New NGO / Шинэ ТББ

I was summoned to the Foreign Affairs Ministry last Friday- with MNFDPO / VSO colleague Nickson Kakiri and Mongolian Wheelchair Citizens (МТИХ) - to give advice on Building Accessibility. I was only too happy to help.

МХБИБҮХ/VSO хамтран ажиллагч Никсон Какири болоод МТИХ-аас ирсэн хүсэлтийн дагуу бид Гадаад Хэргийн Яам дээр Нэвтрэх боломжтой Барилгын талаар зөвлөгөө өгөхөөр очсон. Би үүнд баяртай байсан.

Arriving miraculously on time and coordinated in the humid afternoon and Friday traffic jams, four of us entered the impressive building lobby, but were told our host was not known to the reception. We phoned a mobile phone, and found our way to the back entrance and upstairs to the Building Services Manager's office, where the meeting host promptly began explaining official stamped certificates to our translator Ariunaa.

The remaining three of us, Nickson Kakiri (VSO), Aliyyah Musani (VSO) and I stood by, understanding nothing, before I suggested we go somewhere where we could sit down and introduce one another. It seemed Chuluundolgor of Mongolian Wheelchair Citizens (МТИХ) in her wheelchair had been waylaid, and we returned to the grand lobby of the Ministry and sat at a low table near an empty ballroom.

Баасан гаригийн хөдөлгөөнзамын ий бөглөрөл болоод чийгтэй өдрийг даван энд тэндээс гайхалтайгаар цагтаа цугларсан. Тэгээд хүлээн авагчаас зохион байгуулагч хүний талаах асуусан боловч мэдэхгүй байлаа.

Our host, Mr Bat-Erdene, explained that he had been in post as building services manager at the ministry for 5 months, and had recently formed a new NGO, after suffering an injury. He explained that his purpose would be to raise awareness about building accessibility in Mongolia. We listened approvingly. The name of the brand-new and 'independent' NGO: "Bat-Erdene's NGO". Oh.

Monving on, why had Mr. Bat-Erdene called the meeting? He sought advice on
1) Principles of Building Accessibility and
2) International conditions, research and developments in built environment accessibility.
The former would addressed in a summary page of notes I had prepared, the latter, I suggested could follow from work we had previously begun with Chuluundolgor and the Mongolian Wheelchair Citizens (МТИХ).

I explained that my bilingual page of training notes had been hand-copied by a student from my computer as I do not have a working printer. I suggested rather than handing these over, I would be interested in following up on any issues of interest which Mr Bat-Erene might wish to note down. He took no notes, but recorded phone numbers, perhaps a politeness.

1. Principles of Universal Design - thinking about built environment accessibility in Mongolia

Physical accessibility; e.g.
- Ramps
- Door widths
- WCs

Visual Accessibility; e.g.
- Wayfinding

Tactile Accessibility; e.g.
- Navigation strips
- Switches

Auditory Accessibility; for most of us, the most abstract idea - e.g.
- The acoustic environment
- Entrance accessibility for deaf or blind people

I added such a brief introduction could not do justice to the wealth of extant information available publicly and from local experts such as Professor Gonchigbat at MUST. The latter has previously been contacted by МТИХ and MNFDPO about training in Accessibile Environments and Independent Living.

Шинэ Стандарт...<Унивэрсал Дизайны зарчим > Монгол дахь нэвтрэх боломжтой барилгын тухай бодож үзэх.

Биеээр нэвтрэх
- Налуу шат
- Хаалганий өргөн
- ОО

Харж нэвтрэх
- Олоход хялбар зам

Тэмтэрч нэвтрэх
- Чиглүүлэх зурвас
- Унтраалга

Сонсоод нэвтрэх
- Дуу авиа /ялгаа/

The next part of the meeting was about working processes, and I attempted to describe a developmental approach to working on accessibility.

International / Mongolian NGO - (Chuluundolgor joined the meeting at this point)
Government / MN - expectations of Government support, usually channelled through MNFDPO, politicians etc.

Mongolian Norm 31-101-04 (Монгол норм 31-101-04)

Professional bodies
Mongolian Association of Architects (Arkhitektorjiin Xolboo)

Education:
CTC MUST

Construction students
- build their capacity
- enhance their careers

Architect teachers / M Arch Assoc
- build their professional knowledge
- enhance capacity of Mongolian construction profession

e.g. our own CTC College Director(s) who are currently also building (in) Mongolia and taking advice on accessibility and other design issues

Олон улсын / Монголын ТББ
Chuluundolgor joined the meeting

Засгийн газар
- expectations of Government support, usually channelled through MNFDPO, politicians etc.
- Монгол норм 31-101-04

Мэргэжлийн байгууллагууд:
- Архитекторуудын холбоо
- Барилгын сургуулиуд: БТК, ШТИС

- Нандинцэцэг БТК Диплом Оюутан.
- Энхцэцэг БТК Диплом Оюутан.
- Гүрсэд БТК Диплом Оюутан.

- Дагшигдорж
- Пурэв-Эрдэнэ
- Гончигбат

БТК-Дарга

The meeting wrapped up fairly abruptly, after the host took some phone calls.
Nickson, Aliyyah, Chuluundolgor and I then repaired to the (conveniently ramped) Ulaanbaatar Hotel nearby for a cold and refreshing golden beverage.

Lists

Walking past the Жаргалант-Оч water kiosk today, the attendant at the shadowy window was alone, and the street was almost deserted, in contrast to yesterday. (pictured) Passing the semi-abandoned Trolleybus Remise - cum Driving Instruction Area on the way to work, this warm sunny morning, a grandmother was grazing four cows in the grassy drainage ditch. She sat on a pile of stones in a blue Mongolian deel and beret as her granddaughter absent-mindedly hit the rocks with a long stick.

At the college, I have compiled a list of eighteen discussion points based on the architectural drawings for Block A of our new college; the first of three parts, which will begin construction imminently in the pit at the front of our existing building. We will meet for a discussion at noon. I have also recently proposed a list of exemplary buildings for a lecture / talk programme to be televised; working title "Enkhtungalag's Top 100". Enkhtungalag (Архитэктор Энхтунгалаг) proposes beginning with the Petronas twin towers in Kuala Lumpur.

Als ich heute das Жаргалант-Оч wasserkiosk vorbei ging, war der Aufseherin im schattigen Fensterchen allein, die Strasse war leer, im gegensatz zu Gestern (Bild). Wie ich rueckseits rund um den 'Traleybus' Remise bzw. Autofahrschulplatz verpasste, dieses warm-sonnigen Morgens, sass ein Grossmutter, der auf vier Viehe, beim grassfressen in eine Abwasserkanal, aufpasste. Sie trug ein blaue mongolische Deel-Tracht mit dunklem Beret, wahrend die Enkelin auf der Steinhaufen geistesabwesend mit einem Holzstangel schlug.

College-seits, habe ich achtzehn puenkte zur diskussion unseres neuen Berufsfachschul-gebaudes zusammengestellt. Bauteil A werden wir erstmals besprechen, der erster von drei Bauteile, eben der welcher bald im neuen Ausgrub vor unsere Schule hinein zum Bauen begonnen werden sollte. Zu mittag sollten wir treffen. Letzter Zeit habe ich auch eine Liste ausgezeichnete Bauexemplare von aller Welt aufgestellt, um mit eine fuer TV gedachten Vortagserie von unsereren College, (konzept-)namens "Enkhtungalag's Top 100", zu helfen. Architektin Enkhtungalag (Архитэктор Энхтунгалаг) moechte bei der Zwillings-tuerme Petronas in Kuala Lumpur anfangen.

Participation

A small step forward occurred with regard to the concept of forward planning last week. We learned of a planned Friday meeting, for our World Vision Bayakhoshuu project on the Thursday - twenty-four hours in advance. My enquiries about an agenda, and about attendance by the allocated project collaborators from CTC college, met with a vague response, as usual.

Дэлхийн Зөн Эрчим Хүчний Үр Ашигтай Байщингийн Загвар Төсөл *

Өнгөрсөн 7 хоногт урьдчилан төлөвөсний дагуу тодорхой дэвщил харагдаж байна . 5 өдөр төлөвлөсөн Дэлхийн Зөн Баянхощууны төслийн тухай бид 4 өдөр ердөө 24 цагийн өмнө мэдсэн билээ . Бтк-ын хамтарч ажиллах хүмүүсээс хөтөлбөр болон оролцогчдийн талаар асуухад урьдийн адил бүрхэг байлаа .

When 3pm Friday arrived, we two international VSO advisors, our translator Ariunaa and the college vice-director were all taken by jeep to World Vision’s Bayankhoshuu offices. The World Vision Area director and his staff greeted us, and we were ushered to a meeting room where 12 women and 7 men from the local community had gathered. After an initial greeting by the leaders and brief project introduction in Mongolian, Rob van Waardenburg from our college, gave a presentation about global warming and energy efficient sustainable construction. The environmental and energy cost implications for Mongolia were sketched out, and three main principles of energy efficient house design explained, through Mongolian translation.

1. Design; form and size, compactness (surface area to volume) thermal buffer zones, and orientation
2. Technical measures; building materials technologies, insulation, detailing for continuity of insulation, glazing
3. Sustainability of Energy sources; Solar, Biomass, Wind energy, for comparison with coal heating, and municipal hot water and electricity from coal-fired power plants.

VSO-н зөвлөгч бид хоёрийг ,бидний орчуулагч болох Ариунаа болон коллежийн дэд захирал нар мащинаар Дэлхийн Зөнгийн Баянхощуу дахь албан газарт хүргэж ирлээ . Дэлхийн Зөнгийн дарга болон биднийг угтан авч нутагийн нийгэмлэгийн 12 эмэгтэй, 7эрэгтэй цугларсан уулзалтын өрөөнд орууллаа . Захирал эхлээд мэндчилээд Монгол орны талаар товч танилцуулсны дараа манай коллежийн Роб Ван Ваагдэнбург дэлхийн дулаарал болон эрчим хүчний үр ашигтай тогтвортой бүтээн байгуулалтын талаар танилцууллаа. Байгаль орчин болоод Монгол орны эрчим хүчний зардалыг тооцсон зураг гарган Монгол орчуулагчаар дамжуулан гол 3 эрчим хүчний үр ашигтай байщингийн загварыг тайбарлалаа .

1. Хэлбэр дүрс болон хэмжээ ,нягтаршил , дулаан хадгалах бүс болон баримжаа зүг чиг зэргийг зохиох .
2. Техниоийн барилгын материал , тусгааларгч материал , тусгаарлагчий нэг бүрийн холболт , болон шиллэх зэрэг техникийн агра хэмжээг авах .
3. Эрчим хүчний нөөцийн тогтворжилт :Нарны эрчим хүч,биомасс , салхиний эрчим хүч , нүүрсний дулаан, хотын халуун ус болон нүүрс түлдэг эрчим хүчний станцын цахилгаан зэргийг харьцуулж үзэх хэрэгтэй юм.

Distributions of energy escape - e.g. floor 15%, wall 26%, roof 26%, window 13%, door 20%, etc. - for a typical domestic building envelope, target thermal values for construction (U=0.2W/m2) and a typical detail were outlined.

Эрчим хүчний дулаан - шал хэсгээр 15%, дээвэр 26%, цонх13%, хаалга20% гэх мэтчилэн - жирийн дотоодын байшинд зарцуулагдах агаад төлөвлөснөөр барилгын дулаан хэмжээ нь ( U=0.2W/2.) бөгөөд загвар зургийг схемчлэн гаргасан.

In facilitating the following community discussion, World Vision’s area director then raised questions from the audience about building size and family units. What would be the likely household profile for the model house? Was a single- or two-storey building preferable? What facilities would be expected, hot and cold water, internalized WC, etc? Based on a 300 million MNT project budget, (Estimated Total Commitment) a 20% mortgage deposit would be required, but for mortgage security the bank would set a minimum household income level of over 700 thousand MNT per month for repayments. Mortgage is itself a contentious new idea in Ger districts.

Дараах олон нийтийн хэлэлцүүлэгийг дэмжихээр Дэлхийн Зөнгийн дарга оролцогчдоос байшингийн хэмжээ ,байршил болон гэр бүлийн гишүүдийн талаар асуулт тависан .Загвар байшин ямар байвал тохиромжтой вэ? Нэг эсвэл хоёр давхар байшин хэрэгцээтэй эсэх.Ямар зүйл уг байшинд хэрэгтэй эсэх халуун хүйтэн ус ,дотроо ариун цэврийн өрөөтэй байх эсэх гэх мэтчилэн . Уг төсөл нь 300 сая төгрөгийн төсөвтэй (Нийт тооцоогоор) барьцаа болгож урьдчилан 20% төлөх шаардлагатай ,банк сар бүр дор хаяж 700,000 төгрөгнөөс дээш орлоготой эргээд буцаан төлөх чадвартай айл өрх байхаар тогтоосон.

A discussion then followed, using the whiteboard, about possible site organization, siting a duplex spanning the boundaries of the generous compounds. This drew no response from the audience about light, fire, or party walls, for example. A case study drawing prepared by our college architect / teacher Tormandakh was tabled, but not discussed. He was absent from the meeting.

Уг уулзалтыг зохион байгуулсан талаас хэлэлцүүлэгийн үеэр самбар ашиглан дундаа хаалттай 2 өрөөг тайлбарлан мөн гэрэл, гал болон хязгаарлагч хана зэрэг нь оролцогчдын сонирхлыг татлаа. Үүнийг судалж үзсэн зургийг манай коллежийн архитектурын багш хийж гүйцэтгэсэн хэдий ч энэ талаар хараахан хэлэлцээгүй юм. Уг уулзалтын үеэр тэрбээр байхгүй байлаа.

It seemed to me inappropriate to have held this meeting in the absence of the project’s previously appointed expert on community consultation, the experienced Mongolian social worker with whom a framework had been developed together in January 2008. Additionally, the absence of the CTC construction teachers, agreed in January as project consultants, rendered the meeting almost pointless as far as providing feedback to the NGO.

2008 оны 1сард хамтарч ажилсан ,төслийн олон нийтийн хариуцсан мэргэжилтэн мөн нийгмийн ажилд мэргэшсэн Нямсүрэн эзгүй байсан нь. Миний хувьд уг уулзалтанд оролцход зохисгүй байсан.Нэмж хэлхэд СТС багш нар оролцоогүй нь уг уулзалтыг чухал ач холбогдолгүй болгосон гэж 1 сард төслийн зөвлөгчид үзсэн.

Happily, two community members came forward to candidly discuss their own self build projects as case studies. One man was building a two storey 10 x 7 metre house and had come to the meeting “to learn to save money and to discover whether materials would be better sourced in Ulaanbaatar or in nearby China.” He suggested that after buying expensive Chinese metal sheeting for his roof, his insulation material would likely consist of old clothes stuffed into the roof cavity. Another man was building a two storey 9 x 7 metre house with mansard roof windows, to a budget of 15 million MNT. He explained that he was embarrassed for his son, who had a white collar job in the city, yet came to work smelling of coal smoke from the Ger district. He would like to use an alternative / dual fuel heating system which he had seen at Michel exhibition centre, but it was far too expensive.

Аз болоход, 2 нийгэмийн гишүүд шууд гарч ирэн өөрсдийн байщин барисан туршлагаасаа хуваалцсан . Тэд 10x7 хэмжээтэй 2 давхар байшин барисан агаад мөнгөө хадгалж мөн Улаанбаатар эсвэл Хятадаас материал авахын оронд шинээр орлуулж болох зүйлүүдийг нээж олох хэрэгтэй хийгээд түүний байшингийн дээврийн хөндий хэсэгийг тусгаарласан материал бол хуучин хувцаснууд юм гэлээ.

Харин нөгөө хүн 9x7хэмжээтэй 2 даврах дээврийн өрөөндөө цонхтой байр барисан агаад 15000 сая төгрөгийн зардалаа уг байшин босчээ. Тэрээр хотод алба хаадаг хүүгээ гэр хороололын нүүрс үнэртүүлээд ажилдаа явж байгаад нь сэтгэл зовж буйгаа ярьлаа . Тэрээр Мищээл үзэсгэлэнд үзэж сонирхсон давхар шатхуунаар халаадаг системийг хэрэглэхийг хүсч байгаа ч энэ нь хэтэрхий үнэтэй юм.

The overall conclusion of the audience seemed to be that the proposed project budget was far too high, regardless of long term energy savings. (I believe the latter was not under consideration) The building capital cost, and the required deposit for a mortgage, seemed prohibitive factors for those local families present at the meeting. One of the self builders whispered afterwards that he knew German and would invite Rob and I to visit his building site.

Бид уузлатыг шууд асуултаар өндөрлөсөн билээ . Уг уулзалтаас миний бие нь өөрсдийн хүчээр байшин барисан 2 хүний судалгаанаас их зүйл сурч авсан агаад Дэлхийн Зөнгийн ажилчид эрчим хүчний үр ашгийн талаарх танилцуулгын талаар дутмаг ойлголттой яваа мэт сэтгэгдэл төрсөн .

We concluded the meeting with an impromptu debriefing with the area director, asking for feedback. Personally I felt little had been gained from the meeting, apart from the two self-builders’ case studies, and I realised, after further discussion, that the World Vision staff had not understood the presentation about energy efficiency. The World Vision director said he had been in two minds about how to proceed prior to this meeting, and was considering a more limited and predefined project. I expressed discomfort with this move towards a top-down decision making style. I suggested that, further to my previous advice in January and February, meeting agendas should be related to the project plan, as agreed in February. I suggested that the agreed project team members, the social worker and college construction teacher-experts, should be included in future meetings.

Дэлхийн Зөнгийн дарга хэлэхдээ хэрхэн уг уулзалтыг дахин үргэлжлүүлэх болон саналыг хэрэгжих боломжгүй гэж үзэж байгаагаа хэлсэн. Миний бие нь уг шийдвэртэй санал нийлэхгүй байсан . 2сард снал нэгтэй байсан нэг болон хоёр сард зөвлөж байсан зөвлөгөө нь уг уулзалтын хэлэлцэх асуудал болох төслийн төлөвлөгөөнд хамаатай юм.Би дараа болох уулзалтанд төслийн багийнхан,нийгмийн ажилтан болон коллежийн барилгын багш нар мэргэжилтнүүдийг оролцуулах санал тавьсан.

*баяарлалаа Уюанга, сайн дурын орчуулагч.

Plumbing

After four days without cold water in the WC and Bathroom, I approached our concierge (жижур) on returning home at 9pm, and she reported same to the council (өнөр хотхон) immediately, using my 'hand-phone' (гар утас). I was amazed to have a plumber (looking rather like Robert de Niro's Harry Tuttle in the movie Brazil) ringing the doorbell at 10pm as I lay in the bath. The following morning he returned, earlier than promised, with a colleague. They replaced a valve, completely blocked with dirt, for the agreed 10 000 togrogs.

As I walked up the hill through Khangai Ger district to work in the morning, a girl stretched out on the roof of her ger smiled at me, her brown back exposed to the morning sun, cleaning the ger roof window with a damp cloth, and for a brief moment, I enjoyed the contrast of the scene set against the industrial backdrop of the factories to the south. There was a queue gathering at the water kiosk next to жаргалант оч цэцэрлэг (Kindergarten), a woman at the head of the line wore a bright blue дээл (Mongolian deel coat) over mismatching pyjama trousers, and others waited with plastic jerry cans on water carrier trolleys. Boys with their full water containers laughed as they ran down hill. I stepped over two discarded syringes on the dirt road as I passed a dumping site near the back of the Trolleybus depot. Somebody meekly said 'Hi' or "саин баин уу" as I passed a shop, where a billiard table was being assembled.

At the college, the road and muddy forecourt is still flooded, reportedly from snow melt. The two mens WC cubicles in the college building are still out of service (after weeks); one blocked, the other without a door, and the female cubicles are in the same room. Burning incense makes the environment bearable.

гадаад / Mongol*: 2008-3-31 / 31. Mar 2008

A company which manufactures insulated panels for construction, paid us an (impromptu) visit yesterday. Mongolian representative O. Erdene-Ulzii brought his Hungarian counterpart Janusch, and explained the 165mm sandwich panel which my colleague had seen in their UB factory recently.

Өчигдөр барилгын тусгаарлагч хавтан үйлдвэрлэгч компанийнхан манай коллежод ирж уулзлаа. О.Эрдэнэ-Өлзий түүний хамтран ажиллагч Унгараас ирсэн Яануш нар манай коллежийн хамтран ажиллагч хэд хоногийн өмнө Улаанбаатар байдаг үйлдвэрт нь очиж үзэж байсан 165мм-ийн зузаантай хавтангийн талаар тайлбарлаж өгөв.

My advice was that
1) their (very expensive) software should be tested for AutoCAD compatibility, if not at CTC perhaps through the Darkhan Vocational Training Centre's AutoCAD lab,
2) our college architect/teachers Dagshigdorj and Tormandakh investigate the material's structural , constructional and architectural possibilities, perhaps for the Bayankhoshuu Model Energy Efficient House, and
3) for the same reason, that our Building Technologist Densmaa investigate the product's thermal and cost efficiency.
Although the visitors referred to Canadian and Russian testing, no Mongolian test results appeared to be available. The meeting was held in Russian, German, Mongolian and English.

Би тэдэнд:
1) тэрхүү үнэтэй программыг эхлээд AutoCAD-тай хамт хэрэглэж үзэх хэрэгтэй , хэрэв боломжгүй бол Дарханы Мэргэжлийн Сургалт Үйлдвэрлэлийн Төв дээр турших хэрэгтэй.
2) манай коллежийн архитектурын багш Дашигдорж, Төрмандах нар үүний бүтэц, барилгын болон архитектурын боломжийг олж нээх, Баянхошууны Дулааны Хэмнэлттэй Барилгын Гэр төсөл дээр турших
3) Барилгын Технологич Дэнсмаа багш мөн дээрх төсөл дээр хэмнэлттэй үнээр тогтмол дулаан ашиглах боломжийг олж мэдэх.
Тэд энэхүү хавтанг Орос Канадад туршиж үзсэн боловч Монголд явуулсан туршилтын үр дүн хараахан харах боломжгүй байгаа гэж хэлсэн. Уулзалт Орос,Герман, Монгол, Англи хэл дээр явагдсан.

In the afternoon Nickson Kakiri and I trained two new VSO volunteers about 'Mainstreaming Disability' at the VSO office, discussing the development context and issues in Mongolia. Both new volunteers are Canadians, one from Montreal, one from Calgary. It happens both have ethnic Indian backgrounds in North East Africa, so there was much discussion about Africa after the session. One will be based near Darkhan, at an NGO in Hutul, the other at MTIX in the capital.

Өдөр нь Никсон Какири бид хоёр 'хөгжлийн бэрхшээлтэй ажиллах нь'** сэдвээр сайн дурын шинэ ажилчдад сургалт явуулж, Монголд энэ ойлголтыг хэрхэн нэмэгдүүлэх, орчин бүрдүүлэх талаар ярилцлаа. Нэг нь Канадын Монтреал хотоос ирсэн, нөгөө нь Калгари хотоос ирсэн.
Тэр хоёр Энэтхэг гэр бүлээс гаралтай мөн Зүүн Өмнөд Африкын ёс заншилыг эзэмшсэн байсан тул сургалтын дараа Африкын талаар маш их ярилцсан. Нэг нь Дарханы ойролцоох Хөтөл сум дах ТББ-д, нөгөө нь нийслэлд МТИХ-нд ажиллана.

I went on to Sign Language course with a group of Mongolian and other volunteers, and learned about Deaf Culture, among other things. Deaf community interests/ discussion topics, it was suggested, are not so different to hearing peoples' interests; gossip, food, sex. I learned some related SL terms - sports, develop, attempts.

Би Монгол, гадаад сайн дурын ажилчидтай Дохионы Хэлний сургалт руу явсан, тэгээд Дүлий хүний нийгмийн соёл болоод бусад зүйлийн талаар судалсан. Дүлий хүмүүсийн нийгмийн харилцаа нь сонсголтой хүмүүсийнхээс их ялгаагүй биш юм, сонирхол, хов жив, хоол, бэлгийн харилцаа гэх мэт. Би мөн зарим нэг дохионы хэлний шинэ үгүүдийг сурсан, спорт, хөгжих, оролдлого гэх мэт.

* Thankyou to Tsenguun, CTC teacher, for collaboration on this translation.
** edited after comment from Anne Riordan
*** further discussion here

Progress...?

I read a UN report today about Mongolia's progress towards its Millenium Development Goals for 2015. The 22 targets are grouped 1) almost achieved, 2) progressing, 3) slow, and 4 ) regressing. In group 3, 'slow', a few stood out to me. Poverty levels, gender ratios in higher education, and access to adequate sanitation facilities I found most relevant. In group 4, 'regressing', poor literacy of youths aged 15-24 seems most immediate and challenging.

I began to draft a mid-term report;

My role as 'architect teacher trainer' in the small peri-urban construction college in Ulaanbaatar, is to develop the architecture staff and curriculum. The work, part of a VSO project to develop secure livelihoods, aims to develop construction jobs, which would help more Mongolians to live above the poverty line. (UNESCO). Mongolia’s economy is developing rapidly, but unemployment, poor literacy, alcohol abuse, and often inadequate sanitation facilities all remain as large problems for the construction sector. Construction professionals and teachers however, seem ill-prepared to tackle these medium and long-term issues.

There are very few resources for architectural education available in the Mongolian language, while literacy problems and poor teaching facilities also provide barriers to teaching. The Russian materials and methods previously commonly used are often outdated, and English and German language materials (Chinese language materials seem to be culturally taboo) are often even more inaccessible, both financially and linguistically. The architectural community of a country which has been in transition from communism since 1992 is also disconnected from world standards and communication. The elusive Arkitektorjdiin Kholboo (Mongolian Association of Architects) is “dormant”.

Yet some of the VSO skill-sharing work I have undertaken has developed the confidence and literacy of architecture teaching staff. Since I have been training, two teachers have moved on to better-paid jobs. A curriculum is rarely consciously employed; although it remains on file “at the Ministry”, teachers apparently measure student progress largely by perseverance. Soon, the first cohort of diploma students will complete their fourth year. Those of the latter I have spoken to do not seem to have been remotely aware of 'the' Mongolian architecture textbook (Bat-Od, 2005, 2007), let alone basic texts used internationally, like FDK Ching’s ‘Form, Space and Order’, the US Architectural Graphic Standards, or Neufert’s ‘Architects’ Data’ (in 18 languages). Building and planning codes may exist, but are almost unknown, and seem to be poorly controlled. Physical accessibility to buildings and streets for people without disabilities is difficult enough, but independent living for people with disabilities is almost unheard-of.

On the other hand, much potential exists for future development in the secondary and tertiary Ger districts, (informal settlements), as well as in the much anticipated new social housing, and in commercial development, so often 'outsourced'. Still, there is life beyond work, and many people seem to enjoy more time with their families and better access to locally grown food than in the UK. Teachers work long hours, but do not seem stressed. They are concerned about air quality - comparable with London's before the Clean Air Act of 1956 - and about transport congestion, in the oversubscribed capital. Many people I meet would like to contribute to Mongolia’s development without having to go abroad, as so many young people and absent fathers have done in order to earn more money. Mongolians love their culture and customs, and many are rediscovering indigenous music, history, arts, medicine and even calligraphy.

Yak

From tramping the dusty streets of the Ger districts, to stepping out on the smooth glossy floor of the Continental Hotel, Ulaanbaatar, I have walked a long way... On the weekend I volunteered as a fashion model for the "Foundation for the Development of Wool and Cashmere Enterprises" annual fashion show, wearing Mongolian fibres like yak, camel, cashmere and sheeps wool. A Mongolian male model, model agent and model-trainer, Uchralt (2nd left, above), gave the inexperienced male models half an hour's training on Friday and we presented eight collections to the industry. Afterwards, besides meeting with critique (on modelling) from MUSTs International Relations manager, I also met the Programme Director of GTZ which is a major supporter of the event. On Saturday, more relaxed with the benefit of experience, we learned a choreographed routine which recieved a good response from a general audience. The male models 'complemented' twice the number of young female Mongolian models and also children wearing the collections. After buying tickets for friends, the remainder of a small fee I received I gave to my poor neighbour, the concierge, (Jijur) who needs medicine for her heart.

Von den staubigen Gaesschen der Gerbezirken entlang gehen, nun zum Auftreten des glatten Marmorbodens des Continental Hotels, Ulaanbaatar, bin ich sehr weit gekommen, oder?... Letztes wochenende schien ich als freiwilligen Model zur "Foundation for the Development of Wool and Cashmere Enterprises" jaerliches Modeschau auf, Mongolische textil aus Yak-, Kamel-, Kashmir- und Shafs-wolle tragend. Der mongolischen Kollege, modell-agentur und modell-trainierer, Uchralt (2 von links, oben), nahm die unerfahrenen am Freitag fuer eine halbe stunde in Unterricht an, und wir stellten danach acht sammlungen an der Textilindustrie vor. Daraufinhin, nach eines kleinen kritik meines Modellkoerperzustandes von jene MUST International Relations managerin, lernte ich auch den Programmdirector des GTZ , hauptunterstuetzer der Veranstaltung, kennen. Samstag dann, enspannter, wegen unsere reichen neuen Erfahrung, lernten wir auch eine choreographie - welche das allegemeine Publikum sehr gut empfing. Die Mann-Modelle fuegten eine doppelfache Zahl schoene junge Mongolinnen zu; Kinder wirkten auch mit. Eine kleine Gebuer dabei verdient habe ich an meine Nachbarin und schlechtverdienende Torwaertin geschenkt, fuer ihre Herzenmedezin.

Soldiers Day

A youth stood by the dirt road this morning, waiting for his friend, as I walked to work through the now familiar ger district. "Hi" he offered. "Hi," I replied. "Whats your name?" he asked, encouraged. "Greg". "Hin?" (what?) "Gregory - Greg, what's yours?" "Gerel.." he said.. "you... Ger? ... Jesus?" He made a cross with his fingers. "Bish.. Bagsh, no, (not a missionary, a) teacher" I muttered, and continued walking. The dirt roads now show few traces of snow or ice that was lying around a week ago. Even the north facing shaded hillsides have thawed. The small black dog corpse I saw freeze last year is lying undecomposed at the roadside as before.

On Tuesday evening, in honour of 'Soldiers Day', the 75th anniversary of establishing the modern Mongolian Army, I met Enkhbaatar, a male languages teacher at MUST, with other teachers. After a beer and chat we were heading home in the same direction and he asked me to stop in to meet his friends, male language workers, with banking and mining, at a bar. I rarely meet Mongolian male English speakers. They sat around the table chatting and quizzing me in the usual way, but in a mix of Mongolian and English. Meanwhile, although I did not want to drink, there were persistent toasts of vodka, Chinggis Black Label, and I was eventually persuaded to participate. The staccato conversation about Mongolia continued, but the vodka part of the culture and of Mongolian mens' relations I struggled with, and subsequently I have been ill for almost a week.

Darkhan Orgoo

The city of Darkhan is 128 miles from Ulaanbaatar. A visit to Darkhan State College had been on mind since meeting Mr Jargal Nurzed, its new director, last December.

As I approached the UB parking lot associated with 'taxis' to Darkhan I was manhandled by several prospective 'drivers' in various directions into a ten year old Hyundai sedan, and then reassured that we would be leaving soon. Only after sufficient passengers filled the vehicle did the actual driver become apparent, and we set off in dusk for the three hour journey, regularly and perilously overtaking lorries and having headlights flashed at us. There was one brief stop for water and WC half way. We were relieved to finally arrive and to be met by Aimee, a Darkhan based VSO teacher trainer.

After a night staying in an absent VSO volunteer's centrally located flat, I crossed the road to the Post Office, where after telephoning a few times, I was met by a teacher from Darkhan Orgoo, the State Technical College in a taxi. I was ushered to the directors office and given a welcome speech. The school's student population of 1130 is largely comprised of orphaned and vulnerable children and youth. I presented the VSO volunteer request form and explained to Mr Nurzed the nature of VSO Mongolia's work for sustainable livelihoods, rather than providing 'aid' or charity. I noted that volunteers try to work alongside teachers rather than replacing them, and that this can be all the more challenging.

Tungaa, a languages teacher, toured me around the mid-century school building, whose facilities, class rooms and workshops were relatively well maintained. Competitions are held for decorating rooms and halls. I was treated to a lunch of buuz in the training canteen, before a farewell speech and return to meet other visiting VSOs in the city centre.

In the afternoon, I visited a German Development Service (DED) volunteer Angelika Krambeer at the Technical and Vocational Training Centre, and the newly established Autodesk-funded AutoCAD training suite. I was impressed to see a well equipped European-style lab (with legitimate software) and met some of the drafting trainees and looked at their drawing work. Finally I was kindly taken for an inspection of the near complete building site of a new SOS Children's Village by the German site architect Matthias Daxl.

Returning in 'lux-coupe' class on an overnight train (for the same price as the taxi) was a delight.

In-country training

Last week with a small team of three we inducted newly arrived VSO Mongolia international volunteers in mainstreaming disability, as part of their In-Country Training (ICT). Nickson Kakiri led the session, making good use of MS powerpoint to outline the situation for People With Disabilities (PWDs) internationally, in the developing world, and in Mongolia. We built on any fragments of existing experience of the volunteers with a discussion about models of development based on one hand, on medical 'defects', and on the other, on social exclusion.

The mainstreaming idea is that disability is integral to all VSO's work on poverty and disadvantage, spanning all our volunteering programmes and internal activities, here and internationally. A Mongolian sign-language interpreter came to assist for the presentation, but although Nickson is deaf and mute he is experienced in communicating fluently with non-signing English-language hearing people. There were some points of sign language clarification between Nickson in American Sign Language and Sainaa in Mongolian Sign Language, and Sophie van den Abeele (a trainer for Mongolian parents of children with disabilities) and I both added our Mongolia experiences to the discussion. The session pointed out the literature in the area and seemed to set a constructive tone for the volunteers.

A week later, I attended my first signing workshop, attended by workers in the deaf community, volunteers, a programme manager and the VSO country director. I learned many sign language terms and greetings, and learned some interesting new things about oralism, gossip, body language and clear communication.

Digging

Spring weather here can be 'four seasons in one day'. It was foggy, then snowing yesterday, then sunny, then icy cold. Otherwise, business as usual. Excavation began on site for the basement of the new school building, adjacent to the existing. The ground was frozen, and the digger operator broke the tines on the bucket. Today he and his friend were trying to arc-weld them back in place.

As I was about to leave the apartment, a man came to the door, insisting on spraying a chemical in wet areas. Although he offered no identification, he wore a CXX cap, suggesting he may be city council worker. I acceded, knowing we would be away for a couple of days. He indicated it was a mould inhibitor, but I declined to pay a fee on the spot. Yesterday after my evening Mongolian lesson, I helped a colleague prepare a translation for a Children's charity representative who would lobby a Mongolian MP this morning.

House in Zuragt - Зурагтад

On Tuesday I visited a typical self-build house in Zuragt, a Ger district (informal settlement) to the north of the city. I went with my colleague and interpreter Ariunaa*, whose sister Namuush lives there with her husband Jadamba, and their grandson. The boy's parents are working in Czechia. The peri-urban settlement is named Zuragt (Television), after the state television complex at its centre, and is one of the primary Ger districts planned for reclamation when the government builds new apartments in place of some informal settlements. Some residents apparently even want to improve their properties, to increase the value of their anticipated compensation payment.

The two storey, five room house is about two years old, and conveniently located next to a water kiosk. Here, the residents only have to carry water for a few minutes, less than 20 metres. The dual fuel heating system is noteworthy, as is the garden or 'hasha' layout, which accommodates a Ger and grows some summer Mongolian fruits such as Chatsargan (Sea Buckthorne).

The self-build construction is inexpensive, predominantly of wood, with calcium silicate block external leaf walls and mostly wooden linings and penetrations. Woodchips are used as a cavity filler with polystyrene insulation, which is far cheaper than wool or mineral fibre. But the rudimentary detailing means there are many points where heat escapes.

The reticulated hot water central heating Jadamba has built is ingenious; the coal stove heats the water for the system, and when the off-peak electricity tariff is available (about a third of the cost - between 9pm and 6am) he switches on an electrical element fitted at the back of the stove. A header tank creates pressure to move the water upstairs to the home made radiators; although the upper level is already warmer from rising air.

Jadamba showed me how, after the land claim and subsequent built development, he took as-built drawings, schedules, and photographs to the land registry, which then registered the real property and issued a certificate.

*Ariunaa wrote the Mongolian version below. Please comment, Mongolians!

Би 4 дөх өдөр орчуулагч Ариунаагийн* хамт хотын хойд хэсэгт орших гэр хорооллуудын нэг болох “ Зурагт” –д байдаг Ариунаагийн хүргэн ах Жадамбынд зочилсон юм. Тэрээр эхнэр Намууш ач хүү Болдын хамт өөрийн гараар барьсан хоёр давхар сууцанд амьдардаг. Ач хүү Болдынх нь аав ээж Чех улсад ажиллаж амьдардаг юм байна.

Энэ хотын захын хорооллын Зурагт радио телевизийн төв цогцолборын нэрээр нэрлэжээ.

Хэдийгээр энэ орчмын газар нь засгийн газрын орон сууцжуулах хөтөлбөрт тусгагдсанаар эхний ээлжинд орох төлөвтэй байгаа боловч оршин суугчид нь нөхөн төлбөрийн хэмжээ өсөх маадлалтай гэж үзэн сууцаа улам сайжруулж нэмж тохижуулж байна.

Эдний байшин таван өрөө бүхий хоёр давхар, худагтаа ойрхон юм. / ойролцоогоор 20 м / Мөн халаалтын хос системтэй байгаа нь анхаарууштай санагдсан юм. Тэдний хашаанд бас нэг гэр байхаас гадна тэднийх хашаандаа үхрийн нүд, чацаргана гэх мэтийн жимсний бут, бага зэрэг хүнсний ногоо тарьдаг.

Өөрөө барьсан энэ сууц нь ихэвчлэн мод, хөнгөн блок банз зэрэг хямд төсөр материалаар хийгдсэн бөгөөд ханын дулаалгыг хөөсөнцөр болон үртсээр чигжиж дулаалжээ. Эдгээр материалууд нь шилэн хөвөн болон бусад сайн чанарын дулаалгын материалуудаас хямд боловч дулааны алдагдал ихтэй санагдсан.

Жадамба гуай нүүрсээр халдаг нам даралтын тогоогоор гэрээ халаадаг ба өвлийн улиралд шөнийн цагаар цахилгааны үнэ хямдарсан үед мөн цахилгаанаар халаадаг байна.

Мөн тэрээр бидэнд газар өмчлөгчийн болон үл хөдлөх хөрөнгийн гэрчилгээнүүдээ үзүүлж сонирхуулсан юм.

* Bayarlalaa Ariunaa ene bijcen - Mogolchudaa, 'comment' messej bijeree!

Sharing.. skills

Just after midday yesterday I boarded a crowded no.23 bus at the 21st microdistrict bus stop, and immediately regretted my choice; on the step, someone pushed and held me from behind while an accomplice removed my wallet from my front trouser pocket. I struggled to turn and protest. I appealed in vain for help and for the return of the wallet; which contained 15000 togrogs cash (USD15), bank card and ID. The bus driver eventually got tired of my shouting and holding the bus and closed the door. Waiting for another, I realised someone had been watching me some distance before, as I had removed the 200 togrog fare and stowed the wallet. I realised it would have been wiser to take two microbuses or a partial taxi journey, costing about 800-1000 total.

On the next bus, a woman introduced herself as a gynaecologist wishing to learn English; I was not in the mood, but as we came nearer to the University of Science and Technology, I referred her to my interpreter Ariunaa and her nascent 'English training (micro-) centre'.

My 1.20pm lesson at the University of Science and Technology MUST was on 17th century colonies in North America. The students of English language and culture seemed interested, reserved, and underprepared for the subject, which I also had only read only two days prior. I chalked up a rough map of the geography of the New England, Middle, and Southern colonies drew comparison of the various races, languages and cultures converging. My colleague added keywords to the board which I had prepared in coloured pencil on slips of paper. Asked to relate to Mongolia, one student said he was only interested in the (C14) Chinnggis period of Mongolian History - it seems the C17 Manju period is unpopular or tabu. The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 led to a few words of interesting discussion, and on the principal of 'witch hunt' we discussed the Stalin-Choibalsan massacres of 1921-41. They asked about why I had come to Mongolia, and I tried to say something about VSO and global interdependencies.

Kurz nach mittags wollte ich in der 23er linienbus im 21. Bezirk einsteigen, bald danach hatte ich mein wahl bedauert. Auf der Treppe einer hielt mir Fest waehrend seinen Kollegen meinen Geldboerse der vorderen Hosentasche entnahm. Ich drehte schwer um zu protestieren. Erfolglos appelierte ich fuer hilfe und rueckgabe der Geldboerse, mit Inhalt 15000 togrogs (USD15), bankomatkarte und Ausweis. Der Busfahrer wurde von meinem Heulen und aufhalten bald fertig und schliesste der Tuer. Als ich der naechste erwartete, faellt mir ein, bin ich frueher beobachtet worden, als ich 200 togrog entnahm und der boerse einsteckte. Doch waere dass weiser gewesen, zwei microbesse oder zusatztaxifahrt um gesamt 1000 togrog geleistet zu haben.

Im naechsten Bus, eine Frau stellte sich als gerne Englisch-lernende Frauenaerztin vor; ich wurde wenig interessiert, aber als wir den Universitat der Wissenschaft und Techologie (MUST) naeherte, ich bewies ihr auf meine Dolmetscherin Ariunaa und dessen im entwurf befindlichen 'English training (micro-) centre'.

Meine Stunde um 1320 auf der Uni (MUST) bezog sich auf Kolonien der 17. Jahrhunderts im norden Americas. Die Student-innen Englisher Sprache und Kultur scheinten interessiert, zurueckgehalten, und nicht vorbereitet fuer den Fach, den ich auch nur 2 Tage zuvor kannte. Ein grobe landkatre habe ich auf den Schwatrzbrett gezeichnet, die New England, mittel-, und suedlichen Kolonien und das kreuzen den Rassen, Sprachen und Kulturen verglichen. Meine Kollegin fuegte keywords an den Brett zu, die ich farbig auf papierzettel vorbereitet hatte. Nach Mongolei verhaeltnisse gefragt, ein Student sagte, er sei nur an Chinggis geschichte der 14. Jht interessiert - das 17. Jht und Manchu scheint unter diesen unpopulaer, fast Tabu zu sein. Die Hexenprozesse von Salem (1692) brachte einige woerte interesse; dem prinzip der 'witch hunt' bezueglich kamen wir auf den Stalin-Choibalsan massakern, 1921-41. Sie fragten dann warum ich mich in der Mongolei befinde; also versuchte ich dan etwas ueber VSO und globalen abhaengigkeiten (interdependencies) zu erklaeren.

Secure Livelihoods

We recently spent two days at UB2, a 'mountain resort' in nearby Terelj, reviewing VSO's 'Secure Livelihoods' programme. Our work is perhaps least clearly understood, compared to that of Health and Education programmes. Together, as teacher trainers, curriculum developers, business, marketing and tourism advisors, a vet and others, we reviewed how we support the development of secure jobs (livelihoods) with poverty-affected Mongolians in the transition to a market economy. The strategic move (by VSO internationally) away from (peri-) urban to rural partnerships will mean many of us finding ways to exit from developed partnerships.

This made me think about the relationships developed between VSO and its Mongolian partners; start-up enterprises, small non-governmental organisations (NGOs), in my case a private college-cum-construction company, and the tendency for these to become dependent on volunteers, and of the slippage of project conclusions.

Although I would like to help develop teachers' skills in curriculum development as summer nears, I fear that the rumoured bulk order of overalls for staff suggests otherwise. Teaching downtime may instead be devoted to laying bricks for our new building, irrespective of the lack of sustainable staff development plans for the college.

Middle

The midpoint of my intended stay passed yesterday. When asked by new teacher Tsenguune about my impression at that moment, I said that I percieved progress. A few days ago I came upon a man fallen on his back at the local bus stop. I was alone but was able to raise him to his feet. In contrast to the man described in November, he walked away without being hit by traffic. My cousin had written to empathise, concerned about the previous instance, and I can now report a better outcome.

I have recently made several visits to the state Construction College, helping to prepare their submission for an Asia Pacific accreditation body (APACC), and providing me with quite a detailed understanding of the staffing, management and operation of that long-established college. The terms "benchmarked institution" and "ergekh kholboo", for example, raised issues for linguistic and cultural comparison, as did the question of international publications about Research & Development projects in that college. I also learned something about benchmarking in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector.

Walking again

In the ger district this morning, two small girls in pink quilted jackets waited on a hill for the local shop to open, and as I walked by, they called down to me in English.. "hello.........................good bye". It occured to me that in a few days it will be half way through my placement here. Today I felt that it was becoming warm enough (-17C max) by late morning to walk to work, so spring begins. The little bridge was stripped down to two steel beams again, the boards probably taken for somebody's fire again, people were gathering at the informal taxi stand, and there were a few people at the water tank. A weathered-looking couple carried a large plastic water container down hill, each holding one end of a stick threaded through the handle. The sky is bright blue and there is still a lot of compacted snow lying. The curled up corpse of a tiny dog caught my eye as I was walking and counting months.

Yesterday evening, with six Mongolian friends, I went to a local cafe for our 'English speakers club', established last year with Ruth, a VSO language teacher trainer, and drank Sea Buckthorn tea, while making mutual introductions, comparing jobs and reviewing Tsagaan Sar in English.

Im Ger Bezirk heute morgen, zwei kleine Maedchen in rosfarbigen Jacken standen auf einen Huegel, warteten auf des oeffnen eines kleinen Laden, und wie ich vorbei ging, riefen im Englisch hinunter.. “"hello.........................good bye". Es ist mir eingefallen, in einigen Tagen, wird die haelfte meines Mongolei-aufenthaltes vorbei sein. Heute hatte ich das gefuehl dass es waermer wird, spaeten Morgens in der Arbeit zu laufen, nun wird es fuer mich Fruehling. Die kleine Bruecke ist wieder zu zwei nackte Stahltraeger geworden, die Holzbrette wahrscheinlich wieder einmal als Feuerholz genommen; es sammelten Leute beim informellen Taxistand; einege noch beim Wasserlager. Ein trauriges Paar traegte ein Wasserfass bergunter, jeder auf eine Ende eines durch den Griff gefahrenen Traegholzes. Der Himmel ist Hellblau, es liegt noch bedrueckten schnee ueberall. Ein kleines Hundeleichen faellt mir im Augen, waehrend ich beim Laufen, die Monate zaehlte.

Gestern bin ich, mit sechs Mongolische freundinnen zusammen, fuer 'English speakers club' in einer Cafe getroffen. Der Klub wurde voriges Jahr mit einem kollegin Ruth, VSO sprachlehrer-traniererin, gegruendet. Wir tranken "Chatsaargana" Tee, stellte uns gegenseitig vor, verglichten unseren jeweiligen Arbeitsstellen, und ueber die Sache "Tsagaan Sar" im Englisch unterhielten.

Monday morning Vodka

The Mongolian Year of the mouse began last week, and the college has been fairly quiet and 'studentless' during the transition period. The main social activity for this season is visiting family, and preparing buuz (mutton dumplings - often hundreds) for visiting family members, but this means a relaxed schedule for foreigners. While some Mongolians visit tens of households, we visited three, well spaced over the New Year between Thursday and Monday. The first working day of the New Year on Monday morning at the college involved traditional armhold-greetings and reciprocal sniffing with the salutation 'Amaran uu' and rounds of Mongolian vodka.

While browsing one weekend in a bookshop at the 'State Department Store' - the UB equivalent of Moscow's GUM - I was surprised to discover a new architecture textbook, in Mongolian (A. Bat-Od, OPX 2007) which my mentor, who is credited in the preface, has never mentioned. Saves having to write one. It incorporates standards, useful example buildings, and excerpts from recent editions of Neufert and AGS. Nobody knows why the 2005 book, now in its second edition, was never known to the college or in the Library, but when I brought a copy to the college it was agreed to use it.

The World Vision project for a model energy efficient house has moved on slowly, despite the efforts of our consultant social worker, who prepared quite an impressive community consultation strategy. However, I caught a glimpse of a powerpoint presentation being prepared and lo, a client meeting was suddely held late yesterday. The discussion was mainly confined to contractual arrangements. Meanwhile I prepared a chart to try to discuss design principles to follow;
1. Barilgiin Talbei - Site and Orientation
2. Torkh Gadarguu - Envelope elements
3. Cistem - Building Systems
4. Narnii Gerel - Daylighting
5. Agaarjulaalt - Ventilation
6. Tekhnologuud - (Active) Technologies
7. Khemjilt - Evaluation
I was asked if I had ideas on a preferred facade design, and as a site has not yet been decided with the community, I referred to working with the above. Now I can hear noises in an adjacent room where an agreement is to be signed.

Art Meal / Kunst Essen

Blue Sun (Khoekh Nar) Contemporary Art Group staged their performance on Saturday as part of the exhibition at the Ulaanbaatar's Khaan Bank Gallery, mentioned in a previous blog, curated by Uranchimeg Tsultem. A table set for six was set with traditionally prepared Mongolian sheeps heads, which are repeatedly burned and boiled so that the blackened remains are "delicious". Six male artists sat with their different knives (it is a Mongolian tradition to bring one's own knife, bowl and toothpick; all of which can be found incorporated or accommodated in the traditional Mongolian costume) and quietly ate their sheeps heads, sharing morsels with the enraptured audience, working until nothing but dry bone remained. Mongolian New Year (Tsagaan Sar) will take place on Friday.

Blaue Sonne (Khoekh Nar) Zeitgenossicher Kunstgruppe stellte am vorigen Samstag eine Performance-stueck dar, bezueglich der frueher erwaehnten neuen Austellung in der Galerie des Khaan Banks. Dr Uranchimeg Tsultem ist Kuratorin. Eine runde Tisch war mit Mongolischer Schafkoepfe fuer sechs belegt; diese feinschmeckenden Lieblingsessen ist tradizionellerweise mehrmals gebrannt und gekocht. Die sechs Kuenstler sassen mit ihren verschiedenen Messer (nach Mongolischer gebrauch bringt jeder sein eigenen Messer, Schuessel und Zahnstocher, allerlei tradizionellerweise zum Kostuem gehoerend) Sie assen ruehig je ihren Schafkopf, teilten auch leckerbissen mit den erlockten Zuschauer-innen, bis zum schluss nichts als knochen uebrigblieb. Mongolisches Neues Jahr (Tsagaan Sar) findet am Freitag statt.

Competition / Wettbewerb

A lecture competition at the Nutrition Technology College? It sounded interesting; so I arrived at the college early in the morning fog, by microbus. We set off after 10am in the director's SUV over the icy streets, through the snowy industrial areas, past the railway station, to the competition venue. It had been decided that my engineer colleague Rob would speak to a power point presentation about energy efficient building design principles, with Ariunaa providing a 'simultaneous' Mongolian translation. After almost a decade of lecturing with powerpoint, and since reading Edward Tufte's essay ("There's no bullet list like Stalin's bullet list")*, MS power point presentations are one of my favourite 'bemusements', and I have so far avoided using it in Mongolia, in favour of simple paper visuals.
We made our entrance through the front of the austere timber lined lecture hall a few minutes before our appointed time, and unsuccessfully attempted to load the presentation with a virus-infected flash drive. A change of computers, and the presentation was underway, outlining the global warming dilemma and the need for ecological sustainability. Building design factors such as orientation were compared with expensive add-on technological solutions. Ten minutes passed quickly, and the organisers called for conclusion, one-third into the presentation. My director colleagues muttered, unfairly blaming the Mongolian translation. Had the teachers been trained in the subject area and made the presentation themselves, I suggested, the presentation might have been more valuable for everyone.
After answering questions from the judges, the college directors were ready to leave immediately, but we protested that we should hear at least one other presentation. It was a theory of studio methodology from the Korean-Mongolian Building Technology College, my first contact with this college. Dense pages full of lists of words were supplemented with complex six part diagrams and without any photographs, making comprehension difficult, in any language. I despaired.
We returned to the college via the Federation of Disabled Peoples Organisations, where I had arranged printing of my dissertation. On approaching the entrance on the new ramp, I encountered another visitor, walking on amputated leg stumps with the aid of trowel like wooden 'hand-shoes'; I later saw him meeting my printing contact about newly arrived wheelchairs.
The Federation had done an excellent job of the printing and we went to lunch with my colleagues amusing themselves about Mongolia's appearance in the global map of nomadic cultures. (p9)
The following day we learned that the competition/conference had been about teaching techniques, so it seemed our contribution had missed the mark. An ornate certificate of attendance was provided nevertheless, and it was admitted that our participation had been a 'guerilla' publicity exercise for CTC.
*Edward Tufte "The Cognitive Style of Powerpoint" c.2006

Ein Vortragswettbewerb? Das klung interessant. Ich kam im fruehmorgigen Nebel mit einem Microbus in den Kollege an. Nach 10uhr fuhren wir, im allrad mit dem Direktor, ueber den vereisten Strassen, den Industriebezirk und Bahnhofsplatz vorbei, zu den Gestaltungsort in Naehrungstechnischen Kollege. Bereits war es entschieden das mein kollegen Rob, ein Bau-ingeneur, mittels PowerPoint der prinzipien Energie-sparendes Bauentwurf darstellen wuerde, waehrend Dolmetsch Ariunaa 'simultan' Mongolischer Uebersetzung zufuegen wuerde. Nach dem ich ein Jahrzehntelang zur Uni-vortraege PowerPoint benutzt habe, und besonders nach meinem eindruck des Edward Tufte Essays ("There's no bullet list like Stalin's bullet list")*, MS PowerPoint gigs sind fuer mich zu eine schadenfreudliche unterhaltung geworden. Bis hin als Lehrer tranierer in der Mongolei habe ich darauf verzichten koennen, anstattdessen einfache Papierhilfsmitteln zu verwenden.
In eine kommunistisch-einfach ausgestatteten Vortragshalle kamen wir wenigen minuten vor unsere vereinbarte Zeit an, und erfolglos mit einer Virus-infiziertes USB-drive dem PowerPoint aufzuladen versuchte. Ein Komputerwechsel danach, lief den Vortag, der Globalen Kilmaerwaermungsgeschichte und der anfrage fuer oekologischer nachhaltigkeit in uebersicht zu erklaeren. Bauentwurfskriterien wie Sonnenorientierung wurden mit teuere zusaetzlichen technologischen Loesungen verglichen. Zehn minuten gingen blitzschnell vorbei, und mit der Beitrag ein-drittel fertig riefen der Organisatoren zum Enden. Meine Vorstand und kollegen geraueschelten, die Uebersetzung fuer die Zeitverzoegerung sei zu beschuldigen. Hatten aber Mongolischer CTC Lehrer-innen den fach gelernt und den Vortag selbst gemacht, schlug ich vor, waere den Vortag allerseits nuetzlicher gewesen sein.
Nach einige Fragen der Jurie beantwortet wurden, der Kollege-direktoren wollten sofort gehen, die anderen wollten aber wenigstens eine der Konkurrenten hoeren. Als naechste dran war eine Theorie der Studio-method von eine Lehrerin der Koreanisch-Mongolisch Bau-Technologisches Kollege, von dem ich einige Zeit etwas blicken wollte. Dichte seiten, ganz voller Wortlisten, einige complizierte Diagrammen dazu, sonst Bildlos, machte verstaendnis schwerig, trotz etwaige Sprachprobleme. Seufze.
Am weg zur Kollege fuhren wir den MNFDPO (Bund der Organisationen fuer Behinderten) vorbei, wo ich meiner Dissertation zum Drucken gelassen hatte. Als ich den Eingangsrampe beging, kam ich an einen Besucher, der an abgekuerzten Beine, mit hilfe ein Art holzernen Schuhe ging; spaeter sah ich den Mann mit den Druckberatungskollege in eine Besprechung um eine menge neuangekommenen Rollstuehle.
Der Bund hatte ein ausgezeichnetes Job meines Druckaufgabes getan, und wir gingen weiter zum Mittagessen, wahrend der Kollegen-innen sich amusierten ueber des Auftauchen der Mongolei in eine Weltkarte ueber nomadische Kulturen. (s9)
Am naechsten Tag erfuhren wir dass den Wettbewerb eher auf Paedagogie / Lehrtechnik bezogen wurden war, nun scheinbar hat unser Beitrag den Ziel etwa vermisst. Ein dekoriertes Zertifikat des Anwesendsein wurde jedoch an CTC bereicht. Mittlerweile gaben der Kollege-mitarbeiter zu, dass das Ganze eine opportunistischer Publizitaetsgelegenheit fuer CTC gewesen war.
*Edward Tufte "The Cognitive Style of Powerpoint" c.2006

Microbus - to Khar Khorin, Sansar, Boemboegoer