Сайн байна уу? (How are you?) My name is Anna, though here in Mongolia I go by two new names: Burmaa and Anu. I grew up in San Diego, California, where I spent 11 years playing competitive soccer before heading east for college at Northeastern University in Boston. I studied Electrical Engineering, a subject I loved and still do, but somewhere between a summer in Seoul and a semester in Madrid, I realized I wanted to follow a different career path. I wanted to travel, immerse myself in new cultures, learn a new language, and find opportunities to give back. That pull led me to the Peace Corps. After applying and getting accepted, I was placed in Mongolia, a country I knew very little about before this journey began.
Before starting my service, I spent two months living with a host family in Zuunmod. They welcomed me into their home and taught me so much, from language and customs to the quiet, everyday rhythms of Mongolian life. It was a foundation I'm still grateful for.
Now I call Uvurkhangai Province home, where I spend my days co-teaching English classes at a school, running after school clubs, and learning Mongolian. My first day of school was full of excitement and nerves. In Mongolia, every school year begins on September 1st, and the day is treated as a true celebration. Students arrive in uniform, teachers wear traditional deels, and the morning is filled with music, dance performances, and speeches. Students bring flowers and gifts for their homeroom teachers, and the whole community comes together to mark the start of the year.
I'm looking forward to taking archery and traditional dance lessons as well. When I'm not working, you'll usually find me swimming, hiking, playing soccer, taking photos, or painting with watercolors. Somewhere down the line, I'm hoping to become a pilot, but for now, I'm just excited to be here, learning, adjusting, and soaking it all in. I can't wait to share the journey with you, and I'd love to hear about yours too!
Peace Corps Volunteers like me live and work side by side with community members around the world, collaborating on locally prioritized projects, building relationships, exchanging cultures and knowledge, and helping transform lives for generations. Learn more by clicking here.
