Natinwide Cleaning, Nationwide Awakening

Today is National Cleaning Day. It is the government's noble initiative to commemorate a decade of our King's successful golden rule. Today 'every paper you pick & every drain you clear will contribute towards realizing His Majesty's dream of making Bhutan the cleanest country.'
     Our school joins the nation to observe the historic day by spearheading the cleaning program in the community. Teachers are divided into two groups, one for Nganglatrong chiwog and other for Kagtong chiwog, to co-lead the day's program following the directions from the Dungkhag Education Sector.
    With our school located in their chiwog, the people of Kagtong chiwog have an advantage to attend some cleaning related presentations in the school. Yesterday evening I thought of making a presentation or two to uplift the people's status of waste management. And today the day begins with my presentation. It is a cold morning. The sun is just appearing from the southeastern horizon slanting it's rays upon us although it is already 9 am.
I present them a story in which a group of responsible family gets together to make a yucky creek great. Then I highlighted some of the hazards of nondegradable wastes on our natural environment. Stuffs such as plastics, metals and rubbers are very useful in our daily lives but the waste out of them pose great disaster to our environment, I reinforce the gathering.
     Plastics, metals and rubber have become very important materials to produce different goods going by their strengths to withstand any sort of weather. However when they lose their strength of durability, waterproofness, air tightness and usefulness, they become some hazardous wastes in our environment. So what can we do? We can't divorce their use completely. We have to think of some creative solutions to the problems posed by the nondegradable wastes. Therfore my presentation covers some of the simple and possible ways reduce, reuse and recycle some wastes too. Of course there's no doubt the people of rural places don't reuse their wastes. It is often the elites and well-offs who don't reuse wastes. A juice bottle after finishing it's content flies off a window of a posh car while it is a prized container to store best wine in a hut. I reinforce the people's good practice with a pictorial presentation about some suggestive ways to reduce, reuse and recycle wastes.
     At the same time I also urged the people to think of ways to earn cash from trash. I wish the trash business to flourish. I wish the manufacturers could refund atleast 10 percent of the total retail prize of every goods if a customer returns them a container in reusable condition. May be this happening somewhere. In Japan it is really happening, I think. During my short training in Japan in 2014, our escort officials used to advise us not to tear off the foilpapered container specifically milk containers beyond the manufacturer's marked openings and also not to crush the bottles by reasoning that the manufacturer would buy back the containers from trash dealers, wash them and refill with new contents. In our country some beverage companies are buying back the containers from the scrap dealers. And that is why the bars stock up beverage bottles for selling. Now I wish the metal foilpapered containers too could fetch good cash in the business of trash. So even a container saved for selling will lighten the wastes on our natural environment.
     Then an animination movie on environment conservation has been supplementary treat to the gathering while the tea gets ready.
     Right after the tea in the warmth of the sun, we move towards the BHU area through the dusty farmroad. There are plastic wrappers thrown in some nook and corners. The people mostly students picked them all. The junk food wrappers top the collection of waste followed by pet bottles and foilpapered containers.
     Apart from cleaning,  we dig pits at strategic places with high hopes that passerbys will dispose their waste in the pits instead of littering every nook and corners. 
     It is a very good community service. And every glow of garbagefree place we can build on today will add up to the nation's tryst to gift Clean Bhutan to His Majesty the king.
     At least on this day, even a most irresponsible consumer will be sensitized when even high profile officers are out either cleaning or clearing.
     with mandarin season on, the people turnout is not up to our expectations. We expected that all the people will come and join us. However it is consoling to have sent children to represent their house. It is actually the people who are rarely immersed in such program to participate and learn. However the children being the future beneficiaries of the place will grow up into responsible beneficiaries. This is confirmed when I see the children immediately reacting to a man who disposes his wastes in the brook.
     Today we can make the community light by lifting all the litters around and disposing them in the waste pits. Today we are happy that we could join the nation to commemorate a golden decade of His Majesty the king. Today I am happy with big participation of youth in the program although I was little frustrated with those who didn't turn up and those who sent children instead of them. Today I could educate the public on some simple waste management practices.
      Hopefully the people will not throw wastes everywhere to make their place yucky.

     Nationwide cleaning
      Nationwide awakening
     
    

Birds are Always there for me

Birds are always there to greet me every morning I open the windows. Flights.  Tweeter. This is an advantage of having different trees in our school campus. Different birds come and visit trees. Some even nest and settle. This is a beauty of having trees around.
     Of late a couple of birds came into my sight just around my residence especially in the morning hours. I don't have to go deep into woods to watch birds. They come close to our windows and doors. Day before yesterday morning I went around our residence upon hearing unusual chattering of birds. To my amazement an owl was resting on a branch of a tree few meters from behind the house. A Streaked Spider Hunter was was around along with a couple of Red-vented Bulbuls and some tits. I assumed that the birds' chatter out of the fright upon the owl's presence. I couldn't identify what owl it was. It was more likely an Asian Barred Owlet(Glaucidium Cuculoides) going by size and appearance. It was heavily stripped (technically barred) and brown with some white spottings. It was perched restfully favoring me a shot or two in my camera. It's eyes were brilliantly open as if it had fixed eyes on its prey. I stealthily walked towards a tree nearby the garbage pit to capture the bird's perching moment. Meanwhile, the chattering tits and Bulbuls flew from tree to tree as if to indicate their frights. The owl remained perched magnificently and other birds flew around restlessly. In a tick of few seconds, the owl shot itself like an arrow down the thick bush. The other birds kept on chattering. I went down towards the bush to see if the owl was there. It wasn't there. I then came back to watch other birds.
     A group of Green-backed Tits(Parus Monticello) were still chattering on the tree. One by one, they disappeared into the tall trees below the path. The Red-vented Bulbuls (Pycnonotus cafer) remained on the tree while the Streaked Spiderhunter (Arachnothera magna) screeched away towards the playground.
     I came back home satisfied because I got some of the winged ones moments captured in my camera.
     Then yesterday morning, I went around again to see if the owl returned to the tree although I was aware that it would be highly unlikely to spot same bird on the same spot. No more owl that morning nor the tits nor the spiderhunter. Of course Bulbuls are common. However I was drawn towards the Children Park by the laughter of some laughing thrushes. They were White Crested Laughingthrush (Garrulax leucolophus) moving towards the Riverside gurrulously. I could zoom in one of them's brief perch in my camera before they move away one by one from tree to tree out of my sight. I was happy to have some clear shots of the bird. The Laughingthrushes are common in this locality. Often when we are in the nearby woods, their presence is felt with their garrulous laugh. But it is very difficult to photograph them in the bushes because they don't perch more on a same spot like some birds. In my frequent sighting of the bird, I have had tough time to get clear photograph of the bird. So yesterday it had been a sort of moment that the birds came purposefully to present me those better shots. The birds went laughing. I came back satisfied. 
     The sun was just up about 50 cm from the southeast horizon slanting it's rays upon us. Everything was brightening. The dews were sparkling. A drongo perched on a bent top of a bamboo. I felt a warmness surging in me when I could capture the drongo's warmly moment of rest.
      Red-vented Bulbuls and a Long-tailed Shrike are regular visitors in the school garden right in front of our residence. There are beans growing sufficiently. Now that the children are away home after their exam, the vegetables age and fall in the garden helplessly. So the birds take advantage of the fallen seeds. They don't go back satisfied with those fallen ones. They claim the ones on the plants too. So when they perch on the stakes to claim beans, I get better shot of their labour. As their company, bees are always there buzzing from flower to flower of the overgrown spinaches in the garden. Soon these yellow flowers will turn into seeds and more birds will visit to claim the seeds. And more shots I will have of the winged ones if I spend my vacation here.
     I am blessed to have eyes for the birds. In my pleasure of watching and photographing birds, I draw myself towards nature better. And better I feel at a spot of birds when I feel low in the flow of my life.
     Finally if you wanna have birds around, plant trees.

Police Meets the People

Public awareness on everything is very important in this information and technology world. Moreover to withstand unprecedented changes rolling in front of us at a tick of time, it is very important to remain updated, aware and informed. If not we will lose track of the time we live.
     Yesterday evening, a group of three policemen from Panbang had an awareness session with the people of the community. They were here to sensitize the people of some basic laws the people should be aware of and observe.
     They highlighted on some pressing societal issues, the ever increasing youth issues, domestic violence, alcoholism, disputes and vandalism. Every issue was presented with some possible impacts and degree of punishment.
     The spokesperson urged the gathering to take extra care of their children and guide them towards right path before they become liabilities to them and problem in community. He advised the people that they should remain alert of their children's world, their behaviors, their company and their habits. It had been timely program for the people that they would have been reinforced to take care of their children who are coming for a long vacation.  Free from their teachers' eyes and words, some children may loose their track of good habits they observe in their schools if their parents are too much liberal with them.
    Domestic violence is one issue that keeps escalating with change in time, the spokesperson said. Therfore he urged the gathering to create harmony in the family. Although domestic violence has not a big issue in this community,  it had been enlightening for the people to have lights on the impact of the issue in the family and the community. They were warned of how their children would suffer because of domestic violence.
     Then we shouldn't aim to become rich in short time, the spokesperson warned the gathering. He reasoned  that the main cause of chorten vandalism springs out of one's desire to prosper in short time without much sweat. He reinforced the people that they should not indulge in any sort of corruption and evils that would punish them one day or other. He went on to say, when you are detained for your misdeeds, it is not only you who is punished, your spouse and children are punished too. I have seen wisdom in that. Truly if father in a family is convicted out of some misdemeanor, the family empire will wreck and the children will suffer in his absence. Therfore it is best for us not to indulge in any sort of misdemeanor and violence, the spokesperson urged the people eloquently.
     Finally he called for the people's support towards the police force especially in informing them of any sort of crime and issues that may spring in the community. So that we can help you and serve you better, they said.
     It was very educative program. When people are least aware of even basic laws due to lack of better awareness media, an awareness program will surely help them. No doubt media such as TV, radio, and cell phones are in place in the community.  But sadly those media are mere entertainment source to the people. Forget about the people in a rural setting, when even some elite ones take media as mere source of entertainment and time killer. Therefore,  program such as yesterday's will surely create awareness among the people. The people might have taken home some precautionary lessons that will benefit them in particular and the community in general.

Nature Will Always be the Best

When my heart is in accord with the nature, everything sparkles with life. The moment I am in the heart of the nature, everything seems lively and wonderful,  the colour, the grandeur, the music and the splendor of the mother nature. The healing sensation and refreshing feelings the nature blesses me are beyond my conscience to express.
     Yesterday I walked up the Nganglatrong path in search of my misplaced backup charger. I knew that it would be a mere waste of time. It was just my assumption that the charger got slipped out of my hamchu when I was on my way to offer Tashi khadar (ceremonial scarf) to the recently elected local leaders of the Ngangla Gewog. Actually I absent-mindedly lost the thing. However just to confirm my assumption, I went for the search.
     At the same time I was prepared not to regret over the tiring uphill walk if I wouldn't find my charger.
     With my camera in my hood shirt pocket and a sack rolled under my arms I began my search. I looked mostly the right side of the path because our gho's opening is at our right. The path was thickly carpeted with fallen leaves. Some leaves were falling to further thicken the carpeted path. Few birds were in sight. I froze my movement whenever I could sight a bird or two in the branches or bushes. I took photos if I could and savour the captures. When I couldn't capture the birds due to the delay in taking out the camera or missing the light shots on my subject, I calm myself with a thought that I would be blessed with better shot the next bend.
      Of a couple of birds I saw on my way up, a Yellow-bellied Fantail offered me a perfect rest while blessing me with some splendid shots. As soon as my eyes meet the bird in a branch, I unzipped my camera pouch and shot out the lights. The bird flew away. And the camera revealed only blurred capture of leaves and twigs. I sensed that the bird knew my presence and took off for its safety. I put back the camera in my pocket. I resumed my walk. After a step or two the bird appeared again on the same branch. So stealthily, I stepped back and began to take shots. The bird moved back and forth from the skeleton branch and the leafy branch. I could capture the bird whenever it lands on the bare branch. Having to zoom more, I have to hold my breath in order to have clear shot. In that moment of holding my breath over a stretch of about 5 minutes, I felt rested. And moreover refreshed. Even more than that I sensed a sense of fulfillment reeling in me. I almost forgot about my real mission.
For being successful in stealing some of the bird's moment after few minutes of my walk, I thought I wouldn't have to regret even if I couldnt accomplish my mission of finding the charger.
     I resumed my journey. The bird continued its flight between the two branches, the bared one and the leafy one. Not forgetting my mission,I looked everywhere towards the right. At the same time I also scanned the woods. Few patches of clouds were rolling in the sky. The birds were in chirp, some near and some far. After few minutes up, some pink flowers appeared alongside the path. I don't know the name of the flower.  Locally it is called Choepala Meto.
The blooming of the flower is a indication that their main and annual festival, Choepala is approaching, the locals belief. By the time the people observe the Choepala which is about 10 days away, Choepala Meto will be in full bloom adorning the nature. I took a couple of shots of the flower and then focused the camera down towards the school.
    Then as had throughout the walk, walking, huffing, scanning nature and focusing towards right, I reached Nganglatrong. No backup charger! My mission failed. But I didn't regret. I enjoyed the walk and observed many things in the wood.
     I took rest for few minutes. Now I had to forget my mission of searching my charger.  Instead I had to execute the new mission of collecting some humus while decending down to the school. The sack that remained under my arm would be unrolled and filled on the way home.
    On the way, I was again thrilled with granduar of nature. Great patches of clouds in the sky, green trees against the backdrop of blue mountain and brown carpeted paths were priceless wonder I felt and seen. The birds' tweeter and crackling of leaves and twigs under my feet were so soothing. A mountain bulbul alike bird on a branch froze me again. I quickly pointed my camera towards the bird. Since I was facing against the light, I couldn't capture clear shots of the bird. Referring the bird's greenish upperparts and streaked throat, I considered a mountain bulbul. Though I wasn't sure about the bird, it gave me a perfect moment to capture some drongos in flight. Without having to step further and let the birds know my presence, I could capture all the drongos that appeared on a tree few meters from me till they disappear one by one in tall trees. When the birds were not appearing, I captured great colour of the nature inspired by faraway grey sky, bluish mountain, bare trees, clothed trees and leaf-filled paths.
     Finally I was back with half-filled sack of humus for the flower pots at the school. But my heart was fully filled with happiness inspired by all the elements that I came across. Although I couldn't find my charger, I found splendid joy walking through the wooded path.

Unusual To Experience Cold but Usual to Experience Change

It is unusual to experience cold weather with approaching winter going by the summer's humid and torrid days. As days become shorter, the sun also stays for short time. The sun appears at around 9 am from behind the Ngangla Hill. It stays, disappearing haze, drinking up dews, brightening the place and of course helping plants make food, and retires early at around 3:30-4:00 pm. Where as in summer, the sun peeps from the eastern horizon as early as 6:00 am and withdraws it's rays late at 6:30 pm. Thus I consider the short appearance of the sun as one attribute to the cold weather in winter. And other could be attributed to the state of the place being near a river called Bdarangang which is located at about 10 minutes of leisurely walk from the school.
      The seasonal flowers are drying and the grasslands browning. The farm road and the paths are becoming dusty and definitely the trees and plants along the farm roads will gather dusts until a rainy time. Vegetables, particularly spinach and beans, are in abundance. Cabbages and brocollis are beginning to claim their places. And with the rain gone long time back, the success of vegetables depends on the success of our dedication towards our garden. We have to water our garden every evening and if not once in two or three days. The privet hedge gardens in the school are included too. We make sure that the hedges get watered at least once in a week. We are blessed with adequate water and we are thankful to the Dungkhag Education Sector for supporting us with gardening pipes that makes our gardening successful in our own efforts.
     The farmers are beginning to reap their winter corn harvest. And at the same time they are turning towards their orange orchards as the later begin to colour and bend. Then some are earning cash at the school constructing the children's toilets.  Good number of young farmers are away to mint cash, some in Paro and others in Phuntsholing. As the demand of modern times begin to crawl in, the people are not left to live contended and happy with whatever they produce on their farmlands. The pressure to earn and own something keep increasing. The typical eco-friendly houses are slowly disappearing. With roads and lines adorning the places, many things have to put into place, electronics and furniture. And smart phones are no exception. The higher the children ascend in education, the higher their expenditures despite upcoming of three central schools in the Dzongkhag.
     The days are becoming chilly especially morning and evening times. And so is the people's lives. Although it is unusual to experience cold weather going by the summer heat, the change the people have to undergo is not unusual. They are answering the call of modern times.

11.11.2016

Today we had a wonderful school picnic. We could celebrate His Majesty the 4th king Jigme Single Wangchuk's 61st Birth Anniversary with all the happiness, cheers and laughters we wove in the moment of the picnic.
    

The Americans Vote for Us

Tomorrow, November 8 2016, will decide the fate of Americans of the US. Millions will go to polls to elect their 45th President. Who wins, Republicans Donald Trump or Democrats' Hillary Clinton, is a headache of Americans. I don't have power to vote nor do I influence the people through my opinions or whatsoever. When I don't even have a influence in my nation than just a right to vote how can I have influence on the most powerful nation's election.
     However with Americans influence all over the world, the impact of whoever becomes the president elect tomorrow will be felt across the globe. Therefore though I don't have a right to vote, I have a right to pray for Americans to vote for a candidate whose national interest and policy runs parallel with global peace and prosperity. The Americans' votes are powered with global mandates and responsibilities as much as they are charged with every Americans' voice and dreams.
     Now the dust of the campaign has been settling and the people may be seriously meditating over who to vote. May they also think of us who are helpless in the fate of the election but share a bit of aftermath of the election. 
     The Americans vote for us too. The American leader is our voice too.

Our Plants are Growing

Others may think that I am working extra when they see me watering the school flower gardens some evenings. But  watering flowers is not a work for me. I simply love it. I love to see the plants grow when I care them.
     This year my spring and summer share of hardwork paid. The flower gardens that we developed in the school have been successful with all the privet growing. The privets were planted on trail basis referring some ways of plantation from the Google and experiences shared by others. At first I tried right in front of my residence. Having seen the plants growing well under my constant care, I took my gardening further to the Cub den that was just taking shape. I was happy to get some helps from my colleagues and children. For about a month I had to water the plants every evening. And then came the rainy season that the plants got watered freely. The children did timely weddings. Similarly my colleagues tried in other places and they too are successful.
     Last week during his visit, our DCDEO Mr Sonam Wangdi was impressed with our progress in flower gardening. We are also thankful to our former principal Mr Sonam Wangchuk who introduced the privets in the school. I had seen him coming back with loads of the plants everytime he went out for meetings and workshops. It took great trouble to have the mothrrlode of the plants in the school. Sometimes monsoon rain washed way all the nutrients in soil that the plants disappeared. But the principal didn't give up. He came up an Idea to fence the gardens with concrete box. So the cooks were assigned to develop concrete boxes around the gardens to retain the nutrients during heavy rainfall. As a result the plants began to grow and now we don't have to bring the plants from anywhere for our new gardens. We prune the overcrowding and overgrowing plants and plant them in the new gardens.
      This year under my leadership I couldn't afford concrete retention fences around the newly developed gardens. However we mulched the plants with grass and other dried plants to retain nutrients and moisture. The mulching we did helped in growing the plants as we expected. And to fill up the disappearing plants we had raised nursery in noodle and chips wrappers. Just last week we filled up the spaces in our gardens with our nursery plants.
     Hopefully the plants would turn into spectacular hedges in a year or two. The ones grown under Mr Sonam Wangchuk's leadership have turned into great hedges providing great treat to both outsiders and insiders.
     we will keep caring the plants. I remember planting those privets when the farmers were busy planting cardamoms. Our plants are growing. May be the farmers cardamoms are growing too. In a year or two, the farmers' pocket will bulge with cash out of their cardamon and our heart will brighten with happiness and satisfaction out of the spectacular hedges shaped through our collective effort.

Hope My Hope will Live on

Autumn 2016 has stepped in bidding  goodbye to the summer that had made us to experience both extreme wet and hot weathers. Of course the autumn has already set in going by the physical change the unexpected change in weather brought in. Following about more than a week's continuous torrential downpour, the sun had been hooking us with its hottest rays. The bushes in summer by nature are impenetrable by us fearing the wilderness of the bushes themselves and multiple dangers lurking in them. But this summer had seen bushes clearing long before the approach of the autumn. The people in the community were seen visiting the forest without any fear of meeting wild creatures. I don't know whether the summer experiencing sudden shift in weather would go on well with the health of the global weather or not. Without even a dust of knowledge on climate science, commenting on weather and climate change is beyond my range of knowledge. However as a responsible global citizen and moreover with some drops of love for nature in my DNA, I was bit concerned about how plants and animals would have received the sudden weather change, long days of wet weather followed by long days of hot weather.
      Whatsoever had been the matter, the summer bid bye with a moderate rainfall towards yesterday evening and the autumn takes charge with a moderate rainfall too.
     I welcomed the autumn with some incense of mist streaming out of the forest carrying away my mind this morning when I was putting on my shoes on the verandah. Having to run household chores in the absence of my wife, I hardly get time to relish morning freshness and beauty. However my eyes meeting mist streaming out and climbing up the small mountain made me forget the piles of my day's work. That was my hope that the autumn will pass on productively.
     Hope my hope wasn't crushed under the peach tree at my residence which fell down in the evening right in front of the boys who were retiring to their makeshift hostel in the evening.  Fortunately the tree fell down before they crossed it. (They have to pass under the tree) Good number of our chilli plants were crushed and no other casualties. The tree used to bent generously with delicious fruits in summer following its pink bloom in spring. Now we are short of a peach tree and so will be for the squirrels who used to rely on the tree for peaches. Few days before the peaches are fully ripe, the squirrels used to visit the tree frequently passing through the roof of my residence even at midnight. Their homes must be in the woods behind the residence. Often they come jumping from tree to tree for the fruits available near our residence. Nowadays they are for gauvas. During peach season they are for peaches. Now with the tree fallen down helplessly, the squirrels have to look for other trees next year for their meal as we will have to for fruits. Apart from being a source of fruits for us and meals for squirrels and bulbuls, the peach tree had been home, resting and feasting place for many birds, insects and rodents. It also had been the holder for passion fruit climbers. Now we have think of growing passion fruits somewhere. At the same time we have to look for a pole to string the rod for drying cloths because till today the tree had been holding an end of the rod.
     Although the tree was gone unexpectedly, it would never be found useless till it disappears completely due to unavoidable force of nature. I have already thought of its use. I am thinking to put some of its parts in the cub den to grow orchids and others as bean stakes. Moreover how many seeds it might have produced and then the seeds germinated into new plants? The tree is never gone. It will live on till it gets extinct with unexpected change in weather like the one we experienced last summer. So a tree is more than what most of us see it as just a simple and single sort of thing. 
      The tree will live on and so will be my autumn's hope of productivity and efficiency to deliver best service to the stakeholders of my current work place.

The Rain Treat

The light showers in the afternoon today and yesterday were much awaited treat to everyone after more than fortnights of dry and torrid days. After wreaking havoc in most parts of our country especially in the southern regions, the rain refused to show its face for more than 17 days. Although hot and dry the days had been, the nation got enough time to recover the aftermaths of one of the worst monsoons ever. The things are now almost fallen into shape. But the plants and trees seemed in dire need of water. I have seen the flowers around wilting and earth wrinkling with cracks due to continuous sun shine. The heat had been intense everyday that sweats streamed even when we are not working especially during electricity blackouts. For the wilting privets around our national flag in front of the administrative building, I had to water every evening. Since yesterday I don't have to with the come back of the rain. Moreover the children won't have to struggle to break hard bouldered earth in the school agriculture garden for their up coming gardening works. And the farmers' corn will germinate better with a touch of rain. Perhaps plants and trees would have been watered free of cost.

The Best Story of My Weekend

I tried to write a couple of stories for children yesterday. I referred some children books to draw some ideas and insights to get started with a story. 
      Of four stories I could write with some difficulties, the following story came out as best I could write:
    
     We are all back home in an evening as usual.
     Dad is back home from his office.
     Ama is back home from her stall.
     Brother is back home from his college.
     I am back home from my school.
     From a supermarket, dad brings some packed milk.
     From her stall, mum brings some burgers and other junks.
     And brother brings some canned juice and packed tea.
     May be, this evening too, no whiff of of family cooking at home, I mumble.
     After our normal few minutes  private times of showers and changes, we are back in our living room.
     Father opens his computer and glues his eyes on the monitor. Mum watches TV toying her smartphone alongside. Brother muffles his ears with the earphones and busy at the PlayStation. I resign to my room to do my homework. I am struck some where with my mathematics problem.
     "Dad help me with my homework please." Dad comes in, hands me his smartphone, turn on home WiFi and suggest me to browse through. He leaves and I google my problem.
     In few minutes, mum shows up in the room with a burger and a glass of milk.
     "Are we not eating together today too? Mum."
     "Dad is busy and so is your brother. I am busy too and so you are."
     I munch the burger and drink the milk yearning for home cooked food from my father or mother's hands.
     Then I tiptoe towards my brother.
     "Acho let's play a while."
     He hands me his joystick and let me play a game at his PlayStation while he fiddles his smartphone.
     Then I am tried of the screen glaring at me. I pop into the living room where mum is still watching her serial.
      "Mum, come and tell me a bedtime story please."
      She comes and handover her iPad to me putting on a Disney's animated movie.
     "Apa did you really help me with my homework???"
      "Acho, did you really play with me"
     "Ama, did you really tell me a story???"
     "Parents, did you really cook that dinner???"
     I muttered and turn off the light.

The story is realistic, isn't it???
    

In the Name of Physical Beautification and Development

Sometimes, it is very difficult to work in a small school with small children when it comes to physical beautification and physical works. With most children little taller than the length of spde, shovl and pick axe handles, it is very challenging to materialize most of the physical works as planned. To have an ambience of a child friendly school, physical beautification is must to make a learning environment inviting and congenial. But beautification doesn’t come up naturally without investing our physical works. Although natural beauty is a true beauty that cannot be surpassed by any human-made beauty, wilderness is not a treat to most of the modern eyes. And as a result we have to scratch and butcher, chisel and shape, cut and crop, every natural thing around us to suit our eyes. In the name of physical beautification, most trees and plants are denied of their wilderness. Weeds and grass which falls in the vicinity of any human settlement are not lucky. Weeds are either cut or weeded out on regular basis and grass are mowed timely not excluding fates of privets that are pruned or trimmed as and when they penetrates the shape a gardener shaped. 
     Our school too has to commit all the above mentioned sins to suit the moods of all of us. If left in wilderness, outsiders take bad imprints of the school. And for the insiders, we feel that the environment is not safe and pleasant for learning and living if left in wildness. The task of transforming every natural things around us takes tremendous hard physical works in a small school like ours. It is hard to garner support of the community's people with the priority of their scheduled work at home. And the people are not that prosperous enough to sponsor some important projects in the school. Worse still, our school is surviving on shoestring budget that we are helpless to channel some of budget towards physical development. And government's planned developmental project doesn't cover everything that we dream to have an ambience of child friendly school. As a result, all beautification works and petty developmental works falls in our hands. Inch by inch, we have to share our physical energies to fall everything in the shape that is presentable to others and inviting to us.
     The last weekend saw us developing a badminton court suitable for our children to develop basic skill of playing the game.  It is our aim to make all the games facilities available to our children. But in the small playground already in place we cannot divide the ground to play all the games. Yes we can make the ground to play multi games and let the children play the game in turn but most of the children especially the smaller ones land up not getting opportunity to play at least a game in a week. So with every game having its place to play, most children are immersed in a game or two in a day. Those who are not allowed to play football can move to other games. 
     In a torrid heat of August, in our attempt to develop the badminton court, countless drops of sweats dropped off from us and countable blisters appeared on our hands. The children were willing to help us but they were helpless as always in terms of major manual works. It was really pitiful to observe our children seeming exhausted in few minutes not being able to dig with comfort with tools' handles almost their height. As a result they were given lighter work to haul the dug earth taking their own time. I was really proud of my colleagues working hard to shape the bushy garden into a playground. After toiling for more than hour, we were satisfied with the ground falling in a place to develop a badminton court. In a shade we had pineapple juice prepared by our lady colleagues who toiled equally with those children assigned to weed flower gardens and cut grass around. We decided to continue the work inch by inch without taxing our bodies much. The coolness of the shade by the generous trees around dried our sweats and refreshingly cooled us. No matter how much tried we were in the middle in the day, something taking shape out of our own physical contribution, earned us at least a good nights sleep.
 

In the Name of Physical Beautification and Development

Sometimes, it is very difficult to work in a small school with small children when it comes to physical beautification and physical works. With most children little taller than the length of spde, shovl and pick axe handles, it is very challenging to materialize most of the physical works as planned. To have an ambience of a child friendly school, physical beautification is must to make a learning environment inviting and congenial. But beautification doesn’t come up naturally without investing our physical works. Although natural beauty is a true beauty that cannot be surpassed by any human-made beauty, wilderness is not a treat to most of the modern eyes. And as result we have to scratch and butcher, chisel and shape, cut and crop, every natural thing around us to suit our eyes. In the name of physical beautification, most trees and plants are denied of their wilderness. Weeds and grass which falls in the vicinity of any human settlement are not lucky. Weeds are either cut or weeded out on regular basis and grass are mowed timely not excluding fates of privets that are pruned or trimmed as and when they penetrates the shape a gardener shaped. 
     Our school too has to commit all the above mentioned sins to suit the moods of all of us. The task of transforming every natural things around us takes tremendous hard physical works in a small school like ours. It is hard to garner support of the community's people with their priority of their scheduled work at home. And the people are not that prosperous enough to sponser some important project in the school. Worse still, our school is surviving on shoestring budget. And government's planned developmental project doesn't cover everything that we dream to have an ambience of child friendly school. As a result, all beautification works and petty developmental works falls in our hands. Inch by inch, we have to share our physical energies to fall everything in the shape that is presentable to others and inviting to us.
     This weekend saw us developing a badminton court suitable for our children to develop basic skill of playing the game.  It is our aim to make all the games facilities available to our children. But in the small playground already in place we cannot divide the ground to play all the games. Yes we can make the ground to play multi games and let the children play the game in turn but most of the children especially the smaller ones land up not getting opportunity to play at least a game in a week. So with every game having its place to play, most children are immersed in a game or two in a day. Those who are not allowed to play football can move to other games. 
     In a torrid heat of August, in our attempt to develop the badminton court, countless drops of sweats dropped off from us and countable blisters appeared on our hands. The children were willing to help us but they were helpless as always in terms of major manual works. It was really pitiful to observe our children seeming exhausted in few minutes not being able to dig with comfort with tools' handles almost their height. As a result they were given lighter work to haul the dug earth taking their own time. I was really proud of my colleagues working hard to shape the bushy garden into a playground. After toiling for more than hour, we were satisfied with the ground falling in a place to develop a badminton court. In a shade we had pineapple juice prepared by our lady colleagues who toiled equally with those children assigned to weed flower gardens and cut grass around. We decided to continue the work inch by inch without taxing our bodies much. The coolness of the shade by the generous trees around dried our sweats and refreshingly cooled us. No matter how much tried we were in the middle in the day, something taking shape out of our own physical contribution, earned us at least a good nights sleep.
 

The Bard is Back

As much as other English Literature scholars and students are happy with the news of the comeback of Shakespeare in our English Curriculum, I am deligithed too. Happiness might have crossed borders for those Shakespeare fanatics with the news. I am fortunate to know  a few yet devoted Shakespeare fans in our country. My Lecturer and friend Sir Karma Wangchuk, my inspiration in the world of arts, nature and literature, of Paro College of Education is a bona fide son of Shakespeare as far as I know, heard and seen about him. In his nerves flows Shakespearean wisdom, pure and clear, as oozed out of the bard’s pen. He would often comment that no English Literature is complete without Shakespeare. With Shakespeare in his DNA, he would make the plays lively for us and in the process we would earn lots of values especially critical thinking skills.  I was one of the fortunate students to taste the creams of Shakespearean literature from him. He would serve us best of the best Shakespeare’s universal cuisines unadulterated by incompetency and shallowness of Shakespearean knowledge. With Shakespeare in him, inspiration and love for the literature streamed naturally in me. During his one of visits to England, the opportunity to visit the bard's birth place, Stratford upon Avon, had been greatest moment that he felt like visiting the bard in real.
      Then Mr K C Jose who had been an English Lecturer in both the colleges of education in our country is one for the Shakespeare. I don’t know him personally nor did I study literature from him. I have realized his love of Shakespeare through reading of his articles in newspapers and academic journals. Mr Jose opined in one of his papers, My Reflection Note on the New English Curriculum VIII-XII, Proceedings of Ringpung Experiment XVI, June 2009, ‘The Bard-upon-Avon, to me, just irreplaceable. No other authors-be it poet, a novelist or a dramatist- of any clime or time has the range, the beauty and the universality that Shakespeare has.’ And through such views and comments he voiced in a couple of his articles I read, I consider him as one of the fans of the bard. And then Mr Lobsang Nima, through reading of his blog post(Lobsang Nima’s Soulsearching Diary)  on the bard a couple of times, is one who loves Shakespeare in our nation. Further our former education minister T S Podgyel who is considered king of English Literature in our country may be for the bard. I have heard some elites sharing how they would enjoy learning Shakespearean plays from the minister as a lecturer. At times I have heard that most elites consider him as our nation's Shakespeare for the ocean of wisdom he holds and  the ripples he had been in the nation and beyond. However many people including my lecturer Karma didn't know why Mr Thakhur couldn't retain Shakespearean plays during curriculum shift as the chair. Many may not have been in favor of the bard, they used to conclude.
     There may be many who love the bard through his works which appeals even in this digital world.
    Personally for the opportunity to learn two plays, The Taming of the Shrew and The Tempest, in high schools, Indepth study of the play, The Tempest, in Paro College of Education and finally AsYou Like It and few of his timeless sonnets in my PGDE course in Sherubtse, supported by reading of some of his simplified plays by the modern publishers, supplemented by watching movie version of most of the plays and topped with inspiration from my leturer Karma, I claim myself as one of the lovers of Shakespeare's  works.   But I am not claiming myself an expert in Shakespeare nor am I establishing myself as one of the all known English literature man. I am just expressing little that I am blessed with the bard’s work through experience and inspiration.
     For the greatness and vastness of shakespearn wisdom, some people try to boost their status of literature through Shakespeare and his works. During our school and college days how some of us would walk tall displaying the covers of Shakespeare’s works. And still today some people feel proud having made reference to Shakespeare in their writings, social media posts, speeches and daily conversations. All these behaviours whether we are shallowly or deeply immersed in Shakespearean works, are actually the expression our the bard’s greatness and vastness. The true greatness rest in his true greatness of all his works.
     Now that the bard is back and if I get posted in high schools, I would be blessed to share some of the creams of Shakespeare with others too. May be that time I will be thrown into the ocean of Shakespeare and can fathom the depth of Shakespeare in our life. As of now I am only delighted that he is back in our curriculum in his 400 th  death anniversary which is commemorated worldwide, grand in his country, England, drawing in thousands of visitors. May the bard live long in our curriculum enthralling and broadening our children till eternity.

Time Without Dullness and Inactivity

As a teacher, there isn’t any time for me to tick by with dullness and inactivity. I am always pushed into one or two of course many activities, planned and unplanned, going by the nature of my job no matter how much laziness and dullness engulf me at times. With many pairs of innocent eyes expecting something from me, I am obliged to present them something to let their times tick productively. At times when I finish my planned tasks  before time, i worry how to fill the remaining time with productive ticks. It is very challenging for me to fill the times of the small children. They are restless and my failure to engage them is a total disaster in the classroom. Within 50 minutes in each class, I  have to confluence all my means and methods—recall, remember, reflect, invent, innovate, improvise, etc—to  to maintain smooth flow of the class.
     And for the time and energy I release to make my children's time meaningful, I am rewarded with times without dullness and inactivity in my life. 

Better Out than Bang

I was writing a serious article for my blog few minutes back. I was struck with a paragraph. Nothing, nothing came out of me even after about an hour of thinking. I couldn't ooze out my ideas through the pen on the paper. I was really struck.
     I took out my camera and went out to refresh myself. I went anticlockwise my residence with my eyes in the trees anticipating a bird or two. No birds. But a squirrel captivated my eyes for about fuve minutes. I froze my moment to capture the squirrel's moment. With a small guava in its mouth, the squirrel ran the tree beside the waste pit. As I expected, it stopped on a branch to nibble its hunt. It was perfect view for me to capture its view till the guava fell down unfortunately. Then it ran away leaping from tree to tree and vanished into thick woods below my residence.
     I walked further following the drain below the playground. The group of children led by sir Dendup and Ms Kezang did exceptional job in clearing the drain blocked by sands and thick bushes. They dug out the mud and cleared the bushes. They too might have released extra energy in doing that job as equally as those involved in draining out the puddle behind the academic block.
     An iguana crawling in the drain took me further. The iguana stopped when I stopped. And yet another moment for me to froze to take the reptile's moment. It rested perfectly against brown background of soil. A perfect camouflage, I mumbled. It crawled fast at the sound of my doorstep and vanished into the bushes. The grasshoppers hopped and crickets creaked as I moved further.
      After few minutes of scanning the nature around, Dharangang River rushing fast, crickets creaking, butterflies fluttering... I turned back to my residence hoping that I would would be able to clear the boulders blocking the flow of my writing which I considered carried a serous note.
     Sometimes it is better to go out into the nature and come back refreshed with her power when struck in the middle of any important assignment. Better go out than banging our head on the desk when I am short of ideas.  

Our Weekend Fight

According to some media reports, the incessant rain the nation received for more than a week had been worse since 2007. Across the nation, the incessant downpour wreaked havoc especially in they're really southern regions. Many roads and bridges were reported to be damaged. Sarpang town was hit worse with flood water entering the town. Even His Majesty the King paid his royal visit to investigate the flooded places and provided consolation and hope to those hit worse in Sarpang Dzongkhag. The people realized the royal concern with His majesty visiting the affected places such as Doti River and Amochu in Phuntsholing. The Dantak workers and army personals deployed by HM felt motivated to speed up their work of constructing bailey bridge at Kamji to connect Phuntsholing-Thimphu highway. With Phuntsholing-Thimphu highway disconnected for about a week, some imported vegetables and things were reported ‘becoming expensive’ in Thimphu. I have read about some volunteers ferrying oxygen cylinders on their shoulders at the Kamji block feeling the pains of those patients at National Referral Hospital in Thimphu. Similar disasters were felt all across the nation.
     In the school we felt lucky for no report of any disaster in the community although we received similar torrential downpours that other places received. The children were bombarded with their safety taking into account of the probable disasters accompanying peak monsoon. We could carry out our classes without having to brave any sort of disasters. However, we experienced difficulty in commuting from one place to another with mud splattering our cloths and legs. We dearly longed for internal footpaths to come up in near future. Unlike other officers, teachers have to move from class to class and hence without concrete footpaths, it is difficult for us to maintain our cleanliness. Finally we had to resort to slippers which proved no better than shoes. And gumboots would have been better if we were allowed by our official etiquette although they are very similar in design of our ceremonial boots ‘tshoglhams’. During the last Lower Kheng principals Meet, we were advised not to allow even trainers and sneakers during office hours. Sometimes when disasters wreak havoc, it is difficult to comply by our official etiquette. May be bare foot would be more safe solution to prevent our shoes from splattering mud time and again without going against our official etiquette.
     The puddle formed behind the new academic block has been concern for us. We are concerned that the puddle would weaken the foundation of the building and cause a major disaster in the future. So for that today we were involved in drying the puddle by taking out the water through drains. Last year sir karma had initiated to get rid of the puddle with the help of his club’s children. However the recent incessant rain formed the puddle again, perhaps bigger than last year’s. we dug gravel sand brought by the water from the road and tried to level the ground. As our work progressed, we discovered a couple of water streaming out at a side of the ground. we thought that they were the waters of our kitchen and tap that had been sipped into the ground. but sir Karma heard that the water has been there naturally since long time back. Later an elderly woman who was passing by confirmed that the water occurs naturally in 5th and 6th month every year. We had to resort to meander the water towards the road to avoid future disaster by any means. The teachers and bigger boys dug the gravel sands and put them in sacks. Smaller children picked up the sacks and filled the puddle. But we couldn’t fill the puddle and level the ground despite our restless effort of about 1 and half hours in the sun. We could drain out only some water through high drains we dug and lower a bit of volume of water in the puddle. In the end we were all plastered with mud and dirt. The group which were deployed in clearing the drain below our playground which was built as sort of mitigation work to avoid landslide were tried equally. The children were advised to bathe, wash their clothes and change the dress right away. After that we refreshed ourselves with cool mango and orange juice followed by a movie as promised before the commencement of our work.
     I am very happy for the support and effort my team have for me in any kind of work I dream for the school. I pray for them to be blessed more than the sweats they shed for the wellbeing of the children.

NFE Opening Session at Nganglatrong

On Monday this week I had an opportunity to visit Nganglatrong NFE Center for the opening session for the new learners. Of the nine learners registered through the Tshogpa last spring, six were present at the inauguration. As the temporary head of the school, it is one of my responsibilities to look after the motion of the center. And I was invited by the instructor Leki as an key person to preside over the opening session coupled with a meeting.
     It was at the peak of the heavy downpour our nation was braving. Everything was totally wet and there seemed disasters lurking around in every twist and turn of our ascend up the Nganglatrong path. Luckily Acho Kencho, our school cook, had knife that he cleared the path that had been blocked completely by a fallen tree at one point. The gravelled soil couldn't hold the tree longer. Even a fall of branch would be a disaster through a thick forest. So no time to rest , enjoy nature and ascend with ease. Hurriedly we reached the road without minding the elastic leeches. At the shop over a packet of juice, I pinched out about five leeches from inside my socks. The rain was still dropping. Sir Dendup and Miss Kezang who were on their journey to PD workshop at Zhemgang were struck there following the advice of Tshogpa regarding the swollen stream near Dongdor. I already reminded them not to push their journey hard that I would request the DEOs to adjust them in the next group. So understandingly DEO Karma looked into our matter.
     I suggested them to join me and the cook to the opening session of the NFE for the new learners. Together under the dome of our umbrellas, we went towards the center, rain pattering and our feet sloshing.
     We were warmly welcomed by the instructor, Tshogpa and the learners in Tshogpa's residence. Tea and bangchang came first followed by snacks and boiled eggs. As we talk about the worsening weather over the tea and chang, the learners joined us sitting face to face with us. The instructor formally welcomed me, my team and others for the opening ceremony. In his welcome note he mentioned that he was very happy with our presence to grace the ceremony. Then it was my turn to deliver few words about the importance of education in our lives. It was indeed a platform for me to inspire, motivate and convince a group of people in the community apart from my students. I highlighted the power of education in this fast challenging and changing world. There are chances that other might deceive you while making agreement be it over loan or dispute if you don't know how to read, I reinforced the power of being able to read. Then the advantage to read prayer books and signboard was another benefit the education would endow them. The other power of education, of course the most practical and emerging cream of education I had shared was the advantage to use the smart phones to their fullest once our language got programmed on phones like in Japen, China and Korea.(hopefully our language would develop power to get progrmmed on electronics as one of the language options) I also shared them about the possibility of coming of CLC(Community Learning Centre) and the advantage they would have as literate in grabbing the life skill education CLCs would empower them. Lastly I restated them to complete the course without fail realizing the values and skills they would learn in NFE's purpose to make them literate to read fluently and write legibly.
     Then forming of committee, setting of norms and timings poured in. The program ended with lunch arranged by the instructor.
     With the hope that the program would go smoothly till the end we journeyed back to the school with the rain still showering and mist still hanging heavily around. We had to rush with our senses alert through the leech infested forest.

Upon repeated invitation from Bjankhar lam, i along with a couple of frriends and some field staff went to Bjangkhar Lhakhang to attend tsechu. 
     As we set our journey,  the day was bright.  It was good to have the sun after some days of heavy downpour and gloom.  With blessed heart and glowed face we journeyed to the lhakhang through breath taking nature at her best.  The school children who were taken there for their cub investiture ceremony were more excited to play on the bridge over Dharangang River which is underutilized asset in the community. Some children were experiencing their first steps on the bridge.  Frightfully but carefully they step their feet and cross over. In few minutes their terrors were gone they were having fun running across. 
     We were welcomed heartily by the host and the people.  The children were served orange juice while we were treated with tea and chang.  About half the people in the community gathered there for the tsechu.  Forgeting their work and worries the people were seen having perfect rest,  talking and relaxing over a tokshing(bucket) of bangchang.  We could also join them and share some moments strengthening our bond with them.  Of course by involving ourselves in the community gatherings like that,  we could learn many things which we usually neglect in our life. 
      It had been a great moment for our school cub members.  They felt honoured to receive their scarves from the lam.  The moment was solemn as the cubs receive their scarves and make their cub promise. The idea of scouting penetrates even in the remote hamlets. And that the people especially the parents of the cubs feel proud to see their children receiving scarves from someone whom they regard as special person in their community. When we cannot club cub investiture with some significant events in the school,  it is hard to draw the people. And thus why not add little spice to the programme of the local festival.
     Towards the end of the programme,  the lam enlightened the people significance of the Lord Buddha's parinirvina coupled with his reinforcement on the need of merit accum7lation in their lives. 
     When i wasnt able to host cub investiture in the school,  i could do that day at the lhakhang.  When i wasnt able to do some good turns to commemorate the lord Buddhas parinirvina,  i could walk to the lhakhang and attend the religious activity there. May all sentient being have perfect time to rest. 

The farmers in the community are planting money and I am planting beauty these days. I mean they are planting cardamom and I am planting privet hedges and a couple of flowers. Surely in three to four years the farmers will pocket in hefty cash and I will embrace the beauty of my hard work if i will be here. 
      I am not sure whether all the privet hedges I am planting will survive or not.  Although the privets are among fast growing bushes, there are numerous factors that hindering their growth.  In the first place,  I am doubtful whether my way of planting is technically correct or not.  I am not aware about the technical aspect of growing this plant.  However I have seen the plants well developed in other places especially at educational centres.  And I was very fortunate to see a gardener in Gelephu HSS maintaining hedges last winter when I was there on invigilation duty.  The gardener advised me that it would be better if we raise nursery of the plants first. Here I am following his suggestion that I asked my children to collect a good number of snack covers and fill them with a fertile soil.  Then I clip the aged plants and plant them in the washed snack wrappers.  I keep them under the peach tree canopying the water tap beside my residence.  I water them regularly and make sure that they receive mild sun for their proper growth.
     My last weekend was spent on planting the privets in the new cub park I am developing for the school.  The nursery plants I am raising patiently will replace those which will not survive as a result of stamping by children and of course as a result of not receiving required nutrients and care from my side.  I have urged my students to be mindful not to stamp their feet while visiting the park.  I am dreaming of my present project to be a source of delight to both outsiders and insiders. 
     Slowly and steadily the park of my dream is coming into shape with encouraging support from my colleagues and children.  I have deputed the two cooks to build a miniature house quintessentially kheng in nature.  But they have come up with an average peoples height house which still is fit for the park.  With the people shifting towards concrete buildings in the name of improved living standards typical kheng house build out of naturally available materials such as bamboo, wood and cane will walk out of this community,  I think.  So my modest dream to have a miniature kheng house in the school campus may act as a model house in some years to come if it survives the scrutiny of future leaders and faculty of this school. Sustainability of my miniature house is still at risk with the central schools pulling all the children in the community.  However i am still positive that the school area would fall in the hands of good in charge who would let beauties in the school area enthrall everyone.  Markus wild,  a swiss photographer who had been here in this community a couple of years back developed a special affinity for the typical kheng house.  He was enthralled by the naturally sourced house that he loved to sleep and dine in the thatched houses than in those concrete house.  I had special moment of making excursion with Markus in some of the remote villages in this community during which i have learnt his interest in typical kheng house. One as a teacher and other as a foreigner, we would be showered with best of the hospitalities in every village we visit.  So the people would prefer us to sleep and dine in concrete houses with the hope to treat us with speciality but Mr Markus would decline the offers favoring huts and local drinks and cuisines.   His great affinity and admiration towards the typical kheng house was engraved and immortalised on the cover page of the book he coauthored 'Bhutan's Cultural Diversity' with a spectecular picture of a typical kheng house in Pongchaling. 
      With monsoon approaching,  the rains are getting heavier and heavier.  The start of heavy rainfall coincided with my planting of hedges and flowers.  I don't have to water the plants regularly.  The timely rain is surely a blessing for the flowers in the school.  And of course for the people's cardamon. 
     May farmers pocket in hefty cash out of their sweats in planting cardamoms while people whoever would be around embrace the beauty I and my friends are planting in the school. 

(The following post was written on May 2 this year but due to poor network the publication failed and thus the repost please.)

Today I message, 'Behind every exceptional person, there is an exceptional teacher, ' by Stephen Hawking to my teachers,  colleagues and friends via facebook, sms and wechat to wish my teachers for the greatness they had showered in my life. 
       The nation comes together to celebrate the day with loads of gratitude bubbling in the hearts of all people for the proud place in the society all because of their teachers' sacrifce and unwavering dedication.  The social media today is bombarded with messeges of gratitude and wishes towards teachers.  At least for a day every teacher feels honored and their hard works in the task of nation building recognized. 
     And it is also approlriate to celebrate the national teachers' day coinciding with the birth annniversary of our Drukgyal Sumpa Jigme Dorji Wangchuk who is opened the eyes of modern education in our nation.  Because of modern education our country can swim in the sea of fast changes and moreover at individual level one can dream the finest dream he/she likes to dream. Today's developments we see around which our nation has achieved within short period are the manifestation of our modern education steered by selfless teachers.  Thus in our time to rejoice the glory of modern development spurred by modern education we can meditate the farsighted vision our third king had for us. 
     Here in my school, our children put up dances to thank us.  A small gift gifted with true feeling of thankfullness meant a lot for us. We are paid for teaching and thus teaching is our job.  But I have seen a huge difference in teaching with attitude of teaching as  our work and teaching with true love and care for our children.  When we have the attitude that teaching is our jobs our teaching do not go beyond the mandatory obligation we have fulfill.  On the contrary if we teach with children in our mind our work goes round the clock.

A Package of My Leadership

These days I am in Zhemgang Dzongkhag  to attend the Dzongkhag Principals Coordination Meeting along with other principals of the district.  Upon the transfer of our principal Mr Sonam Wangchuk to Zhemgang Central School A i was e trusted the in chargeship of the school by the DEOs.  That is why i am here to represent my school,  Kagtong Primary School in the meeting. 
      Having served under two knowlegable prinxipals, Mr Kezang Gyeltshen and Mr Sonam Wangchuk,  i feel secure to captain the school as i can cherrypick some of the best  management practices exercised by them. Moreover my colleagues are very talented in their own ways that would surely uplift my captainship. Still I remain behind I can request the seasoned principals to help me push  my works.
     It is a kind of opportunity for me lead a school although small in size and population that I would learn a lot and garner my experience. Actually I have no aim in leadership going by the lots of energy I am short of to be a leader. I only wanted to serve the best as a teacher and excel in the art of teaching. However the time has fallen on me to channel my energy to run a school. May be this kind of circumstance is a package of opportunity for me to groom skills of leadership in me.
     The meeting I am attending is one way towards gathering my leadership skills. I am learning a lot listening and observing the experienced leaders.
     I am determined to do the best I can to lead my school for the betterment of the innocent children and backward community and moreover to shape my leadership skill, a skill which is very necessary in my life. 

Brief ride to Yongphula

Yesterday morning in clear light of morning sun, I was reading Anita Desai’s ‘Clear Light of Day’ as required for the PGDE course here in Sherubtse when friend Tashi phoned me, “Kinga Yugs is here. Come and meet him.” Immediately I book marked the book and rushed to the highway.

It had been long time since we haven’t met in person. Namgay Wangchuk from Punakha known among our circle of friend as Yugs was on his way to Samdrup Jongkhar from the village of his better half Nim Dem who is also our friend too. Although we could keep track of each other in social Medias, meeting old best friends in person conjures in us exceptional feelings of happiness, the joy of special moments we have shared and nurtured. We were happy to meet each other, all happy and in perfect status. We spent some hours expressing our happiness for the great opportunity to meet after long time of our departure from the college. We talked about how we are faring with our lives. After few moments of happy meeting, Namgay and his family had to go and we bid them safe journey.

     Some sticks of sugarcane from Namgay kept us on the road for few minutes after his leave, crunching and sucking the sweet coupled with some gossip. In the mean time Tashi, Yangchen Nob, Pema Chodup and Nado wanted to visit Yongphula. I was asked to join them if I was interested. I thought for a while and agreed to join them though I had to read the book for the class discussion in the following days.

     In few minutes we were all set to go and packed ourselves in friend Nado’s luxery car. Winding up to Yongphula enjoying the ride in the comfort of the car we reached up there safely. Our friend Yangchen Norbu’s colleague who was at his wife’s house too joined us at the junction of Samdrup jongkhar and Yonphula road. The bright sun was on. But the warmth of the sun didn’t embrace us much as the wind was far stronger as if to blow us away. The ongoing extension work of the airport scraped the landscape differently. We couldn’t walk the runway fully as the wind was blowing away dust from the dug lands. After about three minutes of our photo session on the soil filled run way we went straight to the lake few miles below the run way. The lake appeared brown and calm in front of us. We ran down to the lake to get more of the lake. There we took several photos to celebrate the beauty and the joy of our time together. At one side there were sand at the bank on which Tashi scribbled ‘BEACH’ soley to photograph. Later when were on the way one of us (I cannot remember who was that) shared, “now I will post the photos of the Facebook and Wechat with comments, “moments at Yongphulia(not austrilia) Beach”. Then with not much rhododendrons to be seen there, some of us commented that the Bhutanese song composer of the song “Yongphula lay atho metho tshak de gi Drangmi chu na kowa phang may” was lying. Such lighter moments we have shared besides the open view of some valleys of Tashigang.

     In the mean time we were invited to Yangchen’s friend’s house for some rest. We had to walk few miles down the airport to reach the village. We were given teas and ara. We thankfully had the tea and ara circling around the bukhari. The ara was so strong that the smell runs through our nostril so strongly. We bonded further with lots of talks concerning our lives and beyond often snaking on biscuits, tengma and ezay.

     Finally we came back thanking the hopitality of Yangchen’s friend. Although it wasn’t planned tip for me I enjoyed the moment with my college mates. Although I couldn’t finish up the book, ‘Clear Light of Day’ I was reading in the morning, I have rediscovered a clear light of friendship in us in clear light of sun at Yongphula. 

Happy Continuation Year 2016

A new year has drawn to continue our life with success and jubilation. Many moments have passed by leaving behind many memories.

The year 2015 had been glorious and eventful for all of us. Across the world many countries suffered badly. Debt crises, terrorism and some natural disasters struck some countries badly. However our country remained undisturbed by all the global issues. We could roll up the year with festivity and jubilation.

The commemoration of 60^th Birth anniversary of our 4^th Druk Gelpo Jigme Singye Wangchuk across the nation gave us all the great opportunity to rededicate our service towards our nation. The faith and gratitude towards our leaders of destiny were reinforced through all colors, shapes and sounds of the celebration of 60^th Birth Anniversary of our king.

Now we are welcoming the new year with total prayers and hopes to roll the year with renewed hopes and aspirations.  With mistakes as our teachers and success as our motivation we are hoping to see live another year with success.

The birth of our Royal Heir will promise us the eternity of peace and prosperity in our nation.

On the personal level, I have lot to reflect on the errors of my life and make heart to lead my life as perfect as I can. I resolve to nurture best family love and find enormous peace and joy in my life. I also resolve to do everything with professional ethics in my school. There is something I have to do with my habit of taking things for granted and for that I will do as much as I can at a very moment of task in my mind. Of all this year I will keep constant connection with my relatives especially my aging uncle Nidup who is in prayers in Goen Tshaphu and my father in the village.

May 2016 be a perfect continuation in the course of our life.