Howdy UB

From Taipei to UB

It was an early morning flight from Taoyuan to HongKong. I checked in two luggages directly to UB successfully, maybe two or three kilograms overweight, but I got by, because I was going to UB, a remote city to most Taiwanese. Upon arrival at HongKong at 9:55, I saw my name on the sign, directing me to airline desk E1. At desk E1, I saw a long waiting line with one person taking care of six airline companies, including Mongolian airline. I was kept waiting for at least one and half hours before I got the boarding card.

I had to rush to the designated gate for my flight at 12:05. It's been a while since I last boarded Boeing 737-800. It felt transcending back in time watching the handsome Mongolian stewards demonstrate how to put on the safety vest in person. During four and half hours flight, I enjoyed every minute bird viewing the great landscape of China. I was excited when we flew over the Gobi dessert. I might be the only passenger on board who wished that the pilot would announce where we were, such as Yantzu River, Yellow River, Inner Mongolia, Gobi desert, while there was literally no entertainment on the airline. Maybe Chinese pilots would say something for the passengers while flying over China just like what American pilots would say flying from Los Angles to New York. For my next trip to UB, I wish to take Princess Cruise from Keelung to Beijing (Tianjin), take Trans-Mongolian train from Beijing to UB. When OM292 landed at Chinggis Khan International Airport at 16:45, I was so excited to see the grass blowing in the wind. I came to UB in time to see autumn withering leaves hanging on the trees.

Sweet Home away from Home

My eyes welled up with tears when I saw Enkhee waiting for me at the airport. Enkhee's company sent a car to pick me up at the airport. When I arrived at Enkhee's mother--Tsend Auysh's apartment, I saw a big crowd waiting for me in the living room. I was delighted to chat with them one by one, Tsend Auysh, Eegii (Enkhee's sister), Javkhlan (Eegii's son) and Poddle Tsagaanaa (wife of late Poddle Tobi). Before arrival in UB, Enkhee told me that her mom wished me keep my company while Enkhee had a full time job as the Administration and HR Director for one of the busiest companies in UB. I was happy to stay with a mother who knew everything about Mongolia.

Tsend Auysh wore her big smile on her face and told me that she wished she could speaking English. At 80 years of age,  Tsend Auysh was keen to learn new tricks. Without ado, I taught her 26 English alphabets and ABC nursery rhyme, she learned just as quick as a toddler! I can't give many thanks to Eegii for lending me her room, her bed, her computer. I can keep in touch with the world while away from home.

First Night in UB

I called Toastmaster Frank Goedekke, Jr.* as soon as I settled down at Tsend Auysh's place Sunday afternoon, October 12th. Frank invited us for dinner at Embassy Restaurant at 18:30, four of us, including Frank, Boyo--President of UB Toastmasters club**, Enkhee and me. Frank gave me two big plastic bags full of CCs, CLs, Leadership Handbooks, Toastmaster magazines, as he would be on his way back to the US in early November. I was grateful to Frank for his generosity to give me his Toastmasters educational materials in stock. We talked for 3 hours non-stop about Toastmasters movement in Mongolia. Frank told me how he chartered UB Toastmasters Club when he arrived in UB in 2012. He also started Toastmasters Gavel club*** for students in UB.

Frank was not interested in district contract, unless the club officers training could take place in UB. On top of that members wouldn't be interested in paying extra membership dues to support the district contract. Somehow in my mind, Frank might have the impression that I came to UB to persuade Mongols Toastmasters into joining District 67. But it was not purpose at all. I came to UB upon Enkhee's request to inspire more people to find their voice and to inspire others to find theirs through the communication and leadership training in Toastmasters.

I felt fortunate to dine with UB Toastmasters Club members on my first night in Mongolia. Frank paid the bill, to my surprise. After dinner, Enkhee and I walked home. I heard Enkhee coughing. She complained about the neighbors burning coal to warm up the house when it got cold. The smoke pollution became unbearable for many foreigners from October to November. In winter, the smoke from thermal power plants and cars on the streets made the air worse. Everybody wants to breathe fresh and clean air, but nobody seemed to take any initiatives to keep the air clean to live.

Sky Blue Monday

I can't wait to get up to see the nomad empire of eternal blue sky Monday morning, October 13th. After Enkhee left for work before 8, Eegii left for work before 9, Tsend Auysh and I enjoyed a pleasant and quiet breakfast together with lots of hand gestures, facial expression, and body language as communication tools. It took steadfast Tsend Auysh 15 minutes to finally figure out I needed milk for my coffee. Tsend Auysh first took out the honey jar in the refrigerator, then she showed many items I could possibly need before me, till she finally came up with a jar of cream power. It was fun for two senior citizens to learn from each other. We could do nothing but encouraging each other with big smiles on our faces.

After breakfast, I went to a bank in the neighborhood to change 100 US dollars for 185,000 Mongolian Tughriks. Then I went to Helmut Sachers kaffee owned and managed by Brigitte Cunning, a German lady in her late 70's. Brigitte updated me two hours straight about the recent ups and downs of urban development in UB, not to mention the air pollution, traffic congestion, and flooding when it rains. Multinational mining companies have been shut down. Expatriates have been sent home. Her bakery business has dropped 80%. She still made it with the support of embassies in her neighborhood. Nobody can afford empty tall buildings with the interest rate of mortgage loan at 14%.

I saw the opposite of UB. I saw the resilience of people in UB. I saw better infrastructures, higher buildings, more happy pedestrians on the street. I thought it would be the best time for Toastmasters trainings to make Mongolians be ready for the next economic surge in the next few years. After enjoying German Weißwurst with potato and cucumber salad for a late lunch at Brigitte's, I walked home with a cheerful heart. I even started to attempt crossing the street anywhere so long as I could follow the crowd.

The welcome dinner at home was famous Mongolian tsuivan, freshly handmade noodles stewed with beef, onion, carrot, bell pepper. Enkhee and Eegii came home early to prepare the sumptuous dinner. After dinner, we had sea-buckthorn juice for dessert. It was the first time I tasted sea-buckthorn juice, and I loved it because the rich contents of vitamine C. I felt younger and prettier after two cups of sweet and sour sea-buckthorn juice before I hit the sack.

National Center for Maternal and Child Health (NCMCH)

Upon the request of Dr. Shane Lin, I visited NCMCH (www.ehemut.mn) Tuesday morning, October 14th. I was received by Dr. Bayalag Munkhuu, MD, PhD, Deputy Director for Research, Training and Foreign Relations. Dr. Bayalag speaks impeccable English. She looks forward to joint research projects with MacKay Hospital. Then I visited ENT Department accompanied by Dr. D. Ariuntuya, an audiologist, who visited National Taiwan University Hospital for three months early this year.

NCNCH was built in 1930's. It is the oldest (biggest) governmental hospital of western medicine in Mongolia. NCMCH consists of research institute and 2 tertiary care hospitals (Children's hospital and Ob-Gy hospital with 680 budgeted beds). MCHCH has 1100 staff in 28 sub-special departments. The Research Institute started the medical gene project in 2013. The pilot study is expected to launch in Ulaanbaatar in 2016, and to be in full scale in 2020 with the support of Ministry of Health.

Hooray, I was invited by Dr. Bayalag Munkhuu to give a Toastmasters workshop for her staff for 2 hours next Wednesday after I return from Erdenet City. I shall introduce the Toastmasters International and have a hand-on workshop for participants to give short presentations during the Tabletopics training. I want the staff felt empowered in a friendly and supportive learning by doing environment.

Remarks:
 *Frank Goeddeke, Jr., DTM is a Toastmaster of significance in Mongolia. He was a member and officer of Rochester Toastmasters (Club #00004890) for several years before he joined the Peace Corps and came to Mongolia. Frank served as the Charter Vice President Education of UB Toastmasters Club as he thought that VPE was more important, being the only member who had ever been to Toastmasters before. Several members from Rochester TMC volunteered to sponsor a few select members like students who wanted to attend but couldn't afford it. Now some of these people (Rose, Anu, etc.) have finished school and are active members, are stepping up into leadership positions. Just seeing the improvement in members over time is amazing, Frank said. At first he was noticing speech improvements, which was really heartening. But then he started seeing people step up and be leaders. That was the best reward for him.

**UB Toastmasters Club is the second Toastmasters Club in Mongolia. It had the first meeting in March 2012, since then UB club got the Select Distinguished Club and the President's Distinguished Club awards. UB club was founded by Peace Corps volunteers (PCVs) with Todd Sanders the Charter President and Frank Goeddeke, DTM, the VP Education.

UB club still has its problems. It is difficult to keep a full schedule of three speakers at every meeting that show up. People show up late, because of just Mongolian culture. Saturdays are a bit difficult for time, too. But somehow, UB club keeps pushing enough people through to get enough speeches for the awards. Frank, a professor in management, told people to fix the important things, first, like for instance to get three speakers per meeting to show up for three months in a row, the philosophy he inherited from the club he belonged to in the USA, which has been around for something like 28 years. A good routine and tight ship. Another problem Frank has had is that organizational skills of newer members is not what he is used to seeing in the USA. Just the way people run organizations, make decisions, etc., is different in Mongolia. In many ways, Mongolians still run organizations like they did in the socialist days. But UB club members are catching on now. UB club is still fairly young, on average.

***Toastmasters Gavel Clubs are not required to have a minimum number of members. The Club Counselor (person in charge) must be a Toastmaster in good standing. Counselor must have completed at least 6 speeches. The sponsoring organization preferably a Toastmasters club makes a donation to help gavel club get chartered (about $100). After the gavel club paperwork has been filled out and submitted to TMI, the club counselor will receive a new club kit, including 20 CCs and CLs, a gavel, membership cards, evaluation forms. The meeting roles of a gavel clubs are Gaveliers (members), Ringleader (Toastmaster), Coach (Evaluator), Head Coach (GE), Inquisitor (Table Topics Master), Wizard of Ahs (Ah Counter). Chartering a Gavel Club could be regarded as the High Performance Leadership Project (HPLP) for Advanced Leadership Silver (ALS).