Margod the Mongolian*

Written July 10, 2008

As our time in the field wore on, I began to realize that I was missing out on a golden opportunity. 10 Mongolian college students inhabited the camp, too, yet I was just playing cards with the Americans every night. Granted, there is a language barrier. Volleyball games, frisbee, and soccer go easily enough, but any extended conversation can be difficult. I resigned myself to more Euchre and Scrabble.

Until I met Margod, that is. The camp cook brough along two of her nephews to help her. Hashaa is 20, and I quickly learned that his English was no better than any of the Mongolian students. Margod is 16, and I hardly ever even heard him speak around meal times. I (wrongly) assumed that his English was non-existent.

One (cold) day, Margod (or Maggie for short) entered our ger at night and offered to help start a fire, using almost flawless English. An offer like this is not unusual, as all the Mongolians realize that the Americans are generally inept at starting fires in the ger stoves. But Maggie began to talk basketball. When we told him we were from Philly, he immediately mentioned that Allen Iverson was no longer with the 76ers. When I mentioned that I was from Detroit, he rattled off the names Rasheed, Rip, and Tayshaun. When Brian mentioned he was from Wisconsin, Maggie laughed at the dismal Bucks.

Thus started our nightly chats. Since he had to help with meals, he was really only free during sundown. We talked about the internet, basketball, soccer, basketball, poker, basketball, politics, and basketball. His English isn't perfect but with my Mongolian phrase book (thanks Aunt Carolyn!) we were usually able to converse and play cards.

Now that I'm leaving camp, saying "bayertai" (loosely translated to 'good-bye forever') to all my Mongolian friends is strange. But thanks to the internet, I plan to stay in contact with at least one of them. Someone who might know what the Pistons should do with Rasheed...