Sept 28, 2016 — We met a bright and charming Mongolian student living in France, B. Baatarkhuu, who graciously shared her perspective on the cultural differences between our two countries. A fresh lens on Mongolia, viewed from French shores!

" Hello, my name is B. Baatarkhuu, a Mongolian student who has been living in France for the past four years, pursuing a degree in LEA (Applied Foreign Languages) in Chambéry. I've experienced countless stories here in France, and coming from a country with a completely different culture, I'd like to share some of these moments—both amusing and enlightening—to help you better understand my country.

If you ever visit my beautiful homeland of Mongolia, you'll gain a deeper appreciation for our culture and how we relate to one another, making for a truly rewarding experience. Here are some examples from these past four years:

°°Shaking Hands "the Mongolian Way":

When I first arrived in France, on my very first day in Paris, I was in the metro with a French friend. A man standing near us accidentally touched my foot. I immediately tried to shake his hand, but he looked at me with wide eyes and walked away.

In Mongolia, when you touch someone's foot, you must shake their hand, even if you don't know them. It's a tradition and a sign of politeness. It shows that you're paying attention to the other person. When you're in Mongolia, if a stranger touches or shakes your hand, don't be surprised—it simply means they may have accidentally brushed your foot.

So if you visit Mongolia, don't be startled if your guide or driver shakes your hand during your stay if this happens! (in fact, they'll appreciate the gesture).

°°Formal Address is Highly Important in Mongolia

I found a job as soon as I arrived in France. Working as a Mongolian language teacher, I began giving lessons to a French woman who was very interested in my country. She was 59 years old at the time. From the very first lesson, she asked me to address her informally. But since she was around my mother's age, I absolutely couldn't do that!

Because in Mongolia, formal address is extremely important (arguably too important for our English-speaking friends!), I address my sister—who is only two years older—formally, as well as all older people, whether family or strangers. This is an integral part of Mongolian culture: everyone, from children to the elderly, must use formal address with those older than them. It's a sign of respect.

So when you visit Mongolia, you may encounter drivers, guides, or nomads who are older than you. In that case, you should address them formally. Even if you spend considerable time together and become close, formal address should remain. Of course, as foreigners, people won't hold it against you, but it shows that you're adapting to Mongolian culture, and you'll be held in even higher regard by your hosts.

How do you use formal address in Mongolian? You say "ta" as the equivalent of "you." For example, "ta sain bain uu?" means "Hello (to you)!"

Also, for the French, politeness is sacred. But saying "thank you" constantly is quite bothersome to us Mongolians. Similarly, "please"—so important in France—doesn't even exist in the Mongolian vocabulary! So it's not uncommon for people to tell me, "You didn't say the magic word" before serving me a dish, for example... and I didn't quite understand this French nuance at first.

(Edit: We have a similar piece on 5 Cultural Blunders to Avoid in Mongolia that might also inspire you when learning about Mongolia)

°° Cheek Kissing

Mongolians simply don't do the cheek kiss. When I arrived in France, cheek kissing was one of the most difficult things for me to adjust to. The problem is that in France, everyone greets each other with cheek kisses! Friends, family, even people you've just met—it seemed very strange to me! To make matters more complicated, I learned that depending on the region in France, people do 2, 3, or even 4 kisses!

Culturally, we Mongolians are quite reserved. As for me, I've never enjoyed cheek kissing since I was small. If you greet someone with a cheek kiss in Mongolia, it will be perceived as something very surprising, especially on a first meeting with nomads! Most of the time, only lovers exchange kisses.

Interestingly for English-speaking visitors coming to Mongolia (I never noticed this myself, being accustomed to it), there's a unique way elderly people greet very young children: instead of kissing the child's cheek, they smell the top of their head. This strikes my French friends as quite peculiar, as they've never seen anything like it! How many cheek kisses do you exchange where you're from?

°°The Awkward Questions Mongolians Ask!

We are naturally very curious, and we love to understand the why and how! I've noticed that in France, there are many taboos around certain topics—age, salary, profession, and matters of privacy. If Mongolians start asking you a barrage of questions like these, know that it's completely normal for us. Don't take it the wrong way. For instance, we might ask you repeatedly: "But why aren't you married yet?"

In Mongolia, some situations are quite surprising—for example, people living alone. In my country, everyone is expected to marry, and we don't understand why some choose not to. If you're asked this, don't take it too seriously. It's also a way to break the ice, learn more about the person you're speaking with, and open up conversations during travels, for instance!

°°Don't Stare Too Long Into a Mongolian's Eyes

According to French culture—and I've observed this—it's considered good to make eye contact when speaking with someone, otherwise it's disrespectful. In Mongolia, it's the opposite: it's quite uncomfortable. When you respect someone or someone of importance, you don't look them directly in the eye, or at least not for too long.

It can come across like a challenge, or if someone means you harm, they'll stare at you intensely and make you uncomfortable.

°°Don't Whistle Inside a House

Many French people whistle in the street, at the office, at school, and even in their homes. In France, it's seen as a sign of relaxation, appreciation for music in your head, or simply boredom!

But if you do it in Mongolia, you'll get yourself into trouble! Every Mongolian will tell you: absolutely do not whistle inside a house. Why? Simply because it attracts evil spirits, bringing bad luck or financial failure, and allows snakes to enter the home. Quite the concern!

This represents only a small part of all the cultural differences between our two countries, and it's fascinating to see that many other intriguing stories await discovery! We Mongolians are a people proud of our traditions, and while we gradually embrace customs from other countries, we hold fast to many of these distinctive features that make Mongolia such a unique and magnificent place to visit and experience!

P.S.: I absolutely love France!"

If you've been following our blog for a while now, you'll realize how much all of these fascinating, sometimes bizarre, and amusing things can shape our perception of this beautiful country that is Mongolia. It's impossible to fully understand Mongolian customs and traditions without experiencing these unforgettable moments of sharing with Mongolians in an exceptional setting. Perhaps one day you too will find yourself in these amusing situations and think, "Of course! Horseback told me about this!" and it may help you avoid some missteps on your next visits, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in Mongolian culture.

Charlène Nomadays

As an early SEO writer for Nomadays, Charlène has evolved into content manager and head of communications, accompanying the adventure since its beginning with passion and dedication. After spending seven years in Asia—from China to Thailand, through Mongolia and South Korea—she has made travel her way of being in the world. A lover of words, nature, and human connection, she strives to convey in her writing a thoughtful, engaged, and responsible vision of tourism. Each article is for her a bridge between curiosity, respect, and wonder.