Vacuum Anyone?

Last Sunday, I came back from a week in the countryside.

A couple months ago, my director asked me if I would lead a week-long English language training for the teachers of my school. She explained that 12 teachers would attend, two from each department. She also explained that this seminar would be called “Vacuum Training.”

Being that this seminar was seven days long, I decided to enlist the help of two other PCVs. The first, Rachel, came for Monday and Tuesday. Chris came later in the week, staying from Thursday until Saturday midday. Needless to say, I am more than thankful that I got a little help from my friends.

When we arrived at the site, Zulzaga, I thought I had just landed at a vacation spot. Forest. Hills. Trails. Sunshine. A cool breeze. And then we went inside. After seeing what I had seen many times before (the lobby and the cafeteria), I saw what I’ve never seen in Mongolia. The manager had led me to the computer lab, a room of 21 brand new computers each equipped with speakers and Windows Vista 2007. Additionally, the room had a projector hanging from the ceiling and a large screen set along the front wall. In the middle of know where, I had at my disposal the perfect set of classrooms, indoors and out. Ooh, buddy!

We watched American movies, we played games, and we went for lots and lots of walks. We talked about family, education, controversial issues, nature, politics, international relations, health, genocide and culture. We covered listening, writing, reading and most importantly, speaking and thinking. We spoke formally, but more often, informally. We learned words like “nuh uh,” “virgin” and “euthanasia.” We even had a gen-u-wine Mongolian birthday party fit with circle dancing and “Peter’s cocktail,” a new brand of Mongolian alcoholic beverage I’d shown them consisting of vodka…with juice. Who knew? We gave the teachers the most unorthodox training they’d probably ever experienced.

In their free time, teachers spoke mostly English. In their free time, teachers asked for more grammar instruction. In their free time, teachers studied and practiced the previous day’s lessons.

In my free time, I took naps. I went for runs through the forest. I watched half of the first season of “The Wire” on the 22nd of the new 2007 Dells, the one in my room.

By the end of the week, we were all exhausted and ready to go home.

On the ride back to Darkhan, teachers weren’t only speaking in English, but they were laughing in English.

Since we got back, I’ve had several people asking to be put on the list for the next Vacuum Training. One teacher even said she would pay her own way.

Yesterday, my third course students asked me if they too could have a Vacuum Training…during their summer vacation.



English is high demand these days.