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Yeah, well, a place where the main hobbies for men are wrestling and archery, one would think that primitive masculinity and alpha male behaviour would be rife and thus one might be a bit circumspect sniffing around their women.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mandaloopy
Might start a book club for teachers here, given that many of them are missionaries it's only fair we start with Achebe's "Things Fall Apart". That should stop the church invitations
...women as chattel: Mandy leads the charge for liberation!...Quote:
Originally Posted by Maanaam
Just let it generally be known that you are Buddhist.
After the 1990 overthrow of communism, there has been a resurgence of Buddhism in the country, with about 200 temples now in existence and a monastic sangha of around 300 to 500 Mongolian monks and nuns.[13] According to Vesna Wallace, a professor of religious studies at UC Santa Barbara: "Now more people are coming to temples and visiting monasteries. There is also a new interest in meditation among the general public."[14]
According to the national census of 2010, 53% of the Mongolians identify as Buddhists.
Monastic life was nearly wiped out in the Soviet ear, mostly during Stalinist purges in the 1930s when an estimated 17,000 lamas were executed, but since the country emerged from decades of Soviet dominance, the Yellow Hat sect of Tibetan Buddhism has made a comeback. In 2006, Reuters reported: “When Gendenjav Choijamts thinks of praying, he thinks of vodka. The 62-year-old monk at Mongolia's oldest Buddhist monastery remembers when his father and his friends had to pretend they were gathering for a drinking session to hide the fact they were gathering in prayer. "My father was a monk but because people were persecuted for that, it wasn't widely known," he said in the lush green grounds of Erdene Zuu, which dates from the 16th century. "He was a herder. He hid his shrine and would chant in secret in the evening," he said. [Source: Reuters, July 19, 2006 *~*]
“In 1990, three monasteries were allowed to reopen. The number quickly mushroomed to 170 across the country. Erdene Zuu monastery, in the grasslands on the edge of the ancient capital of Kharkhorin, some 370km southwest of Ulaanbaatar, housed 1,500 lamas before it was destroyed in 1936. But on the vast plains and valleys... traditions survived. "We used to hide the shrine in a big chest. When it was dark we would light the butter lamps," said Baasan-Suren Khandsuren. At 27, he is head lama at the monastery, whose grounds are marked out from the surrounding grasslands by a border of 108 stupas, which managed to survive the purges. When he came to the monastery in 1991, shortly after it reopened, there were just 17 monks. Now there are 65. At the time, Baasan-Suren was 12 years old. *~*
“When Baasan-Suren entered the monastery he was following the footsteps of his grandfather, who managed to salvage religious artefacts from the grounds after it was closed."In Mongolia, there are very old monks and very young monks," he said, alluding to the generation raised during the communist era, when gatherings of prayer were replaced by meetings of the state co-operative. "When I visited my grandfather's home, I looked at the Buddhist statues and had a very warm feeling about those items," he said, interrupting an interview to fish into his robes to answer his mobile phone. "It took a lot of courage to keep all those things during communist times." *~*
“At 12, Baasan-Suren had to forsake standard education for religious teachings. Now, he has established a religious school to allow the 33 boys currently taught there the privilege of both. As he speaks from his office, housed in a ger, the traditional round tent of herders, little boys run wild around the grounds, playing and pushing and hiking up their maroon robes to show off on a chin-up bar as they wait for the morning chanting to begin. *~*
“Among the tourists milling around the grounds are visitors from Ulaanbaatar, some are also devoted Buddhists. "I always have my prayer beads with me," said 50-year-old Tserendulam Tserennad-mid, her sunhat and sweatsuit marking her out as a city-dweller in the country where nearly half the 2.7 million population are nomadic herders. Next to the monastery's main shrine, a monk staffs a small table where adherents come to order chantings. As the sun burns off the night chill, a boy blows a conch shell and the monks begin their morning prayers. Gendenjav Choijamts is glad to be among them. "This is a good change," he said of the renewed traditions. "When you don't have religion, you lose your compassion." *~*
Andrea Sachs wrote in the Washington Post: “Dressed in a saffron robe and a beaded prayer bracelet, he spoke eloquently about the urgent need to protect nature and the environment, lessons outlined in the Mongolian Buddhist Eight-Year Conservation Plan. When I asked whether he approved of the scene outside his window, he replied, “It looks good, but I see big changes.” He then performed a short pantomime of an American action movie, including car chase.” [Source: Andrea Sachs, Washington Post, May 13, 2011]
There are some interesting following comments on that link above....repeated here....https://lifearoundasia.com/sex-in-mo...us-foriegners/
Pretty sensible and good plan.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mandaloopy
You were talking about remittance etc a few weeks ago, I think. :) For this plan you'll need to get yer savings into yer home country. If you can set up a 2 year closed saving's account from overseas it might be a good option for it.
I think if you spent some time in Thailand outside Bangkok you'd rethink your location, though.
Little point in being there if you don't work there.
I certainly would.Quote:
Originally Posted by cyrille
Though from what I gather about Mandy is that he'd probably be working at an International school, and then flying off to different places every long-weekend/school break.
Not a bad base for that.
I'm sure there are some boys for your "abuse" around. Go visit the place and produce a report to beat 'arrys recent Dragon one.Quote:
Originally Posted by tomcat
Any gold shops around, is it legal to take gold out of the country? Do the ladies treat/wear gold, similar to Thailand?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mandaloopy
Any pressure from the school on how to ensure the Kids "progress"?
Around Pattaya would be a better base for him IMHO, fresh air, cheaper accomodation, quite a few International schools for him to work at , Koh Larn, Koh Samet, Koh Chang and Hua Hin via ferry in easy reach for weekends with Swampy and Utapao less than an hour away and cheap- booze, UK food and hoes:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Luigi
OhOh: Yeah, there is that pressure- with the slight issue being that they are at more kindergarten level than grade 1 or even grade 2; that's going to be the main challenge as far as work in concerned. Speaking of schools in Thailand, I'm at a loss at the bad rap Thai kids get for behavior, ability and general attitude- my classes were great!
Pattaya is a good call but I am also looking at the suburbs of BKK- plenty of schools there with the added advantage of being close to the city. Lived in Rangsit for 8 years and its location suited me.
Rangsit?
That's awful.:)
All that pollution and heat....
Theres a new International school opened this month near Pattaya and the best of them all- Rugby School.
Its a 20 minute drive from Pattaya so you are away from all the sleaze, whoremongers and sex tourists but its a good place to pop into for shopping and the occasional night out.
Turns out most of the missionaries just do the lesson in Mongolian, that kinda explains second graders not being able to write their own name
Good point.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dillinger
Haven't looked lately, but if looking to buy a condo to live in, a Pattaya unit should be a great deal given the massive oversupply. Just horrendous if you ever want/need to rent it out. :)
And when there's maintenance due to be done but can't because there's no one else living it and paying the annual service fee. :)
Top tip. Avoid all international schools in their first two years even if they have Rugby or Brighton in their name. It'll still be a shambles for a while.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dillinger
Unless you're desperate then get in there early and cement yourself in.
I was going to post that earlier.
They can call it 'Rugby', 'Windsor' or frickin 'MIT', but for the first five years it's to be avoided.
eg Dulwich, Phuket, where Dulwich UK eventually got so exasperated that they insisted their name not be used anymore.
Hello
From the photos you post, Mandaloopy, I know which school you're at. I even know which office you're in.
Connect with Levi in secondary if you haven't already. He knows what's what around there. Tell him CD sent you. I used to work there.
And yes - I advise you not to walk around with a Mongolian woman, especially after dark. As long as you're not just another expat trying to fuck anything with a pulse you'll be fine.
And that pollution? That shit is real. I left 3 years in after going from being a runner to being on an asthma puffer - and I was only running indoors. If you're a smoker and your lungs are fucked anyway, you'll be fine.
Which "I'll kill you" did you like best? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Latindancer
Shirley Knot Essex gals in the yurts?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dillinger
As a point of information are people with Downe's syndrome called Americans by Mongols?
Had a few vodkas over the weekend with him, good chap!Quote:
Originally Posted by ExOrch
Lot of work at the moment as allegedly the ISO dudes are coming back. Yay us.
Welcome to TD, please tell us more of plateau life.Quote:
Originally Posted by ExOrch
Also, have your lungs improved since leaving? That is some important information
Yep my lungs are fine now.
I miss UB and Mongolia. It really is an amazing culture. Take as many trips outside the city as you can. Dress for the winter and find some ger camps out in Terelj to spend the odd weekend. Very affordable and always an adventure.
If you have a skill and want to use it, Mongolia is a very welcoming place. I did a lot of fun photography there.
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/09/1237.jpg
https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2018/09/1238.jpg
Pic one Ant's Dildo
Pic 2 CCC DjPat and Dilly?
Hey Mandaloopy, have you seen the film The Eagle Huntress ? It's about Mongolia and has some great reviews .
https://www.ft.com/content/b5c6a846-...c-082c54a7f539
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3882074/
https://www.theguardian.com/film/201...cars-otto-bell
I'm a little concerned about winter, it's 7 degrees today and I am cold to the bone. Hot water has gone out and the heating gets switched on in 10 days. Keeping myself warm by laminating stuff for class. A visit to the black market is on the agenda this weekend for winter clothing, winter appears to be coming early this year. Send a blast of Bangkok air please!
Make sure you get some genuine fur items, the real traditinal stuff. The hats and coats.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mandaloopy
He is not qualified for a better international school, but has posted he wants to get qualified for that and wants to begin the process. A middle tier international school is not the way to have a teaching career in Thailand.Quote:
Originally Posted by Luigi
Is that your business? Why post it publicly?
PGCEi is accepted in Thailand it would seem, I don't fancy working in Singapore or Hong Kong as the small living arrangements are not to my liking- I like having a bit of garden or at least some land to walk/jog on a compound. The good thing about working in Myanmar and Mongolia has been the experience and now having the cash to pay for a PGCE upfront. I could have never done that from my job in Thailand, even if I loved it.
That slightly envious feeling I had has somewhat dissipated. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mandaloopy
Plus you can make them into different shapes and root 'em.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maanaam
you fucking moron seb himself has posted about getting qualified. Just as another of your enemies Po has.Quote:
Originally Posted by Commander Shepphard
https://teakdoor.com/images/smilies1/You_Rock_Emoticon.gif
I think I will sleep with the window closed lol
Probably sealed shut from the ice anyway. :)
When I lived in Moscow and Vladivostok I found that windows would be taped shut in winter. This was due to the prefab nature of the buildings where whole floors were manufactured (glass intact) and then delivered to site. The maid was always aghast when I cracked open a window just to be able to breath clean(ish) air. On transfer to Yakuts I I still did it despite the sub-zero temperatures.
In the winter Soviet apartments are (were) centrally heated..... from a huge heating plant which suppilies hot water to the radiators and baths of maybe 3000++ apartments.
You had no control as to the temperature it comes in at and cracking open a window was your only way of moderating it. Then in the summer they close them down for maintenance and only cold is available.
This was in 1994-1998 so things will have changed but Mandaloopy still needs to be prepared.
It's been a mixed week, I certainly have a challenge ahead of me. Student behavior is atrocious, I've never really had massive problems when it comes to classroom management but this is something else 555. It was Sports Day today, I broke up 3 fights, tried to explain to the local teachers that some discipline is a good thing- alas they are scared of the parents. The level of English is really mixed and the books are probably on the level for 15% of the class; there is no way the vast majority should be using books for native speaks when they can't write their own name or spell simple CVC words in the second grade, the third grade teachers report the same issue. I'm a bit concerned about next week, there could be an observation. My topic is "realism vs. fantasy", I'm ready to go with a differentiated lesson that I hope is inclusive of all learners and abilities. Yet I can't help but think an ESL lesson on basic vocabulary and phonics would be way more appropriate.
Local teachers are a nice bunch and share the same issues, most parents are supportive but pretty open to the fact their kid is spoiled. Going to be a tough year for sure, but challenges are fun and the school isn't trying to stiff me. A good nights sleep will sort things out.
...are you layered even in bed?...Quote:
Originally Posted by Mandaloopy
Will be until the heating comes on- they have been cleaning the hot water pipes for two days which has resulted some pretty miserable starts to the day when it comes to showers. Piping hot water back on, so that IS something to be happy about