Ederlezi

Cowboy time!

18 Mar 2014 | Orkhon, Darkhan-Uul, Mongolia

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While my visa is being processed in UB, I spend my time volunteering at Martin's ranch in Orkhon, a little village in the North of the country.
Martin is an interesting character, born German from Cossacks origin, he spent most of his life serving in different armies as a mercenary, and a big part in Australia, before ending up in Mongolia some fourteen years ago where he is now having a ranch with his wife Minjee.
But he seems still being at war, at war with time who is inflicting on his health, at war with the local people who make his life hard, not working the way he wants to (Mongolian are definitely not good workers haha), at war with the harsh winter and this hard Mongolian life which is spending summer preparing winter. No rest for him, he deserves a holiday.

At the ranch there is also Norman, German young man with Mongolian origins, related with Minjee. Turning bad in Germany, he has been sent here by his mum to learn about what is life. He doesn't like it, for him everyone is an ennemy. But still it looks like he is at least growing up and making better ideas about what is important in life.

So I find myself here, the work is mainly about shovelling shit to clean the stable, but still learning a bit about how a ranch work, and how working with Mongolians is. Somehow I feel more comfortable with these kind of people around, whose life is harsh, who are turning crazy, but can then enjoy what is to be enjoyed.