Changes

Bayasgalan Balgan 

Changes

One of my greatest memories of my childhood was when summer started, my family traveled to the countryside because of my father’s work. He worked at the Energy Regulatory Commission of Mongolia. At that time most of the countryside was not connected with power, and his job was an electrical engineer. When he had to work in the countryside, he took us with him within a recreational vehicle. I remember that my father looked at a big map and he noted some location to work on, and my mother took care of my sister and me. Now I realize my father did a massive job alone, and he brought joy to so many families because he was the person who connected them to power. However, in 1990, Mongolia became a democratic country. The most direct consequence was my parents changed their jobs and became much busier, my sister and I became closer to my cousins, and I got the chance to try many delicious foods.   

(Left side three of my cousins' father Bataa, my mom, and my dad in Moscow) 

The Mongolian economy and political system totally changed. Mongolia was a communist country before that revolution. The revolution of the 1990’s biggest effect was my parents changed their jobs, and they became salespeople. It was common for most parents started to sell some clothing and marmot skins to Russia because Mongolia has a huge number of marmots and Russian wants to buy them to make hats. Luckily, my parents’ business became successful; however, they became busy because they had to travel to Russia and China for many days at a time. They left my sister and me with our grandmother. Even though my parents’ business was successful, they spent less time with us. My sister and I missed the old times because before that revolution we were together most of the weekends and after school with our parents. Even when my mom was working late, my sister and I were playing in her office until she finished her work. However, these times never come back after that revolution.

(Last summer with my cousin's families, kids, aunties, and my grandmother)

Furthermore, my parents became busy and traveled to Russia and China for their business. At that time most of the weekends, my cousins came to my grandmother’s home, and we played together a lot. My cousin’s parents also started their own business because of that revolution. That routine made our connection with all my cousins closer. Then, we started inviting each other for sleepovers. My parents brought us many toys from Russia, and we played together with them. Before that revolution, we stayed in my father’s work summer camp, but after that revolution, he had a chance to buy that place. When summer break started, my cousins, my sister and I spent all summer together in our summer house.  Now we are still so close to each other, and we like spending time together playing games, cooking, and traveling. Nowadays, our kids play with each other just as their parents do.

                      (Before that democratic revolution and now) 

Before that a democratic peaceful revolution, everyone used to stand in long lines to get rationed food. I remember that I usually went to the grocery store and waited in a long line to get bread. Nevertheless, after that revolution we got more chances to eat delicious food because before the grocery stores had few things: bread, flour, sugar, salt, potato, carrot, meat, and rice. Only on special occasions were there apples or mandarins. Then, the grocery stores became private and owners brought many varieties of food, and they filled their shop counters. I remember when I first tried a banana for the first time, but I did not like it because it was sticky and soft. Furthermore, there are many new food imports. One of my favorite food was chocolate at that time, and I ate one big chocolate each day. All those changes meant that I started to gain weight.

This peaceful revolution made my life interesting and challenging. Now Mongolia is still a developing country. However, this revolution started many changes in Mongolia. Three big effects were my parents became busy, my cousins got closer to me, and goods became widely available than before. I do not want to regret or change anything because I think things happen for a reason. That revolution gave us many great economic and political opportunities. I am grateful for those people who made us that big revolution.