Life as we know it

I remember this time last year, although it is a lifetime away, reading the blog posts of Bhutanese teachers like myself.  I was annoyed because they slowed down their blogging half way through the year and I did not really know what the second half of their year was like.

I completely understand now of course - actually after about 2 months it became clear.  Everything that seemed new, exciting, different, shocking or difficult becomes . . . daily life. 

So it becomes harder to tell the story.  

I did say I would talk a bit about the rafting weekend.  Rafting is a tourist activity, not something Bhutanese folk would do on their weekend. 

Akari (Japanese room mate) and I left Chukkha after the famous spelling quiz.  There was a road block for construction, so cars were parked right through town.  We wandered the rows of cars and there were 2 teachers heading to Thimphu who offered us a lift, but quickly realized their car was filling up at Chapcha. They wandered the line, looking for potential rides.  We found a fancy SUV with a very nice man who spoke perfect English and agreed to take us to Thimphu. 

He lives close to Dave in Pakshika, was probably about my age or a bit younger and his wife was with him.  I learned  so much as he is a forester with Bhutan Particle Board, who supply materials to their counterpart, a furniture building company in Phuntsholing.  The furniture is exported to India. He travelled to West Germany, Switzerland and Austria for training in mechanized logging as the equipemnt they use is German.  His brother is married to a Japanese woman so he played Japanese music in the car for Akari.  

The roadblock was slow to open and the south bound cars went first.  We were further delayed when our hosts stopped at Chuzom to wait for their 2 year old grand daughter who had vomited on the way from Haa delaying her arrival. 

When we arrived in Punakha the party for Andrea, a Canadian who is leaving Bhutan after 4 years, had just begun.  Food was yummy and 12 BCF teachers together made for animated conversation.  There was another Japanese volunteer, and our famous Senge, the british monk teaching in Kabesa,  also speaks Japanese. 

The next morning we were en route by 7 am in order to walk to the village where rafting started.  Beautiful hike. The photos can only give you a hint of the vast valley with the mountains in the back ground.  It is much warmer in Punakha than the Thimphu/ Paro valleys. 

The rafting guides were professional, and great hosts.  The river was big but not wild and it was a great day.  Surprisingly uneventful.  

Akari and I had good rides home, but had to walk up the hill in the pouring rain and dark.