Well, I have been home from Mongolia for a while now and I think I can accurately reflect on my experiences there as well as the work I was able to help with. But first, I’ll wrap the details of the end of our trip.We got back to UB safe and sound and had an extra day to organize what we achieved in the field. I got some last minute souvenirs (I really went to town with the felt and wool products) and walked all over UB and Sue met with Chimga to finalize details. UB was still as hot, dusty and dry as ever, but I started to feel some affinity for the place and all it’s contrasting parts. It’s a big dirty city that I can say I like. That evening, Sue and I again had dinner at the nice Indian place, and again welcomed the ambiance that came when the power cut out. The next morning, I got packed and started on my long journey home. Complications of my travels included trouble with officials in the Beijing airport, 1.5 hour delay in take off from Beijing, and a 1 hour delay in customs once in San Francisco because I forgot to declare the orange in my backpack (a dog sniffed me out). To top it all off, I ended up having to stay an extra day in San Francisco because I forgot I crossed the international date line while coming home(meaning I went back a day), and had consequently booked my final connecting flight to Bozeman for the next day. However, I did FINALLY make it back to Bozeman and was able to reflect on my trip when immediately confronted with questions from everyone about how Mongolia was.
It was interesting to hear what people’s expectations of Mongolia were and how they contrasted with the stories I told them. The name conjures a romantic image for many people, associated with ideas of traditional nomadic life, legends of Ghengis Khan and Buddhist traditions. I think Mongolia in that sense does exist, but there is a new Mongolia struggling to emerge as well. The Mongolia that is adjusting to new business, development, urbanization, fueled by a generation of people with a more international view of life, is easily seen in the capital. The key for this new Mongolia will be how to maintain and preserve the other Mongolia.
I see the Tributary Fund’s work as a suggested synthesis of these two Mongolias, possibly offering a way to achieve the best of both worlds. The Tributary Fund works to promote science and conservation, new ideas to many Mongolians, through very old, traditional means – Buddhism. It’s effective because Buddhism is so ingrained in Mongolian culture that a harmonious relationship with nature is not a new idea for the people, although a scientific approach may be. I feel that for Mongolia to move into the future as it wants to, it must somehow connect the two worlds that thrive there, and I feel that the work of The Tributary Fund, and groups like it, is essential to the transition.
I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to be a part of such exciting, important work in such a distant part of the world. It was a great experience and I hope to continue being involved with the Tributary Fund in some capacity. I want to thank Betsy and Claire and Chimga and everyone else at The Tributary Fund who made it possible for me to go and feel like I was actually contributing something worthwhile. Thanks to everyone in Mongolia who works with the Tributary Fund. And especially a huge thank you to Sue, who took me everywhere, made me feel important and included, and showed me a great time and a wonderful adventure. Oh! And thanks to anyone who read these updates!
Cheers
Grace
Photo: Kids at the TTF EcoCamp wait for a ride across the river. Flooding made camp very difficult to access but once the kids got there, they had a great experience learning about water quality and the local eco-system, and of course, building friendships around a campfire. Our preparations paid off!
