As the democracy movement deepened, it became apparent that Baatar and his wife might lose their jobs. Though in their fifties, they decided to begin herding. Both had been born in the countryside, but had spent their adulthoods in urban jobs. The adjustment was difficult, but it gave them a form of security. Urban poverty is indeed growing, and increasing numbers of abandoned street children live in the sewers during the cold winter months.
Alcoholism is rampant among the desperate and the poor.
One night I returned to my apartment block rather late, and as I carefully made my way to my door, I tripped over a body on my doorstep. It gave a loud groan. Startled, I reached for my flashlight and realized it was my neighbor Tuvshin, completely drunk on the floor. He had dropped his key while trying to open his door and passed out trying to find it, somehow staggering to my door before falling. Domestic violence has also emerged as an important social issue.