Job Discussion Forums

[Si�n]

I think it was a must to write this post. After two years in Ulaanbaatar, it could be a guide to people intersted in coming to Mongolia.

Why would you like to come to teach in Mongolia?

1) Certainly, not for the money. Although salaries are better that in China (but obviously worse than almost anywhere else) life in Ulaanbaatar is expensive, very expensive. Just to give you a couple of examples: 1 litre milk: T 1600 (� 0.80), same as in Tesco � Britain, 1 Kg Apples: T 4000-7000 (� 1.9 � � 3.4) in Britain � 1.65; eggs: each unit T 300 (� 0.14), in Britain � 0.11. Obviously now you have to count with salaries, in the GB you may get a minimum of � 1000, in Mongolia, lucky you if they give you $1000 (� 630)

2) Culture: You have probably heard about Genghis Khan, the ancient Mongol Empire and all those things. Well, if you come to Mongolia you will discover that all is smoke. There is absolutely nothing which may remind you of that empire. Mongolians were nomads (and now about 50% of people are still living that way) and build (almost) nothing, left (almost) no trace. Coming to Mongolia to experience history is like gong to Kenya to experience the history of the Homo Habilis.

3) Nature: Mongolians say that they love nature and they do care about it. What nature? Let's start with the capital. Ulaanbaatar is the most polluted city in the world. According to WHO the PM10 rate in that city is 279 (18 for the USA, 26 for the UK, and 98 for the P. R. China). The rest of the country is not so polluted, because it is almost empty (the other two cities, towns and villages are as polluted as Ulaanbaatar). What does a pollution of 279 mean? Well, visibility is of about 200 m, your nails are always dirty for touching your hair, you'll have got a disgusting smell in all your clothes and body, and (I know it is disgusting) try to blow your nose and see the surprise: what comes out is black!, so imagine what your lungs are suffering. Oh, be careful, because when one �nature-lover� Mongolian finishes his/her Coke, water or whatever that person is eating or drinking, he/she will throw (not drop) to the street. It you are in its trajectory... but luck. By the way, in winter (6 months a year) temperatures fall to between -40�C and -25�C. It looks terrible, but the air is so dry that you (almost) don't feel the cold. That's the positive point.

4) Helping people: Well, if you find anybody who wants to be helped, good for you. Normally they just want your money.

5) To learn an exotic language: Remember, Mongolia is Asia. In Asia (I mean, Korea, China, Japan, Nepal, India etc.) when locals see a foreigner they presume that he/she does not speak the local language. Although you speak (in this case) Mongolian, they will answer you in a broken Russian or if your interlocutor is younger in an even more broken English (totally non-understandable).If you insist with your Mongolian, they will laugh at you or will answer �I don't speak Engllish� (yes, Engllish, because they pronounce l like Welsh ll). After some months you will realise that your Mongolian is almost 0, exactly the same that it was after one week of being in the country.

6) Exotic cuisine: Yes, but only if you go to any of the Indian, European, Hazara... restaurants. Mongolian have only one thing: mutton with mutton. Khuushur (kind of burgers), buuz (dumplings), and full mutton (served with head), those are the pleasures of the Mongolian cuisine.


Some other problems that you are going to discover (FOR SURE):

*Racism: So you were told that only white people are racist? Have you ever seen any sticker, pamphlet etc. on the street saying: �It is bad to kill people, but you can kill Chinese�? No? So come to Mongolia, there are hundreds like that. You are not afraid because you are not Chinese. Well, especially in spring-summer, when your face will be visible, they will kick you, insult you, spit you (and it is not only one crazy exception). Although Mongolians are not violent (in general) it is also current to hear about foreigners (mainly teachers) beaten on the street.

*Lack of respect for foreign teachers: If you come to really teach (as most of us), forget it. They do not want to learn. You will waste 90% of your time trying to make your �students� to be in silence, not to walk, not to get out of the classroom, not playing with phones, not chatting. Nobody will listen to you (I mean, only 1 or 2 in a class of 20). They will tell you that they are not going to do what you have said, they will insult you (�you are so mean!!!� is a classic) By the end of the term they will arrive to you asking �how can I get more points?� They expect you to say, �write an essay and you'll get 100%.� They are just interested in the diploma. Imagine that many people are �English/Russian/French etc. teachers� or �translators� but cannot write a decent English(...) and are not fluent. If you are teaching in a school of languages, the situation is slightly different, but in the end you'll discover that their interest is... the diploma. Here, if you pay you'll automatically have your diploma, no matter what you really know or do.

*Don't expect any support from your school: In a corrupted country, most of the schools are corrupted as well. In some of them you will be required to give grades of 80% (if students do not attend classes) to 90% (if they are normal students) or 100% if they are good students. They will go to any Mongolian university where they'll buy a diploma and... that's all folks. Don't expel anybody, no matter if they are spoiling your class. 5 minutes later you may have the principal there telling you to admit the �student� again. So, think where your credibility is going to be now.

*Lack of respect for life: Have you ever seen anybody killing, beating a dog because he/she is he or she and the other is just a dog? I have done. Who is the animal? No more comments.

*Boredom: There is virtually nothing to do in Mongolia. In the countryside, because there is literally nothing, in the capital, because there is nothing. You can join some other foreigners, you can go to some restaurants (there are no more than five good places in a city of 1,500,000 inhabitants), you can go to the opera (terrible singers), you can go to the theatre (only in Mongolian and you'll have to stand to comments that locals make about you). The first months it is OK, but after one year you'll get mad.

Well, there could be more points to discuss, but I think that the ones considered can give you a glimpse of what you are going to find here.

[wesharris]

Alrighty, did you teach at Santis?

[Si�n]

No, I haven't been teaching there. I have been teaching in 3 different schools and academies in Ulaanbaatar, and my wife in one school and one university, so I know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, the problem is not with the schools, but with the whole country

[wesharris]

It really depends on which schools you teach at.
I'm at a much more reputable school.
So, I don't have the sorts of problems that you're reporting.

[Si�n]

Sorry, I cannot agree with that.

You say that "I'm at a much more reputable school." More reputable than what? I haven't said where I am working, so you cannot know if your school is more reputable than mine.

Secondly, because no matter if you are teaching at ASU, ISU, Hobby or Talk Talk (probably the 4 most prestigious centres in UB and I professionally know 3 of them), or in any Mongolian, Turkish, German, Indian, Russian school, pollution, boredom, racism, animal torture and the rest of problems are the same for all. Or maybe there is no pollution for the teacher of the "reputable" schools? I am sure that for Mongolians you are a white/black person, worthy of being insulted. Don't tell me that never ever has anyone "accidentally" hit you when walking on the street? Don't tell me that your Mongolian students are responsible and listen to you. Don't tell me that if you are working in a reputable school and go to NOMIN, prices are cheaper than for any other who works in a "non-so-reputable" school? Don't tell me that you have discover a secret Mongolian cuisine that nobody knows( not even Mongolians)? Don't tell me that around you Mongolians respects animals because you work in a reputable school? Don't tell me that if you like history, Mongolia is the place to be and research?

Please, let's be serious. I am not talking about the schools. There are good schools (few) and bad schools, like everywhere else. I am talking of the country and what prospective teachers are going to find here. By the way, how many foreign teachers do you know who have been in Mogolia for more than 3 years? (Don't include those who are religious missionaries) Do you know why?

Are you really talking about Mongolia? It is funny to see how pollution, personality of a whole country, history and everything changes if you are working in a "reputable school" or like me in a "probably-even-more-reputable centre" that you don't know. Maybe we are talking of different countries.

[wesharris]

Depends.
I'm married to a local, and I've been here for the past 6 months.
I see many of those negative things every day, I get angry at the idiotic drivers every day.
But being at a school you can enjoy teaching at REALLY does help.
Besides, the land of Chingis is a great thing. You've just became a bit jaded, that's all.
I'm sure after 2 or so years more, I'll feel the same way. But, I'm not there yet, and my attachment to this nation is different than yours.

[Si�n]

Yesterday I saw how a car crushed the head of a puppy that tried to cross over. Accident? Not at all! It was just a "stupid dog." Now add this one to the rest of problems that I have mentioned and to those that I haven't mentioned. I am not jaded, I am deeply disgusted, disenchanted, and sad. however, I am lucky because I'm leaving in June.

I wish you a lot (I mean, tons!!!) of luck. be careful now, that Mongolians don't see you with your Mongolian wife, MOD EDIT. Sorry to say so, but it is the truth (some Mongolian friends married to foreigners have told us about this problem)

Golden Bridge?

[wesharris]

I taught there, but I'm at Raffles now. MOD EDIT

[Si�n]

I absolutely agree! Don't call them Purists, MOD EDIT

Cheers!

[Nuolan]

I came to this forum seeking an update on the situation in Mongolia. Looks like I've found it. Any positives? What about teaching in other cities or towns?

[wesharris]

There aren't really any other cities.
There are LARGE towns, but only one city exists in Mongolia.
Ulaanbaatar.

[Si�n]

I've got some friends in Darkhan and Bayan Olgii. Besides the lack of demand, they say that there is nothing nothing nothing to do. Moreover count with a salary of maybe USD 300, which is alright to live, but not to go home on holidays or to come to Ulaanbaatar to renew your visa. As Wesharris said, there is only one city in Mongolia.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

It would be a very good idea to stay on topic and avoid making inflammatory, racist or other inappropriate comments. If not, this thread will cease to be available and there will be sanctions of the severe variety issued.

[peder]

I've been here for 4 years. I love living here. Although many things that the OP brings up are valid points, I have a hunch that he would be just as unhappy anywhere else. If anyone is thinking about coming here, don't be scared off by what the op has said.

[The Mad Hatter]