What sinks in is what has been listened to! My tryst with an elected representative!

One of the high ranking official (incredibly high) paid a chance and a scheduled visit to my school and the purpose of the visit redeemed after the official left. His advices, the so called, “Kalop Zangpo” (Good advice formally!) left us (teachers) bemused if not preoccupied and left us for thinking.  He had all the tenacity of being a high ranking official, especially the posture in which he presented in front of a thousand plus students along with fifty or so staff.

Motivation was the talk of the morning and he presented to us that motivation was the ultimate driving force behind all undertakings and endeavors-a common fact re iterated! I know on the other that if something is good (The Kalop Zangpo), it’s worth telling twice.

But when the ‘worth telling twice’ thing is repeated again and again at the mercy of listeners going awry in thoughts, one cannot help but generate mixed feelings about the speaker who assumes a momentary detoxification forgetting that we are all made up of flesh and bones, if not blood! His narrative ability on advises is quite commendable as he can put the most un-humble of the listeners to sleep. The instant question on my mind was, how did he garner votes during his politicking campaign?

We lent our ears for all that he had to say and he offered us his to answer ours. But, when question 1 came in, he reflected the same to the other subordinate who was just behind. Never answered question 1 of course!

Considering the official’s tryst in our ministry, he was an old veteran. While trying to answer Question 1, he misquoted JFK. It should have been, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country”. I unquote-with all due respect! He thus misquoted, “If you cannot………….” naming the great American statesman JFK. Absurdity! Also never took in Question 2 and hurriedly left faintly murmuring I have someone waiting for me. If a mass of people genuinely talk, not necessarily good, about someone, it should be perceived that everything is wrong with that someone.  The talks came from various anecdotal incidents where he held such visits and gatherings.

An inspiration must be aroused in listeners when such decorated official speaks to a curious gathering. Instead, a de-motivating seed was sown in our hearts. I wrote-out what my colleagues spoke-out from their hearts-out. So while listening I will now filter people, who to listen to whom not to. What sinks in the heart is what one has listened to genuinely. This is the story of my tryst with an elected representative.

So dear folks happy listening to your own representatives! Have a good day ahead!

“The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them."— Ralph Nichols

Blaming your neighbor for the mischief your child did!

If you happen to visit Thimphu city and the first thing that will greet you is the stink from the drains nearby. Changlimetang area tops the list in stinks followed by the Hongkong market and then the Olakha-Lungtenphu area. The people nearby the expressway have become immune to the stink from the Barbesa Sewerage treatment plant. When I was a kid, I used to think this treatment plant of some huge swimming pool. Later in my middle school, I knew it was waste water treatment plant!

Take a walk after the traffic outpost in Norzin lam and care to look at the huge drain just near the Druk Shopping Complex; you will realize how careless Thimphu-ites are! Does this make us feel good? Will the mountain people take care of their wastes and trash? Every one blames the city corporation but the city residences are too cozy to think about the waste they generate out-of-the-box! How can a corporation manned by a few individuals clean the trash of thousands of people contributing to the trash?

The scene just beside the centenary farmers market is terrible; the clogged drains with feaces, rotten vegetables, and predominantly topping all waste are polythene bags and wafers from fast foods, despite on the ban of plastic bags. When will we learn? It’s an irony, Thimphu-ites living the most up-do-date life in all of Bhutan yet embodying the people who first saw modernity. This is absolutely absurd! What then? We are polluting the Wangchu River which is one of the resources which generates money for Bhutan. Pollute the river and pollute your livelihood!

A lady on BBS TV mentioned of city officials, “City ghi mey thek thek wong ni yue la” (City corporation official’s sometimes come). What an absurd comment? If you do not take care of your own trash, what can the city officials do to make you clean? I strongly urge all people (Outside Thimphu as well) to manage your waste, segregate it and please recycle, or re use it if its reusable, otherwise, blaming the city for your trash is like blaming your neighbor for the mischief your child did. I know there are lots of these-minded residences!

Thought for the Thimphu-ites: “Willful Waste Brings Woeful Want”-Thomas Fuller

The (Walkman-I pod) Happiness!

My gratitude for the students of Sherubtse for skipping their dinner and making the same available for the needy ones! I saw this incredible news on BBS where some Sherubtse-ians skipped dinner to provide their share of the meals to the needy, making them the real contributors on celebrating the international happiness day. My appreciation and a deluge of BRAVO for you young boys and girls! This is truly happiness in action. My humblest of all the gratitude goes to this initiative as it bonds me to Sherubtse, although I just could survive for a brief period, during my time of course.

I have always been a strong believer of youth and the power they can enforce on the much stereotyped attitude of the Bhutanese society these days.  I am not inclined to the hair style, the dress, the attire, the conduct and the informal language of the youth these days.  My difference with the young-lings these days is the difference in a Walkman and an I-pod. Generation gap of course, but this is what the technology has offered.

I grew up in a generation where simplicity was admired and cherished. I accept the fact that ‘time’ has changed and modernity has bred more and more alien cultures and practices. I also know parenting has changed, along with the economy and of all the services, teaching has changed as well. We now have some “A little knowledge is dangerous” practicing teachers, perhaps belonging to the I-pod times. This is my personal antidote to the prevailing attitudinal war in the holy office.  I am now starting to believe that these attitudinal changes must have been the fault of the I-pod replacing the Walkman, if you know what I mean!

Believe me, I am a humble teacher myself and despite all the “What the hell is happening” culture and system, I do take pride in the fact that there are some specks of Bhutanese youngsters that value and are passionate about the principle of being a human. I reside in a place where some don’t even consider the other, a human!

I am in close proximity to some human beings who despite being the biological offspring(s) to their biological parents fail to value and uphold the generational respect and awe to the very human who gave birth to them, simply making them [offspring(s)] in-human. I heard this from the mouth of my close one and he mentioned, “I WaNt HAPPINESS! I is an ego, WANT is desire and we are just left with HAPPINESS.  So never say ‘I WANT HAPPINESS’” Later, he cried saying, “This is Lord Buddha”. And Thank You Buddha for the wonderful and inspiring reality, but I lament that not all your worshipers want what you aspired for them to be. 

“Young thinks of the old being foolish, but the old knows that the young are foolish”. This is what I thought is something to ponder upon.

Happy pondering!

Charity Surely Begins at Home!

Thank you, fellow bloggers and readers for taking time to read this. I know there was a pretty long gap on the updates since I now moved to a new place and in this new place, time is not on my side... I am sure I can win back the consideration of my blogger mates with this update. I will be delighted if you leave your comments and opinions on this update.

Yesterday, the sun in its full glory warmed Thimphu up very much and I decided to spend my morning washing my small car. Everyone knows the woes and hassles of cleaning the inside let alone washing outside. After an hour of cleaning, washing and polishing, I locked the doors of the car to take some infamous ‘Doma’ from a shop nearby. Pardon me; ‘Doma’ is equally famous, if you know what I mean!

Well then first things first! Moments later, as I walked back home with some mushy ‘Doma’ juice in my mouth, I saw these young-lings near my car seated in a circle and shouting at each other, “Wai, nga ghi e-ka een si”(Hey, mine is an Ace!). Yes, they were playing cards. Their tiny faces and hands were way too ignorant for the adult game of cards but if this is what children in our neighborhoods do, I am certainly worried and shocked at the bringing up of these kids. And yes, they were playing cards on money.

My presumption on kids doing this is, may be parents model this behavior at home. Of course children do learn beyond the walls of our homes but getting to know one’s child is the primary duty of a parent. The sight of children playing cards amused me and I didn’t feel anything sad on the children’s part but remained rather baffled at the discourse children used at each other-all vulgar!

The kids in action

There can be a million explanations to this and of course, opinions can vary with everyone.

We have our youth mostly going astray after being fairly educated and government is trying to take note of this and making them realign life to normalcy but the little ones (I am very sure, the kids in the picture are attending elementary school)-look at them, can you believe the sight? I cannot justify or rather opine on this habit of the kids but after half an hour of watching them, I shouted at them to stop and go home. And they unwillingly obeyed!

I am told by many that there are professional gamblers here in Thimphu and gambling is their livelihood. We are equally responsible for this sight as parents, neighbors, community members and above all as Vajrayana Buddhists to pay no heed to such menace practiced at home-Charity surely begins at home! It begins Marey.

Good day ahead, folks!

Good God, What's Happening!

Long time! A very long time indeed! I am writing this update because I needed to let myself breathe some relief sigh as it pained me now for the last three days. Guys, you may not get the idea underpinning this update but ask any teacher, about transfer and opportunities.

I am getting transferred and I also happen to be one HRD member here in my office. I have given and performed in Khenrig Namsum [1]for the last seven years. It was high time for me to switch to some other places due to some personal reasons, not that I am switching profession. Our system of works make us travel less and if we ever get one, one has to perfectly qualify for the opportunities, to the criteria laid by firstly your own boss and several other bosses above him.

I didn’t qualify for any of the opportunities-professionally of course, due to the fact that you are getting transferred. The supposed ‘on transfer’ guy. Fine, it works in other places and offices too. The opportunities are simply shut due to the reason ‘on transfer’. All right, all said and done!

What I am trying to say is, opportunities are not given to the people on transfer and I have a lot of friends who share the same views. My mentor told this to me, “it’s to the ones that remain we reserve such ‘supposed’ opportunities. And I also do have a friend who like me is on transfer and was given the opportunity. I enquired about it and the reply I got was, “the person cancelled the transfer”. Fine too. Now I enquired this very friend’s friends-close friends of course. I was told, the transfer is not cancelled. I could not call the very friend on moral reasons. Why jeopardize someone’s already ‘got’ opportunity?

Now, at this point, I am left in a dilemma who to believe. This left me lost and I suppose there is a justification to this. And I also do presume, this justification, if ever it comes to me, then, I will lose a friend or I will get black listed in the diary of my superiors. This is my humble presumption.

This is what happened recently. Well I now simply wait for my order to come and rejoice in the thought that I will now finally be with my dear wife.

Good god! What’s happening!

Good day folks!

---

[1] The erstwhile Zhemgang

Our Cultural Ambassador

Last night, I was You-tubing and I came across our very own Sonam Dorji, popularly Kheng Sonam Dorji. I was browsing for the videos on Mountain Echoes and I came across the videos from TED x Thimphu. I could see Sok Sian Pek Dorji’s talk on the role of media in a GNH driven society and followed by the video of Kheng Sonam. I am sorry this TED Ex program took place in Thimphu but I could only find it out last night.

I watched this video and I got moved by his presentation. The fact that music and dance has on our culture is quite amazing, as preservation and promotion of culture is one of the pillars of GNH. I have been working for the last six years in Kheng and I have heard about the popular folk song, “Bumoi Karma Wangzom”. It was after I watched this video that this popular song which is sung throughout the Lower Kheng, was composed by Kheng Sonam Dorji at the age of 15.

He embodies the real Bhutanese art and he is doing a great job documenting the folk culture of Bhutan before Globalization sweeps it from the face of the earth. Please do watch the video and I am sure you will not be disappointed. Therefore it is needless to say that Kheng Sonam can be our cultural ambassador to the world. We want more of such people in Bhutan to show that our cultural vitality is our pride. This is who we are and it should remain that way for eternity. 

I ain’t Sorry

“Don't waste your time with explanations: people only hear what they want to hear.”
― Paulo Coelho

And this is why I have decided to explain it to my fellow bloggers. A common maxim reads, “Between the devil and the deep blue sea”! This is a narrative that talks about our common experiences and yet we hesitate to speak about it because of the fear of demeaning and defaming oneself. Perhaps this has long been there since we are still at infancy in our thoughts and consideration for others. I am talking about the word “Nepo-corrupt”, part nepotism and part corruption. 

That’s right; I work in an atmosphere where Nepo-currupts are at its peak. Some like to let people adjust to themselves never reconsidering of adjusting themselves. Some defend until death that my stand is the rightful one and no one else’s is. People were united in groups even before I joined because of their likes in attitudes and there are some who think that they are superior and above all others. One stands out and this individual doesn’t know what a ‘Hypocrite’ is. Perhaps this individual will never listen to suggestions and opinions because of the pride associated with being one of the ‘supposed’ seniors. 

And when friendship is forged, there are always eyes that look with suspicion and the ill intended gossip ensues. When goodness is showered graciously over people unintentionally, no matter how evil and sinister one may be inside, one’s reputation is intact and safe, outside. Then, good gossip ensues. And yet there are those that forge friendship for being the ‘supposed’ rich and wealthy. It’s not human values that make sense but superficial glamour. There are those who glorify time and punctuality yet be always late. 

We make professional gatherings to nominate someone worthy of the office and we conclude having agreed to the nomination made by the presiding person. (Person already made a pick). We are governed by a multitude of individuals.  If I have to answer to someone, that someone has to answer to some other. That’s why one good afternoon, just recently, that some other paid us a visit where the supposed someone got thrashed in front of us by the some other. I reside in the heart of town and gossips have reached people beyond the realm of office. At least not about me and I wonder if they talk bad of me equally to others. 

Gossips, I feel is not something about goodness but gossips of people whom you don’t know always means something terribly bad or wrong. I may or may not fall into what I described and it’s for them to describe me. I know I stand out as the only writer in the realm of our office. Again the gossip ensues. Once a mate was told by the supposed ‘someone’, “if you scratch my back, I will scratch your back”. Just imagine the modicum this inspiring someone has over his subjects. Such individual holds the office. I know there are plenty of such some ones. 

Wait a minute; you might want to scratch your grey matter and ask, who gives this man a right to comment on others? To this obvious question, let me question back, who gives people the right to gossip about others? This is perhaps scratching each other’s back. I aspire to function and deliver under a dynamic someone who truly inspires and for the numerous that I mentioned here, I ain’t Sorry!

“Gossip is just a tool to distract people who have nothing better to do from feeling jealous of those few of us still remaining with noble hearts.” -Anna Godbersen

Wangpem or Pem of Wang!

The unusual Wangpem

This time around, the local vegetables are in short supply and Zhemgang is a place where veggies are scarce unless one maintains a kitchen garden. Amidst the scarcity, I have come to enjoy all that we get locally even the wild ones. On a usual weekday, I was hunting for veggies around shops and then I met Uncle Bajay. I could only find some pepper and tomatoes. He introduced me to what people locally call it “Wangpem” as if Pem from Wang. I have tasted this before once with Lopen Kinzang at school but never been curious then. He tells me this particular plant belongs to the family of orchids. It can be eaten as a vegetable. I wanted him to make Wangpem as our weekend delicacy, to which he agreed. 

Wangpem in the wild

Wangpem is found in Zhemgang in the wild and the edible part of the plant shoots out from its roots. Pretty scary! And this strange looking part must be plucked and cooked. Then, some days later he told me to take pictures of the Plants which he has abundantly put around his house, supposedly for knowing that I do write about usual and unusual things and happenings. 

I took some pictures and agreed to pluck some for dinner. He assured me that he will cook along with some porcupine meat. This could be my second instance where I may get to eat porcupine meat. I thought it’s better to eat the meat thinking of people eating all sorts of bugs and tarantulas in National Geographic programs. 

Wangpem with Porcupine meat

But before we made it into a meal, we did some scientific research. Mr.DB Gurungs book on the Orchids mentions of no such orchid and together we sought refuge in the internet. It too turned out fruitless. If you readers have any idea, then do let me know and accordingly I will inform my friend. We made a contact to the Department of forestry in College of Natural Resources and we weren’t responded either. So this is unusual and may be this particular plant is waiting to be discovered. 

Whether I call this ‘Wangpem’ or ‘Pem of Wang’, it certainly was an experience tasting this unusual fruit of the plant. However, when tasted, it’s somewhat bitter! So, next time you see this unusual plant in Sunday market, just say, “Tshonpoen! Ani dhi Wangpem ina?” And be assured that it’s perfectly edible, if not I wouldn’t be alive to write this update in my blog…LOL!

Good day ahead!

Just a Dream!

Wikipedia defines dreams as “Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep”. For me dreams are associated with the events that are yet to unfold or something that has unfolded before. This is what I think is my opinion on dreams and dreaming. I am mentioning of the dreams that we dream while asleep probably at night, although some may dream during the day. It’s been pretty long since I last had a dream and dreams never come to me. This is a fact that makes me feel incomplete. When my friends and colleagues talk about dreams, I listen very carefully to their description and wish I was the person dreaming. 

But just last night, I saw and unusual dream. I was walking home although in real… I drive. I was walking with a group of students who were pointing at my calf saying that my stocking was torn. When I looked at it, it was indeed torn and an itchy sensation made me scratch my calf. Later, at home I found that there was a few inches deep cut made on my calf as if made by a sharp object. 

Picture Courtesy: Google Images

I went to the toilet (in my dreams of course) and flushed some water on the cut. There was an opening on the wound and some green fluid oozed out of the wound. I went to the room sat on a chair and started wiping it with some tissue papers. To my astonishment I found maggots…oops in my wound underneath the skin. I took out one by one with tweezers and felt…disgusting! This thought makes me puke now, in real. After removing all maggots from my wound, I was attending a doctor. I had to stand in a line to see the doctor and every second that I spend standing makes me scratch my wound. In the midst of scratching the wound and after a sweet-satisfactory sensation, I heard the bell of the doctor calling on his attendant and it was quite loud. Later, this sound woke me up only to find my cell phone alarm in its full volume. I immediately looked at my calf to find out, it was just a dream, still in bed. 

We have connotations on dreams we see and it also carries some derogatory meanings on the omen in one’s life, whether be good or bad. I don’t know what omen my weird dream carries but the thought if it makes me anxious and nauseated. 

Please do share about your dreams too; I know some of it may be as weird as I dream-t it.

Happy Dreaming!