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A WELCOME LETTER 

San ban oh Peace Corps Mongolia invitees! 

The staff and current Volunteers of Peace Corps/Mongolia eagerly await your arrival to this fascinating 

land of blue sky, green steppe, rugged mountains, endless desert, and vast expanses of uninhabited 

land. Since you have chosen to join Peace Corps, you will find that Mongolia offers you a unique 

opportunity to serve others and to form lifelong friendships with Mongolians and other Volunteers in a 

physically challenging environment where your skills and commitment will be tested often. 

We hope that this resource will help answer some of your questions and concerns about Mongolia 

itself, the Peace Corps program in Mongolia, and what you can do to prepare for your service here. It is 

by no means comprehensive, but we trust that it will offer you some useful information ahead of your 

arrival. We recommend that you share this book with your family as well. 

We know your two-year commitment to the Peace Corps service was not made easily or casually. 

During pre-service training, we will stress the importance of making sure that this Peace Corps 

assignment is right for you, and we will make sure that we feel you are a good fit for the program as 

well. After making the final commitment at swearing-in, you will find it tested often and in many 

different ways throughout your two years of service. You will be challenged in every way imaginable; 

some days will be exhilarating and others frustrating. However, the experiences you will have, the 

cultural subtleties you will learn, and the deep friendships you form will shape the rest of your life. 

In 2011, the Peace Corps celebrated 20 years of working in partnership to meet the needs requested by 

the government of Mongolia. We hosted a major event to recognize those 20 years and it was 

wonderful to have so many participating Mongolians who had been affected by a Volunteer teacher or 

a Volunteer who worked in their town’s health facility or elsewhere. We heard many Mongolians 

reflect on how much it had touched their lives to have worked with a Volunteer and to have known 

them as individuals. You, too, will be someone who will be remembered for your time here long after 

your service ends. You will likely have Mongolian friends who become as close to you as your family 

in the U.S.

Please know that as you make the transition to becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer, all of us staff 

members are ready to support you. During pre-service training we will provide you with the basic 

skills for your assignment and your health and safety, while teaching you the basic language skills you 

will need at your site. 

You are about to begin the most incredible two years of your life, which will go faster than you can 

imagine. 

We look forward to meeting you soon and welcoming you to Mongolia. 

Sincerely, 

Darlene Grant 

Country Director/Mongolia 
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CONTENTS 

Map of Mongolia 

A Welcome Letter 1 

Core Expectations for Peace Corps Volunteers 4 

Peace Corps Mongolia History and Programs 5 

History of the Peace Corps in Mongolia 5 

Current and Future Peace Corps 

Programming in Mongolia 5 

Country Overview: Mongolia at a Glance 6 

History 6 

Government, Politics, and Foreign Relations 8 

Economy 8 

People and Culture 10 

Environment 12 

Resources for Further Information 14 

Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle 19

Communications 19

Housing and Site Location 21 

Living Allowance and Money Management 22

Food and Diet 23

Transportation 24

Geography and Climate 24

Social Activities 25

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior 25

Personal Safety 26

Rewards and Frustrations 27

Peace Corps Training 29 

Overview of Pre-Service Training 29 

Technical Training 31

Language Training 31

Cross-Cultural Training 32
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Health Training 32

Safety Training 32

Additional Trainings during Volunteer Service 32 

Your Health Care and Safety in Mongolia 34 

Health Issues in Mongolia 34 

Helping You Stay Healthy 35 

Maintaining Your Health 35 

Women’s Health Information 36 

Your Peace Corps Medical Kit 37 

Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist 38 

Safety and Security—Our Partnership 40

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk 41

Summary Strategies to Reduce Risk 42

Staying Safe: Don't be a Target for Crime 43

Support from Staff 44 

Security Issues in Mongolia 44

Preparing for the Unexpected: Safety Training 

and Volunteer Support in Mongolia 45

Diversity and Cross-Cultural Issues 47

Overview of Diversity in Mongolia 48

What Might a Volunteer Face? 49 

Possible Issues for Female Volunteers 49

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color 49

Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers 49

Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers 50

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers 50

Possible Issues for Volunteers with Disabilities 51

Possible Issues for Married Volunteers 52

Frequently Asked Questions 53

Welcome Letters from Mongolia Volunteers 59

Packing List 64

Pre-departure Checklist 68

Contacting Peace Corps Headquarters 71
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CORE EXPECTATIONS 

FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS 

In working toward fulfilling the Peace Corps Mission of promoting world peace and friendship, as a 

trainee and Volunteer, you are expected to: 

1. Prepare your personal and professional life to make a commitment to serve abroad for a full 

term of 27 months 

2. Commit to improving the quality of life of the people with whom you live and work; and, in 

doing so, share your skills, adapt them, and learn new skills as needed 

3. Serve where the Peace Corps asks you to go, under conditions of hardship, if necessary, and 

with the flexibility needed for effective service 

4. Recognize that your successful and sustainable development work is based on the local trust 

and confidence you build by living in, and respectfully integrating yourself into, your host 

community and culture 

5. Recognize that you are responsible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your personal conduct 

and professional performance 

6. Engage with host country partners in a spirit of cooperation, mutual learning, and respect 

7. Work within the rules and regulations of the Peace Corps and the local and national laws of the 

country where you serve 

8. Exercise judgment and personal responsibility to protect your health, safety, and well-being and 

that of others 

9. Recognize that you will be perceived, in your host country and community, as a representative 

of the people, cultures, values, and traditions of the United States of America 

10. Represent responsively the people, cultures, values, and traditions of your host country and 

community to people in the United States both during and following your service 
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PEACE CORPS/MONGOLIA 

HISTORY AND PROGRAMS 

History of the Peace Corps in Mongolia 

The Peace Corps established its program in Mongolia at the invitation of the Mongolian government in 

1991 and, since then, more than 900 Volunteers have served. The program began with teaching 

English as a foreign language (TEFL) Volunteers and currently about 135 Volunteers are working in 

the fields of education, health, community economic development, and community youth 

development. All Peace Corps Volunteers in Mongolia are considered community development 

workers and, as such, support community service activities and such cross-sector initiatives as 

HIV/AIDS awareness and alcohol abuse awareness. Currently, Volunteers work in all 21 provinces 

throughout Mongolia. 

The mission of Peace Corps/Mongolia Volunteers and staff is to provide community-based 

development assistance that addresses needs identified by Mongolian partners and to promote crosscultural understanding between Americans and Mongolians. Peace Corps/Mongolia programs 

emphasize sustainable community development and capacity-building that relies on locally available 

resources. 

History and Future of Peace Corps Programming in Mongolia 

During the next few years, Peace Corps/Mongolia will focus on English education, community health, 

and youth development. A brief overview of Peace Corps/Mongolia’s projects follows: 

The English education and community development project builds the capacity of English 

teachers by teaching students studying to become English teachers, assisting in accessing 

English language resources, introducing promising education methods, and facilitating 

community development projects. 

Volunteers in the community-based health project assist with community health education, 

help update medical professionals and medical students with medical English knowledge, 

facilitate preventive health initiatives, and work with local teachers to educate secondary school 

students about healthy life skills. 

Youth development Volunteers increase the capacity of Mongolian youth to overcome 

challenging life circumstances and become young adults who contribute to improving the 

quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities. Volunteers work with 

youth-focused nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), children’s centers, schools, and civil 

society organizations to address major challenges confronting Mongolian youth today, such as 

education, life skills, employability, and leadership. 
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COUNTRY OVERVIEW: 

MONGOLIA AT A GLANCE 

History 

The history of Mongolia spans more than 500,000 years. 

Archaeological excavations throughout the country have revealed 

artifacts from the Stone and Bronze Ages. The prehistoric 

inhabitants of Mongolia are culturally linked to Central Asia, not 

China, in that they were nomadic herders, not settled cultivators. 

Mongolia today embraces the heartland of Chingiss Khan’s 

empire, but it was the homeland of other nations long before the 

Mongols were first mentioned in the annals of the emperors of 

China. 

Recent investigations support the hypothesis that the Mongols 

originated from the Huns (Hunnu in ancient Mongolian), nomads 

who created a state in the area of what is now called Mongolia in 

200 B.C., and the first of many peoples to do so. (―Hun‖ translates 

as ―man‖ and ―nu‖ translates as ―sun.‖) Until its collapse in A.D. 

98, the Hun state was the most powerful nomadic state in the 

sprawling Central Asian steppe and mountains. The Hsien-pi 

replaced the Huns as the ruling group in A.D. 95. Between 95 and 

1125 A.D., a succession of nomadic, feudal tribes occupied and 

ruled the area: Sumbe, Toba, Nirun, Turkic, Uighur, Kirghiz, and 

Khitan. 

In 1190, Temuujin, from the Esukhei tribe, took advantage of 

weak individual tribal territories and waged 35 battles against 

other tribes. By 1206, he had succeeded in uniting 81 tribes to 

form the Great Mongolian State, or Mongol Empire. His success 

in these battles led to his being named Chingiss Khan (universal 

ruler). The Mongol Empire of the 13th and 14th centuries was the 

largest land-area empire in history. At its greatest, it stretched 

from Korea to Hungary and included most of Asia, except for 

India and the southeast part of the continent. After Chingiss 

Khan’s death in 1227, the Mongol Empire was divided into 

dominions, expanded into Russia and China, and ruled first by his 

sons and then by his grandson Kublai Khan (1260-1294) of Marco 
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Polo fame. After 1294, however, the Mongol Empire slowly 

disintegrated, beginning with the loss of China in 1368 to the 

rulers of the Ming dynasty. 

In 1644, the Manchus, rulers of the Ching dynasty, conquered 

China and southern Mongolia (a territory later renamed Inner 

Mongolia) and the remainder of Outer Mongolia, consolidating 

the Mongol Empire under Manchu rule by 1691. The Manchus 

penalized the Mongolians for any act of insubordination, and their 

220-year rule is considered the harshest period in Mongolian 

history. During this time, Mongolia became isolated from the 

outside world, the power of the Mongol Khans was destroyed, and 

Tibetan Buddhism was introduced. 

The revolutionary sentiments in Russia and China at the beginning 

of the 20th century also existed in Mongolia. It declared itself an 

independent state in 1911 as the Manchu dynasty in China 

collapsed and the Manchus withdrew from Mongolia. Gegeen 

Javzandamba Hutakht was declared Bogd Khan, the secular and 

spiritual leader, and formed a new government. However, China 

and Russia refused to recognize it, so the Tripartite Agreement 

that established Outer Mongolia as a politically and territorially 

autonomous state remained unacknowledged until 1915, when 

Russia agreed to sign it. 

In 1920, two small underground revolutionary groups joined 

forces to form the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary Party 

(MPRP) to defend the Mongolian nation (against China) and to 

protect the interests of Mongolian herdsmen. Under the leadership 

of military commanders Sukhbaatar and Choibalsan and with the 

help of the ―Red‖ Russians, the MPRP army defeated both 

―White‖ Russian and Chinese armies. On July 11, 1921 

(commemorated today as People’s Revolutionary Day), Mongolia 

proclaimed its independence again and became a constitutional 

monarchy with Javzandamba as the head of state. After he died in 

November 1924, the Mongolian People’s Republic became the 

world’s second communist state. 

The emergence of a democratic movement in December 
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1989 brought swift and peaceful change to Mongolia as the 

government adopted a positive approach toward reform. The 

dramatic changes toward a free-market economy and fully 

democratic society began in 1990 and continue today. A new 

constitution, adopted in early 1992, changed the official name of 

the country to Mongolia. 

Government 

The government has an executive branch, a legislative branch (the 

Parliament is called the Great Khural), and a judicial branch, 

which includes a Supreme Court and a Constitutional Court. 

The first presidential elections were held in spring 1993. The 

current head of state is President Ts. Elbegdorj, who was elected 

in May 2009. President Elbegdorj has been an active supporter of 

the work of the Peace Corps in Mongolia. The head of 

government is Prime Minister Sanjiin Bayar, who was appointed 

in December 2007 by the Mongolian People’s Revolutionary 

Party. 

Since Mongolia became democratic, the same MPRP party that 

was founded on communist ideals in 1920 and controlled the 

communist period has dominated the government. The elections 

of 1996 saw the Democratic Union come to power, but infighting 

quickly dissolved their coalition and the MPRP regained majority 

control in the following election and has held it since. 

The last parliamentary election was held in summer 2012. In that 

election, MPRP won 44 seats, the Democratic Party (DP) won 26 

seats, and the Civil Will Party and Civil Alliance Party won one 

seat each. There is also one independent and two disputed seats. 

Although the MPRP held a majority, they chose to form a 

coalition government with the DP. 

Economy 

Mongolia’s private sector is the primary engine of growth for the 

economy. Since 1991, traditional trading patterns have changed, 
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with a large volume of imports from new sources entering 

Mongolian markets. Industries that developed during the central 

planning era have declined or disappeared altogether depending 

on their ability to export to foreign markets. A major transfer of 

assets from state ownership to private ownership has occurred, 

accompanied by a rise in large private businesses in mining, 

textiles, trade, banking, information technology, and other sectors. 

The distribution of goods and services and retail prices are now 

largely decontrolled, with the exception of the state-owned utility 

monopolies. 

Mongolia suffered dramatic changes when its state-controlled 

economy dissappeared and a large vacuum was left for provision 

of goods and services. Since then, however, they have made 

gigantic leaps into a free-market economy. In 2008, the 

Mongolian economy grew by a record 8.5 percent and for 2009, 

even during the global financial crisis, 3 percent growth was 

expected. Mongolia’s main export products are copper, coal, zinc, 

and gold. 

Mongolia joined the World Trade Organization in 1997 and has 

received significant foreign aid and assistance in recent years. In

2008, the international donor community (World Bank, Asian 

Development Bank, and Japanese and Australian governments) 

pledged more than $165 million to Mongolia. The United States is 

the third largest donor. The Millennium Challenge Corporation 

Compact in Mongolia entered into force in September 2008, 

formally initiating the five-year timeline for project 

implementation in the areas of infrastructure development, 

education, health, and property rights projects. Mongolia’s 

international debt is approximately $1 billon. 

In past years, the inflation rate increased up to 34 percent and in 

the first half of 2009 it was about 4 to 5 percent. Growing 

unemployment, the primary cause of poverty, remains the 

government’s main concern. Extreme winters have highlighted the 

vulnerability of the rural economy and accelerated migration to 
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urban areas by people seeking better access to social services and 

employment opportunities. For instance, the population has almost 

doubled in the capital, Ulaanbaatar, over the past five years. 

People and Culture 

Mongolian and foreign scholars give different explanations for the 

ethnic name ―Mongol.‖ Some think it was once the name of a 

single tribe. Others believe it comes from a geographical name 

that means the river Mon. Still others assert that Mongol should be 

pronounced ―mun-gol,‖ with ―mun‖ meaning correct, basic, or 

true and ―gol‖ meaning pivot, center, or essence, combining to 

mean ―true essence.‖ 

More than 20 ethnic groups make up the population, with ethnic 

Mongolians representing 95 percent. The remaining 5 percent are 

mostly Turkic people composed of Kazakhs and Tuvans. The 

largest group of ethnic Mongolians are the Khalkha Mongols, 

constituting about 70 percent of the population. 

Mongolian is the main language of Mongolia, which is also 

spoken in Inner Mongolia and other parts of China, as well as in 

the Altai, Buryat, and Kalmyk Republics of the Russian 

Federation. Mongolian, along with the Turkic and Tungusic 

languages, forms the Altaic family of languages spoken by 

approximately 80 million people from Turkey to the Pacific. 

Modern Mongolian, of which Khalkha (or Halh) is the most 

widely spoken dialect, is written in the Cyrillic alphabet. After 

experiments with Romanization in the 1930s, Mongolia adopted 

the Cyrillic alphabet at the end of World War II, replacing the 

vertical Uighur, or classical, script in which Mongolian had been 

written since Chingiss Khan’s time. Since the 1990s, there have 

been movements to return to Uighur; however, the Cyrillic 

alphabet better reflects spoken Mongolian and will likely be used 

for the foreseeable future. 
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Mongolia’s religious roots can be traced to shamanism. 

Shamanism might be considered an unconventional religion 

because it has no founder from whom its teachings originate and 

there is no collection of sacred writings, such as sutras or a bible. 

Their belief is that individuals are chosen by spirits of the 

deceased to serve as mediums for otherworldly powers. Loose 

collections of shaman elders exist to guide newly chosen members 

and perform services to their communities. Although officially 

replaced by Tibetan Buddhism in the 14th century, shamanism 

continues to be practiced and used by people throughout 

Mongolia, predominantly by those living in the north and west. 

Buddhism faced severe repression under the communist regime, 

and only one showcase monastery was allowed to remain open. In 

early 1990, Buddhism was again named Mongolia’s official 

religion. Today, most Mongolians call themselves Buddhist, 

although the Kazakh minority living in the western part of the 

country practices Islam. 

Mongolia observes the following official holidays: New Year’s 

Day, Tsagaan Sar (the lunar New Year) in early to mid-February 

(three days), Mother’s and Children’s Day on June 1, Eriin 

Gurvan Naadam (Festival of the Three Manly Sports) in mid July, 

and Independence Day on November 26. 

The three ―manly‖ sports popular with the Mongols since ancient 

times are wrestling, horse racing, and archery. These three games 

make up the core program of the Naadam festival, which has been 

held annually since the 13th century. Earlier, Naadam was 

associated with religious ceremonies (worshiping the spirit of the 

mountains, the rocks, and the rivers); currently, it is a national 

holiday held to commemorate the Mongol People’s Revolution in 

1921. 

Tsagaan Sar, the lunar New Year, is translated as ―white month.‖ 

There are many opinions about the origin of this name. Some 

Mongolians believe that white symbolizes happiness and purity; 
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others believe that the name refers to the abundance of milk 

products. In any case, the holiday celebrates the passing of winter 

and beginning of spring. 

Environment 

Mongolia lies in Central Asia, with Russia to the north and China 

to the east, west, and south. Mongolia is also called Outer 

Mongolia, the name China’s Ching dynasty gave to the area to 

distinguish it from Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region in 

northern China, and Buryat Mongolia in Russia. Mongolia 

occupies an area of about 1.57 million square kilometers, or 

626,000 square miles (about the size of Alaska). 

The current population is approximately 2.7 million, making 

Mongolia one of the most sparsely populated nations on Earth. 

Thirty-eight percent of the population is under 16 years old, and 4 

percent is over 60 years old. Almost 60 percent of the population 

lives in urban areas (40 percent in Ulaanbaatar); the rest live in 

rural areas. Life in Mongolia is becoming more urbanized and 

sedentary, although nomadic life still predominates in the 

countryside. Ulaanbaatar has doubled in population over the past 

five years. 

Mongolia is a land of contrasts: wild forests, alpine meadows, 

semi-deserts, vast plains, and snow-covered mountains. 

Mountains cover more than 40 percent of the country. The natural 

scenery in the northern section resembles that of eastern Siberia, 

while the southern section, which comprises two-thirds of the 

country’s area, features the arid desert and semi-desert of Central 

Asia. 

The Gobi Desert in southeastern Mongolia supports almost no 

vegetation and is sparsely populated. North and west of the Gobi, 

the landscape changes gradually to rugged mountains, with 

elevations of more than 3,962 meters (13,075 feet) above sea 

level. The highest peak in Mongolia is Nairamdal Uul at 4,373 

meters (14,431 feet). There are small prairies and saltwater and 
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freshwater lakes throughout the country, but water is more 

abundant in the habitable north. The only navigable lake is 

Huvsgul. The country’s longest rivers are the Selenge, Orkhon, 

Tuul, Hovd, Herlen, and Halhin Gol. 

Mongolia has many places of breathtaking beauty. Mongolia is 

home to 136 mammal species, almost 400 species of birds, and 76 

species of fish. The country is also known for its wolves, 

marmots, falcons, snow leopards, musk deer, and the rare Altai 

snow cock. 

With an average of 260 sunny days per year, Mongolia is known 

as the ―Land of Blue Sky.‖ Because it is so far inland, it has a 

continental climate with extreme temperatures and very low 

humidity. 

Snow usually stays on the ground from October through April, 

although it seldom totals more than a few inches at a time. The 

summers are generally mild and pleasant. The temperature in 

Ulaanbaatar ranges from 27 degrees Celsius (17 degrees below 

zero Fahrenheit) in January to 18 C (64 F) in July. There have 

been recorded extremes of minus-48 C (minus-54 F) and 39 C 

(102 F). (Don’t let these averages fool you; temperatures in the 

summers have reached the high 90s and low 100s and have fallen 

low enough for snow in June.) Annual precipitation averages 25.4 

centimeters (10 inches) in Ulaanbaatar. 

The average altitude of Mongolia is 1,580 meters (5,214 feet) 

above sea level. Ulaanbaatar’s altitude is 1,351 meters (4,458 

feet), which is about the same altitude as Denver. 
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RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 

Following is a list of websites for additional information about the 

Peace Corps and Mongolia and to connect you to returned 

Volunteers and other invitees. Please keep in mind that although 

we try to make sure all these links are active and current, we 

cannot guarantee it. If you do not have access to the Internet, visit 

your local library. Libraries offer free Internet usage and often let 

you print information to take home.

A note of caution: As you surf the Internet, be aware that you may 

find bulletin boards and chat rooms in which people are free to 

express opinions about the Peace Corps based on their own 

experience, including comments by those who were unhappy with 

their choice to serve in the Peace Corps. These opinions are not 

those of the Peace Corps or the U.S. government, and we hope 

you will keep in mind that no two people experience their service 

in the same way. 

General Information About Mongolia 

www.countrywatch.com/ 

On this site, you can learn anything from what time it is in the 

capital of Mongolia to how to convert from the dollar to the 

Mongolian Tugrig. Just click on Mongolia and go from there. 

www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations 

Visit this site for general travel advice about almost any country in 

the world. 

www.state.gov 

The State Department’s website issues background notes 

periodically about countries around the world. Find Mongolia and 

learn more about its social and political history. You can also go 

to the site’s international travel section to check on conditions that 

may affect your safety. 
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www.psr.keele.ac.uk/official.htm 

This includes links to all the official sites for governments 

worldwide. 

www.geography.about.com/library/maps/blindex.htm 

This online world atlas includes maps and geographical 

information, and each country page contains links to other sites, 

such as the Library of Congress, that contain comprehensive 

historical, social, and political background. 

www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/info.asp 

This United Nations site allows you to search for statistical 

information for member states of the U.N. 

www.worldinformation.com 

This site provides an additional source of current and historical 

information about countries around the world. 

Connect With Returned Volunteers 

and Other Invitees 

www.rpcv.org 

This is the site of the National Peace Corps Association, made up 

of returned Volunteers. On this site you can find links to all the 

Web pages of the ―Friends of‖ groups for most countries of 

service, comprised of former Volunteers who served in those 

countries. There are also regional groups that frequently get 

together for social events and local volunteer activities. Or go 

straight to the Friends of Mongolia site: 

http://www.friendsofmongolia.org 

www.PeaceCorpsWorldwide.org 

This site is hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers. It is a 

monthly online publication of essays and Volunteer accounts of 

their Peace Corps service. 
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Online Articles/Current News Sites About Mongolia 

www.MongoliaToday.com 

An online magazine started by two Mongolian journalists.

http://ulaanbaatar.net/home/index.shtml 

A website that focuses on the capital city. 

http://www.mongolmessenger.mn 

The Mongol Messenger is one of two English language 

newspapers in Mongolia. 

http://ubpost.mongolnews.mn/main/index.php 

The UB Post is the other English language paper. 

International Development Sites About Mongolia 

www.un-mongolia.mn 

This provides information about the work of the United Nations in 

Mongolia. 

www.eurasianet.org/resource/mongolia/index.shtml 

This is a site with links to a variety of resources. 

Recommended Books 

1. Goldstein, Melvyn C., and Cynthia M. Beall. The Changing 

World of Mongolia’s Nomads. Berkeley: University of California 

Press, 1994. 

2. Kohn, Michael. Lonely Planet Mongolia. Footscray, Victoria; 

London: Lonely Planet Publications, 2005. 

3. Sanders, Alan J.H., and J. Bat-Ireediu. Lonely Planet 

Mongolian Phrasebook. Footscray, Victoria; London: Lonely 

Planet Publications, 1995. 
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4. Sarangerel, Odigan. Riding Windhorses: A Journey Into the 

Heart of Mongolian Shamanism. Rochester, Vermont: Destiny 

Books, 2000. 

5. Severin, Tim. In Search of Genghis Khan: An Exhilarating 

Journey on Horseback across the Steppes of Mongolia. N.Y.: 

Cooper Square Press, 2003. 

6. Weatherford, Jack. Genghis Khan and the Making of the 

Modern World. Crown Publishers, 2004. 

Books About the History of the Peace Corps

1. Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs. All You Need is Love: The Peace 

Corps and the Spirit of the 1960s. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard 

University Press, 2000. 

2. Rice, Gerald T. The Bold Experiment: JFK’s Peace Corps. Notre 

Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame Press, 1985. 

3. Stossel, Scott. Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver.

Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 2004. 

4. Meisler, Stanley. When the World Calls: The Inside Story of the 

Peace Corps and its First 50 Years. Boston, Mass.: Beacon Press, 

2011.

Books on the Volunteer Experience

1. Dirlam, Sharon. Beyond Siberia: Two Years in a Forgotten Place. 

Santa Barbara, Calif.: McSeas Books, 2004. 

2. Casebolt, Marjorie DeMoss. Margarita: A Guatemalan Peace 

Corps Experience. Gig Harbor, Wash.: Red Apple Publishing, 

2000.

3. Erdman, Sarah. Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the 

Heart of an African Village. New York, N.Y.: Picador, 2003. 
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4. Hessler, Peter. River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze. New 

York, N.Y.: Perennial, 2001. 

5. Kennedy, Geraldine ed. From the Center of the Earth: Stories out 

of the Peace Corps. Santa Monica, Calif.: Clover Park Press, 

1991.

6. Thompsen, Moritz. Living Poor: A Peace Corps Chronicle. 

Seattle, Wash.: University of Washington Press, 1997 (reprint). 
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LIVING CONDITIONS AND 

VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE 

Communications 

Mail 

Mail to Mongolia generally takes two to four weeks to arrive, and 

some mail may never arrive. Occasionally, letters may arrive with 

clipped edges because someone has tried to see if any money was 

inside. Also, some boxes may be opened by customs officials to 

ensure nothing illegal is being shipped. Advise your family and 

friends to number their letters and to include the word ―Airmail‖ 

on their envelopes. 

Check with your local post office for information on weight and 

size limitations for packages. Packages sent by surface mail 

normally take two to three months. Volunteers have found that 

letters and packages have a better chance of arriving if 

correspondents do not use a variety of interesting stamps; write 

the address (with the exception of ―Mongolia‖) in the Cyrillic 

alphabet; use sturdy, well-taped boxes for packages (to discourage 

tampering); write ―via China‖ on mail; and use padding for 

breakable items (including cassette and CD cases). 

Mailing Address 

Your address while you are in training is listed below in English 

and in the Cyrillic alphabet. Peace Corps staff members regularly 

bring trainees’ mail to the training site. 

―Your Name,‖ PCT 

Post Office Box 1036 

Central Post Office 

Ulaanbaatar 15141 

Mongolia (via China) 
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20

―Your Name,‖ PCT 

АНУ-ын Энх тайвны корпус 

Төв Шуудан 

Шуудангийн хайрцаг 1036, 

Улаанбаатар-15141 

Монгол улс 

Mongolia (via China) 

Be aware that you may incur customs charges on your personal 

mail, especially packages. How packages are labeled in the United 

States can influence these charges. For example, if someone sends 

you a package containing both printed matter and ―luxury‖ items, 

such as music cassettes, the customs charges calculated by the 

post office in Mongolia will generally be less if the printed matter 

is emphasized and the luxury items are not. 

Telephones 

Long-distance calling to the U.S. from landlines is available from 

every soum (small city or town) throughout Mongolia. Prepaid 

phone cards can be purchased at telecom branches and from 

specified service agents. You can then make a call from any 

payphone by following the instructions on the phone cards. 

Pre-paid international calling cards are now available in 

Ulaanbaatar and other cities and can be used when calling the U.S. 

from landlines in the capital. The cost for the call is very 

affordable if you buy the right card. Peace Corps/Mongolia can 

offer you advice on which cards are the best to purchase while in 

Ulaanbaatar. 

Your host family during pre-service training may have a phone; if 

so, family and friends can call you directly there. (Note that the 

time in Mongolia is 12-13 hours later than Eastern Standard 

Time.) Some Volunteers call home using an Internet phone 
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21

service; the cost is generally whatever the charge is for the 

Internet connection. 

Cellphone service is very common in Mongolia. After completing 

training and swearing-in as a Volunteer, you will receive a Peace 

Corps-issued cellphone. While trainees are not prohibited from 

purchasing a personal cellphone prior to swearing in, Peace 

Corps/Mongolia will not reimburse this cost. Many cellphones 

purchased in the U.S. will not work in Mongolia. 

Computer, Internet, and Email Access 

Although computers can be bought locally, they generally do not 

come with virus protection software or system software backup 

disks. If you bring your own computer, remember that the weather 

in Mongolia can be hard on LCD screens and electronic 

equipment may be damaged by power surges. You should also 

consider insuring your computer. Some host organizations provide 

limited access to computers, but they often contain contaminated 

files and may not have the necessary backup disks or software to 

fix a problem. 

Internet connections are rare but increasing in smaller towns and 

communities. Most provincial centers now have access to the 

Internet, usually at the local post office or telecom center. In 

Ulaanbaatar, Internet cafes are plentiful, and the rates there—500 

to 1,500 tugriks ($.45 to $1.40) per hour—are cheaper than 

elsewhere. Though connections can be unstable and frustratingly 

slow and power outages occur, it is still nice to communicate so 

quickly with family and friends. 

Housing and Site Location 

During pre-service training you will live with a host family. 

During your two years of service, Volunteers live in small family 

compounds or in separate apartments, depending on what is 

available at their site. Most sites are located either in a provincial 
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22

town center (aimag in Mongolian) anywhere from 50 to almost 

2,000 kilometers (31 to 1,240 miles) by road from the capital, or 

in provincial villages (soums) that are up to four hours by car from 

an aimag. A few Volunteers are assigned to Ulaanbaatar. 

Increasingly, Volunteers in Mongolia live in either gers (yurts) or 

wooden houses, sharing a compound with a Mongolian family. 

Enhanced cultural interaction, improved language skills, and 

greater Volunteer safety have all resulted from this living 

arrangement. City Volunteers may live in apartments. 

A ger is a round tent of about 20 feet in diameter, made of a 

wooden lattice covered with thick felt. The inside consists of one 

room with furniture around the circumference and a wood stove in 

the center. 

Living Allowance and Money Management 

U.S. dollars can be exchanged at various places in Ulaanbaatar, 

including hotels, the Trade and Development Bank, post offices, 

and legal money exchange facilities. Depending on the size of 

your community, you may be able to change money there as well. 

Many places will not exchange for U.S. dollars that are old and 

wrinkled; they like pristine bills. Also, the exchange rate is 

slightly lower for traveler’s checks of any size or bills in 

denominations smaller than $50. 

There are two options for getting cash transferred from the United 

States. The cheapest and easiest is using an ATM machine. There 

are internationally connected ATMs around Ulaanbaatar. Some do 

not have local fees, but your U.S. bank may charge you to use 

them. While credit cards are of limited use in Mongolia, they are 

accepted by major hotels, restaurants, and shops in Ulaanbaatar 

and may come in handy when traveling outside the country. 
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23

Traveler’s checks can be purchased at the Trade and Development 

Bank in Ulaanbaatar and cashed there for a 2 percent fee. 

Although few retail outfits in Mongolia will accept them, they are 

useful for travel in other countries in the region. Personal checks 

are not accepted in Mongolia. 

Food and Diet 

You are likely to spend roughly 60 percent of your living 

allowance on food, and you probably will not be able to maintain 

the lifestyle, including diet, to which you are accustomed in the 

United States. For one thing, it is difficult to find the wide variety 

of foods available in the United States. It is also important that 

you live at the same economic level as the people in your 

community. 

Once a nation of nomadic herdsman, Mongolia is known as 

the Land of Five Animals—sheep, goats, cattle, horses, and 

camels. Traditionally, herdsmen got everything they needed to 

survive from these animals. Today’s diet still relies heavily on 

meat and dairy products. Fermented mare’s milk is the traditional 

ceremonial drink. 

The main meats are mutton and beef, but Mongolians also eat 

goat, horse, marmot, and camel. Some Mongolians buy a sheep 

carcass to put out on their balcony for the winter (a natural cold 

storage method). Mongolian chickens have been described as 

―very athletic‖ and are good for stewing, but now a lot of chicken 

is imported. Fish is sometimes sold at markets or door-to-door. A 

very limited variety of fresh fruits and vegetables appears in the 

markets, but these foods are not a major part of the local diet. 

The traditional diet can be bland, monotonous, and high in fat and 

cholesterol, and it may be difficult to limit your fat intake while 

eating with your neighbors. 
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24

If you are a vegetarian, you may find it difficult to maintain your 

diet because of both limited food availability and cultural 

considerations. The Peace Corps living allowance, however, will 

enable you to buy some imported fresh and canned fruits and 

vegetables on visits to provincial centers, so a modest vegetarian 

diet is certainly possible, albeit difficult. Turning down food may 

offend Mongolians, who believe meat is necessary for survival in 

harsh climates, so a vegetarian will have to become good at 

explaining his or her ―strange‖ diet to Mongolians. If you are 

vegan we recommend you consider adjusting your dietary 

restrictions as plant protein can be impossible to find outside of 

major cities. 

Transportation 

Travel among cities by bus, van, or Russian-made jeep is mostly 

on unpaved roads. The price of rides, which depends on the price 

of the fuel supplied by Russia, has fluctuated greatly in recent 

years. Volunteers are prohibited from driving motorized vehicles 

in Mongolia or from riding on or operating motorcycles. Some 

cities are also served by train and expensive flights. 

Geography and Climate 

Probably the first thing you were told about Mongolia was that 

it is very cold. This is true. But rather than try to anticipate the 

various weather patterns of the country, it is better to prepare for 

the worst-case scenario, which is 40 degrees below zero Celsius 

(minus-40 Fahrenheit) with a wind chill factor of minus-55 C. 

While this may sound unbearable, Volunteers are given many 

strategies for ―beating‖ the cold from the Peace Corps training 

staff and their Mongolian neighbors. It is important to remember 

that millions of people, including Volunteers, live and thrive here 

in the winter. The winter is very sunny and usually windless. 

Spring is sunny and extremely windy, and dust storms are 
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25

common. The temperature ranges from 10 C to 20 C (50 F to 68 

F), but the wind makes it seem colder. Summer is sunny and 

breezy, with an average temperature in the low 20s (70s F), 

though it can get as hot as 35 C (96 F) on a regular basis. Autumn 

is short, with temperatures similar to those in the spring. The sun 

shines almost every day in Mongolia, even in winter, and the glare 

from the snow can be intense, so sunglasses are a necessity. 

Social Activities 

Although Mongolia’s traditionally nomadic herdsmen are now 

comfortable on both motorcycles and horses and many live in 

apartments rather than in gers, Mongolia has not lost its rich 

cultural heritage. The Mongolian people’s hospitality endures, and 

most social life at Volunteer sites centers on visiting friends’ 

homes rather than going out to bars and clubs. 

Mongolians enjoy a wide variety of sports. Soccer, volleyball, 

basketball, table tennis, and the national sport of wrestling all take 

place during the summer. Hiking is also popular during the 

warmer months. Cross-country skiing, sledding, and ice-skating 

are popular pastimes in the winter. 

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior 

It is very important that you dress professionally in work 

settings, where the appearance of the staff reflects on the office or 

school as a whole. You are also expected to dress professionally 

during training, which means no shorts or T-shirts, though clean 

jeans without rips are acceptable. You will need a more formal 

outfit for being sworn in as a Volunteer. All clothes should be 

clean at all times. 

The main goal is to fit into Mongolian culture, in which 

professionals, especially teachers, dress well. Typical clothing for 

men includes slacks, a collared shirt with a sweater or jacket, a tie, 
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26

and dress shoes. Women tend to wear dresses or dressy slacks or 

skirts with blouse-and-sweater combinations and nice boots or 

high-heeled shoes. 

Most Mongolians have only a few outfits for work and will not 

judge you negatively for wearing only a few yourself. You can 

wear the same outfits again and again and no one will care or 

notice. 

Special notes: 

• Professionals in Mongolia wear their hair in fairly conservative 

styles. Although you might see young men on the streets of 

Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan, or Erdenet with shoulder-length hair, long 

hair on men is rare in the professional environment. Male 

Volunteers should come to training with their hair conservatively 

cut and styled, not extending below the collar. After you have 

completed pre-service training, been at your post for three months, 

and have established your credibility, you might find that it is 

acceptable to wear a less conservative style. 

• Body piercings are not common in professional settings. Peace 

Corps/Mongolia requires Volunteers to remove facial piercings 

(with the exception of earrings in women) throughout pre-service 

training and during the first four months of service. This allows 

Volunteers to establish a professional rapport with colleagues and 

counterparts. 

Personal Safety 

More detailed information about the Peace Corps’ approach to 

safety is contained in the ―Health Care and Safety‖ chapter, but it 

is an important issue and cannot be overemphasized. As stated in 

the Volunteer Handbook, becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer 

entails certain safety risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar 

environment (oftentimes alone), having a limited understanding of 
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27

local language and culture, and being perceived as well-off are 

some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Many 

Volunteers experience varying degrees of unwanted attention and 

harassment. Petty thefts and burglaries are not uncommon, and 

incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur, although most 

Mongolia Volunteers complete their two years of service without 

incident. The Peace Corps has established procedures and policies 

designed to help you reduce your risks and enhance your safety 

and security. These procedures and policies, in addition to safety 

training, will be provided once you arrive in Mongolia. Using 

these tools, you are expected to take responsibility for your safety 

and well-being. 

Each staff member at the Peace Corps is committed to providing 

Volunteers with the support they need to successfully meet the 

challenges they will face to have a safe, healthy, and productive 

service. We encourage Volunteers and families to look at our 

safety and security information on the Peace Corps website at 

www.peacecorps.gov/safety. 

Messages about Volunteer health and Volunteer safety are 

included. There is a section titled ―Safety and Security in Depth.‖

Among topics addressed are the risks of serving as a Volunteer, 

posts’ safety support systems, and emergency planning and 

communications. 

Rewards and Frustrations 

Although the potential for job satisfaction in Mongolia is quite 

high, like all Volunteers, you will encounter frustrations. Because 

of financial or other challenges, some collaborating agencies do 

not always provide the support they may have promised. In 

addition, the pace of work and life is slower than what most 

Americans are accustomed to, and some people you work with 

may be hesitant to change practices and traditions that are 

centuries old. For these reasons, the Peace Corps experience of 

adapting to a new culture and environment is often described as a 

series of emotional peaks and valleys. 
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28

You will be given a high degree of responsibility and 

independence in your work—perhaps more than in any other job 

you have had or will have. You will often find yourself in 

situations that require an ability to motivate yourself and your coworkers with little guidance from supervisors. You might work for 

months without seeing any visible impact from, or without 

receiving feedback on, your work. Development is a slow process. 

Positive progress most often comes after the combined efforts of 

several Volunteers over the course of many years. You must 

possess the self-confidence, patience, and vision to continue 

working toward long-term goals without seeing immediate results. 

To overcome these difficulties, you will need maturity, flexibility, 

open-mindedness, and resourcefulness. Mongolians are warm, 

friendly, and hospitable, and the Peace Corps staff, your coworkers, and fellow Volunteers will support you during times of 

challenge as well as in moments of success. Judging by the 

experience of former Volunteers, the peaks are well worth the 

difficult times, and most Volunteers leave Mongolia feeling they 

have gained much more than they sacrificed during their service. 

If you are able to make the commitment to integrate into your 

community and work hard, you will be a successful Volunteer. 
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PEACE CORPS TRAINING 

Overview of Pre-Service Training 

Pre-service training is the first event within a competency-based 

training program that continues throughout your 27 months of 

service in Mongolia. Pre-service training ensures that Volunteers 

are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to 

effectively perform their jobs. 

Pre-service training is conducted in Mongolia and directed by the 

Peace Corps with participation from representatives of Mongolian 

organizations, Volunteers, and Mongolian training staff. The 

length of pre-service training varies, usually ranging from 8-12 

weeks, depending on the competencies required for the 

assignment. During training, we measure achievement of learning 

and determine if trainees have successfully achieved 

competencies, including language standards, for swearing in as a 

Peace Corps Volunteer. 

As a trainee, you will play an active role in self-education. You 

will be asked to prepare for an experience in which you will often 

have to take the initiative and accept responsibility for decisions. 

The success of your learning will be enhanced by your own effort 

to take responsibility for your learning and through sharing 

experiences with others. 

Peace Corps training is based on adult learning methods and often 

includes experiential ―hands-on‖ applications, such as conducting 

a participatory community needs assessment, facilitating groups 

and practicum. Successful training results in competence in 

various technical, language, cross-cultural, health, and safety and 

security areas. 

Successful sustainable development work is based on the local 

trust and confidence Volunteers build by living in, and 

respectfully integrating into, the Mongolian community and 

culture. Trainees are prepared for this through a ―homestay‖ 

experience, which requires trainees to live with host families 

during pre-service training. Integration into the community not 
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30

only facilitates good working relationships, but it fosters language 

learning and cross-cultural acceptance and trust, which help 

ensure your health, safety, and security. 

Ongoing Learning 

You are expected to improve your knowledge and skills in the 

areas of technical, language, cross-cultural, diversity, health, and 

safety throughout your service as a Volunteer. Training staff 

provide learning objectives during the 27-month continuum to 

help guide Volunteers throughout service. The manner in which 

you do this may be formal, through tutoring or workshops 

organized by the host government or in-country staff, or 

informally, through conversations and reading. Your learning will 

continue after you become a Volunteer, formally and through inservice training opportunities, specialized language or technical 

workshops, and a close-of-service workshop to help you evaluate 

your service and prepare for your return to the United States. 

Formal opportunities for ongoing learning in Mongolia may 

include the following: 

1. Technical and language training 

2. Project design and management training 

3. Mid-service conference 

4. Close-of-service conference 

(Additionally, you will have the opportunity to assist with these 

training events for incoming Volunteers once you have been incountry for one year.) 

The number, length, and design of these trainings are adapted to 

country-specific needs and conditions. The key to the Peace Corps 

training system is that learning events are competency-based, 

designed, implemented, and evaluated cooperatively by the Peace 

Corps staff and Volunteers. 
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31

Technical Training

Technical training will prepare you to work in Mongolia by 

building on the skills you already have and helping you develop 

new skills in a manner appropriate to the needs of the country. The 

Peace Corps staff, Mongolia experts, and current Volunteers will 

conduct the training program. Training places great emphasis on 

learning how to transfer the skills you have to the community in 

which you will serve as a Volunteer. 

Technical training will include sessions on the general economic 

and political environment in Mongolia and strategies for working 

within such a framework. You will review your technical sector’s 

goals and will meet with the Mongolia agencies and organizations 

that invited the Peace Corps to assist them. You will be supported 

and evaluated throughout training to build the confidence and 

skills you need to undertake your project activities and be a 

productive member of your community. 

Language Training

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will find that language skills are 

key to personal and professional satisfaction during your service. 

These skills are critical to your job performance, they help you 

integrate into your community, and they can ease your personal 

adaptation to the new surroundings. Therefore, language training 

is at the heart of the training program. You must successfully meet 

minimum language requirements to complete training and become 

a Volunteer. Mongolia language instructors teach formal language 

classes five days a week in small groups of four to five people. 

Your language training will incorporate a community-based 

approach. In addition to classroom time, you will be given 

assignments to work on outside of the classroom and with your 

host family. The goal is to get you to a point of basic social 

communication skills so you can practice and develop language 

skills further once you are at your site. Prior to being sworn in as a 

Volunteer, you will work on strategies to continue language 

studies during your service.
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32

Cross-Cultural Training

As part of your pre-service training, you will live with a 

Mongolian host family. This experience is designed to ease your 

transition to life at your site. Families go through an orientation 

conducted by Peace Corps staff to explain the purpose of preservice training and to assist them in helping you adapt to living in 

Mongolia. Many Volunteers form strong and lasting friendships 

with their host families. 

Cross-cultural and community development training will help you 

improve your communication skills and understand your role as a 

facilitator of development. You will be exposed to topics such as 

community mobilization, conflict resolution, gender and 

development, nonformal and adult education strategies, and 

political structures. 

Health Training

During pre-service training, you will be given basic medical 

training and information. You will be expected to practice 

preventive health care and to take responsibility for your own 

health by adhering to all medical policies. Trainees are required to 

attend all medical sessions. The topics include preventive health 

measures and minor and major medical issues that you might 

encounter while in Mongolia. Nutrition, mental health, setting up 

a safe living compound, and how to avoid HIV/AIDS and other 

sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are also covered. 

Safety Training

During the safety training sessions, you will learn how to adopt a 

lifestyle that reduces your risks at home, at work, and during your 

travels. You will also learn appropriate, effective strategies for 

coping with unwanted attention and about your individual 

responsibility for promoting safety throughout your service. 

Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service 

In its commitment to institutionalize quality training, the Peace 

Corps has implemented a training system that provides Volunteers 
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33

with continual opportunities to examine their commitment to 

Peace Corps service while increasing their technical and crosscultural skills. During service, there are usually three training 

events. The titles and objectives for those trainings are as follows: 

In-service training: Provides an opportunity for Volunteers to 

upgrade their technical, language, and project development 

skills while sharing their experiences and reaffirming their 

commitment after having served for three to six months. 

Midterm conference (done in conjunction with technical 

sector in-service): Assists Volunteers in reviewing their first 

year, reassessing their personal and project objectives, and 

planning for their second year of service.

Close-of-service conference: Prepares Volunteers for the 

future after Peace Corps service and reviews their respective 

projects and personal experiences. 

The number, length, and design of these trainings are adapted to 

country-specific needs and conditions. The key to the training 

system is that training events are integrated and interrelated, from 

the pre-departure orientation through the end of your service, and 

are planned, implemented, and evaluated cooperatively by the 

training staff, Peace Corps staff, and Volunteers. 
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34

YOUR HEALTH CARE AND 

SAFETY IN MONGOLIA 

The Peace Corps’ highest priority is maintaining the good health 

and safety of every Volunteer. Peace Corps medical programs 

emphasize the preventive, rather than the curative, approach to 

disease. The Peace Corps in Mongolia maintains a clinic with a 

full-time medical officer, who takes care of Volunteers’ primary 

health care needs. Additional medical services, such as testing and 

basic treatment, are also available in Mongolia at local hospitals. 

If you become seriously ill, you will be transported either to an 

American-standard medical facility in the region or to the United 

States. 

Health Issues in Mongolia 

Health problems that commonly occur in the United States, such 

as colds, diarrhea, headaches, skin infections, sexually transmitted 

diseases (STDs), emotional disorders, and alcohol abuse, may be 

more frequent or compounded by living in Mongolia. During preservice training, the Peace Corps medical officer will provide you 

with guidelines on how to remain healthy in Mongolia. 

Local conditions that may affect your health include air pollution 

caused by burning coal, wood, and dung in ger fires and by fossil 

fuel-burning power plants (especially in larger urban areas like 

Ulaanbattar, Darkhan, and Erdenet); the relatively high altitude at 

which most Volunteers live (about 4,500 feet); refuse left on the 

ground that attracts flies and other pests; the extreme cold and low 

humidity in the winter, which help to spread respiratory illnesses; 

and diarrhea resulting from bacteria-contaminated water and fresh 

fruits and vegetables. 

Behaviors and habits of Mongolians, such as smoking, alcohol 

abuse, and having sex with multiple partners, may also put 

Volunteers at risk. 
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35

Helping You Stay Healthy 

The Peace Corps will provide you with all the necessary 

inoculations, medications, and information to stay healthy. Upon 

your arrival in Mongolia, you will receive a medical handbook. At 

the end of training, you will receive a medical kit with supplies to 

take care of mild illnesses and first aid needs. The contents of the 

kit are listed later in this chapter. 

During pre-service training, you will have access to basic medical 

supplies through the medical officer. However, you will be 

responsible for your own supply of prescription drugs and any 

other specific medical supplies you require, as the Peace Corps 

will not order these items during training. Please bring a threemonth supply of any prescription drugs you use, since they may 

not be available here and it may take several months for shipments 

to arrive. 

You will have physicals at midservice and at the end of your 

service. If you develop a serious medical problem during your 

service, the medical officer in Mongolia will consult with the 

Office of Medical Services in Washington, D.C. If it is determined 

that your condition cannot be treated in Mongolia, you may be 

sent out of the country for further evaluation and care. 

Maintaining Your Health 

As a Volunteer, you must accept considerable responsibility for 

your own health. Proper precautions will significantly reduce your 

risk of serious illness or injury. The adage ―An ounce of 

prevention ...‖ becomes extremely important in areas where 

diagnostic and treatment facilities are not up to the standards of 

the United States. The most important of your responsibilities in 

Mongolia is to take the following preventive measures: 

Many illnesses that afflict Volunteers worldwide are entirely 

preventable if proper food and water precautions are taken. These 

illnesses include food poisoning, parasitic infections, hepatitis A, 

dysentery, Guinea worms, tapeworms, and typhoid fever. Your 
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36

medical officer will discuss specific standards for water and food 

preparation in Mongolia during pre-service training. 

Abstinence is the only certain choice for preventing infection with 

HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. You are taking risks 

if you choose to be sexually active. To lessen risk, use a condom 

every time you have sex. Whether your partner is a host country 

citizen, a fellow Volunteer, or anyone else, do not assume this 

person is free of HIV/AIDS or other STDs. You will receive more 

information from the medical officer about this important issue. 

Volunteers are expected to adhere to an effective means of birth 

control to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. Your medical officer 

can help you decide on the most appropriate method to suit your 

individual needs. Contraceptive methods are available without 

charge from the medical officer. 

It is critical to your health that you promptly report to the medical 

office or other designated facility for scheduled immunizations, 

and that you let the medical officer know immediately of 

significant illnesses and injuries. 

Women’s Health Information

Pregnancy is treated in the same manner as other Volunteer health 

conditions that require medical attention but also have 

programmatic ramifications. The Peace Corps is responsible for 

determining the medical risk and the availability of appropriate 

medical care if the Volunteer remains in-country. Given the 

circumstances under which Volunteers live and work in Peace 

Corps countries, it is rare that the Peace Corps’ medical and 

programmatic standards for continued service during pregnancy 

can be met. 

If feminine hygiene products are not available for you to purchase 

on the local market, the Peace Corps medical officer in Mongolia 

will provide them. If you require a specific product, please bring a 

three-month supply with you. 
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37

Your Peace Corps Medical Kit 

The Peace Corps medical officer will provide you with a kit that 

contains basic items necessary to prevent and treat illnesses that 

may occur during service. Kit items can be periodically restocked 

at the medical office. 

Medical Kit Contents 

Ace bandages 

Adhesive tape 

American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook

Antacid tablets (Tums) 

Antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymycin B) 

Antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleaner (Hibiclens) 

Band-Aids 

Butterfly closures 

Calamine lotion 

Cepacol lozenges 

Condoms 

Dental floss 

Diphenhydramine HCL 25 mg (Benadryl) 

Insect repellent stick (Cutter’s) 

Iodine tablets (for water purification) 

Lip balm (Chapstick) 

Oral rehydration salts 

Oral thermometer (Fahrenheit) 

Pseudoephedrine HCL 30 mg (Sudafed) 

Robitussin-DM lozenges (for cough) 

Scissors 

Sterile gauze pads 

Tetrahydrozaline eyedrops (Visine) 

Tinactin (antifungal cream) 
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38

Tweezers 

Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist 

If there has been any change in your health—physical, mental, or 

dental—since you submitted your examination reports to the 

Peace Corps, you must immediately notify the Office of Medical 

Services. Failure to disclose new illnesses, injuries, allergies, or 

pregnancy can endanger your health and may jeopardize your 

eligibility to serve. 

If your dental exam was done more than a year ago, or if your 

physical exam is more than two years old, contact the Office of 

Medical Services to find out whether you need to update your 

records. If your dentist or Peace Corps dental consultant has 

recommended that you undergo dental treatment or repair, you 

must complete that work and make sure your dentist sends 

requested confirmation reports or X-rays to the Office of Medical 

Services. 

If you wish to avoid having duplicate vaccinations, contact your 

physician’s office to obtain a copy of your immunization record 

and bring it to your pre-departure orientation. If you have any 

immunizations prior to Peace Corps service, the Peace Corps 

cannot reimburse you for the cost. The Peace Corps will provide 

all the immunizations necessary for your overseas assignment, 

either at your pre-departure orientation or shortly after you arrive 

in Mongolia You do not need to begin taking malaria medication 

prior to departure. 

Bring a three-month supply of any prescription or over-thecounter medication you use on a regular basis, including birth 

control pills. Although the Peace Corps cannot reimburse you for 

this three-month supply, it will order refills during your service. 

While awaiting shipment—which can take several months—you 

will be dependent on your own medication supply. The Peace 

Corps will not pay for herbal or nonprescribed medications, such 
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39

as St. John’s wort, glucosamine, selenium, or antioxidant 

supplements. 

You are encouraged to bring copies of medical prescriptions 

signed by your physician. This is not a requirement, but they 

might come in handy if you are questioned in transit about 

carrying a three-month supply of prescription drugs. 

If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs with you—a pair and a 

spare. If a pair breaks, the Peace Corps will replace them, using 

the information your doctor in the United States provided on the 

eyeglasses form during your examination. The Peace Corps 

discourages you from using contact lenses during your service to 

reduce your risk of developing a serious infection or other eye 

disease. Most Peace Corps countries do not have appropriate 

water and sanitation to support eye care with the use of contact 

lenses. The Peace Corps will not supply or replace contact lenses 

or associated solutions unless an ophthalmologist has 

recommended their use for a specific medical condition and the 

Peace Corps’ Office of Medical Services has given approval. 

If you are eligible for Medicare, are over 50 years of age, or have 

a health condition that may restrict your future participation in 

health care plans, you may wish to consult an insurance specialist 

about unique coverage needs before your departure. The Peace 

Corps will provide all necessary health care from the time you 

leave for your pre-departure orientation until you complete your 

service. When you finish, you will be entitled to the post-service 

health care benefits described in the Peace Corps Volunteer 

Handbook. You may wish to consider keeping an existing health 

plan in effect during your service if you think age or pre-existing 

conditions might prevent you from re-enrolling in your current 

plan when you return home. 
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40

Safety and Security—Our Partnership 

Serving as a Volunteer overseas entails certain safety and security 

risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar environment, a limited 

understanding of the local language and culture, and the 

perception of being a wealthy American are some of the factors 

that can put a Volunteer at risk. Property theft and burglaries are 

not uncommon. Incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur, 

although almost all Volunteers complete their two years of service 

without serious personal safety problems. 

Beyond knowing that Peace Corps approaches safety and security 

as a partnership with you, it might be helpful to see how this 

partnership works. Peace Corps has policies, procedures, and 

training in place to promote your safety. We depend on you to 

follow those policies and to put into practice what you have 

learned. An example of how this works in practice—in this case to 

help manage the risk of burglary—is: 

 Peace Corps assesses the security environment where 

you will live and work 

 Peace Corps inspects the house/apartment or ger where 

you will live according to established security criteria 

 Peace Corp provides you with resources to take 

measures such as installing new locks 

 Peace Corps ensures you are welcomed by host country 

authorities in your new community 

 Peace Corps responds to security concerns that you 

raise 

 You lock your doors and windows 

 You adopt a lifestyle appropriate to the community 

where you live 

 You get to know neighbors 

 You decide if purchasing personal articles insurance is 

appropriate for you 

 You don’t change residences before being authorized 

by Peace Corps 
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41

 You communicate concerns that you have to Peace 

Corps staff

This Welcome Book contains sections on: Living Conditions and 

Volunteer Lifestyle; Peace Corps Training; and Your Health Care 

and Safety that all include important safety and security 

information to help you understand this partnership. The Peace 

Corps makes every effort to give Volunteers the tools they need to 

function in the safest way possible, because working to maximize 

the safety and security of Volunteers is our highest priority. Not 

only do we provide you with training and tools to prepare for the 

unexpected, but we teach you to identify, reduce, and manage the 

risks you may encounter. 

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk 

There are several factors that can heighten a Volunteer’s risk, 

many of which are within the Volunteer’s control. By far the most 

common crime that Volunteers experience is theft. Thefts often 

occur when Volunteers are away from their sites, in crowded 

locations (such as markets or on public transportation), and when 

leaving items unattended. 

Before you depart for Mongolia there are several measures you 

can take to reduce your risk: 

Leave valuable objects in U.S. 

Leave copies of important documents and account numbers 

with someone you trust in the U.S. 

Purchase a hidden money pouch or "dummy" wallet as a 

decoy 

Purchase personal articles insurance 

After you arrive in Mongolia, you will receive more detailed 

information about common crimes, factors that contribute to 
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42

Volunteer risk, and local strategies to reduce that risk. For 

example, Volunteers in Mongolia learn to: 

Choose safe routes and times for travel, and travel with 

someone trusted by the community whenever possible 

Make sure one’s personal appearance is respectful of local 

customs 

Avoid high-crime areas 

Know the local language to get help in an emergency

Make friends with local people who are respected in the 

community 

Limit alcohol consumption 

As you can see from this list, you must be willing to work hard 

and adapt your lifestyle to minimize the potential for being a 

target for crime. As with anywhere in the world, crime does exist 

in Mongolia. You can reduce your risk by avoiding situations that 

place you at risk and by taking precautions. Crime at the village or 

town level is less frequent than in the large cities; people know 

each other and generally are less likely to steal from their 

neighbors. Tourist attractions in large towns are favorite worksites 

for pickpockets. 

The following are other security concerns in Mongolia of which 

you should be aware: 

Overall, crime in Mongolia is low. Theft and robbery remain the 

dominant crimes in the capital and provincial cities (aimag

centers). As tourism grows, so does theft from tourists. Busy areas 

such as open markets, train stations, and public buses are the most 

common areas for theft. Robbery happens mostly at night on 

desolate, dark streets both in the capital and provincial centers. 

Livestock theft remains the dominant crime in the countryside. 
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43

Most criminal incidents against Volunteers are crimes of property, 

including theft, burglary, and to a lesser extent, robbery. Physical 

and sexual assaults have occured, but thus far have been rare. The 

majority of these crimes occur in Ulaanbaatar, the capital. While 

harrassment is a concern, it seldom leads to an actual crime as 

long as the Volunteer manages the situation based on his or her 

training. 

Volunteers tend to attract a lot of attention both in large cities and 

at their sites, but they are more likely to receive negative attention 

in highly populated centers, and away from their support network 

—friends and colleagues—who look out for them. While stares 

and basic English greetings from children may be fairly common 

on the street, this behavior is simply an expression of the curiosity 

of Mongolians toward foreigners and their desire to practice their 

English. 

Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime

You must be prepared to take on a large degree of responsibility 

for your own safety. You can make yourself less of a target, 

ensure that your home is secure, and develop relationships in your 

community that will make you an unlikely victim of crime. While 

the factors that contribute to your risk in Mongolia may be 

different, in many ways you can do what you would do if you 

moved to a new city anywhere: Be cautious, check things out, ask 

questions, learn about your neighborhood, know where the more 

risky locations are, use common sense, and be aware. You can 

reduce your vulnerability to crime by integrating into your 

community, learning the local language, acting responsibly, and 

abiding by Peace Corps policies and procedures. Serving safely 

and effectively in Mongolia will require that you accept some 

restrictions on your current lifestyle. 
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44

Support from Staff 

If a trainee or Volunteer is the victim of a safety incident, Peace 

Corps staff is prepared to provide support. All Peace Corps posts 

have procedures in place to respond to incidents of crime 

committed against Volunteers. The first priority for all posts in the 

aftermath of an incident is to ensure the Volunteer is safe and 

receiving medical treatment as needed. After assuring the safety of 

the Volunteer, Peace Corps staff response may include reassessing 

the Volunteer’s worksite and housing arrangements and making 

any adjustments, as needed. In some cases, the nature of the 

incident may necessitate a site or housing transfer. Peace Corps 

staff will also assist Volunteers with preserving their rights to 

pursue legal sanctions against the perpetrators of the crime. It is 

very important that Volunteers report incidents as they occur, not 

only to protect their peer Volunteers, but also to preserve the 

future right to prosecute. Should Volunteers decide later in the 

process that they want to proceed with the prosecution of their 

assailant, this option may no longer exist if the evidence of the 

event has not been preserved at the time of the incident. 

Crime Data for Mongolia 
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45

Few Peace Corps Volunteers are victims of serious crimes and 

crimes that do occur overseas are investigated and prosecuted by 

local authorities through the local courts system. If you are the 

victim of a crime, you will decide if you wish to pursue 

prosecution. If you decide to prosecute, Peace Corps will be there 

to assist you. One of our tasks is to ensure you are fully informed 

of your options and understand how the local legal process works. 

Peace Corps will help you ensure your rights are protected to the 

fullest extent possible under the laws of the country. 

If you are the victim of a serious crime, you will learn how to get 

to a safe location as quickly as possible and contact your Peace 

Corps office. It’s important that you notify Peace Corps as soon as 

you can so Peace Corps can provide you with the help you need. 

Volunteer Safety Support in Mongolia 

The Peace Corps’ approach to safety is a five-pronged plan to help 

you stay safe during your service and includes the following: 

information sharing, Volunteer training, site selection criteria, a 

detailed emergency action plan, and protocols for addressing 
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46

safety and security incidents. Mongolia’s in-country safety 

program is outlined below. 

The Peace Corps/Mongolia office will keep you informed of any 

issues that may impact Volunteer safety through information 

sharing. Regular updates will be provided in Volunteer 

newsletters and in memorandums from the country director. In the 

event of a critical situation or emergency, you will be contacted 

through the emergency communication network. An important 

component of the capacity of Peace Corps to keep you informed is 

your buy-in to the partnership concept with the Peace Corps staff. 

It is expected that you will do your part in ensuring that Peace 

Corps staff members are kept apprised of your movements incountry so they are able to inform you. 

Volunteer training will include sessions on specific safety and 

security issues in Mongolia. This training will prepare you to 

adopt a culturally appropriate lifestyle and exercise judgment that 

promotes safety and reduces risk in your home, at work, and while 

traveling. Safety training is offered throughout service and is 

integrated into the language, cross-cultural aspects, health, and 

other components of training. You will be expected to 

successfully complete all training competencies in a variety of 

areas, including safety and security, as a condition of service. 

Certain site selection criteria are used to determine safe housing 

for Volunteers before their arrival. The Peace Corps staff works 

closely with host communities and counterpart agencies to help 

prepare them for a Volunteer’s arrival and to establish 

expectations of their respective roles in supporting the Volunteer. 

Each site is inspected before the Volunteer’s arrival to ensure 

placement in appropriate, safe, and secure housing and worksites. 

Site selection is based, in part, on any relevant site history; access 

to medical, banking, postal, and other essential services; 

availability of communications, transportation, and markets; 

different housing options and living arrangements; and other 

Volunteer support needs. 
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47

You will also learn about Peace Corps/Mongolia’s detailed 

emergency action plan, which is implemented in the event of 

civil or political unrest or a natural disaster. When you arrive at 

your site, you will complete and submit a site locator form with 

your address, contact information, and a map to your house. If 

there is a security threat, you will gather with other Volunteers in 

Mongolia at predetermined locations until the situation is resolved 

or the Peace Corps decides to evacuate. 

Finally, in order for the Peace Corps to be fully responsive to the 

needs of Volunteers, it is imperative that Volunteers immediately 

report any security incident to the Peace Corps office. The Peace 

Corps has established protocols for addressing safety and 

security incidents in a timely and appropriate manner, and it 

collects and evaluates safety and security data to track trends and 

develop strategies to minimize risks to future Volunteers. 

DIVERSITY AND 

CROSS-CULTURAL ISSUES 

In fulfilling its mandate to share the face of America with host 

countries, the Peace Corps is making special efforts to assure that 

all of America’s richness is reflected in the Volunteer corps. More 

Americans of color are serving in today’s Peace Corps than at any 

time in recent history. Differences in race, ethnic background, age, 

religion, and sexual orientation are expected and welcomed among 

our Volunteers. Part of the Peace Corps’ mission is to help dispel 

any notion that Americans are all of one origin or race and to 

establish that each of us is as thoroughly American as the other 

despite our many differences. 

Our diversity helps us accomplish that goal. In other ways, 

however, it poses challenges. In Mongolia, as in other Peace 

Corps host countries, Volunteers’ behavior, lifestyle, background, 

and beliefs are judged in a cultural context very different from 

their own. Certain personal perspectives or characteristics 
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48

commonly accepted in the United States may be quite uncommon, 

unacceptable, or even repressed in Mongolia 

Outside of Mongolia’s capital, residents of rural communities 

have had relatively little direct exposure to other cultures, races, 

religions, and lifestyles. What people view as typical American 

behavior or norms may be a misconception, such as the belief that 

all Americans are rich and have blond hair and blue eyes. The 

people of Mongolia are justly known for their generous hospitality 

to foreigners; however, members of the community in which you 

will live may display a range of reactions to cultural differences 

that you present. 

To ease the transition and adapt to life in Mongolia, you may need 

to make some temporary, yet fundamental compromises in how 

you present yourself as an American and as an individual. For 

example, female trainees and Volunteers may not be able to 

exercise the independence available to them in the United States; 

political discussions need to be handled with great care; and some 

of your personal beliefs may best remain undisclosed. You will 

need to develop techniques and personal strategies for coping with 

these and other limitations. The Peace Corps staff will lead 

diversity and sensitivity discussions during pre-service training 

and will be on call to provide support, but the challenge ultimately 

will be your own. 

Overview of Diversity in Mongolia 

The Peace Corps staff in Mongolia recognizes the adjustment 

issues that come with diversity and will endeavor to provide 

support and guidance. During pre-service training, several 

sessions will be held to discuss diversity and coping mechanisms. 

We look forward to having male and female Volunteers from a 

variety of races, ethnic groups, ages, religions, and sexual 

orientations, and hope that you will become part of a diverse 

group of Americans who take pride in supporting one another and 

demonstrating the richness of American culture. 
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49

What Might a Volunteer Face? 

Possible Issues for Female Volunteers

A single woman living alone is against the cultural norm in 

Mongolia, and you may be asked often about why you are not 

married or why you are serving alone when your family is living 

in the United States. You may receive more unwanted and 

inappropriate attention from Mongolian men than what you are 

used to in the United States. Therefore, you may need to keep a 

low social profile and practice discretion in public. You may have 

to work harder than male Volunteers to gain the respect of host 

country colleagues in the workplace. 

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color 

Volunteers of color in Mongolia often express frustration and 

annoyance at being asked where they are from. When they 

answer, for example, ―African American,‖ ―Asian American,‖ or

―Mexican American,‖ some Mongolians react with surprise, 

suspicion, or disbelief. Chinese Americans may be regarded with 

suspicion because of Mongolians’ historically-based mistrust of 

China. Americans of Korean or Japanese descent may be mistaken 

for Chinese. You may feel isolated within your Volunteer group if 

there are no other Volunteers of the same ethnicity. Mongolians 

may call you by the names of famous people of color, such as 

Michael Jordan for African Americans or Jennifer Lopez for Latin 

Americans. 

Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers

Respect comes with age in Mongolia. Younger Volunteers may 

have to work harder than their older colleagues at being accepted 

as professionals. On the other hand, older Volunteers may feel 

isolated within the Peace Corps community, as the majority of 

Volunteers are in their 20s. They may work or live with 

individuals who have little understanding of or respect for the 

lives and experiences of senior citizens and therefore cannot 
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50

provide needed personal support. Senior Volunteers may find that 

younger Volunteers look to them for advice and support. While 

some seniors find this a very enjoyable experience, others choose 

not to fill this role. Older trainees sometimes encounter a lack of 

attention to their needs for a particular learning environment, 

including timing and method of presentation. You may need to be 

assertive in developing an effective, individual approach to 

language learning. 

Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual 

Volunteers

Sexual mores in Mongolia are conservative, and Volunteers are 

expected to respect them. Many Mongolians believe that gay and 

lesbian relationships are wrong or that such relationships do not 

exist in their country. Some gay and lesbian Volunteers who have 

served in Mongolia report that they were not able to be open about 

their sexual orientation. Those who are open may be hassled in 

public places or in the workplace. You may serve for two years 

without meeting other gay, lesbian, or bisexual Volunteers and 

may sense a lack of support and understanding among your 

Volunteer group. Men may encounter machismo and be expected 

to join in talk of sexual conquests and dirty jokes. 

In the past, gay and lesbian Volunteers have formed their own 

support group. You might find some helpful information at 

www.geocities.com/~lgbrpcv/, a website affiliated with the 

National Peace Corps Association. 

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers 

Propaganda or teaching about any religion other than Buddhism, 

Islam, and shamanism by foreign residents is prohibited in 

Mongolia outside the monasteries and churches of the respective 

religions. Volunteers who openly proselytize for a particular 

religion are in direct violation of Peace Corps policy. More 

confusing and difficult to deal with, however, are the seemingly 
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51

innocent things many Americans do, such as discussing major 

religious holidays like Easter and Christmas, which could be 

misconstrued by people who are sensitive about missionary 

activities. Volunteers who are not clear as to what constitutes 

religious proselytizing should consult with the country director. 

You are, of course, free to exercise or express your personal 

religious beliefs in a way that does not impair your effectiveness 

as a Volunteer. Peace Corps/Mongolia interprets this to mean that 

you should not engage in any religious activity while at work. 

Possible Issues for Volunteers with

Disabilities

As part of the medical clearance process, the Peace Corps Office 

of Medical Services determined that you were physically and 

emotionally capable, with or without reasonable accommodations, 

to perform a full tour of Volunteer service in Mongolia without 

unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or interruption of service. 

The Peace Corps/Mongolia staff will work with disabled 

Volunteers to make reasonable accommodations for them in 

training, housing, jobsites, or other areas to enable them to serve 

safely and effectively. 

However, as a disabled Volunteer in Mongolia, you may find that 

you face a special set of challenges. In Mongolia, as in other parts 

of the world, some people may hold prejudices against individuals 

with disabilities and may discriminate against them. Also, there is 

very little of the infrastructure to accommodate individuals with 

disabilities that has been developed in the United States. 
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Possible Issues for Married Volunteers

In general, married Volunteers serving in Mongolia have fewer 

problems because they are able to support each other with cultural, 

lifestyle, and professional difficulties. However, a major challenge 

that married Volunteers face is in learning the local language. 

Because they can interact with each other and don’t rely as much 

on Mongolians for socialization, they tend to practice their 

language less and, thus, may learn it more slowly.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

How much luggage am I allowed to bring to 

Mongolia?

Most airlines have baggage size and weight limits and assess 

charges for transport of baggage that exceeds those limits. The 

Peace Corps has its own size and weight limits and will not pay 

the cost of transport for baggage that exceeds these limits. The 

Peace Corps’ allowance is two checked pieces of luggage with 

combined dimensions of both pieces not to exceed 107 inches 

(length + width + height) and a carry-on bag with dimensions of 

no more than 45 inches. Checked baggage should not exceed 100 

pounds total with a maximum weight of 50 pounds for any one 

bag. 

Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to take pets, weapons, 

explosives, radio transmitters (shortwave radios are permitted), 

automobiles, or motorcycles to their overseas assignments. Do not 

pack flammable materials or liquids such as lighter fluid, cleaning 

solvents, hair spray, or aerosol containers. This is an important 

safety precaution. 

What is the electric current in 

Mongolia?

It is 220-240 volts, 50 cycles. Outlets take European-style 

round pin plugs and, as a general rule, are not grounded. 

Most laptops auto-convert, but you should check the electrical 

info tags on the equipment you will bring. You may consider 

bringing a voltage converter (although you can buy them here) as 

well as a battery charger/adapter and several rechargeable 

batteries for flashlights and other battery-operated equipment. 

Candles are a necessity and are available locally. 
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How much money should I bring?

Volunteers are expected to live at the same level as the people in 

their community. You will be given a settling-in allowance and a 

monthly living allowance, which should cover your expenses. 

Volunteers often wish to bring additional money for vacation 

travel to other countries. Credit cards and traveler’s checks are 

preferable to cash. If you choose to bring extra money, bring the 

amount that will suit your own travel plans and needs. 

When can I take vacation and have people visit 

me?

Each Volunteer accrues two vacation days per month of service 

(excluding training). Leave may not be taken during training, the 

first three months of service, or the last three months of service, 

except in conjunction with an authorized emergency leave. Family 

and friends are welcome to visit you after pre-service training and 

the first three months of service as long as their stay does not 

interfere with your work. Extended stays at your site are not 

encouraged and may require permission from your country 

director. The Peace Corps is not able to provide your visitors with 

visa, medical, or travel assistance. 

Will my belongings be covered by insurance?

The Peace Corps does not provide insurance coverage for personal 

effects; Volunteers are ultimately responsible for the safekeeping 

of their personal belongings. However, you can purchase personal 

property insurance before you leave. If you wish, you may contact 

your own insurance company; additionally, insurance application 

forms will be provided, and we encourage you to consider them 

carefully. Volunteers should not ship or take valuable items 

overseas. Jewelry, watches, radios, cameras, and expensive 

appliances are subject to loss, theft, and breakage, and in many 

places, satisfactory maintenance and repair services are not 

available. 
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Do I need an international driver’s license?

Volunteers in Mongolia do not need an international driver’s 

license because they are prohibited from operating privately 

owned motorized vehicles. Most urban travel is by bus or taxi. 

Rural travel ranges from buses and minibuses to trucks, bicycles, 

and lots of walking. On very rare occasions, a Volunteer may be 

asked to drive a sponsor’s vehicle, but this can occur only with 

prior written permission from the country director. Should this 

occur, the Volunteer may obtain a local driver’s license. A U.S. 

driver’s license will facilitate the process, so bring it with you just 

in case. 

What should I bring as gifts for Country X 

friends and my host family?

This is not a requirement. A token of friendship is sufficient. 

Some gift suggestions include knickknacks for the house; pictures, 

books, or calendars of American scenes; souvenirs from your area; 

hard candies that will not melt or spoil; or photos to give away. 

Where will my site assignment be when I finish 

training and how isolated will I be?

Peace Corps trainees are not assigned to individual sites until after 

they have completed pre-service training. This gives Peace Corps 

staff the opportunity to assess each trainee’s technical and 

language skills prior to assigning sites, in addition to finalizing 

site selections with their ministry counterparts. If feasible, you 

may have the opportunity to provide input on your site 

preferences, including geographical location, distance from other 

Volunteers, and living conditions. However, keep in mind that 

many factors influence the site selection process and that the 

Peace Corps cannot guarantee placement where you would ideally 

like to be. 

Most Volunteers will live in aimag centers (provincial centers of 

10,000 to 20,000 people) or soums (provincial villages of 1,000 to 

10,000), and will generally be one to three hours from the nearest 
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56

fellow Volunteer. Some sites are as far as a 10- to 30-hour drive 

from the capital. 

How can my family contact me in an emergency?

The Peace Corps’ Office of Special Services provides assistance 

in handling emergencies affecting trainees and Volunteers or their 

families. Before leaving the United States, instruct your family to 

notify the Office of Special Services immediately if an emergency 

arises, such as a serious illness or death of a family member. 

During normal business hours, the number for the Office of 

Special Services is 800.424.8580; select option 2, then extension 

1470. After normal business hours and on weekends and holidays, 

the Special Services duty officer can be reached at the above 

number. For non-emergency questions, your family can get 

information from your country desk staff at the Peace Corps by 

calling 800.424.8580. 

Can I call home from Mongolia? 

Yes, while international calls can be more involved in the smaller 

towns, the larger towns have international phone cards that can be 

purchased. Some Volunteers use Skype from their local Internet 

cafe, but the service can be inconsistent and slow. It is currently 

possible to SMS (text) to the U.S. from cellphones and many 

Volunteers use this system to arrange to have their family call 

them at their host family’s residence, at their work agency after 

work hours, or the local public phone located at the post office. 

Should I bring a cellular phone with me?

You do not need to bring a cell phone to Mongolia as Peace Corps 

will provide you with a cell phone upon completing pre-service 

training. Also, Mongolia uses certain cellular systems that are not 

always compatible with U.S. cell phones so your phone simply 

may not work here. If it is expensive it becomes just another item 

that may be lost, stolen, or broken. 
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Will there be email and Internet access?

The larger cities and towns have Internet access and even some of 

the smaller towns have gotten Internet through local banks. 

However, while Mongolia hopes to equip every town with Internet 

in the near future, many Volunteers do not yet have Internet at 

their sites. They may access Internet once a month or so during 

supply trips to a local large town/city. 

 

Should I bring my computer?

We encourage invitees to bring their laptop as more and more 

towns get Internet access. Even if your site doesn’t have Internet, 

a computer will still be useful to you in doing work for your 

agency, which may have old, very limited, or no computers; 

completing Peace Corps reports and articles; writing personal 

letters that you can quickly send via email once connected to 

Internet; sharing and listening to music; sharing photos; etc. 

How do Volunteers deal with the pressure to 

drink on social occasions? 

Some Volunteers choose not to drink and occasionally may have 

to put up with disapproval from Mongolians as a result. Some 

choose to drink only beer or wine, and others take just a sip or put 

a little on the tips of their fingers and do a ceremonial offering 

(you will learn more about this during training). Mongolians are 

usually respectful of these efforts and do not expect you to drink 

more. It is ultimately up to you to decide how to handle alcohol 

responsibly. 

Are the heating systems as poor as some have 

said? 

Yes, some are. Many Volunteers report being able to see their 

breath when teaching at schools in winter. Housing may not have 

good heating, either. Some solutions are to wear layers, to become 
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58

cozy with your Peace Corps-issued space heater, and to become a 

competent fire builder. 

My friends and family keep telling me to pack 

toilet paper—is this necessary? 

No. While most of the toilet paper in Mongolia is not quilted or 

soft, you do not need to pack any—all the toilet paper you need 

can be bought locally. You can even find wet wipes. 
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WELCOME LETTERS FROM 

MONGOLIA VOLUNTEERS 

Dear Peace Corps Invitee, 

Congratulations on your invitation to Mongolia! I think you (and 

I) are very lucky to have the opportunity to serve in Mongolia—

it's a beautiful country with an amazing culture and people. I am 

thrilled I ended up there, and I hope you'll feel the same way. 

I think most potential Mongolia PCVs have similar concerns: the 

weather, the language, and the food. Yes, the winter is very cold, 

the language is hard, and the food lacks the variety and flavors 

that we’re used to in the U.S. Zugeer (don’t worry)! I spent a lot 

of time worrying for nothing. These are all problems that you can 

deal with, and more easily than you’d imagine. With so many 

huge unknowns, it can seem overwhelming. Easier said than done, 

I know, but I suggest you take it one day at a time and trust that 

you will figure it out when the time comes. 

These days, you can buy just about any spices or American food 

you’re craving in the capital, and many of us develop impressive 

cooking skills while here. You’ll get plenty of language training, 

and our Mongolian friends teach how to dress so that we’re 

sweating in minus-40 winter weather. Trust me, it’s not a 

problem! 

It’s so hard to picture life in Mongolia. I knew almost nothing 

about the country before I got my invitation. A lot of the 

information you get on the Internet or in books and movies can be 

hard to put into perspective. In my experience writing to my 

friends and family, it’s just about impossible to describe Mongolia 

and life here, since it’s so out of context for Americans. So, try to 

avoid any expectations or ideas of what you think it will be (again, 

easier said than done!). If you come here with patience and an 
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open mind, you’ll be able to discover the wonders of Mongolia for 

yourself. 

Mongolia is a huge country with incredible scenery and nature, 

and living conditions vary a lot depending on your site. Mongolia 

is, of course, home to the famous Govi Desert, but there are also 

mountainous lake and forest regions, and huge expanses of open 

steppe. You could be placed in the capital city, a mid-sized 

provincial center, or a small town. You might live in a ger, a small 

house, or an apartment. Some of us have running water and 

showers, and others go to the local well and bathe in a bucket. 

Some PCVs are the only foreigner in the small town, and others 

live in bigger sites with several sitemates. I was an English teacher 

in a provincial center (Arvaikheer, Uvurhangai) with other PCVs, 

and I lived in an apartment and then a ger. It was nice to have the 

running water and convenience of my apartment, but I loved my 

ger just as much. Getting water from the well is a pain and living 

in a ger is a lot of work, but chopping wood is a great stress 

reliever, and I liked the coziness of making a fire in my ger. Every 

site is different, and they all have their pros and cons. 

The best thing about Mongolia is the people. Time and time again, 

I’ve been overwhelmed by the hospitality and generosity of 

Mongolians. I’ve felt so welcome and appreciated during my time 

as a Volunteer here, and I’ve made friends that I’m sure I’ll keep 

forever. 

Again, congratulations on your invitation to Mongolia! Enjoy 

your time in the U.S. with your friends and family, and get ready 

for an incredible experience as a PCV in Mongolia. Good luck and 

bayartai (goodbye)! 

— Maureen Scanlin, TEFL – 2006-8 
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Hey New Mongolian PCV Invitee! 

Congratulations on receiving this invitation to serve in the Peace 

Corps! You should be ready to experience an incredible adventure 

in an amazing country. I could not be more excited for you and the 

amazing time ahead of you! 

You are bringing a unique perspective to your service and your 

adventures in this country will be unique as well. Mongolian 

PCVs live in houses, apartments, and gers, next to huge lakes, vast 

deserts, and open steppe, and in tiny villages, growing towns, and 

huge cities. Every Volunteer experience here is different, but also 

the same; serving in Mongolia is more incredible than you could 

ever imagine. 

I know a lot of your questions right now revolve around winter 

coats, speaking a new language, eating different foods, and 

adjusting to a new culture, but after a few months you will look 

back, smile, and know that was the easy part. Here's the hard part: 

ask yourself who you want to become and realize that serving as a 

Peace Corps Volunteer in Mongolia will give you the space, the 

time, and the environment to become the kind of person you have 

always wanted to be. I promise you, the ways you will grow 

during your service will absolutely amaze you. 

Think about some of the amazing goals you have always wanted 

to achieve and know that you can accomplish them here. Living in 

this country with your new Mongolian neighbors, co-workers, 

friends, and fellow Volunteers will positively change your life 

forever. Be patient, flexible, and open to experiencing tons of new 

things. The Peace Corps is one of the best places to be the change 

you wish to see in the world; it's one of the greatest jobs you will 

ever have and you get to write the job description. Get ready to 

have an incredible time. 

— Travis Hellstrom, TEFL – 2008-11 
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Dear Peace Corps Invitee, 

Welcome to the program! Let’s get one thing out of the way: 

Stop worrying about the winter. Let me put it the way a current 

Volunteer put it to me: Mongolians have been living in Mongolia 

for hundreds of years and they know how to keep warm. They’ll 

help you with whatever you need when you get here. 

Next, with the time you’ve saved by not stressing about buying 

the hugest coat you can find, spend time with friends and family 

and eat all of your favorite foods before you leave the U.S. By two 

months into training, if you’re anything like me, you’d give your 

left arm for some hot peppers or an avocado. Mongolian food is 

what the book says it is: mutton, fat, flour, and a few shavings of 

vegetables like cabbage and carrots. You’ll adjust though, just 

remember to bring some spices or have them sent from the States 

after you get here. 

I wish I could tell you about what it’s like to be in a ger or a 

wooden house there, but I was a city Volunteer. My placement 

was in the capital, Ulaanbaatar. This means I was in a nice 

overheated apartment with hot running water. Countryside 

Volunteers dropped by on the weekends to shower and stock up 

on peanut butter and hot sauce. I lived on the edge of town, so 

transportation was my big adventure. Squeezing my six-foot body 

into a minivan with 19 people in it day after day gave me a new 

appreciation for the half-empty city buses of the U.S. 

No matter what, you’ll get a little bit of the countryside experience 

during pre-service training when you live with a Mongolian host 

family. My family saw me as one of their own from day one and I 

got in touch with them every week, more than I did with my real 

parents. Amid the reminders to wear warm clothes in the winter 

and to text message them before I went on vacation so they didn’t 

worry when they couldn’t reach me, I felt their love. One summer, 

my host brother and sister came to visit me in Ulaanbaatar, and I 
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got to return their hospitality, playing hostess to their first trip to 

the capital city. 

On a final note, you may have heard this before, but the fewer 

expectations you have about Mongolia, the easier it will be to 

adjust here. If you have some concrete picture of exactly what you 

want it to be, it will be hard to realize your vision and you may 

end up disappointed. Just try to be open minded and ready for 

anything. 

Good luck! 

Cheers, 

— Sunaree Marshall, CYD – 2006-8 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
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PACKING LIST 

This list has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Mongolia 

and is based on their experience. Use it as an informal guide in 

making your own list, bearing in mind that each experience is 

individual. There is no perfect list! You obviously cannot bring 

everything on the list, so consider those items that make the most 

sense to you personally and professionally. You can always have 

things sent to you later. As you decide what to bring, keep in mind 

that you have a 100-pound weight limit on baggage. And 

remember, you can get almost everything you need in Mongolia. 

General Clothing

Note: Many Volunteers suggest packing very light. Basic clothing 

and toiletries can be bought here. Save room in your suitcase for 

music, pictures from home, games, and things that will make a big 

difference while being away from home for two years. Specialty 

items like quality long underwear and gloves make good sense to 

bring from home, but heavy jackets can be bought here for under 

$30. Also, pack a separate bag of winter things or things you 

won’t need during the 11 weeks of summer training. This bag will 

be stored at the Peace Corps office and you won’t have access to it 

during summer training. 

• One pair (tops and bottoms) of mid-weight long underwear (it is 

strongly recomended that you purchase these before coming to 

Mongolia) 

• One pair (tops and bottoms) of heavy-weight long underwear (it 

is essential that you purchase these before coming to Mongolia) 

• Winter coat or parka (available in Mongolia) 

• Fall and spring coat or parka (available in Mongolia) 

• Gloves or mittens (available in Mongolia, but if you have big 

hands, get some in the U.S.) 

• Scarf (available in Mongolia) 

• Stocking cap (available in Mongolia) 

• A few (3-4) pairs of wool socks (available in Mongolia) 

• A few (3-4) pairs of cotton socks (available in Mongolia) 
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• Sun hats (available in Mongolia) 

• Two to three ―professional‖ shirts to work in, including one for 

summer (available in Mongolia) 

• Two to three pairs of nice pants for work, one light (available in 

Mongolia) 

• One to two pullover sweaters (available in Mongolia) 

• Two pairs of jeans (available in Mongolia, unless you are very 

tall) 

• Five to six of your favorite T-shirts 

• Sweatpants and sweatshirt (available in Mongolia) 

• Two pairs of shorts (essential for summer and playing sports) 

• One formal piece of clothing, such as a suit for males and a dress 

for women (available in Mongolia) 

Note: It is very difficult for tall men and women to find clothing 

that fits them here. Peace Corps recommends purchasing these 

items while in the U.S. if you are over 6 feet tall. 

For Women 

• Bras and underwear (larger sizes are difficult to find and the 

quality may be lacking) 

• Bathing suit 

For Men 

• Underwear (the quality of local underwear may be lacking) 

• Swim trunks 

Shoes

• Winter boots (available here) 

• Hiking boots (not necessary, but the hiking is great here) 

• Sneakers (especially if you like basketball or volleyball since 

there are plenty of opportunities to play these here) 

• Sandals (outdoor flip-flops are not available in Mongolia) 
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• Dress shoes 

Note: Men’s shoes larger than size 10 and women’s shoes larger 

than size 8 are difficult to find in Mongolia. 

Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items 

• Towel (you can find low-quality towels in Mongolia) 

Note: Many products are available in Mongolia (e.g., Nivea hand 

cream, Pantene shampoo, Colgate toothpaste, nail polish, and 

ALL kinds of cosmetics), but if you are, for instance, a Clinique 

or Body Shop junkie, bring your own or have them sent. 

Kitchen 

• Leatherman or Swiss Army Knife 

• Sturdy water bottle(s) (e.g., Nalgene) 

• Plastic storage bags 

**A Volunteer-compiled cookbook will be given to you at the end 

of pre-service training 

Miscellaneous

• A small photo album of family and friends (a must-bring item) 

• 220-volt converter (essential if you bring American appliances) 

• Rechargeable batteries 

• Camera* 

• Flashlight* 

• American board and card games 

• Music* 

• Solar shower 

• Duct tape (highly recommended) 

• Camping gear (if you like to camp)* 

• Fishing gear (if you like to fish)* 

• Backpack (useful for traveling in-country) 

• Reading materials (much cheaper if sent using a postal M-bag; 

also, the Peace Corps has an extensive library) 
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• MP3 or iPod player 

• Flash disk or thumb drive 

*Available in the capital 

Care Package items

These are good things for your friends and family to send you if 

they are looking for useful ideas: 

• Hand and foot warmers (i.e., the charcoal kind that are activated 

when exposed to air) 

• Your favorite magazines (double as English teaching resource 

once read) 

• Children’s books with songs/tapes 

• Portable French press mug (if you like good coffee or loose tea) 

Work Items for English Education 

Volunteers 

Chances are good that your school will not be able to provide you 

with many resources. Below are a few items that cannot be bought 

in-country but would be useful in the classroom. 

• Colored construction paper 

• Catalogs (the pictures are useful when teaching) 

• Children’s books, a picture dictionary, songs on tape, and a book 

about American holidays 

• Erasers for chalkboards 

• Index cards 

Work Items for Health and Community 

and Youth Development Volunteers 

What you need will depend on your experience in your field and 

the specific job you have. It is best to assess your situation when 

you get here and then have items sent from home. 
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PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST 

The following list consists of suggestions for you to consider as 

you prepare to live outside the United States for two years. Not all 

items will be relevant to everyone, and the list does not include 

everything you should make arrangements for. 

Family 

Notify family that they can call the Peace Corps’ Office of 

Special Services at any time if there is a critical illness or 

death of a family member (24-hour telephone number: 

800.424.8580, extension 1470). 

Give the Peace Corps’ On the Home Front handbook to 

family and friends. 

Passport/Travel 

Forward to the Peace Corps travel office all paperwork for the 

Peace Corps passport and visas. 

Verify that your luggage meets the size and weight limits for 

international travel. 

Obtain a personal passport if you plan to travel after your 

service ends. (Your Peace Corps passport will expire three 

months after you finish your service, so if you plan to travel 

longer, you will need a regular passport.) 

Medical/Health 

Complete any needed dental and medical work. 

If you wear glasses, bring two pairs. 

Arrange to bring a three-month supply of all medications 

(including birth control pills) you are currently taking. 
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Insurance 

Make arrangements to maintain life insurance coverage. 

Arrange to maintain supplemental health coverage while you 

are away. (Even though the Peace Corps is responsible for 

your health care during Peace Corps service overseas, it is 

advisable for people who have pre-existing conditions to 

arrange for the continuation of their supplemental health 

coverage. If there is a lapse in coverage, it is often difficult 

and expensive to be reinstated.) 

Arrange to continue Medicare coverage if applicable. 

Personal Papers 

Bring a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce. 

Voting 

Register to vote in the state of your home of record. (Many 

state universities consider voting and payment of state taxes 

as evidence of residence in that state.) 

Obtain a voter registration card and take it with you overseas. 

Arrange to have an absentee ballot forwarded to you overseas. 

Personal Effects 

Purchase personal property insurance to extend from the time 

you leave your home for service overseas until the time you 

complete your service and return to the United States. 

Financial Management 

Keep a bank account in your name in the U.S. 

Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or loan 

service. 
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Execute a Power of Attorney for the management of your 

property and business. 

Arrange for deductions from your readjustment allowance to 

pay alimony, child support, and other debts through the Office 

of Volunteer Financial Operations at 800.424.8580, extension 

1770. 

Place all important papers—mortgages, deeds, stocks, and 

bonds—in a safe deposit box or with an attorney or other 

caretaker. 
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CONTACTING PEACE CORPS 

HEADQUARTERS 

This list of numbers will help connect you with the appropriate 

office at Peace Corps headquarters to answer various questions. 

You can use the toll-free number and extension or dial directly 

using the local numbers provided. Be sure to leave the toll-free 

number and extensions with your family so they can contact 

you in the event of an emergency. 

Peace Corps Headquarters 

Toll-free Number: 1.800.424.8580, Press 2, then 

Ext. # (see below) 

Peace Corps’ Mailing Address: Peace Corps 

Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps 

Headquarters 

1111 20th Street, NW 

Washington, DC 20526 

For Direct/ 

Questions Toll-free Local 

About: Staff Extension Number

Responding to Office of 

an Invitation Placement 

EMA 

Region Ext. 1856 202.692.1856 

Programming or Mongolia Desk Ext. 2416 202.692.2416 

Country Information 
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For Direct/ 

Questions Toll-free Local 

About: Staff Extension Number

Plane Tickets, Travel Officer Ext. 1170 202.692.1170 

Passports, (SATO Travel) 

Visas, or Other 

Travel Matters 

Legal Clearance Office of Ext. 1840 202.692.1840 

Placement 

Medical Clearance Screening Nurse Ext. 1500 202.692.1500 

and Forms Processing 

(including dental) 

Medical Handled by a 

Reimbursements Subcontractor 1.800.818.8772 

Loan Deferments, Volunteer Ext. 1770 202.692.1770 

Taxes, Readjustment Financial 

Allowance Withdrawals, Operations 

Power of Attorney 

Staging (Pre-departure Office of Staging Ext. 1865 202.692.1865 

Orientation) and 

Reporting Instructions 

Note: You will receive 

comprehensive information 

(hotel and flight arrangements) three to five weeks 

before departure. This information is not available 

sooner. 

Family Emergencies Office of Special Ext. 1470 202.692.1470 

(to get information to Services 9–5 EST

a Volunteer overseas)