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.