I took some time to read my own blog today to begin reflecting on the past three months... I suddenly realized that some time has passed since my last post... and that I had promised an update on the cross country tour I was lucky enough to participate in. I can't believe how much time has passed, how much has happened, how many people I have met and how many things I have seen.... I can't believe I have just 6 short weeks before I wake up from this dream...
Firstly, you will have noticed (maybe) that I have changed the appearance of my blog. This change is is not due to a spiritual awakening (although I think I feel one coming on!), but rather to pay respect to spirituality that guides this land and its people... to pay respect to the religion that is teaching my a lot about myself, how what kind of person I am and about drives me and the things I do....
Ok, so.... where was I?? Right, the tour... We started in Tsirang (I believe I mentioned this)... Tsirang is a land lined with orange trees as far as the eye can see... this was perfect for us as we arrived in December and Bhutanese oranges would be better known in Canada as 'clementines'!... Everywhere we went, every village we visited we were welcomed with smiles and a basket of oranges... One villager, upon our arrival, climbed high into one of this trees and began to shake
the fruit free for us...
We were also greeted with enthusiastic, engaged youth who were ready to learn and eager to take action in their own communities to facilitate change. We were lucky to spend two days with these youth working through research tools and methods around community development and turning ideas into action in their GNH Village of Tsilami.
This village was a new resettlement. This means that people from all over the country had been moved here by the government (for one reason or another) and are now to call Tsirang home. This village faced many challenges and I could see the youth's wheels turning as we walked around. Tsilami is a typical resettlement and has typical resettlement issues.... Firstly, there are 19 different dialects and languages in Bhutan... this poses a problem when people who represent those dialects are all moved into one place and expected to mesh into a community. Secondly, this community was resettled in an undesirable land... one with dry, red soil, not suitable for growing oranges or other crops typical in that region. Lastly, the village was fairly inaccessible and only a narrow, bumpy farm road connected them to the outside world....
Despite all these obstacles, the youth were excited and began developing a plan... we decided to research uses for this red soil, and began thinking of making pots and bricks as a possible income generation program... we also found that Bamboo will grow and started planning a community forest that everyone could access... weaving of baskets, fences, mats, home construction would then be possible....
We will be returning to Tsirang next month to get these projects rolling... I can't wait to absorb the energy of the youth there and eat basket after basket of Clementines!
Quick note....
On our way home from Tsirang we decided to stoop in a place called Phunakha to buy some rice for the rest of out journey.... there we were greeted by Dorji Ohm's uncle and his wife. They invited us into their humble home for tea.... we declined three times, as is customary in Bhutan, before accepting the invitation. We stepped inside a wooden home and took a seat on the floor.... the wife then left... I was surprised to have been just invited into someone's home just to have her leave.... but as I peered out the window I saw her approach one of the cows that was now in its way home.... it was clear to me now.... she was going to milk the cow so that we could have some tea... best cup of tea I have had since my arrival!
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| Prayer Wheels |
Firstly, you will have noticed (maybe) that I have changed the appearance of my blog. This change is is not due to a spiritual awakening (although I think I feel one coming on!), but rather to pay respect to spirituality that guides this land and its people... to pay respect to the religion that is teaching my a lot about myself, how what kind of person I am and about drives me and the things I do....
 |
| Getting us oranges1 |
Ok, so.... where was I?? Right, the tour... We started in Tsirang (I believe I mentioned this)... Tsirang is a land lined with orange trees as far as the eye can see... this was perfect for us as we arrived in December and Bhutanese oranges would be better known in Canada as 'clementines'!... Everywhere we went, every village we visited we were welcomed with smiles and a basket of oranges... One villager, upon our arrival, climbed high into one of this trees and began to shake
the fruit free for us...
We were also greeted with enthusiastic, engaged youth who were ready to learn and eager to take action in their own communities to facilitate change. We were lucky to spend two days with these youth working through research tools and methods around community development and turning ideas into action in their GNH Village of Tsilami.
This village was a new resettlement. This means that people from all over the country had been moved here by the government (for one reason or another) and are now to call Tsirang home. This village faced many challenges and I could see the youth's wheels turning as we walked around. Tsilami is a typical resettlement and has typical resettlement issues.... Firstly, there are 19 different dialects and languages in Bhutan... this poses a problem when people who represent those dialects are all moved into one place and expected to mesh into a community. Secondly, this community was resettled in an undesirable land... one with dry, red soil, not suitable for growing oranges or other crops typical in that region. Lastly, the village was fairly inaccessible and only a narrow, bumpy farm road connected them to the outside world.... |
| The youth in Tsirang |
We will be returning to Tsirang next month to get these projects rolling... I can't wait to absorb the energy of the youth there and eat basket after basket of Clementines!
Quick note....
 |
| This is Phub... a staff member that toured with us. Behind him the house that served my favourite cup if tea |
On our way home from Tsirang we decided to stoop in a place called Phunakha to buy some rice for the rest of out journey.... there we were greeted by Dorji Ohm's uncle and his wife. They invited us into their humble home for tea.... we declined three times, as is customary in Bhutan, before accepting the invitation. We stepped inside a wooden home and took a seat on the floor.... the wife then left... I was surprised to have been just invited into someone's home just to have her leave.... but as I peered out the window I saw her approach one of the cows that was now in its way home.... it was clear to me now.... she was going to milk the cow so that we could have some tea... best cup of tea I have had since my arrival!
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