Hey blog readers, a quick update here!
Earlier this week I gave a talk at the Natsagdorj public library about my Fulbright research project. Many of my good friends showed up in support which was lovely, plus a few curious students and aid workers as well. It was an abnormally long talk for me (a full 50 minute lecture plus time for questions... I'm used to 10-15 minute conference presentations) but it was a great experience. Practice makes perfect so I will consider this talk excellent practice for future lectures I may give.
This was also my chance to present the results of my research for the first time. Since I did my entire project solo, I am very proud of the work I have done in Mongolia. I think Nomadic Gardens has the potential to be developed into an entire NGO, but right now I've got other plans :)
Final results of my project, in numbers:
Conducted over 100 interviews with nomadic herders
Manufactured over 70 planters out of recyclable materials
Average cost per garden: $5
Implemented a gardening project with 26 nomadic households
Spent 30 days in the field
Grew 14 different types of vegetable, spice, and flower
22 families completed the study
100% of families responded that growing plants was "easier than they thought it would be"
6 families responded that they were going to try gardening next year on their own
That's all for now, more updates on packing and leaving Mongolia next week!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Mongolian bucket list
Well, we're getting to the end of things here. Just 3 more weeks in Mongolia, yikes! I've made a list of things to do before leaving Mongolia, including:
-getting a haircut
-going horseback riding at Stepperiders for a weekend
-giving a talk about Nomadic Gardens
-having a drink in the Blue Sky Lounge, one of the fanciest bars in Mongolia
-eating a gelato sandwich at Ti-amo (too ridiculous sounding not to try before I leave!)
-sampling a few last restaurants
-selling my extra stuff and packing
So far I've done the first two, and have a plan to give a lecture on Tuesday, October 16th at the American Corner of the Natsagdorj library. I'm excited about it!
So yes, 2 things off the list have been completed. I felt that an Asian hairdressing experience was necessary before I left. First of all, getting your hair cut here is super cheap. I went to a very pricy place and it cost me about $20. That includes hair washing, conditioning, scalp massage, cut, and some sort of wonderful organic hair mayonnaise treatment. The scalp massage was a bit overly vigorous, but otherwise the experience was quite nice, and my hair is as soft as silk after all those treatments.
We also managed to get out to Stepperiders for a weekend. Since the first time I went I've been itching to go back, but I've been way too busy with my research project. This time we got another big group of Fulbrighters and friends together and headed out Saturday morning. When we arrived we had some tea and got our riding gear on and hit the steppe in the early afternoon. The weather was spectacular, the last beautiful days before the winter sets in. It was warm and sunny, about 65 degrees with a warm breeze.
I had an ace up my sleeve for riding this time, an excellent pair of leather boots that I bought at the black market. Usually, "the black market" is just a nickname for Narantuul market and doesn't refer to a sketchy place where stolen goods are traded and sold. In the case of my boots though I'm not so sure. Outside the market proper is a small area that looks like a neighborhood garage sale. Random used clothes, shoes, tools, and phones are offered for sale. I occasionally peruse the items, and this time spotted a fabulous pair of handmade leather boots. And only 10,000 tugrug, wow! That's like $7! So I bought them and happily headed out, and only when I got back home did I have a moment thinking "I might have just bought someone's stolen boots". Hmmm.... I hope not though.
So, equipped with my possibly stolen riding boots, I hopped on a big shaggy beast of a pony whose description was "he likes to run" and we set off. For the first 30 minutes my pony mostly just ambled along and avoided going downhill as much as he could get away with. When we reached the flatter part of the steppe though, he decided that, as advertised, he likes to run. He took flight across the steppe, racing a few of the other fast horses and running for home at breakneck speed. It was a thrilling experience.
The next morning we went for another ride. I opted for a quieter pony who turned out to have a soft mouth and a willing attitude. After another great riding experience we gathered up our things and went back to the city. It was a great weekend dose of countryside therapy.
-getting a haircut
-going horseback riding at Stepperiders for a weekend
-giving a talk about Nomadic Gardens
-having a drink in the Blue Sky Lounge, one of the fanciest bars in Mongolia
-eating a gelato sandwich at Ti-amo (too ridiculous sounding not to try before I leave!)
-sampling a few last restaurants
-selling my extra stuff and packing
So far I've done the first two, and have a plan to give a lecture on Tuesday, October 16th at the American Corner of the Natsagdorj library. I'm excited about it!
So yes, 2 things off the list have been completed. I felt that an Asian hairdressing experience was necessary before I left. First of all, getting your hair cut here is super cheap. I went to a very pricy place and it cost me about $20. That includes hair washing, conditioning, scalp massage, cut, and some sort of wonderful organic hair mayonnaise treatment. The scalp massage was a bit overly vigorous, but otherwise the experience was quite nice, and my hair is as soft as silk after all those treatments.
We also managed to get out to Stepperiders for a weekend. Since the first time I went I've been itching to go back, but I've been way too busy with my research project. This time we got another big group of Fulbrighters and friends together and headed out Saturday morning. When we arrived we had some tea and got our riding gear on and hit the steppe in the early afternoon. The weather was spectacular, the last beautiful days before the winter sets in. It was warm and sunny, about 65 degrees with a warm breeze.
I had an ace up my sleeve for riding this time, an excellent pair of leather boots that I bought at the black market. Usually, "the black market" is just a nickname for Narantuul market and doesn't refer to a sketchy place where stolen goods are traded and sold. In the case of my boots though I'm not so sure. Outside the market proper is a small area that looks like a neighborhood garage sale. Random used clothes, shoes, tools, and phones are offered for sale. I occasionally peruse the items, and this time spotted a fabulous pair of handmade leather boots. And only 10,000 tugrug, wow! That's like $7! So I bought them and happily headed out, and only when I got back home did I have a moment thinking "I might have just bought someone's stolen boots". Hmmm.... I hope not though.
So, equipped with my possibly stolen riding boots, I hopped on a big shaggy beast of a pony whose description was "he likes to run" and we set off. For the first 30 minutes my pony mostly just ambled along and avoided going downhill as much as he could get away with. When we reached the flatter part of the steppe though, he decided that, as advertised, he likes to run. He took flight across the steppe, racing a few of the other fast horses and running for home at breakneck speed. It was a thrilling experience.
The next morning we went for another ride. I opted for a quieter pony who turned out to have a soft mouth and a willing attitude. After another great riding experience we gathered up our things and went back to the city. It was a great weekend dose of countryside therapy.
"Likes-to-run"
My second day pony
Heading out!
Matt and our friend Alban
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