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Apr. 8th, 2003 04:34 amSo I'm sick. I have a cold. Anyway, today was most interesting. We drove out to do more worker co-op training, with a new group. For this session, we are joined by some foreigners from a non-governmental organization called ADRA. We drove up with this British guy, Richard. He has been in Mongolia for two years. He surprised us all by introducing himself to the entire group in fluent Mongolian.
Anyway, our group this time is much older, but very attentive. I got to facilitate part of the discussion myself. It is weird to do because I say a sentence or two, and then Alta, our translator, repeats everything to the group. Gives you more time to think. I was nervous about doing things through translation, but it was easier than I thought.
When everyone was introducing themselves, I was trying to write their names. Mongolian names are really hard for Westerners to write since they sound nothing like they are written (ex. Batmunkh, Tsetseg, Baigalmaa, Ganpat) One of our partners was trying to help me out, but I couldn't read his handwriting!
I have learned some other things about Mongolians. They really like to joke and tease, which is cool. They like to laugh and appreciate humour. One guy said that he wanted to come to Canada, and I offered to bring him back in my suitcase, which the group thought was quite funny.
We did get some odd questions today though. One woman wanted us to link her with Canadian shoemakers so she could export Mongolian shoes. (Of course we can't do this, and couldn't even think of Canadian shoemakers.)
Anyway, it was a pleasant day, aside from my sickness.
Anyway, our group this time is much older, but very attentive. I got to facilitate part of the discussion myself. It is weird to do because I say a sentence or two, and then Alta, our translator, repeats everything to the group. Gives you more time to think. I was nervous about doing things through translation, but it was easier than I thought.
When everyone was introducing themselves, I was trying to write their names. Mongolian names are really hard for Westerners to write since they sound nothing like they are written (ex. Batmunkh, Tsetseg, Baigalmaa, Ganpat) One of our partners was trying to help me out, but I couldn't read his handwriting!
I have learned some other things about Mongolians. They really like to joke and tease, which is cool. They like to laugh and appreciate humour. One guy said that he wanted to come to Canada, and I offered to bring him back in my suitcase, which the group thought was quite funny.
We did get some odd questions today though. One woman wanted us to link her with Canadian shoemakers so she could export Mongolian shoes. (Of course we can't do this, and couldn't even think of Canadian shoemakers.)
Anyway, it was a pleasant day, aside from my sickness.
