, but you will
> > > certainly have alot to choose from here. (Note on the boots: If you
> > > know you have a problem with cold feet and want to take your chances
> > > with the high tech boots you can get in America, check out Baffin
> > > boots, www.baffin.com . After I was erroneously told that I wouldn't
> > > be able to get wos. size 9 shoes here, I bought a pair of Baffin
> > > Acadia boots online rated to -94 F (I wanna know who had to test
> > > them!), and they're relatively lightweight and were toasty at minus
> > > 45; and my feet get cold really easily.)
> > >
> > > 9. Great things to bring to your training site: Frisbee, hacky
> > > sack, deck of cards (Uno is good, too). You will make instant
> > > friends of every kid in the area when you bring out the Frisbee.
> > >
> > > 10. Watch batteries: They have watch repair shops all over the
> > > place, at least in UB. Because they usually last around 2 years, I
> > > just saved myself the hassle by replacing my battery right before I
> > > left.
> > >
> > > 11. Duct tape: So far, you can't buy it here, and it's infinitely
> > > useful.
> > >
> > > 12. Photo album: Your host family and every other Mongolian you meet
> > > will love to see the pictures of your family and friends. They're
> > > more interested in people than scenery.
> > >
> > > 13. If you bring a sports magazine (with pictures of NBA players)
> > > and a teen magazine (with pictures of the latest pop princess...last
> > > year it was Britney Spears) you will make a teenager or ten very
> > > happy. (note: basketball is very popular here and most towns will
> > > have at least one basketball standard for the boys to play. Even
> > > poor people also often have satellite dishes, and are familiar with
> > > some NBA players. One little boy asked me if I knew Allen Iverson.)
> > >
> > > 14. Wire hangers: Easy to pack, and almost everyone's home in the
> > > US seems to have a bunch from the dry cleaner. Handy to have,
> > > especially since they bend into lots of different shapes for lots of
> > > different uses. Even furnished apartments don't seem to have many
> > > hangers to speak of, and in a ger, it's easy to bend them to hang
> > > anywhere. You can buy plastic hangers here if you need to.
> > >
> > > 15. Tupperware: Pack anything that needs protecting into tupperware
> > > containers. They're great to have afterwards for storage, especially
> > > since the cheap Chinese ones here aren't leakproof.
> > >
> > > 16. Toiletries/make-up: You can get everything you need here
> > > including American toothpaste and toothbrushes, and I'm starting to
> > > see floss occasionally. For women: they have all your cosmetic
> > > needs...all of them. They even have Revlon, Estee Lauder, and
> > > Clinique products if you don't want to try the Swedish or Korean
> > > brands. Tampax tampons are available, but they're more expensive
> > > here.
> > >
> > > 17. Dried fruit: I've seen raisins, apricots, and plums pretty
> > > regularly.
> > >
> > > 18. Food: I saw someone had a list of everything s/he would bring.
> > > Everything on the list can be found in UB ...maybe not every
time you
> > > check, but on a sort of regular basis. There are times when we're
> > > out of Skippy/Jif peanut butter or macaroni and cheese or whatever;
> > > but you just learn to grab things when you see them, even if you
> > > don't need them at the moment. UB has a good selection of fresh
> > > fruits and vegetables all year round; it's more hit or miss in other
> > > places.
> > >
> > > 19. Plastic egg container: Only 1 volunteer seems to have found one
> > > of these in Mongolia, but since you get eggs piled in a plastic bag,
> > > it's a very handy thing to bring (from a camping store).
> > >
> > > 20. Plastic insulated mug and spoon: It was a hassle to find a
> > > spoon when you just wanted to have some noodles in your room, or to
> > > stir the ubiquitous "Coffee King". Having an insulated mug that was
> > > bigger than 6 oz. and had a handle in which your fingers actually
> > > fit, would be a nice thing, though not a necessity.
> > >
> > > 21. 1 liter, wide-mouth Nalgene bottle: It must be the unwritten
> > > rule, because I think every single PCV has one. Besides the obvious,
> > > they're also handy to use as measuring cups. I brought 2 for some
> > > reason, but really only needed one.
> > >
> > > 22. Solar battery re-charger: I have a brand-new, never been opened
> > > one that no one here seems to want to buy from me. One of the
> > > problems is where to put it where it can get 12 hours of sunlight
> > > (not that you have nearly that much in the winter) while you are
> > > away. If you have a ger, you don't have any windows either. The
> > > perception of one person who used one was that the batteries were
> > > never fully charged. You can buy an electric battery charger here
> > > that will charge 4 AA batteries in about 4 hours, and you can
> > > probably get that much electricity in one day even in the smallest
> > > soum (town); that is, unless the power's completely out, which
it can
> > > be for a period of days every now and again. You can supplement by
> > > bringing a family-size box of batteries that you can draw on
when you
> > > need to. You can buy Western quality batteries here for the regular
> > > retail price, i.e., not as cheap as from a US shopping warehouse.
> > > The Chinese ones available everywhere are terrible.
> > >
> > > 23. Laptops are great because it can be your journal, stereo, video
> > > game, and DVD player depending on what type you have. You can store
> > > all your CDs on it, and bring small battery operated speakers,
or buy
> > > some here if you will have electricity in your site. Buy a padded,
> > > snug-fitting, zippered pouch to store it in; and ALWAYS keep it
> > > zipped up to protect it from all the dust here. I talked to someone
> > > living in a ger and he never had a problem due to the cold; he used
> > > coal during the coldest parts of the winter, which retains its heat
> > > much longer than wood. You can also buy small gel packs that can be
> > > heated and put in with the laptop (in the laptop's insulated bag) at
> > > night if you think it will be a problem. (I haven't had to test this
> > > theory) As far as theft: I brought a laptop lock which I've never
> > > used, but it's good to be concerned about theft. Some of the
> > > volunteers who have been victims of theft from their ger, never
had a
> > > problem with their laptop, because in a small soum, you cannot
> > > possibly show up anywhere with a laptop without it being obvious
that
> > > you took it from the volunteer. Most thefts were children stealing
> > > money or anything that looked cool and was small enough to hide. And
> > > if you don't live in a ger, you will probably have a good enough
lock
> > > on your door that anything inside is safe. Yes, you have to be
> > > willing to accept risk if you bring it, but there are alot of long,
> > > winter nights to consider and I haven't yet heard of anyone who was
> > > sorry they brought it. Also, the PC has a technology initiative, so
> > > you could also use your laptop as a teaching tool and introduce your
> > > local Mongolian friends to the possibilities. While most are too
> > > poor to own one themselves, more and more are available in schools,
> > > internet cafes, or gov't sponsored student computer rooms. The PC is
> > > offering a computer workshop in a couple weeks for PCVs and one each
> > > of their community members who are interested in learning how to
> > > train other people on computer skills.
> > >
> > > 24. Heavy-duty ziploc bags are great for all sorts of things. For
> > > example, rice and sugar come in cheap, plastic bags that are easily
> > > broken.
> > >
> > > 25. Books/magazines: Pack everything you could possibly want, or be
> > > willing to donate to the PC library, into boxes and ship to yourself
> > > at the PC office in UB via the "M bag". This is the slow boat to
> > > Mongolia, anywhere from 2-6 months but it's only $1/lb. It's only
> > > for printed material.
> > >
> > > 26. Musical instruments: Half a dozen of our group brought guitars
> > > or fiddles and I haven't heard any complaints and they were great to
> > > have around. If you have an expensive instrument, I'd keep it at
> > > home and find something cheaper to bring with you.
> > >
> > > 27. Dispelling rumors....No, you will not have to forage for wood,
> > > nor is it likely that you will have to chop it if you don't want to.
> > > Wood is so scarce in most of your communities that you will probably
> > > have coal at least in the winter, or maybe some will use dung at
some
> > > point (really, it smells more like the vegetation it used to be than
> > > anything nasty). The few forests are being depleted so rapidly that
> > > it's illegal to cut the wood in most cases, though that law is
> > > thoroughly ignored; still, it's not a good precedent to set for the
> > > PC to have the volunteers illegally taking wood if you happen to
live
> > > by one of the increasingly rare forests. The PC has arranged with
> > > all sites to have fuel and water supplied. In reality, some people
> > > get their water brought to them and some get it from the local well.
> > > (One volunteer joked that the only foraging he had to do was the
> > > verbal foraging to try to talk his director into having fuel
> > > delivered in a timely manner.)
> > >
> > > 28. If you need something desperately and don't have anyone to ship
> > > it to you; REI, LL Bean, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble will ship
> > > here. Amazon, for one, is great if your package doesn't arrive in a
> > > timely manner; they'll re-ship it for free.
> > >
> > > 29. Things I saw in emails or on lists that you don't need to bring:
> > > lighters (readily available because cigarettes are so cheap);
hammock
> > > (unless you have other ideas besides stringing it between 2 non-
> > > existent trees); slippers (e.g., you can buy toasty wool felt ones
> > > here); extra bandannas (they have the same made-in-China ones here
> > > that we get in the US).
> > >
> > > 30. Most volunteers suggest that you bring socks and underwear,
> > > including a pair of good, silk long underwear from home; as the
> > > quality is not as good here for those kind of things or in the case
> > > of silk (or other high-tech fabric) long underwear, I haven't
seen it
> > > here. Quick-drying hiking socks from EMS, REI, or any good outdoor
> > > store will be a good investment.
> > >
> > > 31. If you have a favorite hat with a big brim, bring it. The
> > > temperature got up to 110 degrees F one day last summer and the heat
> > > wave seemed to last for a really long month. Having a wet bandanna
> > > around your neck when it's that hot is also helpful.
> > >
> > > 32. No, there are no McDonald's here, but there is a little store
> > > that has a pretty accurate fake "7-11" sign. There was a fake
> > > McDonald's called "MonDonald's" (i.e., "MONgolian mcDONALD'S), but
> > > McDonald's attorneys got in touch and made them change it
> > > to "RonDonald's". Mongolians have never heard of McDonald's, so it
> > > was pretty much a waste of time.
> > >
> > > 33. SARS: Mongolia is being amazingly proactive in preventing the
> > > spread of the virus. New or possible cases are reported every day (I
> > > think we only have a couple confirmed), most of the population is
> > > wearing face masks (a very odd sight on the streets), the biggest
> > > open-air market in the country is closed indefinitely, public events
> > > are cancelled, all the bars and discos are closing at 10 (can't
quite
> > > figure that one out), and all the buildings have their door handles
> > > wrapped with gauze soaked in some disinfectant, i.e., they're wet. I
> > > can't imagine that it would be able to spread to the point that we
> > > would get evacuated. (Cross your fingers)
> > >
> > > 34. Thermarest self-inflating air mattress: It's likely that you
> > > will have plenty of chances to sleep on floors, and if you mind,
this
> > > is really comfortable to have and packs up pretty compactly. You can
> > > also buy the 'chair' accessory, made out of nylon, that will turn
> > > your mattress into a comfy floor chair, which is easily portable for
> > > travel. Even though I live in an apartment, this is my most
> > > comfortable chair (sad to say). The mattress is also my guest bed as
> > > most of us(all of us?)don't have an extra bed or maybe even an extra
> > > couch for guests.
> > >
> > > 35. It's hard or impossible to find good quality cotton t-shirts;
> > > bring them from home if you like to wear them.
> > >
> > > 36. Splurge on some good quality sunglasses with all the appropriate
> > > UV protection; there's alot of sun here!
> > >
> > > 37. If you get the same amount of paperwork that we did, it would be
> > > handy to bring a lightweight, durable folder with dividers to
keep it
> > > all straight. You might be able to find something you like in UB,
> > > but you won't get there for shopping for some weeks after you
arrive.
> > >
> > > 38. Hiking boots: You don't need really heavyweight boots, as
> > > you're mostly walking around on bare ground (or very uneven
> > > sidewalks),i.e., it's not particularly rugged, just a bit uneven,
> > > dirty, and often littered with broken glass. There are plenty of
> > > shoe repair shops if you wear something out or something breaks, as
> > > people can't easily afford to buy new things. In the winter, you'll
> > > be switching to insulated boots anyway. They also sell all sorts of
> > > variations of lighter weight hiking shoes/boots here (both cheap
> > > Chinese and Western quality).
> > >
> > > 39. Teva (or Teva-like) walking sandals: Best investment I made.
> > > Good for walking on rugged surfaces, wading across streams, hiking
> > > small mountains, and using sketchy-looking bath houses. And they're
> > > very lightweight.
> > >
> > >
> > > In general, pack for the summer as if you are going on an extended
> > > camping trip; i.e., pack light. Also, bring an extra duffle bag to
> > > carry all the extra stuff the PC will hand out during the summer:
> > > filters, books and folders mostly, and anything else you accumulate
> > > over the summer. Everything that you don't need for the summer can
> > > be sent directly to the PC in Ulaanbaatar, clearly labelled "Winter
> > > gear - leave in UB" or something like that, so you don't have to
deal
> > > with it until you leave for your permanent site.
> > >
> > > I've rambled. Hope some of this was useful to you and will look
> > > forward to eventually meeting all of you this summer.
> > >
> > > Bayartai!
> > > Jaime
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >   _____
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> > * To visit your group on the web, go to:
> > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mongolia_2003/
> >
> >
> > * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > Mongolia_2003-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
<mailto:Mongolia_2003-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>
> >
> >
> > * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
> > <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

If you're not rich don't bring anything - Mongolians do fine with what is
available here for much much cheaper. Cheers,

----Original Message Follows----
From: "owenj1000" <owenjohns@...>
Reply-To: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com
To: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Mongolia_2003] Re: Calling M-16 volunteers to Mongolia
Date: Sun, 24 Apr 2005 06:01:02 -0000


Hello,
My name is Owen and I was recently invited to the M16 TEFL program.  I
was wondering what type of winter gear people were bringing, since I
am from Arizona and am having trouble even finding anything.  Jaime's
comprehensive list helped, thanks a lot. Can't wait to meet everyone.
Owen

--- In Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com, "the_sun_at_cal" <sunaree@g...>
wrote:
  >
  > From the literature I got:
  >
  > 'acquistion of life skills by disenfranchised youth through the
explicit teaching of
  > decision-making, self-esteem, emotional and stress management, and
effective
  > communications skills'
  >
  > could be a lot of different things. :-)
  >
  > --- In Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com, "unlisted" <unlisted@s...> wrote:
  > > I was just guessing, but was wrong. I got some info in the mail
and also
  > > talked to the office yesterday and staging will be in Los Angeles.
  > >
  > > Youth Development?  What does that entail?
  > >
  > > -s.
  > >
  > >
  > >   _____
  > >
  > > From: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com]
  > > On Behalf Of the_sun_at_cal
  > > Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 11:59 AM
  > > To: Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com
  > > Subject: [Mongolia_2003] Re: Calling M-16 volunteers to Mongolia
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > > Are just guessing about staging being in SF, or do you have some
knowledge
  > > about it? Just
  > > curious. SF would be SO convenient for me!
  > >
  > > --- In Mongolia_2003@yahoogroups.com, "russianplane"
<unlisted@s...> wrote:
  > > >
  > > > Hi Jenny,
  > > >
  > > > I'm an M-16, too.  I'm out in San Francisco, so it seems likely that
  > > > I'll be welcoming you all into my fair city for Staging.  I was just
  > > > writing my recruiter when your message came in.  (I'm subscribed so
  > > > they come to my email.)  I was asking for contact info for another
  > > > volunteer in San Francisco who is an M-16, too, to see what her
plans
  > > > and packing list were looking like.  If I do get her info, I'll
see if
  > > > she'll post here her ideas.
  > > >
  > > > I've gone through all the posts on this site and there were a
few good
  > > > messages about packing -- what to bring and not what to bring.  I've
  > > > pasted one of the best below my sig.
  > > >
  > > > For preparation, I've got a big list going -- mostly clothes that I
  > > > think will stand up to a good beating and still keep me warm.  I'm
  > > > planning on bringing an old laptop to use for music, etc, which
I can
  > > > then donate when I leave.  I'm a music junkie and couldn't live
  > > > without my music.  It seems like we'll have electricity, as teachers
  > > > in a fairly good-sized town.  I'm assuming a lot there, based on the
  > > > fact that we'll be teaching at High Schools or what-have-you.
  > > >
  > > > I'm trying to keep it simple and light, but I'm a minimalist in
  > > > general.  When I go hiking (3-5 days), my pack weighs in at about
  > > > 20-25lbs, even  snow camping.  That said, it seems everyone
overpacks
  > > > and I'm sure I'll be wishing I'd left a ton of stuff at home.  Jaime
  > > > (below) suggests that you can get a lot of local stuff at good
prices
  > > > or ship stuff from home for use later.  In my mind, I'd rather bring
  > > > two large bags with me with all my stuff, rather than trust
everything
  > > > I want to bring to some foreign (or domestic for that matter)
customs
  > > > officer.
  > > >
  > > > A friend of mine was Peace Corps Nepal and she's been following my
  > > > preparations and has given me tons of good advice.  She nixed the
  > > > solar battery charger immediately, which some others on this message
  > > > board recommended against, as well.  I figure its gonna be a bit
like
  > > > living at home and a bit like camping, with more emphasis on the
  > > > 'living at home' bit.  Bring what you want, but bring only a few
items
  > > > of quality.
  > > >
  > > > I'd be interested in hearing about your teaching experience and
if you
  > > > have any ideas or plans for adapting your teaching to Mongolia.
  > > >
  > > > -Sean
  > > >
  > > >
  > > >
  > > >
  > > >
  > > > From:  "jaimeforsyth" <jaimeforsyth@y...>
  > > > Date:  Thu Apr 17, 2003  5:01 am
  > > > Subject:  Just bring what makes you happy!
  > > >
  > > > ADVERTISEMENT
  > > > Sain bain uu, Soon to be Peace Corps Volunteers,
  > > >
  > > > I'm an M13 here in Mongolia (i.e., from the 2002 PCV group) and have
  > > > enjoyed reliving all the packing uncertainties I went through last
  > > > year as I read through some of your emails. The best advice I got
  > > > from a current volunteer, "Just bring what makes you happy."
  > > >
  > > > Other than that, the best advice I can contribute is: Don't spend a
  > > > lot of money beforehand. It's more fun, less stressful, and much
  > > > much much cheaper to buy things here (or have them custom-made) then
  > > > it is to schlep everything here only to find out that you could have
  > > > gotten something suitable here for a fraction of the price. Also, if
  > > > you spent alot of cash on something in the States, you'll probably
  > > > feel obligated to get it back to the US, too, and mailing from here
  > > > is horribly expensive and carrying additional stuff is no fun
either.
  > > >
  > > > With that said, I'll try to save you a few dollars and a few pounds
  > > > of luggage:
  > > >
  > > > 1. Vitamins: Once you're sworn in, the PC will provide Centrivite
  > > > multi-vitamins, Calcium supplements, Vitamin C/E/B6 and Iron
  > > > supplements (and any other prescription drugs). Just bring enough of
  > > > those for the summer.
  > > >
  > > > 2. Sunscreen/bug juice/moisture lotion: I think we got all of this
  > > > in our med kits (when you first arrive)...Lubriderm moisture lotion,
  > > > DEET bug lotion (you might want to bring your own), and a thick,
  > > > greasy SPF 28 sunscreen (definitely bring your own). Caveat: This is
  > > > from last year; things can always change.
  > > >
  > > > 3. School supplies: You can get notebooks, folders, pens, glue,
post-
  > > > its, markers, paper clips, all that kind of stuff in UB, if not in
  > > > smaller aimags. The only thing that I haven't seen is good quality
  > > > chalk, blackboard erasers, stapler, scissors. Also, the markers
  > > > aren't the best quality. Still, who wants to haul all that stuff
  > > > around? Bring what you can't live without and have a care package
  > > > sent later if you really can't find it here. There are a few
  > > > stationery/office supply stores in UB.
  > > >
  > > > 4. Seeds: ADRA (an NGO) provides free seeds (mostly vegies, not sure
  > > > about herbs) and is conveniently located next to the PC office in
  > > > UB. We just had a big distribution to all the PCVs that wanted them.
  > > >
  > > > 5. Wool tights: The women wear wool-like tights under skirts that
  > > > can be picked up in any market for < $1.40. You can also get other
  > > > (nicer) options for a little more money.
  > > >
  > > > 6. Pillow: If you're at all particular about what you sleep on,
  > > > bring a pillow. Options here range from flat-as-a-pancake to the
  > > > Rock of Gibraltar. I bought a travel pillow case and stuffed my down
  > > > jacket in it for the summer, and that was fine, but was glad to have
  > > > a 'real' pillow waiting for me in my 'winter' box in UB.
  > > >
  > > > 7. Summer (i.e., smaller) sleeping bag: unless you're planning on
  > > > taking some backpacking trips, you might not want to bother; it's
  > > > just one more thing to carry back and forth from the States, and one
  > > > more expense. You can get fleece, cotton, or silk sleeping bag
  > > > liners made for you here for a fraction of the cost. I haven't seen
  > > > them, but I know they make sleeping bags here for really cheap and
  > > > you could buy that or a quilt if you need extra warmth in winter.
  > > > Recurring theme: You can get almost anything made here for cheap!
  > > > One PCV just asked if I knew anyone who wanted to buy the sleeping
  > > > bag that she had brought with her, as she was already worried about
  > > > the hassle of bringing it back next year.
  > > >
  > > > 8. Coats/winter boots/accessories: You can get everything you need
  > > > here; these people are the experts. Most of the PCVs have had local
  > > > seamstresses whip together various types of coats or jackets for
  > > > them, and there are plenty of hats, gloves, and scarves here.
  > > > Typical examples (these are the low end typical)...Women's long,
down
  > > > coat: $14; Custom-made long, wool coat: $18-$27, fleece jacket with
  > > > Mongolian designs: $14. (Even if a zipper breaks or seam gives out,
  > > > you can have it repaired on the spot at a repair shop or by a local
  > > > seamstress for about a buck.) Traditional Mongolian boots can be
  > > > bought or custom-made for around $30-35, I think. One thing that I
  > > > brought which worked better than a scarf at minus 40 was a neck
  > > > gaiter (aka, neck warmer). As it's just some fleece stitched into a
  > > > tube, which I'm sure can be made here, but you can probably pick one
  > > > up cheap at this time of year...or make it yourself. If you have
  > > > favorite gloves or mittens, I'd probably bring those, but you will
  > > > certainly have alot to choose from here. (Note on the boots: If you
  > > > know you have a problem with cold feet and want to take your chances
  > > > with the high tech boots you can get in America, check out Baffin
  > > > boots, www.baffin.com . After I was erroneously told that I wouldn't
  > > > be able to get wos. size 9 shoes here, I bought a pair of Baffin
  > > > Acadia boots online rated to -94 F (I wanna know who had to test
  > > > them!), and they're relatively lightweight and were toasty at minus
  > > > 45; and my feet get cold really easily.)
  > > >
  > > > 9. Great things to bring to your training site: Frisbee, hacky
  > > > sack, deck of cards (Uno is good, too). You will make instant
  > > > friends of every kid in the area when you bring out the Frisbee.
  > > >
  > > > 10. Watch batteries: They have watch repair shops all over the
  > > > place, at least in UB. Because they usually last around 2 years, I
  > > > just saved myself the hassle by replacing my battery right before I
  > > > left.
  > > >
  > > > 11. Duct tape: So far, you can't buy it here, and it's infinitely
  > > > useful.
  > > >
  > > > 12. Photo album: Your host family and every other Mongolian you meet
  > > > will love to see the pictures of your family and friends. They're
  > > > more interested in people than scenery.
  > > >
  > > > 13. If you bring a sports magazine (with pictures of NBA players)
  > > > and a teen magazine (with pictures of the latest pop princess...last
  > > > year it was Britney Spears) you will make a teenager or ten very
  > > > happy. (note: basketball is very popular here and most towns will
  > > > have at least one basketball standard for the boys to play. Even
  > > > poor people also often have satellite dishes, and are familiar with
  > > > some NBA players. One little boy asked me if I knew Allen Iverson.)
  > > >
  > > > 14. Wire hangers: Easy to pack, and almost everyone's home in the
  > > > US seems to have a bunch from the dry cleaner. Handy to have,
  > > > especially since they bend into lots of different shapes for lots of
  > > > different uses. Even furnished apartments don't seem to have many
  > > > hangers to speak of, and in a ger, it's easy to bend them to hang
  > > > anywhere. You can buy plastic hangers here if you need to.
  > > >
  > > > 15. Tupperware: Pack anything that needs protecting into tupperware
  > > > containers. They're great to have afterwards for storage, especially
  > > > since the cheap Chinese ones here aren't leakproof.
  > > >
  > > > 16. Toiletries/make-up: You can get everything you need here
  > > > including American toothpaste and toothbrushes, and I'm starting to
  > > > see floss occasionally. For women: they have all your cosmetic
  > > > needs...all of them. They even have Revlon, Estee Lauder, and
  > > > Clinique products if you don't want to try the Swedish or Korean
  > > > brands. Tampax tampons are available, but they're more expensive
  > > > here.
  > > >
  > > > 17. Dried fruit: I've seen raisins, apricots, and plums pretty
  > > > regularly.
  > > >
  > > > 18. Food: I saw someone had a list of everything s/he would bring.
  > > > Everything on the list can be found in UB ...maybe not every
time you
  > > > check, but on a sort of regular basis. There are times when we're
  > > > out of Skippy/Jif peanut butter or macaroni and cheese or whatever;
  > > > but you just learn to grab things when you see them, even if you
  > > > don't need them at the moment. UB has a good selection of fresh
  > > > fruits and vegetables all year round; it's more hit or miss in other
  > > > places.
  > > >
  > > > 19. Plastic egg container: Only 1 volunteer seems to have found one
  > > > of these in Mongolia, but since you get eggs piled in a plastic bag,
  > > > it's a very handy thing to bring (from a camping store).
  > > >
  > > > 20. Plastic insulated mug and spoon: It was a hassle to find a
  > > > spoon when you just wanted to have some noodles in your room, or to
  > > > stir the ubiquitous "Coffee King". Having an insulated mug that was
  > > > bigger than 6 oz. and had a handle in which your fingers actually
  > > > fit, would be a nice thing, though not a necessity.
  > > >
  > > > 21. 1 liter, wide-mouth Nalgene bottle: It must be the unwritten
  > > > rule, because I think every single PCV has one. Besides the obvious,
  > > > they're also handy to use as measuring cups. I brought 2 for some
  > > > reason, but really only needed one.
  > > >
  > > > 22. Solar battery re-charger: I have a brand-new, never been opened
  > > > one that no one here seems to want to buy from me. One of the
  > > > problems is where to put it where it can get 12 hours of sunlight
  > > > (not that you have nearly that much in the winter) while you are
  > > > away. If you have a ger, you don't have any windows either. The
  > > > perception of one person who used one was that the batteries were
  > > > never fully charged. You can buy an electric battery charger here
  > > > that will charge 4 AA batteries in about 4 hours, and you can
  > > > probably get that much electricity in one day even in the smallest
  > > > soum (town); that is, unless the power's completely out, which
it can
  > > > be for a period of days every now and again. You can supplement by
  > > > bringing a family-size box of batteries that you can draw on
when you
  > > > need to. You can buy Western quality batteries here for the regular
  > > > retail price, i.e., not as cheap as from a US shopping warehouse.
  > > > The Chinese ones available everywhere are terrible.
  > > >
  > > > 23. Laptops are great because it can be your journal, stereo, video
  > > > game, and DVD player depending on what type you have. You can store
  > > > all your CDs on it, and bring small battery operated speakers,
or buy
  > > > some here if you will have electricity in your site. Buy a padded,
  > > > snug-fitting, zippered pouch to store it in; and ALWAYS keep it
  > > > zipped up to protect it from all the dust here. I talked to someone
  > > > living in a ger and he never had a problem due to the cold; he used
  > > > coal during the coldest parts of the winter, which retains its heat
  > > > much longer than wood. You can also buy small gel packs that can be
  > > > heated and put in with the laptop (in the laptop's insulated bag) at
  > > > night if you think it will be a problem. (I haven't had to test this
  > > > theory) As far as theft: I brought a laptop lock which I've never
  > > > used, but it's good to be concerned about theft. Some of the
  > > > volunteers who have been victims of theft from their ger, never
had a
  > > > problem with their laptop, because in a small soum, you cannot
  > > > possibly show up anywhere with a laptop without it being obvious
that
  > > > you took it from the volunteer. Most thefts were children stealing
  > > > money or anything that looked cool and was small enough to hide. And
  > > > if you don't live in a ger, you will probably have a good enough
lock
  > > > on your door that anything inside is safe. Yes, you have to be
  > > > willing to accept risk if you bring it, but there are alot of long,
  > > > winter nights to consider and I haven't yet heard of anyone who was
  > > > sorry they brought it. Also, the PC has a technology initiative, so
  > > > you could also use your laptop as a teaching tool and introduce your
  > > > local Mongolian friends to the possibilities. While most are too
  > > > poor to own one themselves, more and more are available in schools,
  > > > internet cafes, or gov't sponsored student computer rooms. The PC is
  > > > offering a computer workshop in a couple weeks for PCVs and one each
  > > > of their community members who are interested in learning how to
  > > > train other people on computer skills.
  > > >
  > > > 24. Heavy-duty ziploc bags are great for all sorts of things. For
  > > > example, rice and sugar come in cheap, plastic bags that are easily
  > > > broken.
  > > >
  > > > 25. Books/magazines: Pack everything you could possibly want, or be
  > > > willing to donate to the PC library, into boxes and ship to yourself
  > > > at the PC office in UB via the "M bag". This is the slow boat to
  > > > Mongolia, anywhere from 2-6 months but it's only $1/lb. It's only
  > > > for printed material.
  > > >
  > > > 26. Musical instruments: Half a dozen of our group brought guitars
  > > > or fiddles and I haven't heard any complaints and they were great to
  > > > have around. If you have an expensive instrument, I'd keep it at
  > > > home and find something cheaper to bring with you.
  > > >
  > > > 27. Dispelling rumors....No, you will not have to forage for wood,
  > > > nor is it likely that you will have to chop it if you don't want to.
  > > > Wood is so scarce in most of your communities that you will probably
  > > > have coal at least in the winter, or maybe some will use dung at
some
  > > > point (really, it smells more like the vegetation it used to be than
  > > > anything nasty). The few forests are being depleted so rapidly that
  > > > it's illegal to cut the wood in most cases, though that law is
  > > > thoroughly ignored; still, it's not a good precedent to set for the
  > > > PC to have the volunteers illegally taking wood if you happen to
live
  > > > by one of the increasingly rare forests. The PC has arranged with
  > > > all sites to have fuel and water supplied. In reality, some people
  > > > get their water brought to them and some get it from the local well.
  > > > (One volunteer joked that the only foraging he had to do was the
  > > > verbal foraging to try to talk his director into having fuel
  > > > delivered in a timely manner.)
  > > >
  > > > 28. If you need something desperately and don't have anyone to ship
  > > > it to you; REI, LL Bean, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble will ship
  > > > here. Amazon, for one, is great if your package doesn't arrive in a
  > > > timely manner; they'll re-ship it for free.
  > > >
  > > > 29. Things I saw in emails or on lists that you don't need to bring:
  > > > lighters (readily available because cigarettes are so cheap);
hammock
  > > > (unless you have other ideas besides stringing it between 2 non-
  > > > existent trees); slippers (e.g., you can buy toasty wool felt ones
  > > > here); extra bandannas (they have the same made-in-China ones here
  > > > that we get in the US).
  > > >
  > > > 30. Most volunteers suggest that you bring socks and underwear,
  > > > including a pair of good, silk long underwear from home; as the
  > > > quality is not as good here for those kind of things or in the case
  > > > of silk (or other high-tech fabric) long underwear, I haven't
seen it
  > > > here. Quick-drying hiking socks from EMS, REI, or any good outdoor
  > > > store will be a good investment.
  > > >
  > > > 31. If you have a favorite hat with a big brim, bring it. The
  > > > temperature got up to 110 degrees F one day last summer and the heat
  > > > wave seemed to last for a really long month. Having a wet bandanna
  > > > around your neck when it's that hot is also helpful.
  > > >
  > > > 32. No, there are no McDonald's here, but there is a little store
  > > > that has a pretty accurate fake "7-11" sign. There was a fake
  > > > McDonald's called "MonDonald's" (i.e., "MONgolian mcDONALD'S), but
  > > > McDonald's attorneys got in touch and made them change it
  > > > to "RonDonald's". Mongolians have never heard of McDonald's, so it
  > > > was pretty much a waste of time.
  > > >
  > > > 33. SARS: Mongolia is being amazingly proactive in preventing the
  > > > spread of the virus. New or possible cases are reported every day (I
  > > > think we only have a couple confirmed), most of the population is
  > > > wearing face masks (a very odd sight on the streets), the biggest
  > > > open-air market in the country is closed indefinitely, public events
  > > > are cancelled, all the bars and discos are closing at 10 (can't
quite
  > > > figure that one out), and all the buildings have their door handles
  > > > wrapped with gauze soaked in some disinfectant, i.e., they're wet. I
  > > > can't imagine that it would be able to spread to the point that we
  > > > would get evacuated. (Cross your fingers)
  > > >
  > > > 34. Thermarest self-inflating air mattress: It's likely that you
  > > > will have plenty of chances to sleep on floors, and if you mind,
this
  > > > is really comfortable to have and packs up pretty compactly. You can
  > > > also buy the 'chair' accessory, made out of nylon, that will turn
  > > > your mattress into a comfy floor chair, which is easily portable for
  > > > travel. Even though I live in an apartment, this is my most
  > > > comfortable chair (sad to say). The mattress is also my guest bed as
  > > > most of us(all of us?)don't have an extra bed or maybe even an extra
  > > > couch for guests.
  > > >
  > > > 35. It's hard or impossible to find good quality cotton t-shirts;
  > > > bring them from home if you like to wear them.
  > > >
  > > > 36. Splurge on some good quality sunglasses with all the appropriate
  > > > UV protection; there's alot of sun here!
  > > >
  > > > 37. If you get the same amount of paperwork that we did, it would be
  > > > handy to bring a lightweight, durable folder with dividers to
keep it
  > > > all straight. You might be able to find something you like in UB,
  > > > but you won't get there for shopping for some weeks after you
arrive.
  > > >
  > > > 38. Hiking boots: You don't need really heavyweight boots, as
  > > > you're mostly walking around on bare ground (or very uneven
  > > > sidewalks),i.e., it's not particularly rugged, just a bit uneven,
  > > > dirty, and often littered with broken glass. There are plenty of
  > > > shoe repair shops if you wear something out or something breaks, as
  > > > people can't easily afford to buy new things. In the winter, you'll
  > > > be switching to insulated boots anyway. They also sell all sorts of
  > > > variations of lighter weight hiking shoes/boots here (both cheap
  > > > Chinese and Western quality).
  > > >
  > > > 39. Teva (or Teva-like) walking sandals: Best investment I made.
  > > > Good for walking on rugged surfaces, wading across streams, hiking
  > > > small mountains, and using sketchy-looking bath houses. And they're
  > > > very lightweight.
  > > >
  > > >
  > > > In general, pack for the summer as if you are going on an extended
  > > > camping trip; i.e., pack light. Also, bring an extra duffle bag to
  > > > carry all the extra stuff the PC will hand out during the summer:
  > > > filters, books and folders mostly, and anything else you accumulate
  > > > over the summer. Everything that you don't need for the summer can
  > > > be sent directly to the PC in Ulaanbaatar, clearly labelled "Winter
  > > > gear - leave in UB" or something like that, so you don't have to
deal
  > > > with it until you leave for your permanent site.
  > > >
  > > > I've rambled. Hope some of this was useful to you and will look
  > > > forward to eventually meeting all of you this summer.
  > > >
  > > > Bayartai!
  > > > Jaime
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >
  > >   _____
  > >
  > > Yahoo! Groups Links
  > >
  > >
  > > * To visit your group on the web, go to:
  > > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mongolia_2003/
  > >
  > >
  > > * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
  > > Mongolia_2003-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
  > >
<mailto:Mongolia_2003-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>
  > >
  > >
  > > * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
  > > <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .

Hi folks,

I am a M16 scheduled to go to Monogolia in June. Just want to let
everyone in the NY Metropolitian area know that there will be a
lecture on Modern Mongolia by Professor Morris Rossabi at the China
Institute this Friday evening from 6:30 to 8PM (see below for more
details).

Btw, should anyone wants to meet up to study Mongolian, please let
me know. Also if anyone know the exact date my group will be flying
out to Mongolia, please pass that info along.  Thanks!

Best,
Lier

Modern Mongolia: From Khans to Commissars to Capitalists

This lecture explores the effects of the withdrawal of Soviet
assistance to Mongolia in 1990, the role of international financial
agencies in supporting a pure market economy, the way that new
policies have led to somewhat greater political freedom but also to
numerous social problems, and Mongolia's relationship with Inner
Mongolia and China. Lecture followed by a book-signing.

Morris Rossabi is Professor of History at City University of New York
and Adjunct Professor of East and Inner Asian History at Columbia
University. He is the author of Modern Mongolia: From Khans to
Commissars to Capitalists, Khubilai Khan: His Life and Times, and
China and Inner Asia from 1368 to the Present Day.


Friday, April 29,   6:30–8 PM
$10 member / $12 non-member
China Institute
125 East 65th Street
212 744 8181

Hey Lier,

I'm in San Francisco so I won't be able to make the lecture.  I am
already reading his book, though.  Started it last week, in fact.
Makes for an interesting read.  I've been discussing with some friends
here the revolution in Mongolia in the early 90s and comparing that to
what's going on in Nepal currently (a friend of mine here was PC
Nepal).

Unfortunate that I won't be able to make the lecture.  I'm glad to
hear, though, that others in the group are doing their homework.  Let
me know how the lecture goes.

-s.

On Apr 27, 2005, at 8:07 PM, inkyrain wrote:

>
   I am a M16 scheduled to go to Monogolia in June. Just want to let
   everyone in the NY Metropolitian area know that there will be a
   lecture on Modern Mongolia by Professor Morris Rossabi at the China
   Institute this Friday evening from 6:30 to 8PM (see below for more
   details).

>
>  Btw, should anyone wants to meet up to study Mongolian, please let 
>  me know. Also if anyone know the exact date my group will be flying
>  out to Mongolia, please pass that info along.  Thanks!

Staging starts June 3rd in Los Angeles.  Should last till Sunday, I
imagine.  Departure is probably June 5/6th.

-s.

My daughter is scheduled for the June 3rd staging in LA.  I am so proud
of her as I am sure all parent must be of any PCV.

I am looking for as much information as I can regarding the weather
when she arrives and how much time before the bitter winter begins.  We
are true Floridians and never have experienced a real winter.


Does anyone know if you will have access to the internet?  Telephones?
Electricity?  Is a lap top a good idea?  or a Palm better?  Cell phones?

I just don't want to her to overpack or underpack.  She will be too far
away for me to look after.  I guess at 27, it's time to see if those
wings truely do work.


Thanks,
Liz, Neurotic Mom

I will be in Washington sailing from May 11th till May 19th and unable to check
email.  I should be back in Emailland on the 20th and will respond to emails
then.

Yours,
-s.

My daughter is scheduled for the June 3rd staging in LA.  I am so proud
of her as I am sure all parent must be of any PCV. 

I am looking for as much information as I can regarding the weather
when she arrives and how much time before the bitter winter begins.  We
are true Floridians and never have experienced a real winter. 


Does anyone know if you will have access to the internet?  Telephones?
Electricity?  Is a lap top a good idea?  or a Palm better?  Cell phones?

I just don't want to her to overpack or underpack.  She will be too far
away for me to look after.  I guess at 27, it's time to see if those
wings truely do work. 


Thanks,
Liz, Neurotic Mom

I will be in Washington sailing from May 11th till May 19th and unable to check
email.  I should be back in Emailland on the 20th and will respond to emails
then.

Yours,
-s.

Hi Liz,
I am so excited to hear that another Floridian is
coming to Mongolia! Right now, there are two
Floridians here and we both will be leaving in June. I
am from St. Augustine. What part of the state are you
and your daughter from?
I will agree with Niki about the packing suggestions.
I can assure you I arrived in Mongolia without a
winter jacket and by the beginning of October started
getting a little panicky. But, I was easily able to
pick up a Columbia jacket at the market for less than
$30 which lasted me through both of my winters here. I
highly recommend good pairs of long underwear. I had a
couple of pairs of lightweight and also pairs of
military long underwear that I bought online very
inexpensively before I came. They are hands down the
best things I brought. Also as a true Floridian, I am
not too ashamed to tell you that I wore my lightweight
underwear at times during the Mongolian summer. I am
sure you can understand that we don't have to be used
to many days under 50 degrees. I will make one more
recommendation regarding the packing. The shoes I
brought for winter wear did not cut it after mid
November of my first year. For me, it was worth the
expense to buy some really nice Columbia winter boots
and have them shipped here. I usually say that is the
best thing that I had sent here and they have held up
amazingly well. Many volunteers will get Mongolian
winter boots made here so...it's up to your daughter
which fashion she wishes to sport the majority of the
year. Don't bother with the instant hand and foot
warmers (the ones you break and are good for about six
hours). I had some and never used them... even when
travelling and thinking that the situation would
arise.
When I interviewed for Peace Corps and they asked if
there was anywhere I would not want to go...I gave the
very Floridian response of saying "I don't want to go
anywhere cold." Well... my first winter here was very
difficult for me. And even after two years, waking up
to snow in the morning was a shock. The only advice I
can give to your daughter is... you will get used to
it and it will get easier to the point that you don't
think too much about it anymore.
You daughter will have access to internet while in the
country. It may not been in the town where she is but
I am sure she will travel to larger towns for other
reasons and there will be internet access there.
Telephone access will be available to, whether she
ends up purchasing a cell phone or using her town post
office will depend on where she is. It will not be too
difficult for her to keep in touch with friends and
family at home regardless of where she ends up living
in the country. Electricity is not ever too much of an
issue. I live in the capital so I have consistent
access but even when it goes out...it isn't all that
big of a deal to me. Finally...bring the laptop. It
will provides hours of entertainment. All your music
can be put on it and eliminate bringing CD's, you can
buy cheap DVD's from China to watch movies, it's great
for work, indispensible for digital photos, and to
write emails to save and send later. Disks do not work
well in Mongolia at all. So, I would recommend
bringing a USB jump drive to use instead. I also
brought a converter/surge protector with me but as a
side note... have not had grounded electricity since I
have been here regardless of where I plugged my
computer in. I have not had any problems with my
computer. Regarding software, don't buy anything
special to bring here... software can be bought for
almost any program you can think of for just a couple
of dollars. However, any hardware costs about the same
as it does in America so there aren't any deals there.
Finally, there is an authorized Dell service center in
the capital so if you have any major problems...no
worries.
Assorted items that were good for my time here and I
am glad I brought... a really good can opener with
bottle opener, hand sanitizer, and a nice vegetable
peeler. Please have her contact me at my email address
if she is interested in having these...I will get them
passed off to her when she gets here and it will save
some packing.
I'll be more than happy to answer any more questions
you have about winter or life in Mongolia in general.
If you would like me to meet you and tell you a little
bit about Mongolia when I arrive back in Florida, I
would love to do so!

Jenny :)
jmcfro@...


--- lodeveca <lodeveca@...> wrote:
> My daughter is scheduled for the June 3rd staging in
> LA.  I am so proud
> of her as I am sure all parent must be of any PCV.
>
> I am looking for as much information as I can
> regarding the weather
> when she arrives and how much time before the bitter
> winter begins.  We
> are true Floridians and never have experienced a
> real winter.
>
> Does anyone know if you will have access to the
> internet?  Telephones?
> Electricity?  Is a lap top a good idea?  or a Palm
> better?  Cell phones?
>
> I just don't want to her to overpack or underpack.
> She will be too far
> away for me to look after.  I guess at 27, it's time
> to see if those
> wings truely do work.
>
>
> Thanks,
> Liz, Neurotic Mom
>
>
>



Discover Yahoo!
Get on-the-go sports scores, stock quotes, news and more. Check it out!
http://discover.yahoo.com/mobile.html

I will be in Washington sailing from May 11th till May 19th and unable to check
email.  I should be back in Emailland on the 20th and will respond to emails
then.

Yours,
-s.

Thanks for all the great info.  We just hit a major bump in the road
and our world is upside down.  My daughter mentioned to the PC
recruiter that she has hypoglycemic tendency and at times just needs a
little something and asked if it would be available.  RED FLAGs went
up!! They have put a hold on her status until she has a full endocrine
work up.

she has her heart and life set for Mongolia. She has given up her job,
her apartment, sold her furniture, given away most of her belongings,
moved back home yesterday....  had going away parties scheduled...you
know the drill.  She not a happy camper. I know what is meant to be
will be.  we'll be in touch once this gets cleared up.  Do you think
they will stop her from going?  All she needs is a regular diet or is
food a problem?  Has anyone come across a situation like this?

Liz, Helpless Mom