Meeting the Family

You may remember that we employ a young lady for baby sitting, her name is Altan-su. A while ago she asked us if we would like to come and meet her parents who live in the country side. After answering yes and thinking at some stage we would, she mentioned her father wanted to meet us so I thought it best we follow though with what we had said we would do. We were able to borrow Ben's mangers car as he was away on holidays so we took a drive to met the parents.

It is interesting to hear bits and pieces about people and then finally met them. The drive took us about fifty minutes, where we drove on the main paved road then onto a dirt road. The dirt road was a shocker and we where glad the car was a 4wd.

Picture: Two gers on the land

Picture: View from gers

Most Mongolians like to live in the country side during summer if they can. Altan-su's parents are retired, her mum being a cook and father, a well know teacher in the area. It turns out that the small plot of land they have just purchased and have set up home there. Altan-su comes from a large family, 12 children I think and I found it very interesting hearing about Altan-sus childhood. On the land we found two gers, one for her parents and the other one for guests. With a warm greeting we where shown the guest ger and where able to relax and take in the surroundings. Altan-su's mother disappeared and later we realised why, she was preparing lunch for us. Altan-su's father sat and spoke to us with Altan-su translating as her father doesnt speak English. He was an interesting person that I wished I could understand, he would have so many stories to tell us. After a while one of Altan-sus sisters arrived with her husband, turns out that they live in Italy so they could speak very good English and where here for a visit for a number of weeks. When lunch was ready Atlan-su's parents ate in their ger and we ate in the guest ger with Altan-su and her sister and sister's husband. They told us this is what their parents do so I wasn't worried that maybe we had done something to upset them. We spent a couple of hours with the family and headed back to town. Once again we enjoyed the drive out of town to view part of the Mongolian country side.

Picture: Paige and neighbours son playing

Picture: Altan-su's mum & Altan-su