Faces: People, Places, and Cultures articles from October 2003

Faces: People, Places, and Cultures archives from October 2003

Mystery photo.
October 1, 2003... Do you know what the men in this photo are doing? Read this issue and you will find the answer.

Editor's message.(Editorial)
October 1, 2003... Dear Reader, Many people think of Genghis Khan when they hear the word "Mongolia." But Mongolia is more than its ancient leaders. Mongolia is located in north-central Asia between Russia and China, in a region usually called Inner...

Mongolia.(At a Glance)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Location: Mongolia is located in north-central Asia, a region often called Inner Asia, between China and Russia Terrain: Semidesert and desert, grassy steppes, mountains, and taiga (forests of evergreen trees) Climate: Long, cold...

Mongolia.(Only In ...)
October 1, 2003... Imagine the desert and you might picture miles of sand where the only changes to the landscape are spectacular shapes of piled sand called sand dunes. Although you may think of them as only piles of sand, scientists who study dunes know they...

Modern Mongolia.
October 1, 2003... When you imagine what life is like in Mongolia today, what comes to mind? Do you see men racing horses headlong across an open expanse of grassland? Do you see women milking cattle outside a round tent? If so, you'd be half right. More...

The secret history of Genghis Khan's life and times.
October 1, 2003... Written shortly after Genghis Khan's death in 1227, The Secret History of the Mongols provides an account of his tribal origins and path to building the Mongol empire. This was the ruling family's sacred text for many generations. ...

Mongolia.(Through Time)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... 1162? Temujin, who later becomes Genghis Khan (Chinggis Khan), is born. 1179 Temujin marries Borte. 1183 Temujin succeeds in bringing the diverse and warring Mongol tribes under his control. 1203-1206 The tribal state of Mongolia...

The nomadic lifestyle of the Mongols.
October 1, 2003... Almost half of Mongolia's 2.7 million inhabitants still live nomadic ways of life. They follow their herds, dwell in movable homes, and live their lives in harmony with nature. For the nomads of Mongolia, the horse plays a vital part in the...

A movable house: the Mongolian ger.
October 1, 2003... Can you imagine taking your house apart, piece by piece, and putting it back together again every time you move to a new location? That's just what many families in Mongolia do, as often as three or four times a year. Thirty to 35 percent of...

The Mongolian code of behavior.
October 1, 2003... Mongols are a shy, serious, and often superstitious people. Embarrassment is hidden behind a smile. And although they have difficulty expressing true feelings, when playing a game they can become very excited or even angry. As much of the...

Let the games begin! The naadam festival.
October 1, 2003... Ask any Mongol what the most important national celebration is, and chances are they will tell you that it is the annual naadam (NAA-dam) festival. (Naadam means "game" or "competition" in Mongolian.) Also referred to as "the three manly...

Don't whistle in my ger! Mongolian superstitions.
October 1, 2003... Like most people in the world, Mongolian have--superstitions--they believe certain things are lucky or unlucky. Many times, superstitions can start with common sense--why does it seem like it's unlucky to walk under a ladder? Because the...

Making music in traditional Mongolia.
October 1, 2003... An icy wind is howling around your family ger, sitting in the middle of the Mongolian grasslands. But inside, beside a crackling iron stove, wrapped in wool blankets, and sipping hot milk tea, you're warm. And anyway, your attention is focused...

Eating Mongolian-style.
October 1, 2003... "Saikhan khooloorai!" That's how to say "Enjoy your meal" in Mongolian. Imagine yourself traveling somewhere on the vast Mongolian steppes. You arrive at a traditional Mongolian ger, where you are warmly welcomed into the home and served...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2003... Dear Readers, In our May 2003 issue on Palestinians, we asked you to draw the interior and exterior of a mosque. Mikayla Sweet of Granville, New York sent us her rendition of a Muslim place of worship. Thanks, Mikayla! FACES FACES...

Face facts.
October 1, 2003... The first dinosaur eggs ever discovered were found in the Gobi region in the 1920's by Roy Chapman Andrews, a U.S. naturalist. KEEP LOOKING! I KNOW I LAID THOSE EGGS SOMEWHERE!! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Think about it ...(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Until recently, most of what we knew about the Mongols came from histories and accounts written by their enemies. As a result, the Mongols were depicted as brutal and fierce. The information was often one-sided and inaccurate. Think about...

The legend of the horse-head fiddle.
October 1, 2003... Once upon a time there was a soldier in the Mongolian army named Khokhoo Namjil. He was sent to guard the border in the far west of the country at an outpost high in the mountains. He lived there for many years, working with his soldier...

Dragon Bones and Dinosaur Eggs.(Books)(Book Review)
October 1, 2003... by Ann Bausum You'll think of the landscape of Mongolia differently after reading this book. It is about the life of the remarkable explorer Roy Chapman Andrews, who went to the Gobi Desert in the 1920s looking for man's oldest...

Mongolia.(Books)(Book Review)
October 1, 2003... by Guek-Cheng Pang From the Cultures of the World series, this reference book describes life in Mongolia, from lifestyle, culture, and food to religions, geography, and government. Both ancient culture and contemporary lifestyles are...

Cowboy on the Steppes.(Books)(Book Review)
October 1, 2003... by Song Nan Zhang In 1968, teenager Yi Nan Zhang's life was changed forever when he was forced to leave his home, family, and all that was familiar in Beijing to work in the remote countryside of Inner Mongolia. After an initial shock,...

Mongolia: Vanishing Cultures.(Books)(Book Review)
October 1, 2003... by Jan Reynolds The author, who lived with a family of Mongolian herders for a short time, recognizes that a traditional way of life is changing as roads and buildings replace horses and gers. In this book, which is extraordinarily...

Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire.(Books)(Book Review)
October 1, 2003... by Mirmiam Greenblatt More than simply portraying the life and times of Genghis Khan, this book gives a sharp picture of everyday life in the old days {although there are plenty of facts here, too). Part One includes all you need to know...

Traditional Music.(Audio)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Two 40-second song clips provide a sample of what traditional Mongolian music sounds like. In one, a leading soprano from Ulaanbaatar sings a moving classic; in the other, a male artist performs in the uniquely Mongolian throat-singing style....

Mongolia today.(On-line)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Two Mongolian journalists started this online magazine to explore and share their unique culture. Recently featured articles include pieces on the Naadam Festival, the bright colors of traditional clothes, the story behind Mongolian...

UNICEF.(On-line)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2003... Daily life is not easy for many children in Mongolia, where 37 percent of the population is under 15 and nearly half is under 18. In rural families, many suffer from the effects of the dzud, a combination of heavy snow, low temperatures, and...

One last face.
October 1, 2003... A modern-day Mongolian wears the traditional dress of his ancestors. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Faces[R] from the past.
October 1, 2003... Don't stop now! To find out more about related topics, pick up one of these issues. Growing Up in China FAC9601 An ancient Chinese proverb says, "Children are more precious than jade." Whether they're born in the city or the...