Communication

I have been asked a number of times how easily I will be able to keep in contact with everyone back home. I am provided internet access both at work and at home. For those of you on facebook, I'll be checking regularly. I will also be making regular use of MSN, although bear in mind that there is a 13 hr. time difference between Ontario and Ulaanbaatar. I will also be sending on the periodic e-mail updates, mostly for the family, but for select others as well. Communication will be hindered the most by work and my need to be out experiencing the "Land of the Mongols" as I have come to call it. There is still the option of snail mail, but that can be a little complicated.

My address will be:

Colin Attwood,
American School of Ulaanbaatar
Post Office Box 2365
Central Post Office
Ulaanbaatar 211213
Mongolia

If you decide to mail me anything, please address the envelope in the Cyrillic alphabet, as such:

Colin Attwood,
Àìåðèê äóíä ñóðãóóëü
Төв Шуудан Ш/Х –2365
Улаанбаатар хот- 211213
Монгол улс
Mongolia

This is VERY important, as most Mongolians will not be able to read the English writing. Only my name and "Mongolia" should be written in English. Also, and equally important, mark any and all mail with "airmail". Airmail will take anywhere from 1-3 weeks to arrive. Groundmail can take as much as 2-3 months to arrive.

The school has provided me the following advice about receiving mail (I've already mentioned some of it):

Mail to Mongolia generally takes one to three weeks to arrive, and some mail may never arrive. Occasionally, letters may arrive with clipped edges because someone has tried to see if any money was inside; also, some boxes may be opened by customs officials to ensure nothing illegal is being shipped. Advise your family and friends to number their letters and to include the word “Airmail” on their envelopes.
Packages sent by surface mail normally take two to three months. Foreigners have found that letters and packages have a better chance of arriving if correspondents do not use a variety of interesting stamps; write the address (with the exception of “Mongolia”) in the Cyrillic alphabet; use sturdy, well-taped boxes for packages (to discourage tampering); and use padding for breakable items (including cassette and CD cases).

It is much less difficult for me to send mail back, since I can mail it through the school.