Nge Sem gi Story : the path forgotten

How far can an individual in their teens go to pursue their passion?

The stereotypical notion in our society is to have a son or a daughter completing their degree and joining as a civil servant. It might have worked for the previous generations but now times have changed and so have our priorities.

Nge sem gi story, a short film consisting of youth all in their teens depicts the story of their parent’s expectations versus their passion.  A teenager is considered incapable of deciding what he or she wants in life and they are forced to choose the path their elders decide for them. Nge sem gi story explains nothing can’t be achieved if one has the will power and their tender age don’t make them not knowing what they want in life.

The movie is the very first of its kind and the film director, a nineteen year old twelve pass out student tells me having completed the movie itself is an example they can cite for they overcame all of the obstacles they had to face in coming up with the movie.

The group tells me we have always heard of youth being the future citizens of the country but it’s time to accept the fact that youth are also the present citizens. A movie any youth can relate, it has romance, dilemma and the path for determining one’s passion. Releasing in a few days, the group is planning to hit the schools all over Bhutan.

As for me I could only smile as they explained. A new gateway for films in Bhutan and it’s now that I see Bhutanese films going a step higher.

Too much cars for a tiny city

The volcanic issue of the increasing number of vehicle in the urban area is about to erupt with severe consequences.  Peak hours in Thimphu is seen with an enormous number of cars jammed and shows a warning signal as to the number of vehicles equaling the number of people in years to come. The question of what needs to be done is out of the league when it comes to town planning because the thought of expanding the road seem an impossible task.

As an observer I feel the need to improvise on the public transport service making it easily accessible at any point so that people can trust to reach their destination given any location. This however the public feels is not reliable in times of emergencies.

Import of petrol and diesel from India has been stated at the largest contributor to the trade deficit existing in the country and listed as one of the main reason for the rupee crisis. Measures to overcome rupee crisis included substituting current vehicles with electric cars and getting rid of government pool vehicles. The result is just before our eyes.

It’s time to come up with more effective measures to suit people of any class or else in between beating around the bush the outcome will be beyond what we can handle.

At times, an advisor

Giving out advice is not in me but it is mandatory with your friends especially when they look up to you with eyes full of questions. With a year older in this human race, let a year old senior speak, will you?

Friend:  Hey what do you think is more important, money or career?

Me:  Career. Hmm..money..nah..hmmm..both. (We laughed)

 ‘well for now, since I hardly have to support anyone I think I will have to focus on my career. Experience is what matters to me. Once I am trained and capable, I think money will come to me naturally”

    We giggle

Friend: embay mo

This was a casual conversation between me and my friend last night and now that I reflect back, I could read between the lines the serious tone that existed. Observing my friend who is soon going to join thousand others for the Preliminary Examinations, I sensed that she is worried of what lie ahead. This was what I went through a year back, with future that seemed so confusing. For all my friends in a similar situation right now, keep the bar of worry to minimal but don’t be too lazy to at least know what you want. You don’t want to sit for PE? Fine. Don’t do just to fit in the bandwagon. To see my friend in such a mood makes me want to reflect on myself so that I can give out some encouragement.

‘I have learned to grab hold of all the opportunities that come my way’ is what I told her and I think experience is the best teacher.

Dear friends, don’t be pressurized for anything if you think you don’t belong there, follow your dreams.

              That was quite a thought (haha)

Darwin's Theory in Plants

Being an environmentalist was never my dream and it isn’t for now either. But at times just like the way you prefer the paa and not the hoentshay and the overall curry I am fascinated by the theory of the survival of saplings which basically has to do with the happenings of the environment the saplings are placed in.

As ironic as I might sound, I am a passionate florist and consider myself a green thumb. I can live without a single furniture in my home but not without a single plant.

With the little idea I had on the treatment that has to be given to flowers in general as we nurture them, I am fascinated by the fact that plants in general share the life as we humans do.

Prior to the plantation date wherein Bhutan was to attempt the first ever world record, the saplings were kept in an open area and this was done to make the plants familiar of the environment that they will be living in henceforth said the plantation advisor.

Why so? Interestingly here applies Darwin’s theory, the survival of the fittest. The saplings that can make it through the harsh sun and the bitter rain shall be considered fit for the plantation.

If you happen to visit China, you probably will suffer from cultural shock on their monkey eating tradition or the fetus eating one. The plants similarly go through these stage while we transport them to an entirely new climate and hence take time to adapt.

                                          Every day is a learning experience.  

Second round of plantation?

This piece is in response to the article published on Kuensel in regard to the Mass Tree Plantation in an attempt to set world record on June 2nd 2015. Well I am concerned on the headline "second round of mass plantation" this goes to the comments that followed the article.

http://www.kuenselonline.com/second-round-of-mass-plantation/#.VZWm6txVikp

So they have termed it the ‘second round of mass plantation’. Ever since the idea for mass tree plantation in an attempt to set a new world record was conceptualized, people had been watching like a hawk to how we are going about with the project.

The question of whether we could do was raised at large. After much ado all of the doubts and criticisms were put to rest with the success of the project.

The project itself was big and significant to leave any room for error and till this date and further the thought will be the same. Today marks a month after the event and pointing out that there needs another round of mass tree plantation is too early.

Not getting any offensive here and we appreciate your concern but just as a matter of fact, the mass tree plantation has given birth to BEGIN project (Bhutan-Eco Green Initiative Network), an autonomous body which will supplement on the well-being of environment in our country. The project will also make sure the trees planted on June 2^nd survives and it will do numerous after care exercises for the next six years. The saplings which might occur to one as dead are indeed going through what the forest specialist term it as 'shock'. Hence the saplings which are in a state of  'shock' beyond its chances of  survival are constantly being replaced and this according to the Forestry officials are never to term plantation.

So it will be fair to say 'numerous after care exercises' is needed for now or that another mass tree plantation is needed if the condition of the saplings are same as of now after several years and then term it whatsoever.

The Oldest LUDROM in Bhutan

I had before me the oldest radio in Bhutan currently owned by Mr. Karma Tshering. An electronic which Mr. Karma now consider a possession it is worthy for it is older to him. With a little research done on the radio history in the world and in Bhutan, this is about the oldest ludrom in the country.

Ludrom as in Radio has transformed society three times, not to mention giving birth to the entire field of electronics. Perhaps no invention of modern times has delivered so much while initially promising so little.

 In 1885, a young Italian named Gugliemo Marconi invented what he called as the 'wireless telegraph' known to us today as the radio.

On November 2, 1920, KDKA the first commercial radio station in the United States went on air in Pittsburgh.

Radio was the first among the modern electronics to enter Bhutan.  On November 1973 the first radio broadcast was commenced when the National Youth Association of Bhutan (NYAB) began radio transmissions under the name "Radio NYAB”. In 1979 the government took over Radio NYAB and renamed it the Bhutan Broadcasting Service.

The year 2015 marks the  42^nd year after radio broadcast was commenced in Bhutan but story of the oldest radio in Bhutan reveals it entered the country 18 years before there were any local stations.

The radio Mr. Karchung from Bumthang who is now 77 years old owns can be authentically claimed as the oldest radio in Bhutan. Belonging to Philips brand it is one among the pioneer of radios. As a young trader at the age of 17, Mr. Karchung says he bought it from one on his visits to Bongaigoan, a state in Assam which was a buzzing town back then.

Those were the days of mule tracks and having to walk for days and moreover as a bachelor, Mr. Karchung is said to have found a perfect companion, the radio.

In those days Mr. Karchung recollects the attention he used to get from his friends for he owned the only radio among them.  He remembers tuning onto the most popular All India Radio also known as Akash Pani stationed at a locality known as Kurseong in Darjeeling.

To insert the batteries it has to be done with precision as its screws has to be opened manually and accuracy to fit back the screws is needed. It works with the normal three pairs of batteries and is said to last for solid six months.

As the country is celebrating the sixtieth birth anniversary of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, the claimed oldest radio is also marking its sixtieth year in Bhutan. 

3:09 PM, Sunday

I am bored at this hour. Boredom makes me either sleep or write so let me choose writing this time. My choice to write comes from endless thinking. I think about the current status of my life and how far I have come.

As a young woman having just started my career I have come to a point to make sure I radiate positive vibes not just to grab my dreams but to do it in a way that will improve me as a person.

Your patience whilst you have nothing and your attitude while you have everything.

                           Peeps, take these words, It helps to reflect on lots of things.

Let me not bore you with my career subject. Everyone will have a story to where they started and where they are today.

My brain has the capacity to shift on subjects. Now I am pondering over the thought of the common subject ‘LOVE’.

My definition of love has changed from the last time I remember falling for a guy. Falling for a guy  is a heavy statement, I would rather term it infatuation.

The first time I was made aware to this subject was when puberty hit me. I don’t know what in him attracted me but without any definition on love I was infatuated to him. Some of the highlights of this stage would be hinting my friends about him through his initials on the scrap books and behaving like I was on the top of the world when he passed by me. It lasted for quite some time until he changed school. He made me nervous, can’t deny the fact but puberty failed to give me proper definition on love.

During my teenage years, I was attracted to student leaders. To me, they were usually tall, cool and basketball players. Peeping through classroom windows and keeping the track on what they were doing my definition on love became immense admiration towards their looks and talents.

As maturity hit me there were some alterations to my definition. As a literature student, engrossed in literary romantic heroes my ideals and expectations were high until I met this guy. My first love. You dream your future with them. Their favorite colors become yours. There is always them before you. They rarely fit into the criteria I have mentioned while I was in my puberty or the teenage years. Nothing matters, looks nor talents. You just fall for them. They become your significant other. I have generalized these points because many can relate. It was the point where my heart substituted my brain in taking decision. You are hardly rational. I had my share of heart breaking moments and when they were gone the world seemed depopulated. My first love taught me love is blind and deaf. Maybe that’s the reason you fall in love, you never rise.

Love is a vast subject is what I know as an adult today. You are looking for someone to spend the rest of your life. Rest of your life is quite long so you gotta be sure of whether you can make it through together. For a companion I would like to be able to stay as best friends and feel for each other like soul mates. There’s gotta be five connections. Emotional, financial, physical, sexual and intellectual. I don’t want to explain all of it but for those of you reading it, take some time to think. For me, my definition of love as an adult has made me realize love is like an iceberg theory.