Ulaanbaatar is Mongolia’s capital and only large city. Many children who live there go to the country for the summer. That probably sounds familiar no matter where you live: city (urban) families love to give their children the experience of fresh air and exploration!

There is a twist to summer adventures in Mongolia, though. Most children who go to rural areas are going to help out relatives who are herders. A herder family keeps some combination of sheep, goats, cows or yaks, horses, and camels for milk, meat, and leather. It is hard work, and summer is the busiest time as it is for most types of ranching and farming.

So, city kids go out to help, not just for a vacation. Some of them love it, some of them hate it. Listen to these two women remember their summers with relatives who were herders. They had very different reactions!