The Mongolian Family Unit – A Close Up

This incredible face tells the viewer how hard life is with the nomadic Mongolians. She has eleven children, all of whom have heavy duty daily chores that would make most American kids run for the hills. Their diet consists mainly of meat from the animas they raise. Growing vegetables is rare as they move from location to location for the best grazing for their herds. The Chinese call the Mongolians “wolves”. The Mongolians call the Chinese. whose diet consists mainly of vegetables, “sheep”!

This father of the family has to be a provider, an expert herder, a patriarch, mechanic, tanner, welder, hunter, accountant etc. The nearest town is sometimes 100 miles away. Every line in his face shows the weight of all those responsibilities.

Visits from foreigners are rare.The family is mesmerized by their presence, bringing them a sense of the outside world they will never see.

As they must be ready at a moments notice to avoid oncoming punishing bad weather or take advatage of newly discovered graizelands, none of their clothing hangs loose like in our closets. Everyting is kept in suitcases and trunks for quick mobility in their survival mode.

This is the interior of a tourist “ger”. If it was authentic, teher would be no tables or chairs in the center. The “chimney” cirulates the air and keeps the tent warm or cold, depending on the season.

MONGOLIA: NEVER JUDGE A GER BY ITS COVER

The nomadic herders of Mongolia, the vast majority of the population, live in gers (tents) that are moved to various altitudes and climactic locations to optimize the grazing opportunities for their herds of cattle, goats, sheep and horses. The exterior color of a ger is a dull canvas and often the surrounding area is a monotone that doesn’t excite the eye. As winters are incredibly severe – sometimes minus 55 degrees Fahrenheit – the interiors are raging with color to lift the spirits of families.

This explosion of color in the interior of a ger is common. It more than makes up up for any drab weather conditions outside.
In the image below note the horse saddle hung on the wall and how colorful it is. All of the family shares this space.

This is the bed of the mother and father who can draw curtains for privacy but you can imagine they must suffer from cabin fever from the extended winters. All the sewing and embroidery seen is made by women in the cold months.