The Pride

One of the perks of studying outside our own country is to learn about other countries culture and tradition.  As I learn more about them I came to know that we have different culture and tradition which define who we are. When we meet foreigner we start to talk which is mostly initiated  by my other Bhutanese friends from our side  since I am a girl of few words and socializing was never a piece of cake for me.  Well I am trying to socialize with people and I think I am improving gradually.

Most of the people from European country do not have any idea about Bhutan. One of my friend from Germany said “who would have thought that a small country with less than a million people exist between two giant countries India and China.” Another girl from Korean said “I heard that you have king just like fairy tales.” She was so excited about it.  One of a girl from Taiwan said “I read that Bhutan is the happiest country, are you all happy?”  One day my Erasmus buddy asked me “Was Bhutan under some country before.” There were many questions which I barely remember as I am jotting it down now.

We have kings who devoted their whole life for the well being of the country and the people. They look after us though we are young democratic country now.  One of my friends said “Bhutan is poor but happy country.” I thought are we really happy and I could not answer to Taiwan friend at one go because I have never asked that question to myself before.  Am I happy being a Bhutanese?  People from other country who know about us consider us as the happiest people and being a part of country itself is something valuable. After a while I said “Yes indeed we are very happy but we do have our own share of problems. But despite of minor problem  Bhutan is a safe and happy country”  She nodded and said  that minor problem will be present everywhere. 

And to the last question we said with pride that our country was always Independent. We were never under any other country because of our visionary king. I felt proud being a Bhutanese despite of our small size or economic status.  So as we celebrate our National day (17th december) I wish our king without which we will never be who we are today, country and the people with lots of happiness and well being. May peace and prosperity shine in Drukyul under Wangchuk dynasty.

Pelden Drukpa Gyelo!

Wangchuk Dynasty: The visionary Monarch  of Bhutan
picture courtesy: Facebook

Values

The primary aim we have when we join any institution is to get a degree or diploma certificate. No one would want to go to institution if those certificates are not provided.  We go to attend lecture to catch up with the attendance shortage or it is mandatory for everyone to attend class or sometime we genuinely want to learn something; something which we cannot get outside the four walls of institution. There may be other firms where they can provide some lecture but it will be difficult to find all sets of things we need in one place.  So institution is a grooming place to provide certificate to our bright near future provided we have done all the necessary preparation and fulfilled the requirement.

Though the primary aim of the institution is to provide a gateway to a professional life, it does take up the responsibility to cultivate values that we need in our everyday life. The values may not be taught as a separate module or it will not be pasted in notice board or a lecturer may not tell you the list of values we need to have once we graduate from the university or institution. If we observe the values are everywhere, all we need is a little more observation and a little more appreciation.

Some of the values I appreciated during my 4 months stay in Riga Technical University and i hope i can practice those values.

Responsible:

  Time is important for everyone in this rapidly changing world. But if we need a task to be done everyone responsible should be well informed about it. I have observed this value from the first day I stepped into this institution.  Everyone was doing their task entrusted to them in a very systematic manner. Where ever I went people responsible for the task was well informed about it before hand. It was so easier for me and my work was done in a very smooth manner. Therefore as a student our responsibility is to learn and we should do it with sincerity and dedication because it is for our self. We are paving our own future.

Helping hand:

  Someone rightly said that lending a helping hand is better than the lips that pray. I went searching for a book in library in civil faculty department. I was there for the first time so the lady told me the whole procedure. Now this is her responsibility. It will not be taken as helping hand. I visited the library twice or thrice after that.  But what made me amazed was though I was aware of the whole system, she helped me search whole library for the book that I wanted. She was so kind that she had to go through a lot of racks just to find my book. We still could not find what I wanted. So I walked back to dormitory thinking that I will search in net. And after a day I received a mail from her with the name of the book that might help me. I was so happy not because I got the book but because someone total stranger helped me without even asking. I realized no matter whether we know or not, helping hand always leaves a good impact.  So as student we should not hesitate to extend help if one needs. No one is born with all things imprinted on their mind.  At the same time we should not hesitate to ask for help if we need because we will always gain when we share ideas and thoughts.

Approachable and Receptive:

There may be a time when it becomes so confusing to sort out things and for me there were a lot of such times. So Whenever I approached someone be it my tutor or my project guide they have always been receptive and approachable.  They listen to my ideas and they tell me what are the possibilities and necessary things that I have to do. Even when I mail them they were kind enough to reply me or give feedback on my work despite of their very busy schedule. Now I think being approachable and receptive will not only improve professional relationship between student and teacher, it will also improve the relation between the staff also. This type of values where you are receptive to new ideas and being approachable will help us to develop the overall view of the particular field.

P.S   It was a home assignment so i just felt like sharing. I think i should start thinking about what CST has installed in me. I know it will be more....:) Hope your university has also contributed a lot to your growth.

Farewell

Dear 2014,

It has been a tough journey right?  So many things have happened over the past 11 and half month approximately. You have been harsh on me when the year started. Everything fell apart and you made me to weep days and days. There was time when I had to lie down because it was too painful to absorb everything. There wasn’t rage nor anger but only pain. Sometime I felt like the essence of life that is hope is draining away from me. Despite of all that things I thought if only just for once if you could listen to my unsaid words.  I cried in silence and wept in despair but you turned blind eye to me. I felt like I was buried alive because my voice failed to reach you. And I wondered for the first time if things will ever be okay again.

I didn’t know why you made me to go through such things but with shaken faith I still believed you. I knew you would not let me go through such things for long. Then one day you gave me the option to start over. I was confused, scared but I knew that I was holding on to something that was never there in the very first place. I didn’t know that letting go was tougher than holding on. On the other hand it was maybe once in a life time opportunity. So I took it because life is a long journey. I didn’t want to spoil the rest of my journey for something that was not meant for me. So I strolled on to my new journey both professionally and personally.

And I am here now in Latvia for past four months. It is weird how you made me weep but at the end you send all these beautiful things to mold me again. May be without such pain you could not have molded me. I know sometime I can be so adamant and I need such lesson.  I may never be who I was before but somehow I changed for good. I learnt to accept things, I learnt to let go and I learned to value those I have in my life. May be change is necessary; change the only permanent thing some wise person said. I hope that whatever I have learned through the ups and downs of my life, will take me to the better path. I hope that I can be better than who I was yesterday be it for the person I have in my life, be it in the my field of education or be it for my family and friends who stood by my side always.

So thank you 2014 for everything and sorry for bidding you farewell before you are ending. I always wanted to thank you and I know the last two weeks of 2014 will be another lovely journey. I hope 2015 will be another worth living year. I do not expect never ending happiness, all I expect is a worth living and learning years ahead.  So that one day when I look back I can take a deep breathe and say I did my best without any regret.

Farewell 2014 and welcome 2015

Picture courtesy : Google

It is okay

When life bestows you with sadness,

It is okay my dear to feel the pain

For we should know the  essence of life

To feel everything be it pain

When life turns its back on to you

It is okay to be frustrated sometime

Cry it out loud if you must

Because not all are strong enough to bear it

When the goal seems miles away

With no direction or clue to get towards it

It is okay my dear to rest for a while

Resume your journey when your head is cleared.

And when sunshine appears in your life

It is okay my dear to embrace it fully

Celebrate, express and feel it

Don’t hesitate or fear of what might happen next

Life is but a series of journey

So make it beautiful if you can

If not accept it as it is

Coz sometime things are better as they are