Daarch Reality

Whew! This whole post almost got derailed, but I think it’s saved.

In Vermont, where my mother lives, there’s a joke that Vermont has two seasons: winter, and August. While most of the world might chuckle at this, I suspect a Mongolian would say, “Yup. That’s about right. Except it’s really just those two weeks at the beginning of August.”

Mongolia is cold. Not “Ooh, brr” cold. More like “Um, I can’t feel my face” cold. At least in not-August winter when in, say, January in the capital, the average daytime high is -17F. In the sun. Before wind chill (is the word “chill” even useful here?). And as a language freak, I was delighted when I discovered what I thought was the Mongolian word for cold: daarch. It was too perfect. I imagined myself on the blasted steppe, looking like Admiral Byrd as he neared the North Pole, a muffled exclamation slicing through my yak-wool scarf to the edge of my tightly-drawn, fur-lined parka hood: “Man! It’s completely friggin’ daarch!”

Imagine my horror, then, when I thumbed through the vocab section of my Mongolian Phrasebook this morning, and next to “cold” was this: khüiten. Khüiten? Khüiten!? That doesn’t describe cold! Not Mongolian cold! Sounds like kitten, fer cryin’ out loud!

Much panicky page-flipping and visits to online English-Mongolian dictionaries (there are more than one – isn’t the internet astounding?) ensued, until finally the mystery cleared. As near as I can make out, khüiten is the word one uses for ambient coldness and daarch is how one describes one’s feeling of coldness. So you might say something like, “Wow, it’s khüiten today. I’m totally daarch.” And I can live with that.

In light of Mongolians' many months of daarchness, let me take a moment to sing the praises of those knitting warm clothing for The Dulaan Project. Yesterday I dropped by the offices of the Flagstaff International Relief Effort (F.I.R.E.), the organization that will distribute the clothing to the more needful Mongolian populations this fall. There I had the pleasure of actually seeing the well over 100 items that had already been knitted and mailed, in just the first month of the project. This included a weird blending of virtual and actual realities. That morning I had looked at this post at my cousin Ryan’s blog, with the lovely photo of the items Norma had knit. Then, that afternoon, I saw the same items in person that had just arrived in the mail. Let me just say that Meredith, F.I.R.E.’s director, and I spent a good 20 minutes holding up the mittens and hats and scarves and sweaters and even booties made by Norma and others, and just shouting and laughing in delight. Even giant, grizzled photojournalists in the room went, “Awww!” The items were just exactly as Ryan and I had envisioned: well-made, nicely designed, adorable, and most of all, dulaan (warm). In short, made with love. Due to the compassionate energy of these wonderful (and talented!) knitters there will be many struggling Mongolians making the happy transition from daarch to dulaan this winter. I wish I could hug you all.

Oh, and if you don’t knit? Well, F.I.R.E. doesn’t run on love alone. They’re a non-profit and donations allow not only for the shipping of much-needed clothing and medical supplies to Mongolia, but also for staff to go over and personally ensure that those who really need the help get it. Like, they literally go yurt to yurt (actually the Mongolian word for these tents is ger) in poorer areas. Time-consuming, but much more effective. So if you feel moved, please send them a check. I promise you it will be put to good use.

So. Since I’ve gone on a bit, and it’s Friday, I think I’ll save Later Mongolian Buddhist History As Told By A Jersey Monk for Monday (cheers and clapping from the class, I know). And next week we’ll get into the dangers of mixing religion and politics and why we Nyingma are a little…different.

Enjoy your weekend everyone. Be kind and stay warm!

Comments

[Ryan]

So glad you are blogging, cuzzin! Enjoyed every word. Even better, now I don't have to post today; I can just refer everyone here. :-)

[Mary B]

Cuzzin Tom, I love your blog and I love you! I only wish you could come to our knit in. But we will be with you in spirit as you wing your way halfway around the world. I'm learning so much from your narrative--I know I wasn't the only student disappointed because there was no lesson today.

All my very, very best, Mary B

[Devin]

what, no history lesson?:)
How cool that you got to see all the contributions so far.
cheers
d

[Janine]

Enjoyed the language lesson and the image of the photojournalists going "Awwww." Thanks!

[marylee]

My new favorite blog! Will you be my cuzzin, too? Best be on my way...there's so much knitting to do. Marylee

[Chris W Bonebrake]

Dear Konchog...we haven't meet yet (at least not in this lifetime) but I feel that may change soon. After voraciously reading "Bones of the Master" I went to the nearest Buddhist Temple for further knowledge and enlightenment.

I live in the Maryland Suburbs of Washington DC and K.P.C. was the closest. I went to the Poolesville location on an exploratory mission and just happened to arrive thirty minutes before Jetsunma was due to make her first appearance after the journey from Sedona. I had never heard of K.P.C. or Jetsunma before.

A nice lady at the door showed me to a seat in the front row and handed me a book with the Seven Line Prayer. After reciting strange Tibetan words for awhile Jetsunma appeared and gave one of the most brilliant and enlightinig messages I have ever heard. I'm still trying to figure out what is happening to me. It seems as though a door has opened and I have stepped through into a place of waiting, but there is another door in front of me yet to open. "When the servant is ready the master will appear."

I am a photographer & writer and want to go to Mongolia to document the Danzan Ravjaa story and your work on The Mongolia Project. My working title for the book is "Three Times 'Round the Stupa". (I'll save that story for another blog.)

Ani Aileen allowed me to photograph the masks in the Mongolia Exhibit made by Ganna The images will go to the K.P.C. media archives.I have put my affairs in order and can spend the next year in Mongolia working on this project. If you are interested, please let me know how to proceed.

Best wishes and stay warm. Chris!