Learning how to play Morin Khuur

Morin Khuur is a traditional Mongolian bowed stringed instrument. It is almost the symbol of the Mongolian culture and people. It has only two strings, therefore people say that it is not extremely difficult to learn how to play with Morin Khuur.

So while I was having a summer break, I had classes in "Khoyor Zagal" center to learn how to play Morin Khuur. I had bought a Morin Khuur from the center. I attended a class every other two days.

The first 3 classes were complete boredom. It is because I had to review and memorize the musical notes. During those classes, I also had to just sit there and move the hand-drill back and forth. However later on I realized how important it is to move the hand-drill. Mathematically speaking, it is important from which angle to pull and push. It is because in some cases, the hand-drill was not placed in the right position and the notes sounded wrongly. I personally think that learning how to play Morin Khuur requires lots of memorizing and technique. I had to memorize all of the different positions of holding the instrument and playing different notes.

Definetely, through this activity I have undertaken new challenges such as learning how to play a musical instrument, which never interested me before. After the first lesson, my legs were in pain. It is because the way we hold Morin Khuur is keeping them between our legs. Only for 2 hours I had practiced playing Morin Khuur and the next day my whole body was in pain. Then I felt like I do not want to continue. However, because I set this activity as a goal, I did not want to give up either. Therefore, I came back with even more inspiration and motivation.

I am sure that learning how to play Morin Khuur will benefit me in the future. When I think about studying abroad and living there, I can be proud of myself and Mongolian culture by playing this instrument to foreigners.

Dance Class (After School Activity)

During the second quarter I had planned to organize an after school activity to primary students, who are willing develop their dancing skills. I have chosen Ms. Faber as my advisor, because she is well experienced with primary children specifically as a Physical Education teacher. Firstly, I interviewed Ms. Faber about what I am planning to do. My basic plan was to teach any type of dances they are interested in, and also keep the children physically active as well as enjoying dancing. I personally love dancing. I have attended some ballet classes before, as well as some Latin American dances.

The first class was all about introduction to the activity and getting to know what the students want to learn. I had totally planned and initiated activities throughout this project. As I have mentioned, I had a plan at the very beginning of the activity; however that was not enough. The children wanted to learn many different things. Their ideas and wishes constantly changed throughout the activity, perhaps due to the difficulties of the current class. I had to make plans for every Wednesday (that is when the after school activity took place). I had to learn the dances myself first and then teach the children, sometimes converting them into easier versions. While planning for the next class, I had to ask the students what exactly they wish to learn and also teachers if they are able to do them or not. In most cases, I asked students from High School and Middle School. Those students were the ones, who were very good at dancing. I asked them the best ways to learn dances for them, so that I can utilize that method to teach the younger ones. I also had to come up with different ideas to make the children concentrated and committed to the activity. Sometimes, I had little candies as motivating tools. Sometimes, I had to organize contests and invite real judges from the school so that the children took the activity seriously.

I had total of 6 children, 2 from third grade and 4 from fourth grade. I had chosen this age group because I thought it might be a little easier to work with kids of age 8 to 9 so that we can communicate easily. However working with kids is never as easy as it might look. It was extremely hard working with little children. Their attention period is so short that after 5 minutes, they just were not concentrated and probably doing something completely different. Therefore, I worked collaboratively with the little children. Although their young and perhaps immature, I had to work with them as collaboratively as possible. One of the methods I have used is motivating tools like candies and cakes. But I also used comments and languages, which inspired the students to dance even more and stay on task. Therefore, I have learnt skills of working with little children. Also now I know for fact that I will never become a teacher.

Meditation in Taiwan

During the December of 2011, all of my family members (my dad, mom and brother) went to Taiwan. The reason, we went there was to attend a meditation. We had to meditate for the entire day and out breakfast, lunch and dinner were donated to the local poor people, who could not afford the nutritious food all the time. It was a great opportunity to help some poor people. My parents and I, we always organize different activities in order to help the poor people in the Mongolian community. Therefore, by attending this meditation, we have tried in a different place.

I have considered the ethical implications of the poor people's actions. While I was fasting during the meditation so that I can give my own food to the poor, there were times when I felt really really hungry. I wanted to steal food. Then I realized how people commit crimes. It was not in my own interest to steal, but on the 4th day of fasting I felt like I could not take any longer.

Through this activity I was strongly engaged with issues of global importance, poverty. I am very happy that at least I have contributed to global poverty in my own ways. I started to appreciate what I have right now. I am greatly thankful to my parents, who are extremely hard working and trying their best to provide me with the best possible living. I should not throw food while millions of people are dying off of starvation or malnutrition. It was pity for me to think back when I was trying to cut my usual diet by throwing away loads of food in the garbage.

Improving Fitness Level

During the summer of 2011, I had a personal goal to achieve which was loosing weight physically. I always thought of losing weight and becoming fit, however I could never fully commit my self towards the goal. Therefore, as part of my CAS Plan, I thought of loosing weight and improving my fitness level.

During July, I spent all of my evenings in the Flex Gym. It located a few hundred meters away from my house therefore I usually walked back and forth. One thing, I can say I have learnt from this activity is myself. I have learnt that when it comes to physical pains and physical problems, I tend to come up with excuses and just sit back. I never thought of pushing myself the the best of my ability to accomplish my goal or at least step toward the goal. Therefore, now I am aware of the ways I get motivated and specifically in the areas that I am weak at. I have learnt many techniques and exercises, which can be done at home in order to improve fitness level. By going to fitness level, I have also figured out that breathing is extremely important for individuals. Now I know how to breath properly as well as eat orderly.

After this activity I have lost 6.7 kilograms of fat. I was extremely happy, and it was done only in one month period of time. It was amazing to try on new clothes, which before I have never wanted to look at. I felt very confident in myself therefore started loving myself. I have understood how everyone should establish their goal in a certain amount of time and fight to reach the goal. Then one's life would be more meaningful and useful towards him/her and other people as well.

"Habitat for Humanity" (Construction)

"Habitat for Humanity" is my second group project in CAS. This project was not included in my whole year CAS Planning document; however it was an opportuinity for me to try something new and different for my CAS activities. All of our classmates were part of this project, including three 10th graders. We were divided into two different groups. Each group was assigned to do construction work. Basically, Habitat for Humanity is a world-wide organization, which assesses people, who are sufferring from poverty, by constructing an affordable house/shelter for them. Habitat for Humanity encourages volunteers to take part of the construction work. Therefore, this time our class, as a whole, and three other 10th graders are helping to build the shelter of a poor family in Mongolia. Poverty is a Global Issue, specifically in Mongolia we can really see suffering people trying to survive. I was happy to take part of this activity, in order to prepare myself to face some of the Global concerns that are effecting millions and millions of people. In terms of my religion, it was an opportuinity to do good for others especially the ones, who are in need. As karma works, if I will do good for others, it will return in the same way. Therefore it will benefit me in the future. I was also curious about constructing houses, because I really had no idea how much effort it takes up just to make a small shelter.
June 6th was the first day. We left school at 8:50am. We came to the area, where the house was planned to be built, around 9 am. It was in the middle of a ger district in Belkht. However, the location of the construction work was not that bad, due to the fact that it was not far away from the main road. When our group, total of 10 students and 2 supervising teachers, entered the construction area, the scene was pretty bad. There was one ger in the middle of the hashaa, another small wooden house was behind the ger. There weren't a lot more inside the fence. The family had one old member, who is not mentally able to survive by himself. The only member of the family, who we talked to, was a friendly chubby lady. She told us that she has 3 year old child, who was sick in a hospital during the days when we participated in the construction work. Physically, we have dug holes for the foundation of the building. The soil was not hard, therefore it was easier to dig the holes. We have dug 20 cm deep and in the shape of a frame of a house. Because the house, we have planned to build, was not big; we did not spend too much time. After we have reached the satisfying level of the depth of the holes, we collected big rocks from a near place, where there used to be a river. Collecting the rocks involved lots of energy to carry to the construction site. The reason why we have collected rocks is because we have to use them in the foundation within the cement mix. Once we use rocks, we can save up more cement, which costs quiet a bit of money.

The next two days, we basically prepared cement mixes for the foundation. It was not easy to mix because there was water, cement, sand and gravel all together. Mixing cement involved lots of strength, therefore I had suffered from spasms of my hand. It is because physically being part of construction work was not something I do all the time. I have also understood how bad the conditions are in ger district, such as water supplies or proper equipments. The constructing equipments really were not enough for all of us. We had to take terms or use improper equipments, that we could make.

Overall, I realized how lucky I am. I realized that I should appreciate my life. I wanted to thank my parents for all of the things, they have done for me.

Student Council

At the beginning of this school year, I have planned to work as a class representative in ISU Student Council. Firstly, I was elected as 11th grade representative. Therefore, I got into ISU Student Council. It was not the first year for me to attend School government. However this year I had my own personal goals to achieve for my better future. Important of all, I knew that it will look good on my resume to have that I was part of school government. Also I enjoyed being part of an important body of my community. Therefore my goal for attending Student Council for the school year of 2010-2011, I wanted to show everyone what I am capable of doing. Moreover I could be the President of ISU Student Council, so that I can make changes for the well being of all other students at ISU.
I think, I did my job well. I was happy to work with other representatives of different grades and officers of Student Council. I was pleased with organizing events for my peers and it was pleasure to see them enjoy it. By working at ISU Student Council, I did learn a lot too. Sometimes there were issues to cooperate with other peers, therefore I learnt how to pass my ideas without making them angry. I learnt how to work as a team both in terms of a leader and a follower. I gained lots of self confidence due to the accreditation of being part of Student Council. Lastly, I have lots of friends now. I never thought that I would be friends with a third grader. Now, most students at ISU know me or can recognize me. I am truly happy that I have showed service to peers being part of ISU Student Council.
Lately there has been an election of next year's officers. As I have planned I ran for President. I had two opponents, who were both in my class Neil and Enkh-Erdene. I was confident in myself and was fully sure that I will win the election. However the results showed that I was not chosen as the next year's president of ISU Student Council. I was not pleased with the results, however I had learnt something else. I learnt to never underestimate anyone. Although I and everybody else knew that I was the most experienced candidate, I was not fully ready for a speech. My competitor has made an outstanding speech therefore he had won the election. I have not reached my final goal, however I had learnt far more that I thought I would have learnt.

Art Project

This art project was supervised by Ms.Sudra, IB Art Teacher at ISU. I have always had an interest in art. Due to the limited choice of IB classes, I had to choose Economics and avoid taking Art Class. Therefore this project was an opportunity for me to make my spare time enjoyable for me. I planned to make art pieces for the teachers who were teaching at ISU. I have chosen the teachers, who have influenced me the most. I will then give the artworks to them so that they feel how I am thankful to them. I want teachers to know how they are important to many people's lives. Therefore this project lets me to show my appreciation towards the teachers.

The pictures above are the images of my first final piece. The media of this artwork is paper cut. The process went well and it was as I have planned before. My supervisor Ms.Sudra has provided me with the materials required for example, white pencils, paper knife, project and etc.

As I have mentioned before, the first final piece is done. I had planned to make three artworks, however I have just achieved one. I would like to finish the second one as soon as possible because I have to give that artwork to the teacher before she leaves. My time consuming management did become an issue throughout this project, therefore at the moment I am trying to catch up with the planned dates.