5 Essential Mongolian words

The following is a list of words I've retained (to date) from my "Talk Now! Mongolian" CD

• Hello
• Water
• Beer
• Yes
• Toothpaste

Once I master: Goodbye, Sorry, Thank You, Toilet, and toothbrush (why not) I think I'll be good to go.

On a side note--I'd like to take a moment to thank the "Talk Now! Mongolian" people for putting out this DVD. I especially appreciate how easily it downloaded off my iPod. I found some of your word choice a bit strange however---maybe in the next edition you can admit some of the following categories.....

• Fruit (I've heard there isn't much of it there--I just can't imagine needing to learn the word raspberry and mango) According to the travel guides, food words I should be learning include, noodles, mutton, yogurt and, if I'm daring, marmot.


• Nautical terms (Your a landlocked country, and only have 2 rivers with ferry's. Do I need to memorize the word, ship or the phrase "Where is the beach?"


• Time I would have preferred more handy phrases to "I fell off my (Horse, Camel, Yak)" to the detailed section on telling time. I understand that knowing 1 o'clock and 4:30 would be helpful---but quarter past and twenty til? Not so much.

The Final Countdown--Part I

As I am writing this post--we are just 9 days away from leaving! I still have odds and ends to buy, but the planning, for the most part is done! The scariest thing at this point is the to do list that seems to be getting longer---not shorter for work. So--I am taking a few moments to focus on the trip and all those above mentioned odds and ends because I am expecting my week to be a work nightmare of last minute things to do.....