Shakespeare would be jealous

PROLOGUE

On Friday I went out to dinner with Bavaasan and Ariuntuya, my fellow English teachers. I got to eat some delish Mongolian gulash, and practice my Mongolian, and chill with my counterparts which was best of all! After dinner Ariuntuya returned home to her husband and little baby, and Bavaasan and I decided that the time was ripe to hit up the STARS! Nightclub. On our way over we ran into Sarah and persuaded her to join us in a night of dance!

Setting: Warehouse sized building, with giant larger than life sized poster of Keanu Reeves on the outside and sign advertising STARS! Disco. Medium sized dance floor under a plethora of disco and strobe lights (Mongolians love their strobe lights). Tables ring the dance floor and extend to a second floor loft, where the DJ is located. A bar is in the left corner just as you enter.

Soundtrack: Bass so loud it vibrates your entire being!!! An eclectically enjoyable mix of Mongolian hip-hop, Russian dance, Turkish techno, and the most popular songs from America (or at least they were quite popular at some point in time ^_^). Favorite song of the night: a techno remix of San Fransisco or possibly Torson Odor (the Mongolian Birthday song).

Characters: Mongolian youth. Ages ranging from I would guess 18-35. Alot of students from the local Dornod college. All dancing is done in circles. Some of the more daring (or drunk) couples actually dance in a style similar to American clubs, but it is only a few, and only for brief moments. Oh yes and how could I forget the two white girls. Sarah in jeans and a nice top, me in jeans and a tee-shirt.

ACT ONE

We sit at a table, Bavaasan buys us drinks. We sip for a bit, check out the scene, and when a song by Flash (a popular Mongolian hip-hop singer) comes on we get up and dance! (At least Sarah and I do, Bavaasan has more fun watching the dancing that actually dancing).

ACT TWO

Our mini circle of two is soon joined by 3 Mongolian women. They look to be in their late 20s. One is very tipsy, but very friendly and we all take turns dancing in the center of the circle. A bit later some boys (we later find out they are 20 and go to Dornod college) join our circle. They too dance in the center. Sometimes 2 people will dance in the center together! Girl-boy, girl-girl, boy-boy ... hamagui ("it doesn't matter"). I love this about Mongolia. Security of gender. At one point tipsy woman's dancing gets a bit crazy and I get punched in the face (I will later find out that my glasses have been broken, as it is I spend the rest of the night half thinking I've been concussed as my vision is now blurry). Sarah and I take a break and join Bavaasan back at our table.

ACT THREE

Rested and ready for more dancing. We boogie back onto the dance floor and dance like the crazy fools that we are. It is the best feeling in the world. If I were to dance like this in the States I would get the strangest looks, instead I find I get curious sidelong glances as the Mongolians attempt to imitate the Americans dancing. For the first time in my life I am cool! Suddenly the DJ says something and next thing I know all the woman have cleared the dance floor. Bavaasan rushes up to tell me that there was a dance contest and I won. Now I had to dance with all of the men and choose the best dancer. I laugh, this is hilarious, but I go along with it. I end up choosing the boy in the Green Sweater simply because I recognized him and he seemed nice enough. We danced to a techno remix of a traditional Mongolian song, and I was then presented with my congratulatory bottle of vodka O_o.

ACT FOUR

We share the bottle of vodka with Green Sweater and his friends following proper Mongolian protocol. I only had to cringe down 2 shots thankfully. Then the boys disappear and Sarah and I are back on the dance floor with a new group. At one point Sarah gets licked by a very drunk Mongol. The rest of the evening is spent changing circles to avoid him.

ACT FIVE

Midnight has arrived and the time for final dances is now. Slow and sappy Mongolian love songs come on. A Mongolian comes up to our table and starts taking to me. I can't understand sadly and direct him to Bavaasan. Sarah and I decide that who cares if we don't have boy friends to dance with this is Mongolia. We bounce up and begin a twirly waltzy dance. It is silly but fun. Bavaasan and the Mongol come to the dance floor. He would like to dance with me she tells me. I give him a quick look to make sure he's not drunk and consent to the dance. It was very middle school dance like but nice. He talked with me in Mongolian, I didn't understand a word of it, and then slipped a bracelet on my wrist (I have an admirer, how cute). The lights came on it was time to go home, tired but happy.

EPILOGUE

Sarah, Bavaasan and I walk home arm in arm to ward off the chill. A large group of Mongolian college boys follows us. About half way to Bavaasan's home we part ways, she goes home, and I decide to stay at Sarah's. We double back across the soccer field in an attempt to lose the crowd of boys. 2 break off and follow us O_o. But it is only Green Sweater (or Munkhgo ="Money/Silver") and his friend. They want to make sure we get home safe. We talk about college with the two boys, and say goodbye outside of a different building, saying we have to send a message before we go in. Once they are gone, we go to Sarah's, certain that we are not followed. It was a great night!