Sept 28, 2016 We met a young and charming Mongol student living in France, B. Baatarkhuu, who graciously shared her perspective on the cultural differences between our two countries. A fresh way to see Mongolia, from a French vantage point!

"Hello, my name is B. Baatarkhuu, a Mongol student who has been living in France for 4 years now, pursuing a degree in LEA (Applied Foreign Languages) in Chambéry. I've had countless memorable experiences here in France, and coming from a country with a completely different culture, I'd like to share these moments—both funny and enlightening—to help you understand certain aspects of my homeland.

If you come to visit my beautiful country, Mongolia, you'll gain a deeper understanding of our culture and the way people relate to one another, making for a truly enriching experience. Here are some examples from these past 4 years:

°° The Mongolian Handshake:

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 stepped on my foot. I immediately tried to shake his hand, but he looked at me with wide eyes and left.

In Mongolia, when someone steps on your foot, you must shake their hand, even if you don't know the person. It's a kind of tradition and a mark of politeness. It demonstrates that you're paying attention to the other person. When you're in Mongolia, if a stranger shakes your hand or holds it, don't be startled. It simply means they accidentally stepped on your foot.

If you visit Mongolia, it won't be unusual for you to have to shake hands with your guide or driver during your stay if this happens! (They'll actually appreciate this gesture from you).

°° Formal Address is Very 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. At that time, she was 59 years old. From the very first lesson, she asked me to use the informal "you." Since she was around the same age as my mother, I absolutely couldn't do it!

Because in Mongolia, formal address is very important (and perhaps too important for our English-speaking friends!), I use formal address with my sister who is only 2 years older than me, as well as with everyone older—family members and strangers alike. As an integral part of Mongolian culture, every person from child to elder must use formal address with anyone older. It's a mark of respect.

So when you're in Mongolia, you may encounter drivers, guides, or nomads who are older than you. You must use formal address with them absolutely. Even if you spend a lot of time with them and become very close, formal address should always remain. Of course, as foreigners, they won't really hold it against you, but it shows great cultural awareness, and you'll be regarded even more highly by your hosts.

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

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

(Edit: We have a related article about 5 cultural mistakes to avoid in Mongolia that may also inspire you when learning about Mongolia)

°° Cheek Kissing

Mongols don't do cheek kissing, plain and simple! When I arrived in France, one thing that was very difficult for me was the cheek kiss. The problem is that in France, everyone kisses on the cheeks! Friends, close family, or even people you don't know—it seemed very strange to me! To make matters more complicated, I learned that depending on the region in France, you do 2, 3, or even 4 kisses!

Culturally, we Mongols are quite shy. I myself, since childhood, have never liked kissing people on the cheek. If you kiss on the cheek in Mongolia, it will be perceived as very surprising, especially on first contact with nomads! Most of the time, only lovers kiss each other.

Interestingly, for English-speaking visitors coming to Mongolia (I didn't notice it, being accustomed to it), there's the way elderly people give "kisses" to very young children: instead of kissing the child's cheek, they smell the top of the child's head. This is quite shocking for my French friends in country, as they'd never seen it before! And you, how many kisses do you do where you're from?

°° The Awkward Questions Mongols Ask!

We are naturally very curious, and we like to know the why and how! I've noticed that in France, there are many taboos around various subjects, such as age, salary, profession, and privacy. If Mongols start asking you lots of questions of this type, know that it's completely normal for us. Don't take it the wrong way—for instance, we're quite capable of asking you several times in a row: "but why aren't you married yet?"

In Mongolia, certain situations are very surprising, like people living alone. In my country, everyone is expected to marry, and we don't understand why some don't. If asked this question, don't take it too seriously. It's also a way to break the ice and learn more about the other person and touch on many subjects during trips, for example!

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

According to French culture, and I've observed this, it's good to look people in the eyes when you speak, or else it's disrespectful. Conversely, in Mongolia, it's very uncomfortable. When you respect someone or someone important, you don't look them straight in the eyes, at least not for too long.

It's like a challenge—or if someone wishes you harm, they'll stare and make you uncomfortable.

°° Don't Whistle Inside a House

Many French people whistle on the street, at the office, at school, and even in the house. In France, it's seen as a sign of relaxation, appreciation of a song in your head, or simply because you're bored!

But if you do it in Mongolia, you'll run into trouble! Every Mongolian person will tell you, it is absolutely NOT good to whistle inside a house. Why? Simply because it would attract bad spirits, signs of bad luck or failure in life or finances, and would bring snakes into the house... Quite the concern!

All of this represents only a small part of the cultural differences between the two countries, and it's interesting to see that many other intriguing stories are waiting to be discovered! We Mongols are a people proud of our traditions, and despite progressively adopting customs from foreign countries, we maintain many of these specificities that make Mongolia such a unique and magnificent country to visit and to live in!

P.S.: I love France! "

If you've been following our blog for some time now, you'll notice how much all these interesting, sometimes strange, and amusing things can influence our perception of this beautiful country that is Mongolia. It's impossible to fully understand its customs and traditions without living through unforgettable moments of sharing with Mongols in an exceptional setting. Perhaps one day you too will find yourself in these amusing situations and think to yourself "but of course! Horseback told me!"—and it might save you from making some cultural missteps on your next visits, allowing you to fully enjoy Mongolian culture. Charlène NomdaysFormer SEO writer at Nomadays and now content manager and head of communications, Charlène has accompanied the adventure from the beginning with passion and loyalty. After living seven years in Asia—from China to Thailand, passing through Mongolia and South Korea—she has made travel a way of being in the world. A lover of words, nature, and human connection, she strives to convey in her writing a sensitive, engaged, and responsible vision of tourism. Each article is for her a bridge between curiosity, respect, and wonder.