First time visiting my ancestral home on horseback

Hey everyone!!

This April, I’ll be visiting Mongolia for the first time—my ancestral homeland!

For some context, my paternal great-grandparents were ethnic Mongols who ended up in Korea during WWII. My grandfather still spoke Mongolian, but my father, unfortunately, lost most of the language and culture, aside from knowing his grandparents came from Mongolia. My parents later immigrated, and I was born in Texas.

Coincidentally, I grew up near a cattle ranch in a US-Mexican border town, where I learned to ride, rope, and develop a deep passion for horsemanship. I guess in a way it made me feel connected & proud of my long lost heritage—it feels both familiar and estranged. So this year, I will finally have the chance to visit, guided by (very) distant relatives who’ve arranged for me to stay near Terelj National Park and embark on a four-day horseback trek.

If there are any fellow horseman here interested in joining me—or show me a nomadic trick or two (I can share some Western and Mexican tricks in return!)—I’d love to connect. Also happy to make local friends who want to practice English or teach me Mongolian!