A Powerful Point

Last week two of our teachers were asked by a college director to prepare a training session about MS Powerpoint, using Multimedia Flash player to put the pesentation on the web. As someone who has used PP (MS Powerpoint) in teaching for over 10 years I offered some tips.

The first was that as I have been finding in my work in Mongolia, (call me a luddite! but...) sometimes a presentation can be made more clearly using simple technology, like pencil and paper scotch taped to the wall, chalk on a blackboard, or overhead transparency. I navigated to a technical point in Edward Tufte's essay on "Powerpoint does Rocket Science" demonstrating six hierarchical levels on a single slide, exemplifying 'bureaucratic hyper-rationalism'.

We discussed the recent lecture competition I had attended with the college director at the Food Technology College, where experienced Mongolian lecturers seemed to have the same problems in designing their presentation slides as we find world wide; few clear illustrations and way too much text. Additionally cyrillic fonts were a problem in the presentations, with gratuitous or irrelevant use of special effects. Together, we looked at similar slideware software on the Wikipedia page for context.

For learning to use Macromedia flash player, as with most software, there are clear tutorials (in English) available in the help window, and these collegues would use these to make the MM Flash Player presentation.

I wondered if the tutorial on MS Powerpoint would convey key principles, i.e.

• introduce the overall objective of the presentation
• carefully arrange the information - graphic and verbal- for the presentation in chronological order
• keep the main points simple and clear
• finish on time and allow time for questions

But would this make for a marketable piece of training? Or is there enough of this sort of thing in Mongolia already? Is it a language issue?

Since lunchtime, there is another project soon to be on the board, for a family resort eco-complex. I would work with the third year students over the summer, to develop a 2 hectare site in Yarmag, just out of Ulaanbaatar, which at first glance on google map appears to be on the north side of the Bogd Mountain Range...

Keeping Busy

My 'counterpart' / College vice Director Hashbayar last week suggested we revive the Energy Efficient House project. What had happened to the consultation, I asked? The World Vision area director had decided - after terminating the planned professionally prepared community consultation - that there was no suitable community member in Bayankhoshuu. Now, Hashaa said, could the college draw our own model Energy Efficient house? Towards whom should it be directed? What location? I asked. We would just do it generically as a model, Hashaa suggested, then solicit interest. I said I felt the UNDP Mongolia Energy Efficient Housing 'pattern book' was already filling that need.

Hashbayar said he also had a client wanting to build town houses, not unlike those the college's company has previously built. I suggested noting down some client requirements at his social meeting planned for the Thursday evening. He chuckled - that's "not the Mongolian way". I was introduced to a student who would help with drawing (and who would learn something), and waited in vain for the call which was to follow the next day.

English-speaking club has been in spontaneous recess, perhaps because of the Enterovirus-71 causing quarantine confinement for children under 16, and also my little neighbours are out of contact for lessons, and we are getting our laundry machine washed at a guesthouse instead of at the neighbours'.

A German-speakers' meeting was arranged so I could introduce Mandukhai, (the hard-working daughter-assistant of my lecturer colleague) to Jo, a German teacher intern from Vienna; a friend of a friend working here in UB. Mandukhai has expressed interest in studying in German-speaking Europe. With Ariunaa along to make four of us, we met at Sacher, the Viennese cafe in the city centre, and I paid exorbitantly for a bad coffee. Meanwhile my college companions were tricked by the two lines on the menu; Apple juice 1500, large 2500. They each ordered apple juice, and when leaving, were informed (embarrassingly) that these had been 'large' - and about three times the price of lunch in the West where we work. Meanwhile, we had mostly spoken English, but had discovered some things about opportunities for foreign students in Austria.

Толгойт Халуун Ус - Bathing in Tolgoit

Many of the students I have met at this college live in nearby Tolgoit, a western peri-urban informal settlement of Ulaanbaatar. There are two main community bathing houses there in the 3rd Khoroo (informal village) of our Songinokhairkhan district, so when I was invited by the Gender Centre for Sustainable Development there, I was interested in visiting one, with regard to accessibility. (website unreliable - alternatively see this.)

Миний ярилцаж байсан коллежийн ихэнх оюутнууд Улаанбаатарын баруун хэсэгт орших хагас хотожсон суурин болох Толгойтод амьдардаг. Сонхинохайрхан дүүргийн 3-р хороонд хоёр нийтийн халуун усны газар байдаг. Нийгмийн Хөгжлийн Жендер Төвөөс намайг тэнд урьсан. Би бүх хүмүүст нээлттэй эсэхийг мэдэхээр нэгэнд нь очиж үзэхээр болсон. (вебсайт боломжгүй байгаа тул эндээс үз.)

Bayarsgalan and Enebish (of GCSD) met me punctually at our college and we drove to Chimbat's bath-house, the newer of the two, where the community NGO had secured a room - donated by the proprietor - to be adapted for 'universal accessibility'. Encouragingly, the community workers had sourced and photocopied the Mongolian Norm MN 301-04-01. Chimbat herself and a staff member watched as we inspected the tiled 2.3 x 2.6 metre room she was offering for the project. Currently there is a hand-shower in one corner (with a high mounting) and a wooden duckboard.

Баясгалан Энэбиш (НХЖТ-ийн) хоёр надтай манай коллеж дээр цагтаа уулзаадЧинбатын халуун ус руу машинаар очсон. Тэндхийн эзэн нь хандивласан нэг өрөөг ТББ-нхан хүн бүрт хүртээмжтэй өрөө болгохоор авчихсан байсан. Мэргэжилтэнгүүд Монголын стандарт MN 301-04-01-ийг үндэслэсэн байсан ба түүнчлэн хуулбарыг нь байрлуулсан байсан. Чинбатын төсөлд зориулж өгсөн 2.3 x 2.6 хэмжээтэй өрөөг биднийг хянаж байхад тэр ажилтантайгаа мөн тэнд байсан. Өрөөний нэг буланд гар угаагч болоод шалан дээр тавьдаг модон хавтан байсан.

Certainly some wall hooks would be useful, but Bayarsgalan's proposal for a new bath and an internal wall and seemed ambitious, especially when I learned of a nine-day deadline, and negligible budget. The access to the centre entrance up steps and over a 150mm high pipe in the corridor would present greater accessibility challenges. (At 1:12, over 3m of temporary ramps, which could also present a lifting hazard for staff..) I explained that enlarging the 680mm door opening would involve considerable business disruption and some skilled labour or supervision in order to replace it with a wider one. Textured wall guide strips for blind users may be given a lower budgetary priority, given the narrow corridor width. I reflected on my own bathroom adaptations when I was temporarily wheelchair bound. Perhaps some reliable secured handrails would be a practical adaptation.

Ханын өлгүүрүүд тэнд байх нь дээр боловч Баярбаясгалан зөвхөн шинэ банн болоод тусгаарлах хана санал болгож байсан. Сүүлийн хугацаа нь 9 хоног бас санхүү бараг байхгүй гэдгийг нь би мэдээд түүнийг өөрийн сонирхолын төлөө байгааг ойлгосон. Орох замд 150мм-ийн өндөртэй усны хоолой байдаг нь хүмүүст саад болдог. ( хэрэв 3м-н урттай байнгын бус налуу шат байрлуулбал үүнийг зөөхөд ажилчдад хэцүү байх болно). Хаалгыг 680м болгон өргөтгөвөл бизнесд таатай бус төдийгүй энэ тохиолдолд ажиллаж чадах ажилчид хэрэг шаардагдах болно гэж би тайлбарласан. Хараагүй хүмүүст зориулсан тэмтэрж болох барзгар хана, өргөн багатай коридор зэргийг тэд чухал шаардлагатай бус төсөвт оруулж магалгүй байсан. Би тэргэнцэртэй байсан үеэ эргэн санаад магадгүй бариул байх нь илүү тохиромжтой гэж бодсон. (to be continued soon)

It seemed time and money limitations might work against the potential for a community project for vocational students, but I suggested a proposal be put forward to local people and students to engender participation over a longer period. I was told that some research on disability and accessibility needs in the area had already been done. Could a user be found, I now persisted, who might be consulted before and after the alterations, and who might collaborate as a future champion / advocate for a wider programme- I was lobbying for grassroots participation. Next, spontaneously, I was taken to visit a local person with disability.

(Mongolian version to be continued...)

The car was parked a few dusty blocks away at a Ger compound, with a ramshackle building. The ubiquitous guard dogs in this case were mere pups and a dusty mop of a terrier. We passed a ger with children sitting outside in the gravelly yard, and approached Enkhsaikhan's shack. I followed into the dirt floored lobby over a high wooden threshold and then stepped up into a darkened but richly furnished room, with carpets and tiered suitcases, as is customary. Enkhsaikhan a man who looked about thirty, was lying on a bed in a corner with only his head visible. Introductions were made, and when no limb was extended from under his bedsheet I firmly touched his shoulder in an attempt at greeting. I was told the man had no arms and legs. But later in the conversation about the bathhouses, including Khataanbaatar's, where he had previously worked, he showed an arm with amputated fingers. Two young boys sat and listened. Enkhsaikhan said that in his opinion the main issue for the bath house was the water temperature and the hard water due to a shallow well. He bathed weekly at Khataanbaatar's, separately from his able seven year old son, who currently was sitting at the foot of the bed. He did not feel he could comment on wheelchair accessibility, as he had (understandable given the environment, I thought) rarely used the wheelchair he had been given. It reminded me of winter here (...December blog) when afterwards I heard that the man had previously been sleeping rough in the cold, alcohol afflicted, before the amputations to his hands and feet for frostbite.

(Mongolian version to be continued...)

City Farm

Compared to the emergencies in China and Burma, development in Mongolia seems trifling. After the aggravation expressed last blog, it was nice to take a short break to visit the peri-urban MWFA city farm, in Bayankhoshuu, for the first time this year, and remember my arrival in UB. Although my friends Yugaana and Beitsanda (director) were not about, we were able to see the new building and well-equipped information centre. The recently published MWFA handbook about organic city farming (or similar in Mongolian) and showing how to grow veggies and flowers was available in the little shop along with seeds, tools and other goodies.

My friend and I looked around the property, at the healthy chickens, the greenhouses and newly seeded planterbeds. We were told it would be some time before the cabbages would be ready. We sat in a grassy spot in the sun and enjoyed the air and the view of the nearby mountains.

Im vergleich zur Not in Burma und China, scheint der Entwicklung in der Mongolei unwichtig. Nach der aufregegung letztes mal, ganz schoen war es wieder beim MWFA in Bayankhoshuu ein kurzer Besuch einzulegen. Ich dachte an den Tag meiner ankunft. Ob wohl meiner bekannten Yugaana und Beitsandaa nicht da waren, meine Beglieterin und ich konnten ein neues Haus und ein neuesUnterkunftskiosk besichtigen. Vorhanden auch neben Samen, Werkzeug usw., im neuen Mini-Laden war das neu-erschienenes MWFA Handbuch ueber Bio-Anbau (auf Mongolisch) und wie man Gemuese und Bluemen baut.

Wir schauten sowohl den Khaashaa (Stadtfarm), die gesunden Huehnchen, die Wintergaerten-haueser als auch den neu-gepflanzten Grundstuecke an. Einige zeit wuerde es noch dauern, hiess es, um Gemuse kaufen zu koennen. Wir sassen auf eine sonnigen stueck Rasen, und der Luft und der Blick auf der nahen Gebirge geniessten.

More Diplomatic

I was aggravated this morning (like a self-righteous foreigner?) when I saw Professor E.....-... again stagger drunkenly in to the college, to be received neutrally by our uniformed Security Guard. How can our college tolerate this, I wondered, when at the same time, the administration will dock good teachers' pay for arriving later than 9am - besides their working three or four hours' unpaid overtime in scheduled lessons after 6pm? What example does this Professor set for the students and other teachers? My colleagues requested that I turn a blind eye, because they say there is a shortage of good staff.

A presentation by Diploma students yesterday was followed by an (uncomfortable) discussion with architecture staff. The students had all done a lot of work, each presenting several boards of drawings at AO or larger. These are customarily done on white paper, wet stretched onto wooden frames.

1. Uranbileg had drawn a straightforward College building of about seven storeys in a symmetrical Y-form plan. Drawings, at scales from 1:1000 to 1:50, were competent, although no site analysis was evident. She promised to change the drawings for accessibility by ramp and for WCs on the ground floor only. The meaning of the blue glass, in anotherwise practical and well made 1:100 model, was a mystery, and the central circulation / stairwell showed promise despite an apparent lack of daylight.

2. Gursed (m) had also produced a thorough technical report for his College proposal. The facade and perspectives were engaging. The proposed landscaping intriguing.

3. Lhagva (m) had drawn a twelve storey dormitory, but seemed unsure of its exact size and capacity. Our teachers' quick estimate showed a 3,400m2 building with only 2,600m2 useable / lettable area. Besides, at USD$750/m2 the aggregated sale value of about 1.97 million would not even cover the construction cost, of about 2 million.

4. Gantulga (m) had a project for a 300 seat restaurant near the Wrestling Palace in the 10th district. On request, there was a workable commercial kitchen plan in the report. He had omitted to draw an important transverse section. When I offered to help adapt the drawings with a wheelchair accessible entrance and restaurant toilets, he vaguely suggested "Маргааш" (tomorrow) so instead I hurriedly pencilled improvements onto the plans.

5. Enkhbat's (m) Secondary School showed a reasonable courtyard, but no site plan, model or details. I asked the teachers about Mongolian standards of accessibility and energy efficiency for public buildings.

6. Khanburged also had designed a two storey school building. I asked if he had seen the Mongolian Government Construction Ministry's pattern school, which I had recommended he study last December. He claimed the Ministry had refused to allow him to see it. The proposed building was a rectilinear concrete framed building similar to examples shown in Neufert's 1965 Russian edition.

7. Otgonbaatar proposed three Cinemas, the central one of 400 seats flanked on each side by 200 seat cinemas. The centre of the ensemble was surmounted by a replica of Sydney Opera house. The clerestoreys would provide light into the auditorium until the movie started. Given that only one of many former Cinemas remains operational in Ulaanbaatar (and that Otgonbaatar had been unable to interview the Manager with whose contact I had provided him in December) I questioned the teachers on the business case for such a complex. Would a 'town hall', 'concert hall' or 'Opera House' perhaps better suit the main auditorium? How ironic that the Sydney Opera House replica might be subverted to its proper use...

8. Enkhtsetseg's dormitory building, on which I had assisted her often remained incomplete. I suggested a modelling workshop, along with Gursed, for the following day. She returned empty handed the next day, having left the 1:100 model at home. I showed examples from Curtin architecture students own guide book, and suggested we try a 1:500 mass model right now. "Маргааш" (tomorrow) she said.

When Professor Dagshigdorj enquired about my reflections, I was diplomatic.
Firstly, could not the architecture teachers, I suggested, with the support of the Mongolian Institute of Architects, please consult with the Construction Ministry about the accessibility and energy standards of the new Mongolian Pattern Schools? This was now being outsourced to GTZ, because of the lacking professional capacity of Mongolian architects. Professor Dagshigdorj dismissed this as 'corruption'. Meanwhile the 1965 Russian translation of Neufert seems to be the standard.
Secondly, could students be encouraged to consider the environmental and even financial feasibility context of their projects? There was no simple answer. But for now, it seemed that the calculation of concrete reinforcement was a higher priority. The graduation ceremony this Friday is being postponed.

Diplomatic

Diploma students presented themselves with their work on Monday, only hours after I had arrived on the dawn train from the Gobi and showered to remove the fine dust.

Preliminary diploma work was presented by Altangerel, Samdan-nyam, Myagmar, Altanchimeg and Javkhaa-bayar, all building engineering students. On close examination, a neutral-looking four-storey block turned out to be a rehabilitation hospital; with a lift but no accessible entrance. Drawing orientations were 'front, side' etc. rather than 'south, west' etc. Reinforcing steel had been carefully considered and calculated. A carparking structure was calculated, but not yet drawn. An airport had not been plotted due to a computer failure. A multi-storey farm was not presented because a teacher had questioned its viability. This prompted a peek with the student at Pig City (MVRDV 2001) A project for a school building was the exact replica of our planned new building, currently under construction outside. However the advice I had given last month to the architect, engineers and teachers, including accessibility, room uses, orientations, and fire egress, had not been taken into account by the student.

UB favourites

A meeting with Enkhtungalag's Second year architecture diploma students on the 29th, who were due to show their favourite UB buildings, was cancelled. I tracked down the young architect and teacher to help her with her research on the Petronas twin towers for a presentation, and had prepared ten points in Mongolian, with diagrams, for discussion. This, she said was not detailed enough, and she would prefer a full script in Mongolian. I declined to 'spoon-feed' her on this occasion.

Somehow, the message had got through to her students by the following week, and these had printed the seven page English-language Wikipedia article for the following week's lesson, although they still had not prepared any information about their favourite buildings in UB. When they attempted to hand over the Wikipedia article for translation (the Mongolian version is yet to be written) I suggested we discuss a few aspects which interest the students most. After much coaxing, they came up with height, lighting, materials, skybridge and commercial interiors. To the first, we agreed they would diagram the Twin Towers' height relative to Mongolia's tallest building alongside our current 2 storey schoolhouse and the new 5-storey one being built in front. This would be drawn at a suitable scale - as large as possible - on the classroom wall. The night lighting of the building in its city context would be demonstrated by a photograph to be researched and cheaply printed from a flash drive at a photo kiosk. The materials would be investigated, especially the metal cladding and the so-called "super-high-strength reinforced concrete" frame (apparently popular throughout Asia) which had replaced an intended steel one. These SHS RC columns would be drawn and compared to the ordinary ones on our building site outside. The flexible sybridge and its fire egress shortcomings discovered after the World Trade Centre disaster would be discussed. Finally further discussion of the interior would be postponed pending a discussion of presentation techniques including collage (C20 Western art is little known here) which I would prepare (with Ts. Uranchimeg's help) for next week.

The day following the first cancellation of CTC students favourites, I had arranged something similar as a guest at the languages institute of the State Uni of Science and Technology. The language students were mostly unprepared, but two of the group had brought materials which they could read. They agreed to prepare during the lessn and make short presentations on 'Mongolian architecture' after I 'firmly' organised them into two random groups. One group prepared a presentation called "Mongolian Architecture in Socialist and Contemporary Times", featuring one (Russian educated) Chimed, who in 1948 had begun a movement for an authentic national architecture, and comparing Choiljiljav's modern Urguu Apartments. Some footnotes offered verbally on architectural education were promised in an email by the group rep, Undram.

The second group produced a lineage of traditional Mongolian architecture, in particular, the Ger, from the C13 to the present, and covering herders' Gers, Monastery Gers and the distribution of urban settlements, in what could have been a very interesting topic.

During the remainder of the week, I took in the amazing kitsch film "The Conqueror" (USA 1953) at the ACMS Mongolian Studies film series, 'starring' John Wayne as Chinggis. On the weekend our group of nine made our overnight train visit to Sainshand in the Dorno-Gobi and to Danzanravjaa's Khamar Monastery in the desert.

Independent Living

On Tuesday 29 came the long-awaited follow-up meeting for the 'Independent Living' project of the Mongolian Wheelchair Citizens Association, МТИХ. Chuluundolgor had gathered nine people into her office at the Federation (MNFDPO aka Үндэсний Холбоо). Four from МТИХ, including advisor and engineer Avirmed, a new volunteer translator Uyanga (fresh from English speakers' club) and new VSO Aliyyah. Nickson of MNFDPO and myself joined as further VSOs, with Ariunaa translating, and Tsevelmaa (new volunteer recruitment NGO - Windows to Development Хөгжлийн Цонх) I translated from English into handwritten notes and read out notes in English with and on behalf of Nickson, whose offer to train the group in fundraising strategies were frustrated for the time being. An oversupply of opinions and translating made for some tensions and conflicts.

The main outcomes of discussion were that МТИХ would need to plan, organise and fundraise for an Independent Living Centre Project. Despite their reservations, they would need to communicate and cooperate with МТИХ members and other NGOs and stakeholders such as MNFDPO who provide their accommodation. A plan, the first step needed to begin fund-raising, had not yet materialised on paper. Previous advice from myself and a 'needs analysis' had not yet been documented. The need to discuss and develop the plan with the 60 МТИХ members was reiterated in light of an approaching 2 May general meeting. Member support for the plan and steps taken to date, it was suggested, would be vital for the project's future.

While Chuluundolgor and Avirmed are both on the MNFDPO board, they criticise its constitution, financial management and transparency. However their 'own' МТИХ is not demonstrating these 'desirable and essential qualities'. I truly hope that the МТИХ will develop - I am very interested to see how the Independent Living Centre project will proceed, in aiming to help (especially adventitiously) disadvantaged Mongolians to develop independent lives, and I want to pursue ways in which I (and others) might practically support the project.

Languages

Today was the first time I have been asked for paediatric advice. My young cleaner colleague has bought some baby nutrition formula for the youngest of her five, and was unable to read the advice in German. Through translation in English, via Ariunaa we were able to establish the preparation method and danger to teeth and infants under eight months.

English speakers club on 26 April met at the Stupa at the Buddhist Centre, then went in two taxis to a newly established Czech-funded social work library in the National University. Host, Erdenechimeg had gathered social work students and the meeting grew to twenty one, filling the library. After introductions, conversation led from the history of social work in Mongolia to its future, and following a video, on to the nature of volunteering, which was clearly a heurism for many of those gathered. Four had come from our college, besides myself, and interacted well with the diverse group; tying in Amnesty, VSO, Caritas, Disability advocacy NGOs, as well as students. At some points the discussion was so interesting English was dropped in favour of Mongolian. Afterwards, a few friends from among our group went to the Railway station to investigate tickets for a future weekend getaway.

The Sunday 27 was my twentieth English lesson with neighbours Enkbat and Solongo, and I brought in an assistant in 16 year old Anja. Daughter of an English student neighbour from nearby building 19, Anja had previously joined the three of us for ice-skating and I suggested might be a replacement English teacher in future.

Bayan Adraga and DED

Time has flown, since the VSO leavers workshop on 17 April kickstarted my reference and job search preparations. The weekend following, I met with Ariunaa, my translating colleague at CTC, and her English student and Land Lawyer, Tsetsegee, also from Bayan Adraga in Khentii . I have been voluntarily teaching English to three townspeople including a cosmetic surgeon Zolzaya. The lawyer commissioned a Mongolian Deel as a gift for me. We discussed the plan for a new urban park in the town centre of Bayan Adraga. A landscape designer had provided a colourful geometric layout with 75 trees, two fountains and shops on a set on one hectare (10 000m2), which I discovered (without a map) is to be located near a school and the hospital. I suggested people from these communities be engaged or consulted for the benefit of sharing ownership, responsibility, fundraising, construction (perhaps an edible garden maintained by schoolchildren?) and maintenance. To this end I suggested Julia Udall's case studies of Sharrow, Sheffield (2007, pp32-45) and community gardens in the Urban Act handbook. The project might be sustainable with the involvement of community gardeners, I suggested.

On Tuesday 22, a collegial visit to CTC by former Deutsche Entwicklungs Dienst (DED) architectural trainer Sara Schneider made some teachers very happy. One elderly professor, on the way home drunk at 11am, unfortunately joined in to the meeting until he could be extracated. The remaining, all young female teachers, were given a laptop CV presentation and asked questions, with interpretation about NGO work in Mongolia, construction education, learning styles and careers in Spain, Italy and Germany. They analysed the illustrated CV, and had a discussion about computer programmes, Habitat for Humanity, and DED, which might be described as a German VSO.

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.