I am Here Because You Were There, Ama

I can’t remember all but I know

the painful journey you’d

the long months and years of endurance

I am aware

of the sleepless nights you’d

my endless cries and tantrums

I also realize

how I’ld have resisted eating

and asked for what wasn’t there

I can imagine

the stress and concern you’d

of my health and growth

I remember vividly

how you held my hands

and your warm shower of love and care

I can’t forget

the sacrifices you’ld make

for me and mine

I recall with gratitude

how you’ld bathe, cream

And get me dressed

I still miss dearly

the mornings before school

when I had you to get ready

I can feel and sense

the aroma of warm food

and the sense of safety you provided

I also admit

that I can’t write everything you’ve done

but I remember and cherish all

I thank you

for I am here

because you were there, Ama

I thank you Ama

with prayers for your health and happiness

for your longest life and peace! 

*Ama : Mother/Mum in Dzongkha

Autumn’s Futility

                       

Flowers blossom in spring
but leaves flower in autumn

painting gold and saffron

brown- red and pink too.

Then comes the whistling gush

bursting with chill and vigor

How heavenly colours

dance their way down.

And dyes the ground

to find the lover’s spectacle

and the painter’s inspiration

for it’s a musing muse.

Those last shades-clinging

swaying weakly and ready to fall

Yet so beautiful and patient

waits for the passing wind.

They sail down in joy 

but to wither and rot

Winter’s coming
and summer’s not faraway!

Ode to my Wrathful Wrath!

The Tasmanian Devil is well known for it's ill temper and aggression

Please don’t test my wrath,

for I turn a devil.

My wrath is my madness.

I hate it, 

I ain’t kindling it-abhorred disgust,

still it embraces me.

When in wrath,

I forget everything,

and turn a brainless being.

Neither the past, nor the future-I contemplate.

But I do feel and recall,

that shameless moment,

that stupid instance,

and repent for ceaseless hours.

My wrath is my madness.

I denounce you,

yet you come back-so easily.

And hurt me and mine!

Huh! I despise you,

you had your part from me,

unwelcomingly accompanied me.

Now you may leave-Forever!

and present me with love and peace.

Don't wait for UNESCO, Everyone is Responsible

Pretty often we wait for someone to do something for everyone. Everyone is aware that the world is battling a new global problem every single day and it is fighting a losing battle against numerous impending issues. The issues are so pertinent that the mere sustainability of our planet has become a big question.  I am not explaining the global issues here because we have so many problems that it is nearly impossible for me to explain it in one post. To mention few that we are facing are Anthropocene, Climate change, Sustainability, Safe Drinking Water, Hunger, Gender Equality, Human Rights and the list is endless. UNESCO is one global organisation that strives to fight global issues and they are doing their best. However, we can't wait for UNESCO or some other organisations alone to confront these global challenges. You, me and everyone is responsible and ought to challenge these challenges in our small ways. We don't have to do something big to live responsibly and we don;t even need a lot of sacrifices. Living responsibly is as simple as switching your bedroom lights off while you are in the living room or even sorting our garbage and reusing plastic bags. If we all lived responsibly, the combined effort would be so powerful that we will be able to save our planet for eons to come. 

Truth: Peace is achievable and sustainable living/development is possible!

Video Courtesy: UNESCO website. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASJ0CYP8oNY

Cleaning and Bhutanese: Is it the Only Job for Bhutanese Overseas?

Some freaking people here think that Bhutanese people knows nothing more than cleaning. They undemine our capabilities and takes advantage of our status as students in dire need of work and money.
At one point we can't blame them for the long etched notion because we gave life to a living culture and blind acceptance that Bhutanese in Australia or America can do nothing but cleaning. People just started to come and start cleaning. The first thing you hear when you start job discussion or search is the famous bhutanese one liner: "You will hardly get any other job than cleaning and even our dignitaries are cleaning". Ones hope to look further is shut down abruptly and we accept it with blind faith.
I strongly believe that cleaning is a great job and everyone does it.  It promotes  dignity of labour. In any ways, I am not trying to discourage cleaning as a job we can do.  However, even with our ego kept aside, we can do lot more than just cleaning. What's the use of our degrees and certificates as well as experiences and values. Our education and experience to do lot more remains dormant. It is a little too much for accepting that we can do nothing more than cleaning.

So it is with much hope and a bit of ego that I suggest Bhutanese to explore avenues beyond cleaning because we are people with values and abilities to be versatile. We have to prove to the people here that we are worth more than just a bunch of cleaners. It is also true and dissapointing to learn that some of our qualifications are not recognized here. Therefore, concerned authorities should revisit the qualifications provided by our educational institutions. One proven example is that my so called B.Ed from Paro College is accessed as equivalent to a Diploma here. It is only in rare cases that people here belive we are adequately educated and that too with much questioning.

Cleaning is a good start but we are also capable of doing more!

Note: This short article maybe a generalization in some cases but it is valid for the place I am in.