Mongolia has turned me into a different person

by Monica Barguil (Brazil)

A leap into the unknown Mongolia

Mongolia has turned me into a different person Mongolia was much more than a trip. When I started to think about a different destination all I knew was the country shares a border with China. I was looking for something that would defy my physical limits. Then I started to look into Mongolia with different eyes. Vast wilderness, nomadic tribes, Gobi Desert. When I finally got there (a very long trip as I live in Brazil) I tried Lasha (a typical noodle dish) and learned that taste is actually a poor sense, drank the airag ( the fermented mare´s milk) and found out I need to challenge my palate a bit more. The most challenge experience, however, was sleeping in a Ger full of strangers. A Ger is a yurt made of felt covers, wooden columns and a round window at the top. They build the Ger from scratch in about 20 minutes. In one of the evenings we had to build our own, of course lack of experience made It last 2 hours. Our guide would stop the car and look for a family with binoculars: with animals and at least 2 Gers, so they could host us. He would go there -out of the blue, ask if the family would be willing to host us (a 12-people-group) and that´s it. Sleeping with people I have never met in my life was definitely the most challenging experience. I had spent the first night awake trying to listen to every different sound I could. And alert. In combat mode (as we say in Brazil). However, the nest attempt was much softer on my spirit. As I spend the day with them, I ended up learning how pleasant and simple people are. What I had learned: I can live with so much less. People would wake up before the sun rise to round up the cattle. We would help them, at the end of the day, to seek out and bring them together. As well as milk the cow. They would cook for us. We would have meals together and share stories from our countries. Our guide would show them a map (a real one not an app) where we “belong” to. The children would try the sweets we had brought and play with us. At the end of the trip I felt shallow. My full of privilege world had shrunk. Why do I buy so much stuff? My house is mostly filled with junk- I thought. Do I really need the latest mobile? Is it necessary to own so many clothes? Why on earth do I have so much make-up? I only use one or two lipsticks, once in a blue moon. I know some of us crave for status and media just take advantage of that fact. But why I do the same? I thought to myself. I was as superficial as the people I have passed judgment on. For all this time. Mongolia had shown me that. I got to know a “hidden” part of myself. The shadow (as Jung says). I was a superficial human being. I came back to Brazil decided to change. I had donated and sold most of my stuff. Moved to a smaller apartment (they call it studio). I still have far more than I need. Step by step I am learning about minimalism. The goal is to change my life all around. To have a new mindset and never forget how blessed I am. I have food on my table, a dog I love, work to do. Above all: knowledge. Let me put a good use to all that. It was an epic journey. Self-knowledge was served and I didn’t realize it until I got back home. Mongolia has turned me into a different person.