Of Young People and Suicide

What is it about some of these young people that they are so much obsessed about death, specifically personal death? More to the point, suicide.

Deliverance

I grip the steering wheel tightly as I take the curves at 60. I am alone, and I am shit scared. It is late night and I usually don’t drive alone at night. With a cigarette clenched between my lips and music blaring from my car speakers, I snake the treacherous roads of the hills above Wamrong.

I have to reach Mongar tonight….because my darling lay in the Hospital, crying out my name, waiting to deliver our baby girl.

With Love, From Jakar: Bear Season

Dear Wify,

The cold has started her journey through Bumthang, and the tap water has a chill to it. There are frequent power cuts, both during the day and at night.

Whenever I power on my desktop to so some work, the power goes off. So today I thought ‘why not write a letter to my wify?’

Her Story

The first time I saw him, I was seventeen and studying at the local high school. He would frequent the snooker joint, where I used to spend my evenings helping my aunt. She owned that joint.

I guess it wasn't ‘love’ at first sight. We were just acquaintances; I was a helper, he just a customer. Soon we got to talking and I found out that he was working at the local Customs office. He was always nice to me, complimenting and lightly teasing me. He was all smiles when he was around me. I liked his company, a respite from the daily monotony of school life and a cold home. Here was a guy who made me laugh, and who seemed to genuinely care for me.

Pre-departure Thoughts...

These days there is a sure chance that my wife maybe called to Yangchenphug high school as there is a shortage of Commerce teachers there. And I am very happy for her

She got placed in a lower school here and has been unhappy ever since.

Behold the Raven! She rests atop the crown

Thou Raven; symbol of rarity

And wisdom, beauty and grace.

Thou bear the burden of Drukyul,

Along with her peace and prosperity.

Thou rest upon the crest of the crown,

That bears the mark of the Wangchuck dynasty.

I Love You

The rain clouds do not visit Orong, the plains beckon them from the south and whenever it rains in Kanglung I get the feel of it in my veins, and my heart aches for you; every nerve center cries out in a need that only you can assuage!

Confessions of a Lover

This feeling that I have… is reminiscent of what I felt years ago. There is this hollow in my chest… as if something is missing from me. What is it? And why is it there?

I have found out something else about myself. Something that has been dormant in me for so long. I know that this feeling has come to stay.

Lisa: August 2010

Lisa, how can I forget her name? And the face, how can I ever forget it?

The first time I see her is at the reception. There is one for us, the overseas participants. As I go around introducing myself and our GNH concept, I see her across the room. She is looking immaculate in her uniform. Immediately I want to talk to her, ask her name.

The Motorcycle Diaries: Of Freedom

Freedom cannot be explained. It cannot be expressed. It must be experienced. And I am in love with freedom.

I always find ways to experience it, and my latest craze is riding motorcycles. Keeping that in mind I have recently invested in a state-of-the-art motorcycle. I use it for short forays across the dusty back-roads of rural Samdrup Jongkhar.

One-Ness

There comes a time… when we heed a certain call when (Bhutan) must come together as one…

I used to remember these lyrics and sing it. My Value Education teacher used to make us sing to it in the class. He'd drum away on his guitar and we would bang the desks, shouting at the top of our voice. Of course we were in class VI. And he was our Principal.

Sweet November

My name is Kuenza Karma. I am a temporary teacher in Thimphu. I am still single, even after six years in my chosen profession.

I stay above the DNP office, in the unpainted building. Every day I walk down to the swimming pool bus stand and take the city bus to my destination, my school. If it rains in the evenings I ride the bus otherwise I walk back home, taking a detour through the town. For the past couple of years I have been following this pattern.