Country Roads

13 th March Early morning river mist rising The morning had dawned somewhat clear, with a river mist rising in the valley and we could see the snow-clad peaks way beyond the head of the Po Chuu Valley. Upon our arrival at school the students were engaged in their normal SUPW – socially useful productive work – cleaning duties. I started the school day (with the permission of Principal, Sir) with some photographs and sound recordings of assembly.   The student’s voices raised as they sing the prayers and national anthem t are just delightful. Distant snow clad peaks beyond the head of the valley I had resolved not to purchase textiles on this trip away, but had already broken that resolution in Bangkok, by buying a bura silk half kira in Thimphu and a lightweight silk kira a week later.   I justified the last 2 on the spurious grounds that the temperature in Lobesa was increasing and my synthetics would be uncomfortable.   I did no...

Sunday 11 th March Creativity with bottle tops I was very much looking forward to seeing Zangmo again and had asked the hotel proprietor, Kezang, to assist me with organizing a seat in a shared taxi to Thimphu.   He was very helpful and had requested that when there was a car with 3 people it should come and pick me up – around 8am.   About 8:20, I went to find him to check that the driver in question had not forgotten and had left without me.   No, there were just not enough people to leave yet!   Kezang offered to take me to the taxi rank, and I thought maybe that would be a good idea.    As we were going down to the main road below the hotel, I commented that it seemed that I had missed the bus, which had just passed, and he inquired if I would like to catch the bus.   Given the lack of passengers for a share taxi, it seemed like a good option, so he chased it and flagged it down, procuring me a seat and advising me of ...

8 th March I had discussed the idea of a “read for leisure, read for pleasure” poster competition, to encourage love of reading, with Head of Department, Mila Sir and he was most enthusiastic and suggested I write a proposal, which I duly did.   Together we looked at it and I reviewed it with a few of his suggestions and in due course I got it printed and gave to him for his signature of approval and to present to the Principal. International Womens' Day celebrations with Lobesa LSS staff He advised me that the principal had signed off on it and we could announce the competition in assembly the next day.   However, in the meantime Sonam, Sir had come to advise me that a letter from the authorities was directing him to celebrate World Water Day in a big way and maybe we could combine my reading poster competition with a poster competition promoting the World Water Day theme Nature for Water .   While I could not imagine how this might possi...

4 th March The view from the Vara While we’d had a glimpse of the view from the Vara Hotel the previous evening, the light was fading as we arrived.   The morning presented a much clearer view, albeit misty, and early morning had a real chill to the air. I met Joan for breakfast at 8 and she indicated an interest in going into the “shopping centre” – a line of fruit and vegetable market stalls with a few small general stores opposite. Since Kunsang’s sons, who were to take us for a guided tour of the school, were not yet in evidence, we decided to go for a mini shopping trip first up.   Kunsang was taking in the early morning air on the terrace as we left, so we could communicate our plans. The girls' toilet block at school The walk to the market / shops was shorted than we had thought, which was good.   I was very impressed with the range of fruit and vegetables available and thought how luck Trish, the BCF teacher placed here for the y...

Saturday 10 th March Breakfast for 1 My day started with a leisurely breakfast with enough food served to me at the table to feed a small army.   Oat porridge,   a substantial plate of watermelon, 4-5 slices of toast, 2 grilled tomatoes, a plate of fried mushrooms, 4 boiled eggs and coffee.   And of course jam and butter for the toast, although I use my purchased local, freshly churned, butter in preference to the preserved Amul brand butter generally used. The morning plan it to get myself organized, excavate my backpack and laptop bag, move some hooks on one of my kira, which is already too loose, and plan what I would like to do with class 5.   I am choosing between reading to them from The Wind in the Willows or The Reluctant Dragon.   Having not previously read the latter, I am finding it rather amusing, although it will have a substantial amount of vocabulary to introduce them to, in the context of the story. Morning light on the ...