Unfortunately, many Mongolians are big vodka drinkers, and this very drunk herder was on his way home from selling cashmere wool and meat in the city. He had been successful in his business, celebrating, and he wanted to teach me the custom of taking the traditional three shots of vodka that new acquaintances must drink. His shots were too big for me, and I only wanted to taste the vodka, not help him finish the bottle. That's when Genghis' blood came into the conversation. I drank the three shots.
Herders are tough people.
They don't wear moon boots. Maybe if I had been born here and lived in a ger all my life I would be tough too. But I wasn't, and I'm not. I can trace no lineage to the man who was once the world's most powerful ruler, but I am blessed. When combined with another sleeping bag of my own and some wool blankets, I am completely protected from the cold that invades my ger every night when the fire goes out.