point. whisper. stare.

Every Tuesday night I teach a business English class at a downtown office. I know next to nothing about economics or banking, but they've been teaching us about both in light of Mongolia and in return Hol and I have been helping them improve their English skills.

Two weeks ago I taught them the phrase "to stick out like a sore thumb." Which seemed appropriate given my daily life here.

I stick out.

It has become strangely NOT weird to be pointed at, whispered about and stared at. As in I don't even think twice but just go about my way, my work, my day. Mainly because it happens all the time.

Little ones are usually the funniest (and the most endearing), as they stop in the middle of the sidewalk or turn around in a complete circle and crane their little bodies around to look at this strange, non-Mongolian person. They tug on their mom and dad's arms and say, "Look! Look at her!"

They point with their little fingers and it makes me smile. Even if I inwardly laugh at being the sight to see on a micro or in a store. It's still the least offensive pointing I've ever been on the receiving end of.

Older children and young adults tend towards the whispering. Or the flat-out-talking-about-you-while-thinking-you-don't-understand.

My Mongolian might not be all that great but I can still catch the debates that my presence seems to start.

"Is she Russian?"
"No, definitely not Russian."
"No! She's Russian!"
"I think British."
"No, American."
"No! No! RUSSIAN."

Did I mention that everyone thinks we're Russian here? I figure it's a proximity thing.

Sometimes I correct them and then everyone stands shocked that I speak some Mongolian :-)

The staring- well, the staring is just common place at this point. I used to self-consciously think I must have my hat on backwards or toothpaste on my face but then I realized there are some other factors that add to the sticking-out.

My hair is light brown (Mongolians consider it blond). It's also increasingly becoming a crazy, long curly situation. Those two factors combined make for my hair to be a central attraction. My students are constantly playing with it/remarking on it/asking me about it. So are strangers.

Another stick-out factor-I refuse to join the High-Heel Patrol. Almost every Mongolian female my age wears stiletto boots on a daily basis. And not just little stiletto heels - but four inch stiletto heels and boots that sometimes go up to their knees.

Do they look cute? Absolutely. Would I have broken both of my ankles at this point if I followed suit? Without a doubt. I can't even walk in high heels on paved sidewalks, let alone on rocky, dusty, hole-filled paths up hills and down ravines. Forget about it. I'm sticking to my very flat boots and tennis shoes.

I also go running in mismatched layers. The running in and of itself is odd enough. Add in the crazy layers, the scarf and hat and the wool gloves....and I'm basically a slow-moving crazy person.

My running usually brings three different reactions:

1.) Fellow walkers/stretchers/runners smile or nod at me or vaguely acknowledge my presence. Although I've yet to see another female runner. Only males who look like they're probably wrestlers.

2.) Groups of people headed to work/the bus stop/wherever (it is usually only about 7 am) laugh or stare or otherwise talk among themselves while looking at me like, "What are you doing?"

3.) Or my personal favorite- people who as I approach them are walking at a normal pace and wearing everyday street clothes-and then break into a jog as I pass them, as if my running requires that they run past me as well. I can never decide if this spontaneous jogging is mocking or encouraging.

The two smirking policemen in uniforms....definitely mocking.

I'd prefer the pointing two-year old.