Mongolia officially uses two alphabets 

The old Mongolian script for government documents and Cyrillic for everyday use. The traditional Mongolian script (“old Mongolian script”) dates from 1208 when Genghis Khan defeated the  Turkic tribes living in Central Asia. The script written vertically down the page is still used today with some modifications. But there was a period in the history of Mongolia when the traditional Mongolian script was abolished due to political reasons. In 1946, it was replaced with the Cyrillic script for compatibility with the Soviet Union, Mongolia’s political ally of the time.  Since the Cyrillic alphabet is adapted to the modern dialect of the Mongolian language, it is more popular than the old Mongolian script nowadays. The old script looks very beautiful, but fails to distinguish several vowels and consonants. Its letters can be confusing – the same letter may represent more than one sound and every letter takes on a different form according to its position in the word (initial, medial, and final). After the collapse of socialism in 1990, people in Mongolia regained their consciousness of  tradition and a new movement to restore the Mongolian script arose. In September 1992, education in the old Mongolian script began from the first year of primary school. However, the economic crisis in Mongolia at this time did not allow full reinstatement of the old script and Cyrillic was adopted once more. But in 2010 the Mongolian President, Ts. Elbegdorj, approved an order according to which all government documents are to use the old Mongolian script.

Shake hands!

Unlike many Asians, Mongolians like shaking hands. In most Asian cultures bowing is a common social gesture to greet someone or to show respect and/or gratitude. However, Mongolians associate bowing with being submissive, while standing straight signals, as they believe, honesty, trust and openness.

The only situation when Mongolians typically bow is when they pray in a Buddhist temple, in front of a god statue or a monk. Instead of bowing, handshaking is the most commonly used gesture to meet, greet, part, offer congratulations, express gratitude, or complete an agreement.

Handshakes are also used as a gesture of apology. If you accidentally bump into someone or brush past them, it is very common for the other person to extend his or her hand to you.  This is a motion to apologize and express that it was an accident. So don’t be surprised if you suddenly see a stranger’s hand stretched out towards you – just shake it!

Homes without doorbells

Mongolian homes in rural areas do not have doorbells indicating that they are open for everyone.  A visitor does not have to knock on the door of a ger (a nomadic herder’s small round movable tent or yurt), or wait to be invited in. It is customary that everyone who wants to visit a ger just opens the door and walks in, even if he or she is a complete stranger to that family.

If there is no one at home, the residents will leave the door open with a salty milk tea ready for visitors. In a country where the distances between nomadic families are great, people try to maintain a sense of community by offering  genuine hospitality to each other and to strangers. Generosity, warmth, helpfulness and attentiveness to others are qualities deeply rooted in the nomadic lifestyle to ensure that everyone can rely on others for assistance.

This way of hospitality is also an important way to communicate and learn the latest news within the community. The host will customarily ask questions such as  “Was your journey comfortable and nice?,”  “Are your studies going well?,” “Was your work successful?”