School and a stroll up the street

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 not need the added temptation of gorgeous textiles being brought to the staffroom by one of the ladies.  Needless to say, I succumbed. 

Socially Useful Productive Work!

I had spent a free afternoon correcting notebooks. Class 3b did reasonably well with articles but there were 4 students who just did not get it and I got to their classroom before their last lesson finished and asked their teacher to send them to the staff room after class… and to tell them that I would not scold them.  

They duly reported to me and I ran through the concept and some examples again, and 3 seemed to get it. The other was away with the fairies but all subsequently presented work that was mostly correct. 

Mila Sir, the head of department for English, sat down to chat after school and we talked about the extent of my travels and the he asked to see photos of my family and home.  I love the sparkle in his eye when something interests him.

Students at assembly

I was quite late arriving back at the hotel and checked in with Joan, telling her I was going to get momo for dinner and she joined me for the walk.  We had a most sociable hour or so. 

We ran into Madam Jamyang who was on her way to the bakery and we had the obligatory chat.  We joined her descending to the bowels of a building and finding a bakery that did the usual Bhutanese things but also stocked a range of locally produced savoury snacks which provide a nice alternative to the artificial chemical laden snack food so popular with many.  

Morning Prayer

We received an invitation to have tea with Madam Jamyang but we declined.  I still had lesson preparation to do. 

We continued on our way to order momo before going to find the stationery shop for some necessaries for Joan.  We were directed down a small arcade to take our life in our hands down a steep staircase with no protection at all from a sideways fall.

We encountered Madam Karma in the stationery shop so stopped for another chat before Joan continued with her purchases. 

We returned to check on the progress of our momo order and met Madam Yeshi outside, so paused for another chat.  The progress report on the momo was “5 more minutes” so we went into the adjacent clothing shop for more chats with the proprietor – our host Kezang’s wife.  

Joan with Sonam, Sir at assembly

Jigme and Tula were there and Joan asked if we should take them back to the hotel.  It was Tula’s birthday and he was positively bouncing!   Than back to hote l taking boys with us.  Tula bouncing.  It was verging on dark and I suggested that Tula, who was close to Joan, that he should hold her hand to help her in the dark – Jigme immediately undertook this take, totally defeating the purpose of my request  so I requested Tula to hold my hand “to help me”…. he obliged.

Later that evening Tula and his mother delivered a slice of birthday cake to my room - rather lovely.

On the way up the rough turnoff road that leads to the hotel we spotted a few fireflies and the boys had an enjoyable few minutes chasing and catching them.

Some of the "Sirs" at assembly

 A large tour group were getting dressed up in national dress in the foyer of the hotel as we arrived back.  I had a brief chat then we went to our rooms for lesson prep.   

I ordered room service dinner, opting for  2 plates of Pakora which were brought to me about 7:45pm, on 1 plate but with 2 forks. A large pile of food, and the young lady delivering it asked about my dinner!!

Later, reception phoned me to say that a friend was calling.  It was William from the tour group and he was inviting us to join the party around the bonfire.  I apologised, as I still had work to do, but passed the message to Joan who went down.  I finished 3 of the 4 lessons I needed to prepare for the next day and joined the group for 20 minutes and a small nip of one of Bhutan’s better whiskeys.