Sean is a Communication Major with the University of Maryland College Park, attending classes at the USG campus. I have known Sean through classes since our first semester but only recently found out about his unique nationality.

“My family is originally from the Gobi Desert, but I was born in Ulaanbaatar, the countries capitol” – Sean Tugjnyam, University of Marylad

Read the Caption – Can you guess his country?

If you guessed Mongolia you are correct. Sean, featured top is an original Mongolian, having lived in his birth country for six years before moving to Russia. During our interview, Sean was able to give me the 411 on Mongolian culture, tradition, and food.

My curiosity on Mongolia began this past summer when I watched a riveting documentary about Mongolian nomads. The story was about a crying camel that was soothed through traditional music therapy. As I watched the movie I was fascinated by the untouched landscapes, the clear desert, the mountains covered with snow, and the pale green grassy fields.

Sean recommends traveling to the country side  because the views are simply one of a kind. While exploring Mongolia it is crucial as apart of any vacation to try traditional foods. A typical Mongolian cuisine usually includes a lamb or steak dish, a particularly popular meal is Horhog a dish complete with baked lamb and roasted vegetables that is traditionally cooked in an aluminum can with hot stones.

During my interview with Sean I also learned about Tsaagan Sar, the Mongolian Lunar New year celebrated annually for three to four days in a row. During this holiday natives will hold many horse races. Mongolian horse racing is unique because they stretch across 1000 km through the valleys.

Did you know?

That the official language of Mongolia is in fact Mongolian. The language was derived from Asian influences. However, since the communist revolution in 1921, many natives of Mongola speak Russian which is part of the reason Sean and his family moved to Russia, and why Sean also speaks the language fluently having lived in Russia for 12 years before moving to the U.S.

USG – An International Melting Pot

Here in the DMV area we are used to a variety of different cultures, languages, traditions, and religions. The Universities at the Shady Grove is a prime example of a melting pot of cultures, just take a look at our bloggers. Being  surrounded with so many different cultures among us also provides the USG community with constant learning opportunities and various exposures to different nationalities. I learned a lot about Mongolia in jut a short interview with Sean, and I’m looking forward to learning more about USG’s international students.