Of journey and lessons in 15 minutes...

I have seen and heard many people preaching philosophies about life. Many find it in television while most find it in books. For me, I find myself encountering the philosophy every morning on my way to the office.

I stay in Babesa and travel to office with my sister in her car. It’s just 15 minutes drive till my office. However, I never thought that the lesson of life would be encapsulated in those 15 minutes.

Life is a journey, they say and my journey starts with a gentle slope climb. Life is not so hard so we move on. Soon we are on the meandering road – life is full of twists and turns. In turnings, we go slowly. At times, taking the same road for granted, we go faster. Unexpected, we meet a car from the other side– life is full of surprises.

At times, the road is narrow and a vehicle approaches from the other side. We stop; drive back a little for the other car to pass. In life, we have to stop and reflect on our past deeds. We have to trace back sometimes, even when we are down to create a space to move on.
Next, we are on the expressway along with other speeding cars. We join the race of life. In life, no one is alone. We over take a car - life is a competition. But this time, the speed of life fluctuates and those better than us will leave us behind.

Then it’s an uphill climb near the Lungtenzampa. With gears down, we slowly ascend. Life is slow but steady. Once on the top, we pick up the speed again. We enter the town, a bustling place. We move under the direction of the traffic police - Life has rules for smooth flow.
Few minutes later, as we near the office, the gate opens and smiling faces greet. I reach office but I have to leave immediately for coverage. I move again...
Well, that’s why for me, life is a journey, not a destination...

Orientation - more than a fun time

Like an annual event, streets of Thimphu will once again be crowded with hordes of graduates. Graduates from as far as Trashigang, Samdrupjongkhar and Samtse will be in the capital by 24th of this month to complete the preceding formalities for the National Graduates’ Orientation Program which will commence from the 8th to 19th September.

It will be a time when familiar faces from your schooldays to college will greet you in every alleys of the town - a time, when everyone will realize that they have got enough of friends. Parties and gatherings will be illustrious everywhere.

From the past experiences of what I heard and saw, everyone’s purses will be thick at least during those two weeks. Therefore, most of the business persons especially the restaurant, bar and discotheque owners are anticipating a booming business again. It will be fun time again. But is that all as to what orientation means?

Of course it will be out of the ordinary to meet old friends and have fun but is that the notion we should be carrying about the orientation? Isn’t there more than ‘fun’ that we could yield during those two weeks?

Until recently I have been meeting many of my graduate friends and I was not surprised to hear them share the idea of orientation as a ‘fun time’. Candidly speaking, I am not against the idea. In fact I am looking forward to attending it too but I think we should consider more of what is in the orientation than what happens during the time.

Orientation, as it literally means familiarization, is a time when we will once again be brought in close proximity with our culture and tradition. It is not regarding how attractive are the dresses we wear but the way we wear them. It is not about the way we look, but the way we present ourselves. It is not to say that we should be proud of our tradition and culture but knowing the reason why we should be proud of it.

More importantly for those sitting for the RCSC common examination, most of the answers for the questions asked during the examination are to be found during those two weeks.

Therefore, I think, orientation should be viewed more broadly as a means to personal and social development and not just as a two-week long time of fun...
The rest, lies with the rest!