Category Archives: Blog

The sun was setting quickly as we scrambled to make our way to the border with Russia before sunset–hoping a yurt in the mountains awaited us…

Grateful we got to sleep in so many yurts this summer on our research adventure through Mongolia–a yurt is where I feel most at home!

When we pulled into this city in Mongolia, we were greeted by thousands of yurts–yes, thousands! Many who live in the city have a yurt on the outskirts of the city to escape to for some peace and quiet. My colleagues said there are around 5,000 yurts surrounding the city (see those tiny white dots?). Quite a unique yurt landscape to see in person!

Grateful for the hospitality of friendly Kazakh families who cooked lunch for us while we were doing research in very remote regions of Mongolia this summer…

In addition to deepening my knowledge of religious practice while on the road this summer as a fellow for the American Center of Mongolian Studies, I also had the opportunity to observe rural life in many provinces–and was especially drawn to this tractor with a horse attached to it in the middle of a town center…

I get a kick out of this massive Mongolian boot every time I pass by it–too cool (and colorful)!

We had some unusual traffic jams while on the road in Mongolia–using the horn just doesn’t work (but patience does)!

We got a great lesson in training eagles from an expert on Kazakh culture in Mongolia–grateful for the enlightening discussion…

I’ve been on the road meeting with imams and other religious leaders across Asia–grateful for the opportunity to speak and learn from them…

My research team and I visited Christian communities in Mongolia this summer as part of our project–after one such visit, we were treated to snacks and an engaging discussion about local practices…

A mosque a day keeps the doctor away! Have been enjoying being on the Silk Road and exploring religion in many forms!

Enjoyed exploring the ruins of this crumbling Chinese wall in Mongolia this summer while a fellow for the American Center of Mongolian Studies (local Mongolians have a complicated relationship with this wall for historical reasons)…

I was grateful to have such a great Mongolian research team this summer while a fellow for the American Center of Mongolian Studies–lucked out in assembling the best! We had a blast on the road and got so much research done–mission accomplished!