At the market, there are many people selling all sorts of things, and you have to haggle with each vendor, or seller in order to pay a fair price. My friend helped me haggle, or negotiate, a fair price for each item I needed to buy. Since I am a foreigner, many people try to charge me more money for simple items and it was nice to have Munkhzul there to make sure I did not get ripped off! She also showed me E-Mart, which is like a big, Korean Target or Wal-Mart that is very popular in Mongolia.
I am also very grateful to my co-worker Altka, who teaches English with me. She has been able to tell me many things about Mongolian culture, so that I can better relate to my students. There are many little things I have had to learn in order to be polite and to fit in here. For example, it is not considered polite to point at people, especially children here, or touch the tops of children’s heads. Although in the U.S.A. we are very used to pointing at students in class, here, I had to learn to gesture with my entire arm instead! It is a small thing, but it can make a big difference when trying to integrate into a foreign culture.
One of the things that has been most difficult to integrate or adapt to is the last-minute nature of Mongolian society. Think about in the U.S.A.: you know when your winter break is already, right? And if you are planning something with your family, you will make those plans maybe even months in advance. But not in Mongolia! It is very normal for people here to plan events at the last minute, and then expect you to fit in. For example, my teaching schedule changed three times in September. Although this might sound frustrating, and sometimes was, it has also given me a good chance to be patient and show some understanding.
