One of the many traditions the Mongolian school system has (or at least my school) is a day in the spring when the graduating class gets to be the teachers and the teachers are 11th grade students for a day. Students volunteer to teach all the classes or act as the school director or headmaster, and the teachers dress up in school uniforms-or to the American eye, French maid costumes. I thought we looked pretty cute honestly.

The day started off with the school being lead by the 11th graders in a rousing edition of the Mongolian national anthem.

The first class of the day for us teacher-students was English, which I can proudly, if not unfairly, say I was the best student in. We drew pictures of the fruit we most identify with and then learned fruit names in English. I was a strawberry since they are tasty, small, and not naturally found in the Gobi desert. My best 11th grade student Bolortsetseg was our teacher and she did a very good job.

After English we had gym where we played volleyball, and lastly we had Mongolian script. I definitely felt out of my element there!

In the evening the 11th graders put on a typical school party which alternates between group dances and games. The kids learn dances from a young age and seem to enjoy them a lot. Sometimes they even make the mistake of asking me to dance!

When they are not dancing, crazy games are played. The first game which I somehow got conned into with 3 other teachers was one where kleenex boxes were belted to our backs and then we had to dance around until the three ping pong balls in our box fell out. Needless to say, I didn’t win, but I did look very silly. The second game that was played was even crazier. One person from each class was volunteered and then had to race around to beg/borrow/steal a list of items from their classmates and then put them on. By the time the kids had each put on 2 jackets, 5 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, a skirt, 5 rings, 2 watches, 3 pairs of shoes, a hat and 4 belts they were the size of the Michelin man and their classmates were in various stages of undress.

I donated my watch to one class, but I have to give props to the 60 year old elementary school teacher who graciously loaned the 10th grade her skirt. Now that is dedication to teaching!

It was a very fun day and I think the 11th graders enjoyed being in charge for once. I wish them lots of luck as they head off into the world next year.