Thank You So Much!

Thank You; Kadrin Che La! Source: Google Images

Okay, we are finally down to the near end of the year 2010. Everybody seems excited waiting for the ‘count down’. Within matter of minutes, and seconds, the New Year 2011 will unfurl right in front of our eyes. It is kind of weird to see other part (other half?) of the World already in 201l while rest half still in 2010, and eagerly waiting for 2011 to officially set its foot.

Traditionally, people make various resolutions for the year; which they would strive to fulfill in the year before they either end up disappointing themselves for failing to live up and yet make another resolutions for the following year. Wishing for good health, to receiving a promotion or raise, to promising to quit smoking, to finding a lasting relationship, to cutting down the weight, so and so forth, the resolutions are varied. Some truly work for it, and live up to their promises. But mostly, they are forgotten midway through the year. It shouldn’t come as surprise to anyone, though. It is a human tendency! You agreed? Say yes.

So today afternoon, I was voice chatting in the Skype with a friend of mine who studies in St. Francis Xavier University, Canada. We are in the same batch, graduated high school from the same school, and now headed for the same profession-teaching. Like I did to many other friends, I wished him a happy New Year before I threw an anticipated question: “What’s your new year resolution?” “My resolution is to have no resolutions,” he replies as a matter of factly. I wasn’t surprised, because I myself feel the same regarding the resolution. I know I may not be able to live up it. So I don’t make any.

For now, I am just waiting for the clock to tick 12:00 AM! That is the moment, which everybody is waiting for, and the moment that marks the beginning of 2011. Sadly, though, I won’t be able to make a toast and shake first handshakes (or hugs) of 2011. Because, I am the only residue at home, and although I have few drinks in the fridge, I am not going to drink like I regrettably drank the last New Year. I don’t want to start my first day of the year sleeping whole day like I did then.

As whatever I do/did finally become “the last thing that I did in 2010”, this article marks the last article of the year. I have ventured into blogging some 9 months or so ago, and written 40 articles on various topics, both good and bad. Hope year 2011 will give me even more reasons to write more, and break this years record! I thank each and everyone who has “followed” me, read my articles, commented on it, and encouraged me to "keep on writing". Without all these, I wouldn’t have found good enough reasons to continue writing. Hoping for the same support, and encouragement in future as well!

Once again, my heartfelt thanks to each and everyone who paid visit to my blog, and made effort to comment. Please don't stop coming.

Tashi Delek!

Happy New Year 2011

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011! Photo Courtesy: Google Images

Greetings to all my dear friends!

By this time, I am pretty sure, everybody has something to thank for. It is very obvious not everybody might have had a good year; some might have lost the loved ones, while some might have failed to make a good living. But no matter how rough or bad the Year 2010 might have been, we know nothing remains for eternity, even the Year 2010 is on the verge of leaving us soon. For ones who had terrific year, you may feel emotional seeing years coming to an end. Its okay, that’s the part of life. But for some who might have had a tough year, it is only understandable that you would be waiting to get it over, and look forward to the New Year. 

Anyway, lets look back to the bygone days, weeks, and months and feel proud that we have been able to survive the year 2010. That in itself lies a purpose for us to be thankful for. However, we are not to dwell with the past; marveling the goods or lamenting for the bad. In fact we are to focus more on the coming future. Putting it in the words of His Majesty the King, when we talk about future, it is nothing that we are unaware of. Today what we struggle with our two hands is the nature of tomorrow's future. Future comes with new opportunities, new challenges, new environment, so and so forth. We should be longingly mindful of the future, and accordingly be ready to live up to its level. Life is a journey; don't just focus on the single point. Learn from the past mistakes, work towards correcting it, and move on. If the need be, don't be afraid to make compromises. Life is full of compromises, so we should learn to live by it. Hope everybody will do what it takes to make one's life meaningful to live. Lets welcome the New Year 2011 with full heart. For many of us, it will be a new beginning with fresh resolutions, while for some it will be simply a continuation of the past. In whichever side of the fence you may fall, make the best of it so that by this time next year, we will be able to look back with great pride and joy.

I wish each and every one of you a very happy New Year 2011. Wishing successful, and wonderful years ahead!! 

Cheers!!

Tashi Delek 

Non-duality: Being Negative, and Trying to be Happy.

Silver lining in the darkest clouds! Source: Google Images

I woke up late today- at 11: 30 AM. I was okay, then. A few hours later, though, I began to feel something strange. I was feeling anxious, restless, dull, and many more. I just hate these creepy feelings! My heartbeat seemed to race abnormally high that left me in a complete scare. I didn’t know what was wrong with me, but I was very certain I was still breathing-alive. So I recomposed myself, monitored my breath, and lay back -hoping to calm myself. Just on time, quite coincidentally, I remember what I read in Mingyur Rinpoche’s book of “Joyful Wisdom” about tackling the stress, and the so called abnormal feelings. His Eminence provides the ways and methods to approach the stress, and help tackle it. Loosely paraphrasing, he advises to confront the stress directly rather than shying away and avoiding it for it will become worse. Digging deeper, and figuring out the source(s) of stress is what one of the authors of New York Times Bestseller the “Joy Of Living” is talking about and meaning when he said to “confront it”.

Thanks your Holiness for your, indeed, “Joyful Wisdom(s)”. Although I may not have nailed all that Holiness has mentioned about tackling the stress, I tried my best, and it seems to be working. Deep down in my mind I knew I didn’t have any valid reasons to be feeling the way it did, so I traced it back to their root causes. Eventually, I came to know that I was being too negatively judgmental about myself. That seemed to have resulted in such feelings, a creepy one.

Negative feelings don’t need to necessarily arise from negative sources. Sometimes they don’t even need any external sources. Our mind makes everything up, and the body bears the brunt of it. Today I am alone at home. My roommates just left for a weeklong trip to NYC earlier today. The house looks abandoned and quiet. I feel lonely, and sad. When everybody seems to make great time out of the vacation, and specifically coming of the New Year, I am a guy confined in this house without any plans. It makes me sad having to stay at home and nothing productive to do. I am not privileged of such enjoyments and merrymaking. I watch guitar-lesson tutorials, get crazed about it, I try playing, I fail and then I become upset. I chat with friends, they seem joyful, and I feel sorry about myself. So and so forth contributes to unease feelings, restlessness, and low self-esteem.

But in considering all those mentioned afore, what I haven’t noticed or failed altogether is to look at the positive part of my life. Yes, I’ve truly failed. If I put his Holiness’s approach into practice, I find so many things in me to feel happy about. There was absolutely no point to feel the way I began to feel. It was because of my truer perspective gotten clouded by negative aspects of mine. It does no good, but results in low self-esteem. I have felt carried away by someone else’s good things that I completely failed to acknowledge some goodness that resides in me all the time. I am battling with spotting a silver lining in the darkest clouds. It isn’t easy, but certainly not impossible. If one is very true to oneself, and acknowledges the goodness in you, there is no reason to feel dejected about anything. Good and bad are not absolute entities; they depend heavily on one’s reference point. So what I learnt today in quest of tackling my stress is that we always have to try to look at the brighter and positive side, than worrying about the negative sides. We have everything that takes to make oneself capable of being a good human being, but what we lack is our truer sense of looking at us. So assessing oneself, being contented, and remedying the stress is very tantamount in making a happy living.

Merry Christmas!

Beautiful Christmas tree. Source: Google Images

Today is Saturday, the 25 th of December. Which means, of course, the Christmas Day. It is “considered” as the birthday of Jesus Christ. I say “considered” because according to “The History of Christmas”, an online organizational source, the actual date was never known! It was in 4^th century that “the early Church Fathers in the 4th century fixed the day around the old Roman Saturnalia festival (17 - 21 December), a traditional pagan festivity”. But it was at the later period decided December 25^th as the official day.

On this festive day, everybody looks forward to varied surprising presents supposedly “shopped and hidden” for them by Santa Claus. I can totally see what the day means to American people around here. I personally have come to know about this widely celebrated Day not very long ago. It was in 2007, as I came to the US, and got to celebrate the first ever Christmas Day with my ex-host family Kathleen Smith, and Jeff. The colorful lights hung all over the houses, and beautiful Christmas trees (either fake or real) are the most notable scenes during this period of time. While most well-to-do parents don’t have problems surprising their children with surprising presents on the day, it is very obvious the less fortunate parents struggle to live up to the tradition of gifting their children when daily sustenance is their primary concern. But one thing I like very much about here is- more fortunate people buy gifts and donate to the organization to be given to the less fortunate kids. Like, the NBA Basketball superstars and stars hold a shopping camp whereby children from poor family background get to shop of their wish, and enjoy the feel of Christmas.

Being from a culturally different country, whenever I write, I tend to compare or contrast with my country and the country that I am currently in. Bhutan doesn’t celebrate Christmas like the western countries, and closest of the sort which I can think of are annual festivals which are held every nook and corner of the country. So the Christmas day doesn’t mean much to me personally. I don’t spend money for buying gift, nor do I get one from any. My other international friends seem to do the same. However, just to mark the day, we usually hang out, travel around, and go to a party. This year, too, we went to the city of Miami, a roughly over 3 hours drive from the Melbourne City. We spent a night over there, and surely we had a blast. We walked along the south beach, known for its popularity as a hot tourist destination, hit some bars, and certainly got a feel of Christmas atmosphere of the city of Miami, the biggest city in Florida.

With this, I am now four Christmas old. In five months, I will be heading back to my country, and I won’t celebrate Christmas anymore there, so this clearly marks the last and final Christmas for me!

Till then, Merry Christmas to you all!!!!

Source: http://www.ridgenet.org/Szaflik/history.htm

Is YEAR 2012 becoming a reality in Bhutan?

2012 Mystery. Source: Google Images.

I don’t know if the media coverage has improved over the years in Bhutan, or cases of accidents have actually risen, but one thing is very clear-the case of accidents are reported almost everyday. This is very panicking and nerve racking! All of a sudden, Bhutan has become a sorrowful nation. As a kid, I remember hearing the news of accidents of such magnitude through radio only once in a while. Of course, most might have gone unreported, no doubt, but I wonder if nation has suffered such a loss then.

The devastating fire accident that gutted down the entire Chamkhar town, several road accidents, the recent tragic flight accident that killed 18 Bhutanese people in Nepal, and yet the very recent bus accident below Dochula have added wounds to the already panicked nation.

While the flight accidents are the case of rarity, what concern me most are the road accidents, which have seriously become the issue in Bhutan. I don’t know if we should blame the geographic unfriendliness (being a Himalayan nation) as the main cause of accidents, or agree with the stereotype of Americans: “Asians are bad drivers!” Or is RSTA doing an enough job to ensure the safety of those on roads? Is police patrol doing enough to make drivers comply with the traffic rules? Or even worse, IS 2012 BECOMING A REALITY in Bhutan?!

Yes, I understand neither RSTA nor Police alone can ensure that each and every one on road is safe. It is the people who should be mindful, and compliant with the traffic rules. But again, we people although superior than animal, need some sort of a forceful reminder every now and then just to do things right. That’s where RSTA and Police come into play to remind them about the safety measures even if it means by slapping them fines for non-compliance of rules, and instilling in them the sense of safe driving. Eventually they will learn the lesson, and be more alert while driving.

I only wish if everybody on road could be more careful, and follow the rules. Its true RSTA and police can do very little, if people are not being compliant and cooperative with them. After all, I have learnt very recently that both RSTA and Police are shorthanded, and lack man power to put those measures into practical use. For instance, I read in one of the newspapers that there are only few speed guns for police to monitor the speed limit. This needs to be addressed, because driving over the limit is often reported to be the main cause of such accidents. So unless people learn to respect the signboards bearing the speed limit along the road, and police are provided with adequate equipments, the problem will remain as it is of now.

But it is no time to play a blame game, and point fingers at each other. It is rather high time all stakeholders come together, and find means to minimize such dreadful accidents. Together lets get out of this cursed-year 2010!!!!

Dinner with Linda Mom.

With the Semester now over, the chilly winter campus of FIT (Florida Institute of Technology) wears a deserted look; with a fewer number of cars scattered over the parking lots, and fewer number of people hitting the gym. It is no surprise as everybody goes home to spend the Christmas with their family members. Only those who are far away from home, obviously those international students, are the ones who remain in the city of Melbourne. I am one of them.

As the semester gears to an end, the most typical talk around would be about plans for the break. It is not a surprising thing to bump into someone asking you "So, whats your plan for the christmas?", on a day to day basis. Of course, my answer is always "Nothing really. I will be around here". This year's Christmas isn't any different, either. I am here, and will be here. No matter how bored you get, and lonely you feel, you are left with no option. I certainly feel sad having to spend whole winter vacation either sleeping or browsing internet.

But there are equally unfortunate people like me putting a boring life. So it makes sense to get together, and enjoy our own share of time. A friend of mine from India happens to be the one who noticed my presence here. She asked me a couple of weeks ago "If I want to join them for camping at Tampa, Florida." I felt overjoyed and promptly replied in affirmation. Since then, I had a better answer to those inquiries from curious buddies. "Yes, I am going for camping!" I would say then.

However, the weather played its own role putting our only plan to a complete halt! Here I quote what my friend texted me the day before yesterday "...Linda Mom says according to forecast there are 40% shower, so there is no point in going to camping...what do you think?" I was like no way! But yeah, it doesn't make sense to go for camping in extreme weather condition. So I made my decision, and we called off our plan.

Just a few hours after we made our decision, though, I received yet another text message from her. Shweta and our host Ms. Linda have figured out things to do, making it up for our failed plan. Mom had invited us to join her for a dinner, with a provision of playing some games. I agreed to join them, and tonight they picked me up at my apartment, and off we went to mom's house, 15 minutes drive to the downtown.

Shortly after we reached there, we were asked to help ourselves of very delicious food, and drinks. Eating the food with mom, and friends on the dinning table inside the room fully decorated with Christmas tree, twinkling lights, and background soft christmas song made me feel so homely. Although we don't celebrate Christmas in Bhutan, or particularly in my house, I felt strangely happy. After a plateful of deserts comprising cheese cake, chocolate flavored cake, and varieties of cookies, we played games called "Onu" and "Yahtzee". We played nearly three hours, and we called for the day.

Now I feel kind of happy that at least I did something for Christmas, in fact the nice moment. I thank you so much mom, and my friends Shweta, Namrata, and Hyo for inviting me, and giving me a good company. I will cherish it forever.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Strangers Become my Saviors!

Sometimes, I tend to be very childish-a simple nice thing can make me so happy, and again a very silly bad thing can make be down! I won't say I live without a long term 'big' plan for my life, but I usually settle for a simpler plan. I strive for the best, try my heart out, but I certainly know how to accept the failure, no matter how unpleasant it is.

University life isn't the bed of roses, and it comes with full of choices-either to make it work out good for you, or opt for something which may not be always good for you. You learn to take decisions of your own, and stand on your own feet. "University life is the most crucial part and the fastest learning period in your life..." says a professor of Mathematics, Dr. Tenali, answering to students' enquiries of life being so stressful. You grow both physically, and intellectually within four years. You come in as someone, and go away with entirely different person, an officially professional.

Peer pressures, academic requirements, professors' expectations of you as an "over-achiever" et al makes the life extremely challenging, to say the least. It is nearly impossible to grapple all those challenges simply by living in your cocoon-the comfort zone! You got to go an extra miles, and keep nothing as granted. I am a very shy person, and probably the quietest student in every class. I feel shy to approach someone, and ask for the help. I do really have to overcome my fear and be more open. "In the US, nobody will approach you and render helping hands, if you don't speak up and approach them first..." are the words of a director whom I happened to meet during the Fulbright Official Dinner at Druk Hotel in Thimphu. After having gotten selected for the scholarship following the declaration of BHSEC (class 12), in 2007, I got invited to the Official Dinner hosted by U.S Embassy officials who happened to be the Hamphrey Scholarship interviewers, and Fulbright representatives, then. I felt very honored!

Those words really struck me as I came here and deal with the ground realities. Somehow now, I have developed some courage, and appreciated his words. On the scale of 1 to 10, I would, however, rate just 6. I still need to conquer my fear, and shy. They contribute more and more to the stress-level. Working in a team, or group creates synergy, thus yielding higher quality of work. I knew that fact, but always face difficult being in a group, specially when people around me are complete strangers.

But this semester being my second last one, I tried my best to conquer my fear and able to approach people. In fact, I am happy that I have been able to make more friends this semester, and now I feel more confident to make my last semester even more significant. I have a few people deserving of a mention, and whom I owe a heartfelt thank. As I said earlier, I am a quiet guy in the class, and even worse, I become extremely quiet in the classes other than my major. Philosophy of Science course, tortured me enough. The fact that I was the only international student in that class, made even worse. I somehow manage to pass the midterms and assignments, but my biggest fear was the final exam.

Just a couple of hours ahead of the exam, I was having the lunch of Pasta in the cafe with two friends of mine. A girl (whom I later recognized as a girl in the philosophy class) walks up to me, and says "We are having a review session for the exam. Do you wanna join?" Delighted, I promptly replied "Wow awesome. Where is it gonna be?" She said that it was gonna be in the first floor of the library, and left to grab her lunch. I met her in the library, and she went over almost everything that she thought would be in the exams with me. I felt short of words to thank her. In a similar incident, but this time me approaching a girl in my Biomath class. I hesitantly asked her "if we could work together for the finals", to which she responded in affirmation. We exchanged our cell phone numbers. The next day, I was to meet her in the library. I went there, and once again felt short to thank her for her generous help. She had literally done 90% percent of the problems, photo-copied and kept readied to hand over to me. What can I say, I am truly truly thankful to them.

They are my saviors!!!

And Thus, Semester Comes to an End!

This Fall semester has been very crucial one, not that others were not, and of course crucial-ness implies a greater challenge. This was the first semester of my senior year, and the courses were just as demanding. All six courses (three Maths, one Humanities, one Management, and one Environment) were very challenging, but I can't deny that they were all intectually stimulating. I had a very slow start, which I soon regreted for I struggled to catch up with the progress at the end. Somehow, though, I could manage to pull on track before it was too late, except the Numerical Analysis course, which I blew off completely! Not that I didn't try, but it just didn't work the way I initially thought. Normally, I consider first mid-term exams (yeah it sounds weird, but here they have a system whereby several 'mid-terms' are conducted before the final exams) as a kind of test drive as to see how professors assess our understanding on the material covered in the class. So that I would be better prepared in remaining midterms, and hopefully do it better. That was exactly what I did, and although I screwed up, I didn't worry much as I was quite confident enough that I could make up the next time.

However, it didn't work as I planned. I did really bad midterms after midterms, and couldn't do much to revive my dropping grades. I became more stressed out, and overwhelmed by the work load. At times, I found myself getting off to bed around 2 am, and waking up at 8 am. The situation just got worse and worse as the semester progressed. No matter how bad you do, time doesn't feel mercy on you. It just flies away without any delay. Just like that, it was already the final week of the semester; on the self study week for finals. "I can really demonstrate in final that I had learnt the materials taught in class, or screw alltogether!" I realized as I dedicatedly reviewed for the finals. Interestingly, the ones which didn't make sense earlier made more sense, and questions which I blew it off in midterms turned out very trivial. In short, I just realized that I learnt more in the final week than I did over the entire semester!
But a week was just not enough a time to cover all six courses. It was already the exam time, and within a week, I am done with the semester! I can't believe that I am now down to one semester, the final one!

Indeed, I've come a long way.