The creepy new year eve

On 31^st of December 2014, we left for Sigulda, an hour by train from the Riga city centre.Sigulda is known as one of the tourist destination in Latvia. Since we booked the hotel at the last moment we couldn’t get nearby hotel. When we reached there only we knew that the hostel we booked was on the other side of the valley. We had to go by cable car because we were tired of searching for hostel in the wrong place for about three hours.

We met some tourist from Lithuania in cable car and we thought that they were going to stay in the same hostel we booked. The hostel looked like a museum or a big mansion. We met one lady who takes care of the hostel. She was very polite and gave us the main door key. It was a big mansion and she told us to lock the hostel when we sleep since we were the only guest that night.  I began to have a creepy feeling. The mansion was so big and bit old. She gave us the key of the main door which worked at first. But when we tried again it did not work.  Then she gave us the side door key and showed us the way. The elevator worked very slowly and the light was also dim. After showing the side door she left for her home since it was New Year eve. So in the big mansion there were only four of us.

I started to think about all those horror movies I have watched.  One of my friend said that it was all set up. He pointed out how the main door key did not work, the slow elevator which may stop working at any time, the lady who was very polite and the creepy feeling. The silence of the mansion screamed at us.  There were paintings hung on the wall and one of the paintings has a girl. I could not look at her as I felt like the painting was holding something inside and if I look at her that thing may come out at anytime. I was literally holding my breath.

After having dinner in one of the nearby restaurant we headed back to hostel. I wished more than anything to go back to Riga but cable car was not in operation until the next day. The sight of the mansion in the darkness sent chill down my spine. But I didn’t have any other choice and feared what might happen tonight. After taking a quick nap, one of my friends suggested to explore the mansion. I was against the idea but I was also scared to be left alone in the room. So we headed to the second floor. It was totally dark. We didn’t have torch, except the flash light from our cell phone and one of my friend started making video telling us that if something happens to us, people will get the evidence. I didn’t say anything as I was too scared. I followed them and as one of them put on the light, the light started flickering. One of them said that it was scary. By that time I was drenched with fear, I could feel my heart beating so fast. There was television in the hall way and when we tried to put on it did not show anything except some blur stuff. After sometime it showed some channel telecasting movie in Latvian.one of my friend said that camera was not working  and something was really wrong with the place adding fuel to the fire. But it worked again after sometime. After exploring second floor one of them suggested to go to third floor. I pleaded them to explore in the morning and they agreed.

We had brought some wine to celebrate the New Year. I drank thinking that sleep would betray me that night and also I wanted to celebrate New Year. But I could take only few sips since I did not like it. We watched fireworks at night and roamed around in woods. I don’t know if it was because of the wine or because of the weary day, I did get a very good sleep in the creepy beautiful mansion.    And when I woke up in the morning, I learned that the mansion was a hospital before and one of my friend assumed that where we stayed might be psychiatric ward since we could see beautiful scene from there. Thank god I didn’t know about that before. In the morning the fear was gone and mansion started to look beautiful and the painting also didn’t scare me. So maybe I am scared of the darkness. The day turned out to be an awesome one with the walk in snow and beautiful places in Sigulda.

Sight of hostel at night

Painting i couldnot look at night

hostel

Gutmana cave

Chimi's snow man 

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

Be true to yourself

There comes a time in our life when we really want to do something or feel something. But somehow we are scared that something wrong might happen and we back off. People say take risk or fly off the comfort zone. But does it really penetrate into our minds or is it just empty words barking at us. Despite of reading inspiration quotes first thing in the morning for more than a month now the only thought I have in my mind is am I running after a wild goose chase or am I missing out something?

Sometime I run out of words and even opinions. Sometime I even don’t know what is good or bad or right or wrong. Everything that is happening becomes acceptable that sometime I wonder what is happening to me.   Am I too scared to be judged by others if I say something?  If we pour out our disappointment then someone would definitely say not to give a shit about it. But are we really strong that way, are we tough inside out?  Do we not really care when others pass judgment to us? Or do we pretend to be not bothered by it just to conceal our weaker side.

If we have something to tell why do we have to think a lot to speak up, may be truth is bitter but it’s the truth after all. If we care or love someone why are we so scared to express it fully or love whole heartedly? Is it because of the fear that someone may take us for granted or is it because we don’t want to be judged or is it because we are too egoistic to admit that this things does not matter though it does. Or is it because you just want to evoke others feelings just to leave them in pain just for your sake of fun. Can anyone be so cruel? Or are we just scared because we don’t know what is going on.  Or are we habituated being like that that we have become indifference. What is the harm in giving 100 % while dealing with such things? What is the harm in being honest, loyal or trust worthy?  Did these three words have become too much to expect nowadays? May be things will never work out fine even if we have done everything we could. We may land up with not so many friends or acquaintance but do we need them all? I think having few true friends or someone whom we can trust with all our heart and soul will suffice everything.  

I read somewhere that deep down every one is a lonely person. Is it true?  May be it is because no one will ever understand ourselves better than us.  May be having someone whom you can trust and love can make us forget about the loneliness lurking beneath us. But if we are really not happy with our self will we ever be happy? How long are we going to be in a circle who forbids us from being ourselves? How long are we going to stand on others expectation until we lose who we are?  That would be the greatest tragedy and the mean thing we will ever do to ourselves. 

So does not matter how outside world is because it is our life. We may be having our own discipline and way of living life and all that matter is we follow it accordingly.  Don’t look back one day and regret for being someone else.  Life may not be always happy but pain is also essential. And what matters at the end is not loosing who you are and what you are throughout this not so smooth path of life.

“Staro Riga 2014”

“Staro Riga 2014” Festival of light is a part of Riga carnival which stands for happiness and change.  It is scheduled for five evening from 14 to 18 of November 2014. It presents the idea of transformation and lighting up of the city, building, windows and façade. It tries to provide people with the feeling of adventure, exploration and discovery.

 I was excited when friends told me that the city looked so beautiful. So not wasting much time me and my apartment mates headed to the city. When I entered the city I felt like I was entering into a different realm. Riga is not a big city, but it is a beautiful one even during the day light. At night when the city is decorated with lights the view is splendid. There was showcase of the work by various artists from Latvia, Lithuania, France, Portugal etc showing their globally acclaimed work during light festival. I don’t know how other people felt but I was so amazed. I started to think what would we do if there was not greatest invention like light particularly the great Thomas Elva Edison’s invention the light bulb. My appreciation to this great man increased by many folds that night. So to be a part of the event where they show the importance of such invention is a beautiful experience, once in a life time opportunity at least for me. If lucky enough I hope I get to attend such events in the near future. 

 .Picture courtesy: myself, chimi, Osk seung, Tashi 

Video courtesy : Ingus  Betman