r/mongolia • u/ra1sah • 4d ago
Recognizing Mongolians abroad
Do you guys also seem to instantly recognise other Mongolians while abroad?
A few months ago I was in Europe, this girl walked towards me and I could instantly tell she was Mongolian. Not by her facial features but just by the way she carries herself and her overall demeanour. A couple seconds later I heard her on the phone speaking in Mongolian to her mother and I was like I KNEW IT!!! There have been multiple times where I could tell someone was Mongolian just by looking at them! Even in Asian countries.
It’s so weird. It’s like I can recognise them telepathically.
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u/Zealousideal-Dig-594 3d ago
My radar is like 80% accurate, I see someone, think "Mongolian" and they're almost always Mongolian. You can just tell 😭
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u/cyberiagirl 4d ago
If I ever think someone on the street might be Mongolian, they never are. But when I just KNOW, they always are. 😁
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u/Beautiful_Shallot811 4d ago
As a Aussie I’ve always been around Asian people growing up and 90% of my friends were Asian and I learnt to tell the difference between all of them chinese, honky, Korean, Japanese, viet, Cambo, Thai, indo, filo, Indian, pakistani, nepalese or Tibetan and I used to tell my friends at the time I’ll end up marrying a Mongolian
I felt it in my bones and at the time we never had Mongolians in the country early 00’s that was when I was 16 and 4 years later I did
That’s when I met this lady and she was stunningly beautiful and I for the first time couldn’t quite figure out where she came from was she Korean? Was she Japanese nope Shes Mongol
Now we have mongols in this country and I spot them from a mile away and I can’t l wait to meet them they are a population of 3.5M and it’s a blessing to meet them
They get taken aback when I greet them in Native tongue Mongolian and I do that to break the ice tell them of my story and visiting Mongolia and seeing their country side
Once they know we become good friends and I love it I wish I could talk more in their language but it’s so hard to pronounce and learn
I’d move there if I could for at least the warmer months the winters are too harsh
Food is amazing and organic
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u/New-Meadfruit2605 4d ago
I would be shocked if any foreign person greet me jn my native language. I had the exact scenario a few weeks back when very european looking guy greeted me in mongolian as if he was native, such a nice thing too see.
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u/Beautiful_Shallot811 4d ago
Love the look of shock on their face and then they do a double take usually if I have time and the language barrier isnt too much I’ll stop and have a chat
If I could I’d love to learn Mongolian it’s such a beautiful language it’s not very hard sounding it’s soft and easy to listen too it’s just a very difficult language to learn and pronounce
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u/EggPerfect7361 4d ago
I have been China lot, I can recognize Mongolian male by how they walk, don't know what it is but something subtle how they move. Always looking straight like they are robots, also very minimal movement and sway from the arms and shoulder or hand always in pocket.
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u/Odd-Suggestion2112 4d ago
Yes, normally but other Mongolians can’t always tell i am Mongolian. I kinda have light brown eyes, fair skin, and brown hair what you normally call “shar” lol. So, unless i make eye contact they normally don’t notice. I say hi to them in Mongolian when I think it is appropriate but other times i just stay quiet. Every time when i say hi to them, they always go oh hi either would say oh didn’t know you were Mongolian or some sort. My brother once told me if you are in Asia, you look like a foreigner, but here in the USA i look asian.
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u/EpochFail9001 4d ago
I can tell coz they usually doing video calls super loud in the middle of a public or crowded area.
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u/Expensive_Cicada_621 4d ago
Same! It's the vibes~ they carry themselves in a very specific way you can immediately tell.
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u/Waldmeistermann45 4d ago
My fiance is Mongolian and one day we was walking through the City in Wien, Austria. City was Film of people and Store After Store when she Suddenly Said „ The Women in the Store Looks Mongolian lets Go there. It was a Store for decoration in the inner City and ofc she was right. I myself learned through her to pick Which Asiens Are Chinese korean or Mongolian Most of time.
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u/Striking_Bee5910 4d ago
I live in Korea and I could spot them from miles away without even looking at their face. I could just tell from their walking.
I really am not sure how but it is just how it is😅
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u/Comfortable-Smile313 4d ago
Yeah my husbands the same, he says he can recognise other Mongolians by their walk. I believe it, he himself has what i like to call his "Mongolian swagger" lol
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u/Immediate-Lead1895 4d ago
Oh yes. I'm not even Mongolian but I've lived here since 2007. So, I am quite good at spotting Mongolians outside Mongolia.
It's the facial features, body shape and fashion that tip me off. Of course, the final giveaway is when I hear them speak.
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u/Severed-Worker 4d ago
Yeah even in other Asian countries. When I was in Japan I could tell if someone was Mongolian
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u/Dumplingconquest 4d ago
A store owner in Georgetown DC(white guy) once told me that amongst east Asians, its easy to tell Mongolians apart. When other Asians come into his store, they are very quite and respectful. Mongolians walk around like they own the store. lol