Thursday, December 17, 2009

Mongolia: Nomadic Journeys from the Ancient to the Modern (a travel tour)



Journey to Mongolia, the historical center of the Mongol Empire and the contemporary site of post-Soviet transition in Asia! Nomadic and pastoral traditions remain pervasive in Mongolian society, and it is still possible today to glimpse aspects of the Asian Steppe as even Genghis Khan may have seen it when he founded the Great Mongol State in 1206. Mongolia is also home to a dynamic and globalizing culture, where democracy and free-market capitalism interact with the frontier spirit of the Inner Asian nomad. Mongolia without a doubt is one of the world’s most fascinating countries, drenched in historical mystique and the paradoxes of tradition and societal change in a globalizing world. In partnership with Continuing Studies at RRU, the American Center for Mongolian Studies (ACMS), an international academic research centre located at the Mongolian National University, will assist and manage this academic travel program once on the ground in Mongolia for a group limited to 20persons.

We will travel to Mongolia for a 9 day travel tour (with two additional travelling days for a total of 11 days away from Canada). While in Mongolia the group will be based in Ulaanbaatar. The group will also make a multi-day excursion to Kharkhorin, the ancient capital of Mongolia. Along the way the group will see Takhi (wild Mongolian horses), Turkic monuments, and the life of nomadic herders, among many other things, receiving firsthand exposure at the intersection between the modernizing present and the traditional past. This is a rare opportunity to travel with academic guides off the beaten track in places of historical significance and witness the traditional Mongolian nomadic lifestyle and modern Mongolian life.

Topics:
Lectures:
History of the Mongols and Mongolian Statehood
Politics & Foreign Relations
Economic Development
Mongolian Geography and Ecology

Co-curricular Site Visits & Field Trips:
City tour of Ulaanbaatar
National University of Mongolia
Gandan Buddhist Monasteries in Ulaanbaatar
Meet with NGOs working on issues of policy, governance and development
Museums of National History, Natural History and Fine Art
Hustai Nuruu National Park – home of native Takhi horses and Steppe wildlife
Erdene Zuu Monastery in Kharkhorin
Pre-Mongol Turkic historic sites and monuments
Visit herding families and participate in daily activities such as putting up a traditional tent, milking animals, preparing food etc.
The program will include all arrangements for the program itinerary including:
Pre-departure hand out materials and discussions.
Academic presentations presented in English by scholars from academic institutions and other local experts – such as leaders of governmental, non-governmental and business organizations. Handouts will be made available to participants such as maps, charts, and statistical information presented during the lectures. In cases where presenters are unable to speak English, an interpreter will be provided.
Participants will spend four nights in the Mongolian countryside at a traditional “ger” camps – the circular felt tents that the Mongolians have lived in for centuries!
Meals: breakfasts and lunches in Ulaanbaatar, and dinners while in the countryside. Participants will be responsible for their own dinners in Ulaanbaatar
Local transportation: meet, greet and round-trip transfer service from the Ulaanbaatar airport to hotel; daily transportation in Ulaanbaatar to all included activities; all transport outside Ulaanbaatar.

PLEASE NOTE: The hotel in Ulaanbaatar where the participants will spend the majority of their time meets all international standards. The tourist “ger” accommodation, however, while clean and comfortable is based on double-occupancy and has a separate building with hot water and toilets.

Who Should Attend?
Anyone interested in travelling to Mongolia to learn on the ground about this fascinating place and its history, culture and peoples.
History buffs and historians, educators.

Your host during the tour will be the American Center for Mongolian Studies (ACMS) in partnership with Royal Roads University. The ACMS is a consortium of Canadian, US and international academic institutions, and maintains a full-time staffed office and library at the National University of Mongolia. The ACMS provides visiting and local scholars support and resources to facilitate their research and study. The ACMS will arrange academic lectures and unique educational experiences during your visit. At the centre you will have access to one of the country’s best collections of English language books related to Mongolian history and culture. You will also have access to the internet and office equipment such a photocopier, printer, and scanner. The ACMS will be our partner before, during, and after your visit to Mongolia. For more information on the ACMS, please visit
www.mongoliacenter.org

Date: Sunday, June 20 through Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Length: 9 days (plus 2 for travel)

Times: various – field trip
Cost: $2800 + GST
Course Code: GLEA1800
Please Register By: Sunday, April 25, 2010

* Note: Cost includes most meals, accommodation, instruction, tours and transportation while in Mongolia. Price DOES NOT include air travel to Mongolia – please call us for more information.

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