My Toilet Dream, Everyone's Choice

As I have already been involved in managing public toilets on a few big occasions, this time when I heard about the BazaGuru Drungdrup for three days (1^st to 3^rd March) I was rather obliged rather than feeling excited. 

To create the toilet of my dreams, I went to check the conditions of the public toilets several times (Moelamchenmo ground, zhemgang). To my surprise the recently constructed public toilet surrounding was in a very hostile condition.  

I tried everything in my control to do some cleaning although the weather was in our favor. 

Before I headed back home, I approached the camp coordinator to support my cause with some toiletries –tissue paper, soap, buckets, jugs, and phenol. I elaborated to him in length that these items are mandatory to keep any toilet clean and tidy. But, he seemed least bothered. He hesitantly accepted to fund my aforementioned proposal. 

For whatever reasons, I did not give up because I know it is for the good cause. It is a public matter and I felt the need is urgent. Therefore, I remained firm and pushed myself even further. I even have to coax some officers in between thinking for some favors to carry out this public service more blatantly and successfully. But, very few have supported the move.

On the first day, we were very excited. Therefore, we reached there by 5:45 am. In fact, before anyone, we took with us our own buckets, jugs and some hard brooms because we knew these items won't be on their list. I left my team to do a final touch and I went straight to the store. I luckily got phenol and the soap. I thanked them immensely. I told them I would remain obliged for their kindness and the support for the cause.

On the very first day, after a few hours we came across acute water shortage, toilet shortage especially for our females (4 units for large gathering is too less), missing tissue paper and maintaining the surrounding clean free of litters.

To keep the mission alive, I immediately rushed to a few officers I knew, for some help –the only word that I could utter was “Water Shortage for Toilet Sir”. Luckily we got immediate supply from the Fire Fighter Truck that lasted just for a few hours because the water storage tank was too small for the crowd. Anyway we managed till the last hour. We even fought silently with cooks over water –they felt the kitchen was more important (of course we too felt the same) and we had our own share of rights (everyone has the right to clean the toilet). I and my team tried our best to convey that toilets are equally important like kitchens. We did not back an inch from our prospect, and our gesture remained unabatingly firm and our mission remained undying like Ashley Eden. We felt the first few hours were less impactful but as time passed by we picked our momentum and slowly everyone felt our presence. Everyone trusted us and everyone seemed impressed with our dedicated service. 

On the second day we ran short of water supply more acutely, we had to struggle to maintain the sufficient amount of water for the toilet; on the other hand some officers’ were reluctant to aid us. But after several special requests, by afternoon Municipal Officer gave us the independent water supply and the two small tar drums which immensely helped us to perform our toiletry works. 

Third day was a bit easy and comfortable. We only needed to check the water supply, phenol, soap and clean the toilet pot from time to time. Although we all were thoroughly exhausted, we never gave up.

After working tirelessly and selflessly, we got some positive feedback – “toilet was very clean, and toilet smells so good”, these remarks gave us a sense of happiness, satisfaction and pride for the work we undertook to serve everyone.

We also had some bitter experience from three-day experience – people become bother less, carefree, and too dependent with free services, which made me reflect on the quote – “Once you carry your own water, you will learn the value of every drop”.

All these were made possible due to my dedicated and committed team [7 boys and 3 girls] for which I shall remain ever grateful and thankful. I am also so humbled by their team spirit, energy level, sacrifice and positiveness. 

Let's make toilets a first priority!

    Let's stop to defame mother nature!

   Let's forget the dirty toilet mindset!

HighWay II

Down on the highway
I see cars of different brand
Hyundai, Maruti and Toyota
My favorite is the crossed-red horse

Down on the highway
I see cars of different colors
Yellow, blue and red
My favorite is the car in Maroon

Down on the highway
I see cars of different sizes
Big, medium and small
My favorite is market medium 

Down on the highway
I see cars of different tyres
MRF, Apollo and JKtyre
My favorite is the black strip

Down on the highway
I see cars of different height
Tall, medium and short
My favorite is the sporty 

Down on the highway
I see cars of different age
5, 17 and 91
My favorite is the 1810  model 

Down on the highway
I see cars of different driver
Beautiful, ugly and smart
My favorite is the blue-eyed lady 

Down on the highway
I see cars of different music
English, Hindi and Dzongkha
My favorite is the Gold-digger Classic

 

Highway

Highway

Highway! The king of all roads
The best of all roads
The busiest of all roads
Many will travel and few will fall

The house I belong was deep and dark
On a beautiful super sunny day to watch this highway, the last day of the year

Tonight is the last to breathe for the last year
Tonight many will fall but I will watch this road more sour-fully than ever.

Tonight many will blast their belly
And some will rock their road least travelled.
I will stay tuned for the night watching this highway.

Tonight some will become a highwayman
And some will ride for the last
I will stay active eleven meter away watching some gruesome highwaymen.

Tonight some will ride their horse on this highway and few will ride for the last
I will watch this musty road in color.

Tonight some will ride their tiger on this highway and few will sum up their cash for the last
And I will watch this highway of pattern pitifully.

Tonight some will ride their dog on this highway
And few will ride for the last
I will follow this bending road in light until the next day.

Drive slow, be safe
Enjoy but responsibly
2019, is all ours.

Many many happy New year 2019 to all.

Do not compare your child’s achievements with those of other children

I am sharing one interesting piece of writing from the book –Teach Your Children Well. This book has tons and tons of parenting information. Teachers can also get plenty of good material. The puzzle like why Tashi outperforms Pema in math tests is overly solved through examples and case study. A very book for all of us.

Kids this age are making comparisons in earnest and they make them about everything, most especially academic performance, athletic ability and popularity. This opens the door for a few high-performing kids to feel really good and many more to feel bad.

Teachers and parents both intentionally and unintentionally make comparisons between a child and classmates, siblings, peers and other family members. Your brother got all A’s, why can't you? If you don’t keep up in math, you and your best friend, Tashi, won't be in the same math group anymore.  

Pema and Tshering seem to have such nice friends. Couldn't you try a little harder to be friendlier?

While these kinds of comparisons are hurtful, kids often say they feel the worst when their parents look disappointed, angry or sad. Kids are exquisitely tuned to their parents' emotions and if they are disappointed that your child can't hit all the balls, wasn’t invited to the popular girl's sleepover, or isn't in the top reading group then your look is enough to tell them that they don’t measure up.

When you have just begun the process of learning a world of new things, the best medicine is encouragement and positive reinforcement. Applaud effort and improvement.   

While it's fine to acknowledge that another child excels at something, let your own children know that you love them whether they bat first, fourth or last.

Happy Reading!

How Parents can Help?

I am sharing some excerpts from the book titled –Teach your children well. A most read book worldwide. This book is for all ages -parents, teachers, school counselors, siblings, politicians, law makers, seniors, businessmen and entrepreneurs to know your own child first.

For some moms there is a sense of loss now that their child is out of the house much of the day and increasingly turning to peers for companionship, support and comfort. The secrets and confidences that once were shared between the two of you are now being shared with others and your access to your child's internal life is becoming restricted especially toward the end of elementary school. For other mothers this is a welcome change, allowing them to concentrate more on other siblings, a career, their spouse or themselves. For most of us it's a mixed bag. 

There's the drumbeat of eventual separation at the same time that we are extremely involved in our child's burgeoning desire to explore and be active. There are carpools and new schedules, clubs and teams, parties and sleepovers. Since, we are handing part of our children's lives over to new people and new friends, we want to make sure that they have the skills they need to form healthy, satisfying friendships.

Think back to your own early friendships. Do you still have contact with any of those friends? Do you remember more the close parts of those relationships or the conflicted parts? 

Your attitudes, the pictures you pull out, the stories you tell will affect your own child's view of friendship. Share some of your positive stories with your children. Let them also know of your positive stories with your children. Let them also know that friendship involves cooperation and sometimes even disappointment.

Keep in mind that the rules, expectations and behaviors you endorse when your children are young are being internalized and will serve as a template for how they will approach friendships now and in the future. 

Listen to the voice of a nine-year-old student.

It's easy to make friends unless you do not say hello. To be friends you should not talk about them behind their back. That means, do not talk about someone when they are not with you. Don't say mean things like you are stupid. And you should always smile when you introduce yourself. That is the number one thing. And also you should behave properly –even when you are angry. And never shout at your friend. If you are that angry, go get your mom.

Happy Reading!

Book Review: 1984

Name of the book: 1984

Book genre: Political satire (classic/fiction)

Page number: 318

Year of publication: 2005 (7th impression on August, 2014)

 

George Orwell's 1984 is a book that talks about the basic human qualities that change so often. Therefore, the book is all about the expression of the mood of despair of humanity.

 

Peace and justice are the goals of man. With the breakup of the medieval age, man's sense of strength and his hope, not only for the individual but also for social perfection assumed new strength and took new ways –war and peace are inevitable part of society.

 

While one experiences freedom, there are societies facing prejudice, irrationality and injustice that are the main cause of sorrow and unhappiness.

 

Precisely the significance of Orwell's book also talked about the new mood of hopelessness, which pervades our age and has taken hold of our consciousness. The book discussed in great length about the mood of the present and warned for the future to behave well and accordingly, otherwise the consequence will be different and severe. 

 

The personal life to professional life, what is called "ego" plays a very important role. It will make as well as it will destroy mankind. I mostly liked the author’s idea of war, war means the end of an organized society and by dropping a bomb to end war is not the ultimate solution to end any form of injustice.

 

One of the most remarkable points in the book I have found is the human truth, that basically what the author called it as "double think". What he found was that weapons might destroy most of our population and that of our enemy but it can't root out pain and suffering. 

 

The book predicted about the future of mankind in a mesmerizing way that I think would be a turning point in ages. Whatever maybe the cause it is important for all of us to be mindful, be reminded of human race and ego. More importantly what matters above all is the leadership. Not to forget that we need to respect each other's existence and the spirit of humanism. Like any other authors of negative utopia, Orwell is not a prophet of disaster, he warned and awakened every mankind to behave as one race of human and politics shouldn’t interfere with human society. 

 

Should be there be School on Saturdays?

Although, Saturday classes can give a few extra hours to study (almost null in our present context) and will help them not to compromise their learning subjects because of pressure and lack of time (this has not happened much across all the subjects). 

Usually on Saturday students can come to school on their best colorful attire but only to ruin their mood and themselves in their agriculture garden or SUPW or mass cleaning or class decoration work. In this way most of the Saturdays are used up for such miscellaneous activities which actually is more stressful and burdensome for our young kids and school teachers. That means Saturday classes aren't benefiting much but end up more tiring than usual. Same day (Saturday) in most parts of the world reunites most working and school children with their friends and families. However, this luxury in our context is given only to a few handful fortunate civil servants. So, in this way there is free time, washing time, family time and friend time for our students and teachers.

Next, why I think there should be no school on Saturday. Unlike any other individual, teachers also need a break, need rest for their brains and re-energize themselves (both teachers and students) to last for the next five tiring days. It can also give them (both teachers and students) happy family time and great weekend to have fun. 

In PDP's time, the education sector felt the exact same thing with the idea of Child Adoption Policy (one child, one teacher policy) which both teachers and parents felt unrealistic and unnecessary. I mean dislike the idea of our previous government. It was a hump dump. There were so many questions being fired to our ex-PM through some social media platform. Why adopt someone's child when they already have living parents? How to adopt? But slowly the idea picked so well and rooted deep within and beyond the ministry's domain. Now it's doing very well in our schools across the country. Everybody was happy now. Similarly, let us test this new reform also.

In the education system there are already overloaded workloads to perform on a daily basis by our teachers. Students almost paralyzed throughout the year for heavily mismatched content. When school activities become too intense it becomes very difficult for students to cope up with content. These things are already making the education system weaker knowingly or unknowingly. When one cannot be at par with the syllabus and with other friends, it is obvious for more school dropouts (that is happening and it will happen). Our education system has failed horribly somewhere. Five learning days in a week is enough for any kinds of learning. If there is any pressure for completing PE classes or any other co-curricular activities, any few Saturdays can be used at school conveniently. Sometimes, more is less!

Therefore, something must be done now. The question I always ask myself –Why is our education system failing to produce scientists or someone working in an international firm or some multi-billionaire entrepreneurs or some high intellectuals with our present curriculum. I feel we have still so many things to look upon in our education system. Right through building facilities, curriculum, fooding for students, play field and smart classroom settings. We can still crop out some redundant topics that are no longer applicable and in use. Interestingly, some genuine topics are missing out from our curriculum. Topics like cooking classes and highly valued classes are highly recommended. These are the simple equations for making classroom learning more interesting, engaging and fun for both teachers and students. 

Although, in our context there isn't any research data to back up this decision but it can definitely find lots of benefits near and far. Some countries not only have free Saturdays but also most of their afternoon session is filled with value driven learning activities like how to forge fire, entrepreneurial skills, farming skills, learning of foreign language and their culture. However, looking down at our present syllabus, our education is rather a volume driven and not knowledge and value driven. Instead of shouting at the new reform, we must come together and look for some smart classroom setting and how to help children learn more and better life skills within a framed timeline. When an old system does not work well, we must look for something different and unique. I feel such change in education is a must. 

Interestingly, most of them were worried about the syllabus coverage and some unhappy about the teacher's long holidays. However, many feel that the change in this time and space is a must and it would definitely bring lots of positive impacts not only for students but also for families and friends.

Until we are clearer about our core values, the parenting choices and good old curriculum that are most likely to lead to few successes, we will continue to raise exhausted and mentally impaired children who believe they are only good as their parents, teachers and friends.  Therefore, please do not say this new reform (going to be) is a stupid idea of one man.