WHO IS THIS FIDDLER CALLED DEGI?

Where do you come from?

I am a big city girl; I was born and, except when studying abroad, have always lived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia's capital, which now has around a million inhabitants.

When were you born?

I was born in 1978. That is the year of the horse in our traditional calendar, which is lunar, not Gregorian (western) solar. In Mongolian tradition, a child is one when born, and the number changes at New Year, not on the birthday. So a baby born the day before New Year is two years old two days later! So I guess I am either 28 or 29 – I choose 28!

Do you come from a big family?

I have two brothers and a sister, who are all deeply loving to me and always have been very string supporters – as I hope I am for them!.

Are you married?

Not yet; I need all 24 hours of the day for myself right now.

Do you have a boyfriend or a special person?

Yes, I have a boyfriend; I can't be without a man!

What are your favourite foods?

I love curry chicken and juicy fresh green apples! Of course, I also like the Mongolian cuisine – buuz and khuurshuur, which are different ways to present mutton. You know that Mongolians are traditionally a herding nation, so meat is very important in our traditional diet.

Which is your favourite musical group?

Black and White, the Mongolian band; I very much enjoy watching and listening to them as well as playing with them. I like Yo-Yo Ma the cellist, Janni the pianist-composer, singer Jewel, Dylana Jensen the violinist, Kenny G on sax, and Oliver Shanti, the composer-arranger.

My non-musical heroes are the Dalai Lama and Danzanravjaa, a Mongolian Buddhist Lama and artistic innovator and genius who lived in the 19th century...

What is your favourite spectator sport?

I enjoy watching figure skating, and I like to watch competitive ballroom dancing.

What is your favourite country?

Mongolia, of course! I really love my country, and I enjoy every single day here; you can never get bored here!

What is your favourite TV show?

My favourite television soap serial is Sex and the City.

What is your biggest ambition?

I always want to be able to represent Mongolia well to the whole world.

What colour are your eyes?

Like all Mongolians, I have very Asian brown eyes.

Do you wish they were a different colour?

Never.

What colour is your hair?

Black – like almost every Mongolian!

Why did you shave all your hair off earlier this year (2006)?

This was a kind of Buddhism thing. Buddhists say that a woman should shave all her hair off at least once in her life. We believe that this is good for the soul and enables the spirit to go higher and higher.

Do you prefer short or long hair?

Now that I have tried having no hair at all for a while – I do prefer very very short hair! The traditional Mongolian woman grows her hair very long, perhaps to please the men. Now we have much more freedom of choice, many more Mongolian women are choosing to have short hair.

How tall are you?

170cm. Is that tall or short? It is pretty average for a Mongolian.

Were you well behaved at school?

Yes, I was always a good girl, very obedient! I never had time to play up: I used to practise my violin all the time.

What are your leisure pastimes?

I enjoy getting out of Ulaanbaatar into the fresh country air with my friends at the weekends.

Do you drink and smoke?

I do enjoy a glass of dry red wine; I believe that it is good for the blood circulation. But I only drink in moderation – and unlike many Mongolians, I do not usually drink vodka! I have never smoked and I believe I never will.

Do you play sport?

No, I do not play team sports, although I enjoy swimming.

Do you speak other languages?

No; but I do speak very good Mongolian!

What is the most pleasant way to spend an evening?

Celebrating with colleagues after some significant achievement, of course with my dry red wine in front of me!

Describe your dream partner.

I would love to meet and bond with a person who is a very caring, beautiful human being...he doesn't have to be Mongolian. I like to live life and enjoy the moment: I had it, I have it, I will have it!