Kim Yearwood, Mongolia - VSO
27 May 2010
Laughter, tears and scotch and vodka have been the ingredients
of a successful volunteer placement for AVI/VSO volunteer, Kim
Yearwood. Find out more about her life in Mongolia.
My Mongolian Experience
There is a saying amongst the volunteers that Mongolia runs on
scotch and vodka. I have found this a very useful adage to live by.
My flat is held together by scotch tape and at times l have been
able to hold myself together with a quick nip of Vodka.
How would l describe my experience; a roller coaster ride? It is
confronting, challenging, scary, exciting, exhilarating and at
times frustrating. I have not laughed so much in my life as l have
over the last few months, l have also shed a tear or two.
On arriving in Mongolia to temperatures of below -30 l was very
pleased to realise that a number of people of 50 plus had taken up
the challenge and l would not be the only "oldie" in the village.
Our intake group was made up of 10 volunteers from all over the
world and that was the first language barrier to undertake.
We all spoke English but they all had trouble with Australian -
fair dinkum they did not know what a chook was or what it meant to
feel crook. Sharing a tiny guesthouse, plus the family who ran it,
meant that we had to learn quickly to adapt and share our personal
space as we had never done before. It was trying at times but in
the end it has meant that l have met some amazing people who will
be friends for life.
After nearly four weeks of in-country training, including
language school, l left Ulaan Baatar for Darkhan where l was to
take up the position of Inclusive Education Advisor. I have been
very fortunate to find myself working with a wonderful, young women
called Naraa, as my interpreter. She has made the transition much
easier and has made me feel very welcome in her country and home
town.
Working in a country with few resources and a very different
system raises many challenges and, for me, has been the most
frustrating aspect of my Mongolian experience .It is a little like
a maze trying to find the best way to get to where you would like
to be. However, this is part of the challenge and a test of my
adaptability and flexibility.
Four months into my one year placement, l have no regrets. I
left Australia believing this would be the experience of a lifetime
and l haven't been disappointed.
Find out more about the AVI / VSO partnership here.