Gemma Sokol

Were you born in the US?

Yes, I was born in Los Angeles, but moved to Frankfurt, Germany at the age of 2.

Why did your family move abroad?

My Dad got a job in Frankfurt while working for CitiGroup, and the opportunity was too good to pass up.

Did you attend English-speaking schools in Germany?

I was little, so I went to a bi-lingual Montessori school, where I became fluent in German. My parents took German classes too, so we could all learn together and speak it at home.

You were very young when you lived there, but do you have any special memories of Frankfurt?

Yes. There is a big shopping mall called NordWestZentrum with a spectacular glass ceiling, and in that mall was a cool post office. As a little girl, it was a really special treat to go shopping and then mail packages back to the states at that post office. The indoor swimming pools in Frankfurt are some of the best I’ve ever visited!

How old were you when you left Germany?

We moved to London when I was five and a half and stayed there for six and a half years.

What were the British schools like?

My parents had me switch schools a few times to find the best one for me. One private school I went to had required church services, and we sang hymns. It was a good learning experience, because my family is Jewish, and I had never been exposed to church before. In order to go to secondary school, there is a very long application process. You have to sit for exams, write essays and fill out long and involved applications. It is very competitive and somewhat stressful. But I made it through the process, and it was all worth it!

Gemma and her brother, Coleman, in London

Are the academics different in Britain than they are in the US?

In British schools, students learn foreign languages early. I took French from third through sixth grade. Then in sixth grade, I took German and Latin. Throughout my British education, religious studies were part of the curriculum giving me the opportunity to learn about a lot of religions different from my own. The schools took us on field trips to a wide variety of houses of of worship almost every 2 weeks for educational purposes. It was fascinating to learn about so many fascinating religions this way. I wish American schools did this as well.

So would you say the academics are better in Britain or just different?

Both. For example, in fifth grade, we took a trip to the Isle of White, and in sixth grade we went via ferry and bus to France, where we stayed and explored for 8 days. It was an amazing trip! I’d have to say the academic opportunities are better there. The education is very career driven. You must know what you want to study before you graduate from secondary school; college placement is geared toward specific career paths from day one. Students take exit exams in so many subjects and have to pass all of them in order to graduate and go to college.

Are there any other differences?

The overall environment is different in British schools. They do not have school spirit like we do in the US. I’d describe it by saying it is not as interactive as American schools.

Was it hard to make friends in your schools?

Luckily I’m outgoing and make friends fairly easily, no matter where I am. But every school I’ve been to has one thing in common; there are plenty of cliques. Kids everywhere just want to fit in.

How did you like British cuisine?

Because England has a large Indian population, there are countless Indian restaurants in, and around, London. Our favorite restaurant was family owned, serving Indian cuisine, located just around the corner from our house. There really wasn’t any food I did not like in London.

There are over 200 museums in London. Did you have a favorite?

My favorite is the British Museum. The Ancient Egypt exhibit is the best!

How did you feel about coming back to USA?

I was excited to go back to L.A,, with the thrill of Hollywood and the movie stars. I was only 12-years-old when I came back to this country so I had quite a strong a British accent. But it drew so much attention, and I constantly got so many comments that I made an effort to change it. It took me under a year to lose that accent, though it’s still here inside me. We had to rent an apartment for a while when we came back to the U.S., and I missed the spacious, multi-level house we had in England. But more than anything, I really missed the small town feeling of Europe, with local shops and cafes right around the corner and great public transportation.

Where have you traveled other than Germany, Britain and France?

I’ve been to over 31 countries. I have to say my favorite city in the world is Venice. Even though there are so many tourists there, it is a magical place. I love that there are no cars, there’s so much art, the architecture is phenomenal, and the food is incredible. I also love watching how Venetian glass is made. When I see films shot in Venice I think, “I’ve stood right there!”

What is the most exotic place you’ve been?

Cyprus is a most unusual place. It is extremely dry and also rather barren in parts, but there are many resorts, ancient ruins and groves of olives trees. It’s also not easy to cross the border into Turkey, and we were advised against it because we were staying on the Greek side and the two countries are in territorial conflict.

Gemma on a recent trip to Paris

How did living abroad change your life?

I have had so much exposure to so many different cultures. I couldn’t possibly have that experience if I had not lived overseas. I have great respect for different ways of life, cultural traditions, religions, laws and history.

You are getting ready to graduate from high school and go to college. Do you know what you would like to study there?

I’m looking into studying communications, art or cultural studies.

So do you feel that your multi cultural education gives you an advantage over other students who have not had opportunities to travel?

Yes. I believe the best way to learn is to experience things firsthand. I have learned to appreciate different ways of life, and being open to those ways – though very different from ours – makes life much richer and education much broader. I am grateful for having had the opportunity to experience so many diverse places in the world and meet people from so many unique cultures. That experience really shaped me into who I am today.

What advice would you give to another student who may be getting ready to live abroad?

No matter how different the culture may be in a foreign country, there are people you will meet who have something common with you. You will quickly acclimate to the different environment and learn the cultural traditions there. The people will be just as interested in getting to know you as you are in getting to know them. Visit all the top attractions, try the local food and learn the language, because this is likely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Take advantage of all your experience has to offer, and you won’t have any regrets.

Gemma, thank you for sharing your experiences abroad with our readers. It isn’t often that one learns of life as an Expat from a young person’s perspective. Best of luck to you in college. I’m confident your unique cultural experiences will open many doors for you, and your future will be filled with more travel and adventure. Please keep in touch!

Cypress Knees

Roseate Spoonbill

Water ripples after gator takes a swim

Cypress reflection

One awesome knee

A forest of misty Cypress trees

Cat (of some sort) paw print? Panther? Bobcat?

Great Blue Heron

Low, low water levels

Iced tea-colored water

Air plant

Young alligator

Hawk

Humongous grasshopper

Daddy Long Legs

Graceful Crane

Ibis and Heron hangin out

Stork

Pelican

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1. If You Have to Connect, Do all You Can to Make That Connection – Do not book your flights close together. Give yourself plenty of time to make your connection in case the first flight is delayed. If you are connecting in Atlanta, give yourself even more time. The Delta Terminal is HUMONGOUS. 1 hour may not be enough, even if your flight is on time. Check your airline’s website. Many share the stats on how often a particular flight has been on time in the past.
2. Print Out Your Boarding Pass and Check Your Bags Online – This will make it easier when you get to the airport (especially if not checking bags), and you won’t have to wait for a boarding pass.
3. Be the Early Bird Who Makes the Flight - Airlines are often “closing” out flights about 30 minutes before takeoff. That means you cannot board if you arrive at the last minute, even though the plane is sitting there at the gate. Not only that, but airport security is beefed up, and lines are long; it can take a while to simply get to the gate.
4. Wear a Fanny Pack – Who cares how unfashionable that is. Keep your boarding pass, cell phone and a small wallet in there. It weighs almost nothing, and you will not have to dig around looking for your ID, cash or fumble for a cell phone.
5. Know the Drill at the Security Checkpoint – Don’t approach the TSA Officer without having your ID and boarding pass in hand. And don’t be chatting with fellow travelers or talking on a cell phone either. You’ll get chewed out. As you approach the security scanners, take off your shoes, belt,  and any hat, jacket or coat you are wearing; don’t leave any garments tied around your waist. Put your laptop in a plastic bin on its own; don’t wait for anyone to ask you to do so. Put all of your other items in another bin, but not any luggage. That can go through the belt on its own. Don’t make small talk with strangers here. Just listen for instructions. And by all means expect the process to be the opposite of smooth.
6. Know That Most Airports are Using X-Ray Security Systems – You cannot have anything in your pockets, not even paper, when you go through the x-ray machine. And don’t wear a lot of jewelry. If you are pregnant or do not want the radiation from the scan, know that you will be patted down quite thoroughly by a same-sex security officer. If you refuse the pat down, you cannot proceed to the terminal.
7. Pack Lightly – I’m talking REALLY light, as in a backpack or another bag that fits under your seat. The reason? Travelers are bringing more luggage on board these days to avoid paying for checked baggage. In turn, airlines are making more people check their carry on baggage as they board the plane, due to lack of space.
8. Know How Your Airlines Boards – If you are in the last section to board, you are more likely to have to check your carry on bags, because the overhead bins get full before you board. Some airlines board from the front to the back like USAir, while other board from the back to the front, like JetBlue. So plan your seat ahead of time and choose a row that will board earlier rather than later. If you do have to check a carry on at the gate, make sure you first take out anything fragile or expensive, like a laptop or jewelry.
9. Expect Extreme Temps on Board the Plane – It seems that every time I fly, it is either very cold or very warm on the flight. Often times, it is cold before take-off and then too hot after the plane has been in the air a while; so wear layers you can peel off.
10. If You Need to “GO” A Lot, Plan Ahead – If you generally get up several times to use the facilities while flying, chose an aisle seat. That way you won’t have to make fellow passengers in your row repeatedly get up to let you out.
11. Educate Yourself on Ground Transportation Before You Go -  Airports are so chaotic. You can ease your stress level by knowing in advance how you will reach your destination once you arrive at the airport. Plan out the details – Know which subway or train you will take, where you will need to transfer and how much it will cost. There’s a wealth of information on the internet to help you get familiar with your options and learn all the details. Also know that in most large cities, there are set fares for taxi transport into the city – no matter what the traffic may be.
12. Bring Cash and Plenty of Small Bills – You don’t want to fumble looking for the right amount of cash to get on a bus, buy a pass, pay a taxi driver, etc. And worse yet, you don’t want to discover that you cannot get change for a $20 bill at a token machine or more than $5 worht of change from a taxi driver.

Fairchild Tropical Gardens

Here I am in front of the Joint Area Security Center near the Demilitarized Zone

Since my Mongolia trip took us through Seoul, we wanted to take advantage of the stopover and stay for a while to see the sites. We stayed at Annguesthouse, located in the busy Hongik University District. This neighborhood is full of shops, restaurants jazz bars and nightclubs. At night the streets are full of vendors and street performers (we saw a beat boxing competition), and hundreds of people are walking around at all hours of the night.

The accommodations were really nice and clean and were much appreciated by all of the researchers after sleeping on wooden cots in cold gers for 5 weeks in Mongolia. Our room offered us a great a view of the city. The cost was something like $20 per night per guest. We had a big room with a loft, kitchen and private bathroom. Ann even did our laundry for us, and she was extremely friendly. She even brought us fresh bread and jam every morning. It was a perfect place to stay.

The people of Seoul are very friendly and helpful. One night we asked a man for directions, and since he did not know the answer, he called a friend to ask for help.

The subways in South Korea are immaculate and modern and easy to figure out how to get around. The entire public transportation system closes at midnight, so proper planning is essential, though it’s easy to find taxis late at night.

The Seoul Subway

In Seoul we visited Changgyeonggung Palace, dating back to the 15^th century. It was built to house kings, their families, concubines and royal staff. Most palaces face to the south, but this one faces east overlooking the expansive views of the hills.

Changgyeonggung Palace in Seoul on a rainy day

Close view of the intricate architecture of Changgyeonggung Palace (can you see the man?)

The beautiful, serene gardens at Changgyeonggung Palace

The food in Seoul is excellent. Bibimbap is a combination of meat, vegetables and rice cooked in a stone pot. Sometimes there is an egg on top. We had Korean BBQ, where there is a grill in the middle of the table. The customers cook the food themselves, mostly beef. It is wrapped in lettuce and covered in a spicy sauce. All the restaurants bring patrons many different side dishes like Kim Chi, vegetables and Tofu.

Raw fish and roe salad, with a side of kim chi

Cooking your own food at the table adds to the overall dining experience

The Noryangjin Fish Market, in Seoul. Over 700 vendors sell fresh, live fish.

The choices at the Fish Market are overwhelming. Some of the vendors will grill it for you on the spot.

One of my favorite places in Seoul was Insadong Street. It’s one of the biggest and most popular shopping streets in the city selling everything from food, art, traditional Korean crafts, and upscale clothing. Street vendors take advantage of the crowds and sell fresh figs, dragon whisker candy made from thousands of strings of honey,  hoddeok (a pancake filled with sweet cinnamon sauce, my favorite), ice cream, kebabs and plenty more.

Calligraphy brush store on Insadong Street

The streets of Seoul possess lots of character

One of the highlights of my stay in Seoul was a visit to the DMZ, the Demilitarized Zone which separates North and South Korea. There is a building that straddles the border, with each country possessing an equal half. After the war, North and South Korea allowed war prisoners to decide which country they wanted to live in. Once they decided and crossed the bridge to either side, they could never return again. This is called The Bridge of No Return.

At the border, South Korean soldiers face North Korean soldiers all day, ready for an attack.

The Bridge of No Return – one side South Korea, the other North

One morning I took the KTX bullet train from Seoul to Daegu to see Kun, my Dad’s old college roommate. Tickets cost 30-40,000 won round trip, the equivalent of about $30-40, and the train travels so fast that it takes less than 2 hours to go 200 miles, including stops. Kun and his family took me to so many places in such a short amount of time, that it was actually somewhat exhausting but definitely worth it. I saw Daegu University, where Kun is a professor and administrator. Then we drove off to Gyeongju, home of the Silla Dynasty. We visited the Grotto of Seokguram which houses a highly regarded Buddha seated upon a lotus pedestal.

KTX Train in Seoul (Photo by Jpatokal)

The Seated Buddha awaits visitors inside the Seokguram

Paper prayer lanterns in the gardens of the Grotto hold prayers from students who were taking their college exams. Monks chant and say prayers for those who express their wishes.

Not far from the Grotto we stopped at the Bulguksa Temple and the Gyeongju Museum that displays thousands of artifacts dating from prehistoric times. It is said that there are tens of thousands of Buddhas in storage here.

The Bulguksa Temple houses 7 National Treasures of South Korea including the Dabotap Pagoda

The colorful Heavenly Guards at Bulguksa Temple

The Gyeongju Museum features room after room of relics

King Seongdeok’s Bell Outside the Gyeongju Museum

Gold jewelry is displayed at Gyeongju Museum

In between siting historic sites, I was taken to a Friday’s restaurant by Kun and his family. They ordered for everyone in Korean, and I was shocked when the waiter brought out chicken tenders, steak, onion rings, french fries and an ice cream sundae!  It was enough food for 8 people. We all had a good laugh. That was really an amazing day.

I feel fortunate that I was able to spend time in Seoul, following my stay in Mongolia. This is a journey I am certain I shall never forget.

Mongolia

• Government: Parliamentary Republic
• Currency: Togrog/Tugrik
• Official Language: Mongolian
• Size: Approximately 604,000 square miles
• Population: Approximately 2.75 million
• Predominant Religion: Buddhism

Rachel Glade

When you first found out about the opportunity to participate in the PIRE Mongolia Research project as a college freshman at Penn, what made you want to be a part of the experience?

The thought of having a rare adventure to such a remote location as Mongolia, and doing biological research there, really appealed to me. When am I ever just going to pop over to Mongolia on my own and study the environment? I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Had you ever been abroad before?

No. And since I didn’t know what to expect in such a far away place and had so many flight connections, I was a bit anxious before leaving. But that’s all part of the adventure, and it makes it even more exciting.

Did travel to Mongolia require vaccinations?

Yes, Typhoid Fever, Hepatitis A and B and Tetanus were required. Since we were in a remote location, Rabies shots were optional, but I did not get them.

Which items were required for you to pack for this long trip?

Because the plane from Ulaanbaatar to Moron is so small, there is a 44-lb total baggage weight limit. I had to pack very carefully and sparsely. Lightweight clothing was important, because it weighs very little and can be washed and dried easily, and thin layers are best to keep warm and dry. Most of the time I wore my favorite shoes, Vibram Five Fingers, which dry very quickly. A few essentials I brought included a flashlight, sleeping bag, small pillow, pocketknife, which I used for just about everything – as a pair of scissors I used daily and to cut plants in the field. I brought along insect repellent (massive mosquitoes and horse flies in the fields!!), prescription antibiotics and over-the-counter meds, because there is no doctor, hospital or store within many driving hours from the field site. If a researcher were to get seriously ill – and luckily no one did on this trip – he or she would have to be rescued by helicopter and flown to the hospital in Ulaanbaatar. We all had special insurance in case of an emergency.

Sükhbaatar Square, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Genghis Khan, Emperor of the Mongols, etched into the mountain in Ulaanbaatar

Gilded statue of Buddha inside Gandan Buddhist Monastery, Ulaanbaatar

Now about your journey, how did you get to your remote field site from the USA and how long did it take?

I flew from my home in Miami to Philadelphia, from Philadelphia to Seattle, from Seattle to Seoul, Korea and from Seoul to the Mongolian capital of Ulaanbaatar. Then we stayed in Ulaanbaatar for one full day (2 nights) before taking a tiny plane to the Mongolian city of Moron. From there we drove 3 and a half hours to Hatgal. There we stayed in a ger (Mongolian tent) for one night before driving for 8 hours on a rough trail to our field site in the Dalbay Valley on Lake Hövsgöl. It’s basically in the middle of nowhere. The flight on the way out with connections was around 28 hours from Miami to Ulaanbaatar. Then the flight from there to Moron was about 2 hours, plus the 8 hours of driving. So from the time I left my house in Miami until the time I arrived at the field site was around 3 full days.

That sounds like an exhausting trip! What was that long car trip like to the research site?

Bumpy! There are really no roads, just paths made by other vehicles. 13 people and their luggage were squished into an old, rickety, Russian van with no seat belts; it was so crowded that some of us had to sit on the floor. The roads, if you can call them that, are very muddy. When we got stuck in the mud we all got out of the car and had to use rocks behind the wheels for traction to get us out. Sometimes the engine overheated, so there was nothing to do but wait for the van to cool off. Despite these less than perfect conditions, we made the best of it and had a lot of fun.

A muddy situation on the way to Dalbay Valley

Where exactly is the Dalbay Valley?

It’s in northern central Mongolia, just south of Russia, around Lake Hövsgöl National Park in a very remote location. Click here for a map. The few people who live in this remote part of the country are herders. There are no towns or shops of any kind for many, many miles; it is a very secluded lifestyle.

Can you describe what the Dalbay Valley looks like?

There are beautiful rolling slopes covered with the greenest grass and a wide variety of plants and wildflowers. At the tops of the hills are forests. The riparian zones are the strips of land that rest along the banks of the river. Lake Hövsgöl is quite large and very pristine. This valley is one of the most unspoiled places left on the planet.

Picture perfect: The Dalbay Valley and Lake Hövsgöl

Why was Mongolia chosen for the research project?

Mongolia shows some of the greatest effects of climate change and land use effects such as grazing and farming on the planet.

What were your accommodations like at the field site?

We lived in traditional gers (rhymes with bears), which are round tents, and we slept in sleeping bags on plywood cots with just a blanket on them – no mattresses. At first I had trouble sleeping on the hard surface, but I quickly got used to the beds and slept really well. Doing research requires a lot of physical work, and you are more than ready for sleep at night. The bottom sides of the gers are somewhat open, so it gets awfully cold in there at night and in the early morning hours. There is a fire in a stove in the center of the ger to help keep us warm.

What does a ger look like?

There is a circular frame made from wood with a domed roof covered with yak wool. The entire structure is protected with a canvas cover. The inside is colorfully painted and contains a metal stove/fire pit in the middle for warmth.

The sun setting on the gers (to the left are flags marking a research site)

The interior of the roof of a ger

The stove inside a ger and wooden cots in the background

What about bathrooms?

There was a shed with a toilet, but you have to fill buckets with water to flush it each time. It’s not the best situation, but it was still better than I had expected it to be.

Were there any modern conveniences at the field site?

There was no running water, electricity or cell phone service. I did not even bring my laptop on this trip. We had one generator that was used for refrigerating food and for our satellite system, which allowed us to use a phone in emergencies or to send and receive short emails and to blog every few days.

How did you feel about not using a computer, texting or talking on a cell phone for so long?

I loved it. It was nice to be disconnected from the world for a while and concentrate on my surroundings.

A pensive moment without any distractions from the modern world

How did you take a shower?

We bathed in the ice-cold river using mild, biodegradable soap so as to not pollute the water. The same soap was also used to wash hair and clothing in the river. In an environment such as this, you simply can’t bathe every day, but everyone else is in the same situation, so you just get adjusted to it.

The water in the river is crystal clear and icy cold

What type of food did you eat?

We had a great Mongolian cook at the field site who made fresh yak meat from the valley, goat, soup with meat and lots of vegetables. Goat meat is common as well. It is tasty, but rather tough. There was a cellar where veggies were stored. Our cook made delicious bread on the stove for us, but this is not typical of Mongolian cuisine. My favorite dish was Huushuur, which was fried dough filled with various kinds of meat or organs.

Roasting a goat

How would you describe the taste of eating yak?

A yak is a bovine, like a cow, so it’s a lot like steak – but leaner. It actually tastes pretty good, but they use every part of the animal, whether it is yak, mutton or goat – and do not trim the fat. It is cooked in pieces in a big pot over an open fire.

Yaks are bovines, related to cattle

Where did you get your water to drink?

We used water from the lake and filtered it. It is some of the purest, coldest water in the world and is crystal clear and delicious.

It sounds like this experience would not be ideal for a student who is not willing to give up his or her creature comforts.

Definitely not. The site was really quite comfortable, but a high-maintenance person would probably have a hard time. I’d imagine not showering every day, spending the majority of your time outside, eating food you are not used to, fighting off mosquitoes and dealing with difficult travel to and from the site would be really challenging for some people. Thankfully all the people I travelled with were very easy-going.

Northern Mongolia remains one of the earth’s most unspoiled destinations

What was the weather like while you were there?

Most of the time, it was sunny and beautiful. There were some cloudy days and a few storms. One night we had such a severe thunderstorm that one of the gers almost blew away. Generally it is warm and arid during the day, with the hottest temperatures being in the 80s, and it rather cold at night with temperatures occasionally dipping down into the 30s. One night in July, there was even a frost.

How many others were there with you?

I was one of 6 undergrads, and there were a total of about 20 people on the team including grad students, post-doctorates, professors and other workers. You really get to know people when you live with them in tents in the middle of nowhere and share this most unusual experience. You have a bond after an adventure like this, because no matter how well you describe your experience to others who were not there, they can’t imagine what it was really like.

An expansive herd of sheep and goats graze on a slope

What was it like communicating with the students from the University of Mongolia?

We interacted with the Mongolian researchers daily. Two of the girls in my ger were from the University of Mongolia; they were really nice. Their English was much better than my Mongolian! Verbal communication can be challenging, and we spent a lot of nights teaching each other words in our native languages. We would point at items and just said the word and the others would repeat them. It was highly entertaining. I learned a few Mongolian words, such as ones for volleyball, the number 1-10, thank you, good-bye, what happened? and a few others. The alphabet is Cyrillic, but they do have some adaptations of words in the English alphabet.

What did you have to do to prepare for your fieldwork?

We had to quickly learn the scientific names of 50 different species of plants in 2 days and learn to identify them in the field. We did surprisingly well with a crash course and even got better as time went on. As soon as I got home I found myself trying to identify the plants and grasses in South Florida.

Rachel lurking in the Mongolian forest

Wildflowers abound in the Dalbay Valley

So how did you spend your days while at work?

There were a lot of different projects going on, so everyone spent their time doing different things. We’d generally wake up around 8:30, eat breakfast, work until lunch, and then work again before dinner. Some people rode horses to other parts of the valley to conduct research, but most of us stayed on the slope and surrounding forests right near camp. It takes a lot of sometimes-tedious work to collect data for research purposes. We spent a lot of time collecting plant samples, monitoring and recording data on the various experiments, and maintaining the experiments (i.e. watering, weeding, etc.).

What did you do for entertainment when not working?

We played a lot of volleyball, which is a huge sport in Mongolia. We also played a lot of cards, sang and played guitar, and rode horses. The 4th of July was really special. We roasted a goat and had a big feast along with activities and races. We took a couple of days to attend the Midsummer Festival called Naadam.

Can you tell us about that?

In the beginning of July we drove to Hatgal, a town about 7 hours away from the field site, for Naadam. We saw a horse race, in which 5-6 year old children race for 20km. It’s really amazing to see; some of the kids learn how to ride before they even know how to walk! We also saw Mongolian wrestling, which is very traditional and interesting to watch. There was also an archery competition, and a volleyball competition that we participated in. It was a great event.

The locals wear traditional costumes for the Naadam Festival

Wrestling is a big part of the Naadam celebration

What was it like to ride Mongolian horses?

It was quite an experience. The horses are not quite as domesticated as they are in the states. Mongolians often catch wild horses, throw a saddle on them, and just ride them. It’s really exhilarating galloping through the valley; it was scary at times, though, when it was clear that the horse had more control than you did! The traditional Mongolian saddles are made of wood and can be a little uncomfortable. I had a bit of a problem with the stirrups, which are metal; they hit me right on my shin and caused some ugly bruising!

Other than horses, yaks, goats and sheep, did you see any other animals?

A wild dog came to our camp one day. We named her “Petite Chien.” She looked very mangy and somewhat like a wolf, but she was extremely friendly and submissive. She was very good at rodent control, as she had a knack for hunting ground squirrels! She stayed for a few days, and then disappeared as quick as she had come.

Wild horses are common in the valley

What did you miss most about home?

Though the food was generally very good, I missed American food. Pizza, salad, chicken, pie; these were the things I craved the most. We talked about food a lot, and for some reason, fried chicken was probably the most talked about.

Now that you have been home for a few days, how do you feel?

Happy and exhausted. I missed my connecting flight in San Francisco and got stuck in the airport for 11 hours. Then when I arrived home, I discovered my luggage did not make it on the plane. Eventually the airline delivered it to my house. I’ve been sleeping a lot and eating really healthy, light food. It feels great.

What will you miss most about Mongolia?

I’ll miss a lot of things, but mostly the beautiful landscape. The lake and the mountains were a nice thing to see first thing every morning, and the sunsets were spectacular. I’ll also miss the feeling of being disconnected from the rest of the world; it was nice not having to worry about the internet or cell phones or any of that nonsense.

If you had to describe your Mongolia experience in 4 words, what would they be?

Adventure, yak meat, wildflowers.

What advice would you give to other college students out there who are considering participating in a university research project somewhere in a remote location?

Go for it. There’s no better time to explore and do something crazy and adventurous than in college. Doing research in a remote place is a life changing experience. It will change the way you think and open your mind to different ways of living. It’s also a great way to see hands-on what the wonderfully challenging life of a research scientist is like.

 

Thank you for sharing your summer adventures with us, Rachel. What an extraordinary experience you had.

Click here to read a post about Rachel’s week in Seoul.