Rimdu at the Higher Secondary School

16^th March

I had breakfast alone; table service, as the hotel had few guests, and the quantity of food served to me seems to get bigger by the day!

At assembly it was announced that the 3 BCF teachers will judge a new poster competition with the theme water for nature, whatever that might mean.  I like that some things here don’t change and one’s participation in something is announced publicly.

Joan had told me, the previous day, that there were arrangements to visit a Lhakhang after school, Sonam confirmed with me that he would us up from the hotel a bit before 5.  I was rather vague about what it was about, but was quite prepared to go along with it – I had confirmed that appropriate attire was national dress, so that was all I really needed to know.

Presenting rewards to class 3

I had the last of my 4 classes with 3B and found it difficult to choose the 2 hardest workers to reward, so I included 1 extra – a very weak student (“poor at studies”) named Chimmi – for trying so hard – she had done an extra page of homework that I had set her on use of articles, and brought every little bit of work in her notebook to me for instant correction.

In period 2 all teachers were required to report for PD; the captains would supervise younger classes.  The PD topic was individual work plans, which I excitedly thought might refer to students and went along to the PD, much to the surprise of the Principal.  However, after about half an hour, and no apparent break where I could sneak out, I passed a note to the Principal saying I had misunderstood the topic and may I be excused – to which he happily acquiesced.  This was induction to serious burocracy for public servants.

At least some students were using their time productively
during teacher PD

By period 4, the teachers were still in PD, so there would be no scheduled library lesson.  I had been attending library lessons for class 7 and 8, where I could, and was pulling out 2 weak readers per class (names provided by their English teachers) for a project I was calling “mastery reading”.  This involved coaching these older kids in the fluent reading of a low level story book with the goal of them reading it to younger weak readers.  Something that might not work in other places, but which I was pretty confident would work here.  I sent a handy child to call 2 of the class 7 students, explained the project to them and they happily sat with me reading the selected story book – and are most enthusiastic about reading to the younger children.  Trish, the BCF teacher at Lobesa for the year, will continue with this program after I have gone.

My classes during period 5 and 6 were a bit unsettled – probably not surprising given their morning;  captain supervision means that nobody is doing anyone else any physical damage, but the students are certainly not settled.  Plus, the regular subject teacher did not attend, which did not really help.

I finished the story I was reading with both classes.  Quite a few of the first class got the humour in the story – which was nice.  But when I quizzed one boy about what was funny, he said he was not laughing at the story – maybe thought I would scold him – finally he admitted he did find it funny.  I should hope so!!  He managed, in very broken English, to explain the humour, and was further aided by those more fluent with their language.

With the next class I told them there were bits I thought funny and I’d be looking for those who understood by their facial expression.  The first one I asked did not have the language to express the detail that amused him, but there was one girl who did it wonderfully.   The 2 headed dragon thought that the sword was a shiny stick for playing fetch!

I’d managed to get some printing done at the office for teaching verbs next week to class 8C – NICE!!!  But I will need to get it laminated in the town on Saturday

REVERSE BST!!! We are leaving at 4:15; I am allowed to drop my backpack at the hotel and swop it for a small handbag, and call Joan, who is in casuals and chooses to change – a good decision. 

An after school conversation with Mila brought the request that I teach his class 6 how to write a descriptive essay.  I can try!! 

We had a further conversation about the plans for that evening, which were rather confusing. It seems that we are not going to a lhakhang, we are going somewhere for a rimdru evening…. A few conversations later and I found out that we were going to another school …. But only for the meal/party…. And Sonam is ready to leave NOW!   “Library Madam” (Phuntsho, Sonam’s wife) is calling me.  4:15pm rather than the planned 5pm!

We headed for the Higher Secondary School (HSS), high above Lobesa. Sonam points out the watersource area and suggests it is a great hike.  To do that one might need to find a class 7/8 student to take us; it is a shame we couldn’t go on world water day when the boys go up to clean the water source!

The HSS has a multi purpose hall as well as a Dining Hall.  What LUXURY!

We’re in the dining hall; the tables arranged in a big square, as expected, Joan and I were encouraged to separate. I ended up on the end of the women and talking more to the men; I figured that despite my knowledge that this is a bit not OK, my age would let me get away with it.  It took me a while to figure out who my neighbour was and that his role was lab assistant at Lobesa LSS.  Naja and biscuits were served, then snacks and drinks. In between, plates of doma were placed on the table.  My neighbours, fortunately, did not indulge;  the older man, Wangdi, never had!!  Good for him!  Nor did he eat much chilli – I told him he may be in danger of losing his Bhutanese citizenship – a joke he appreciated! The snack that was served to accompany the drinks was fried channa; it was filling and nutritious – a good choice to go with some beer. 

The child lama

We were then invited to visit the lama – in the multi purpose hall.  Joan asked me, sotto voce, what to do.  I was not totally sure, I’d already said one of the ladies should go first so I could watch her actions.  I was most surprised to find that the lama was not an elderly man but a child lama – an 8 year old Rinpoche, the 48^th reincarnation of the Je Kempo and a previous student at Lobesa LSS.  I found to line up and be blessed by this child a curiously moving experience.

Mila, with his eyes sparking, explained something about the child Lama to us, including the process of identification; Joan had many questions and I suggested she read the biography of the Dalai Lama.

I watched some of the students come in and do their prostrations to the Lama before being blessed by him. 

In due course Mila suggested that we move back to the dining hall as we would be missing dinner and he continued his discussion with telling us about a closebye monastery where the lama is a 15 year old reincarntation of the Zhabdrung.  The unifier of Bhutan in the sixteenth century.

I expressed surprise and I think I got brownie points for my historical knowledge.

We were interrupted by a call for dinner and I found myself at the head of the queue – I tried to persuade the Principal to go first, but unsuccessfully…..  I took a plate and some rice and looked around for someone to identify the dishes – I passed on fish and dried cow hide but enthusiastically served myself some mushroom datsi and a little of a noodle dish, with a touch of EZY.  I was told the mushrooms were Shitake and commented that was my favourite and found myself encouraged to go back for second share almost immediately.  Being more in favour of waiting until everyone had their first share and I had determined whether or not my first serve was filling, I waited.  My drink had been cleared while we were out of the dining room  - the girls on duty serving were unbelievably efficient – but someone found me another plastic cup and I shared Joan’s bottle of beer.  We were doing nicely but someone determined we required another – which we did not touch, I hope it did not go to waste.

Then we were asked to move to the centre – ahh – time for the farewell dancing.  An older Lopen tried to instruct me but Sonam, on the other side of me, was not being a good model for when I was watching his steps.  Anyway, lots of fun was had by all!  And we get to repeat it all next Tuesday for our own rimdru!

I am rapt with the level to which we are being included – and the opportunities for inclusion.  It is just delightful!