Chopstick Lesson from Korea

Street of Korea is an extremely beautiful place to explore. They not only produce beautiful faces but also smart minds. One can obviously see the quality of work done and the punctuality of people for their work and subways. Public toilets are so good everywhere. Advancement in technology and automobiles are extremely amazing and fascinating to watch in and around the cities. 

However, more important is knowing their culture and way of life. More importantly, when you are in a big city like Seoul, one needs to be careful and cautious about your presentation. It matters a lot to cross the traffic to how you look at someone. However, I have some embarrassing and baffling experience of Chopsticks odds in some Luxurious Korean Restaurant to take home and learn again.

Although, I have started using chopsticks quite early in my childhood days. However, I left the idea before I became confident due to a number of reasons. One it could be due to different cultures and the way of life. 

However, today I am in the land of chopsticks without knowing what to do, -quiet, innocent and louche. But, nevertheless I am trying my best and harder everyday to adapt around different foods, people, traffic and culture, etc...

On 8^th of June, we had a visit to Korean Folk Village in the outskirts of the Southern end of Seoul City. It's almost one-hour drive from the place where I live (Park Hotel). The guide we have had was amazingly beautiful, rich in history and an out-spoken lady in her early 70's. In fact, ladies of substance in Korea. Throughout the journey, she entertained us in the best of her capacity. She has shared not only the interesting facts but also many difficult times faced by Korea and Korean people from Japan, China, Russia, Vietnam, etc... She even has shared some unwritten and secret history of Korea in the entire journey. I feel lucky in a thousand ways. 

Entrance to Korean Folk Village, Seoul

Beautiful show by Korean Village Girls

Live show by Korean Village boys

Everything went as planned except for –Lunch and Chopsticks.

Time for lunch. We all were seated. I and few other friends have chosen Korean Village Life Style Seat (it is exactly very same like how traditional Bhutanese eat in circle, seated on mat). As we took our table, our guides have served us our individual lunch pack from the canteen. I have Korean Grounded Beef and rice in front of me. Chopstick was the only means of eating our food, no hands (laughs). Although, before we guzzle we were briefed about the chopstick usage but not very useful. We tried our best but only to end up funny and odd. Anyway, we tried and finished all the food served and perhaps, it was memorable in Korean Style(laughs) 

I don't know about others but after I leave Korea, I have to learn more to eat with chopsticks. It's my personal home assignment I am taking from Korea. Thank you Korea for the chopstick lesson.

My heartfelt request to anyone planning trips to Korea must know how to eat with chopsticks. It's their culture. Every restaurant has chopsticks system. You must give it a try. They would feel happy, proud to see non-Korean eating with Chopsticks. It's simply a matter of practice. 

Kheng to Seoul (Korea)

Initially, I was a bit confused when I got an offer to visit South Korea for the 2019 KOICA/UNESCO Joint Fellowship Programme (3^th June to 29^th July). I had no idea of the outside world, because the farthest I have traveled was some parts of Darjeeling and Jaigon City. However, before I headed to Metro City of Seoul, I got some months to prepare myself officially and do some follow-ups with the KOICA and APCEIU office. Whatever, I sincerely Thank Mr. Penjore for picking up my good luck for 2019. 

Honestly, I had no idea about the country except for a few school students dancing some K-POP songs in some school co-curricular activities. Every time, they have fascinated me for beautiful dresses and some unique steps on the stage. However, at the same time, I always have some big puzzles on how our students could very easily understand and swallow the Korean Song's Lyrics and steps without attending any Korean classes. In fact, they were genius. I bet you they were better than Albert Einstein. 

I sometimes used to loosely joke with them –how a simple Chemical Formula becomes so difficult when you all can easily perform Korean Dance (no personal intention to harm anybody). And surprisingly some even speak some basic Korean Language. Some were damn good in their dress and looks. I wish they would learn school curriculum and prepare themselves to be in the land of Morning Sun/Calm. So, they can actually feel Korean Look, Country and Culture. 

I do not know about them but I find them a little more artificial and unmatched to K-POP Stars, because Bhutanese are not the Korean. Whatever, most of the Bhutanese kids have a dream to be in Korea and be like Korean and moreover they want to look like Korean Stars –fair and beautiful.

Nangkhor CS in Limelight, Zhemgang CS in their Best Mood

Recently Nangkhor CS from Pemagatsel District has made a cultural exchange tour to Zhemgang CS. Their three day's tour successfully ended on 24^th April with the exchanges of handshakes, good wishes and safe journey messages on the bumpy roads of Pangbang to their Home. 

We have welcomed them with our open heart, and ushered them with every best possible way we can. 

We hope that their stay in our campus will become memorable and worth visiting. Although, Zhemgang lies far away from modern touch. However, the place is serene and beautiful in its accord. The place is rich in culture and biodiversity.

We have shared officially as well as unofficially as many things as possible on how to improve the education quality or teaching in our schools. So, our students walk out of our campus with the best values, attitude, and education. Nevertheless, Zhemgang CS has been one of the great learning institutions so far and we hope to continue with the same spirit. We have a safe and enduring campus for our students, staff and visitors. For educational purposes, we leave no stone unturned. We create a bigger platform for our students to learn both academic and non-academic parts in school. We care for our students in every possible way we can since we believe that school is "home-sweet-home". Not to forget that we have a good management system in place for everyone. 

Although, school has very young teaching faculty, however, everyone is talented in their own way, everyone has a special quality that makes us very unique and undefiled from the rest of the schools in the District. We have strong unity amongst teaching staff and non-teaching staff that made us superior in many ways.

Like Nangkhor CS, we also practice a holistic approach in educating our students. We came to know that both the schools have many good practices in common that made both the school one of the best schools in the country academically, culturally, and aesthetically. 

However, overall the cultural exchange program between two titans went very well. We get to exchange not only academic parts but also get to see new and beautiful faces of two schools. We hope and pray for better change hereafter. We hope to meet in future with a similar program between two schools. 

My Proposal to ShaMa Foundation

This is my sincere request to ShaMa Foundation on 16th, April 2019 which I made for my school and students. I am hoping for the positive reply from the foundation soon or within a few hours as stated. 

Respected Sir or Madam,

With due respect, I Sancha Bdr. Rai, (teacher) would like to sincerely request your foundation for some urgent help. Since, over the years, I have devotedly followed various social service work and programs initiated by ShaMa Foundation. I have learned of different lives and communities that are changed and benefitted by your kind and commendable activities. Therefore, I found your foundation to be an ideal source to seek help.

To state some backgrounds of the school –Zhemgang Central School was established in the year 1958 and has been functioning as one of the great learning institutions which lies in the central part of Bhutan. According to the population and housing report 2008 and 2018, Zhemgang is still one of the most remote and economically backward districts in the country. Further, the place has had a perennial water shortage problem for so long. 

Therefore, school has some urgent need for some Water Storage Tanks since school restrooms/toilets lack running water facilities. School gets water only twice a day for one hour (i.e. morning and evening) which is not at all sufficient to meet our daily demand. Therefore, it is extremely becoming difficult to maintain good sanitation and a healthy lifestyle for all the students. The other is the Sanitary Napkin Disposal Unit/Can for our female students, which I found is equally important and necessary for maintaining good sanitation.

Although we have a very clear law which states equal rights for clean water and sanitation or access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, due to lack of funds, schools have failed on several occasions to procure these items. 

Therefore, school administration has observed that there was a serious health related impact on younger students who were more prone to sanitation and hygiene related infections, causing frequent sickness and thereby increase in the case of absentees from school, which hampers their daily learning. 

The following is the information about Zhemgang Central School, Zhemgang. 

Staff		Students
Male	Female	Boys	Girls
25	19	243	246

The following are the items proposed from your foundation. 

	Item/s	Quantity required
1	Water Storage Tank (Polythene Tank) (1,000-1,500) Litres	4 numbers
2	Sanitary Napkin Disposal Unit/Can (Girls)	6 numbers

Therefore, school would remain obliged if your generous foundation would help us in the proposed items. We are looking forward for the positive reply from your foundation. 

Thank you

Photography More Than a Club –III

So, here comes the next lesson on Genre of Photography.

Sport photography

This category involves getting up-close to the action in a very fast-paced and action-packed setting. Usually, sports events are captured with very long lens. As one chooses to freeze the movement, always remember to use a high ISO value, which would enable the use of faster shutter speed. Faster the shutter speed, more and better the image. 

Street Photography

It's one of my favorite genre.

Street photography is all about capturing ordinary everyday life in public spaces or life as it happens around the city, or town, etc…, It involves the real-life scenes coupled with some other scene behind.

Food photography

A very popular type of photography one can see around that are used mostly by restaurants, websites or bloggers to cajole customers to try and sell their products.

While doing this genre of photography, one must always remember to use natural light. Since, many unwanted elements get captured with Flash Light. Which might destroy the natural flavor and the texture of the food items.

Fashion photography

With change in time, this type of photography is not only becoming very popular among youth but also with adulthood's. It is typically used to sell something, to lures customers by glamorizing the product. One need to be very creative, as the image should visually needed to be very interesting, fascinating, and captivating.

Remember, the location, makeup, lighting, and the model play a very substantial role. Therefore, fashion photographer should always prepare in advance.

Aerial photography

This type of photography not only includes taking the landscape or city scene below from very high places like airplane, etc…, but it can also include from high buildings, trees, towers, mountains, hills, etc…,

Night photography

Source: google

It is not as easy as one finds it. Although, it is great way to document how the world transforms after dark, but it is extremely difficult to get a good and quality photograph.

Since, this type of photography is all about the proper use light, shutter speed and aperture. Remember, only good combination of these three elements can give a good and pleasing image. This type of photos perhaps is more interesting as the viewer gets to see some unusual aspects that cannot be seen by the naked eye.

Thank You Very Much for Your Time and Energy! 

Our Everyday Problem

I can see problems everywhere, and every day, and with everybody. Zhemgang has an unsettled drinking water shortage. Thimphu is crowded with our own people. Phuntsholing, hub to highly polluted air. And Gelephu the Land of Elephants. However, the common problems of ours are – toilets, our waste, poor time management habits, and water shortage, etc…,

Everywhere, every day, and with everyone.

How can we solve this puzzle of ours? Do we need to hire some foreign brains to solve this simple matrix? How long shall we keep our volunteer service alive or go on?

Where are we actually failing –education system or policy level or poor mindset of our people?

I feel GNH country should not behave in such a rude manner. Sometimes, I pity myself as a deep Buddhist practitioner and a follower. Our time is now. We all must act now. We can. Our population is still manageable. If not now, we can never in near future?

First is our Public Toilet/Mass Toilet. "Everyone's property becomes nobody's property." Lately, I have been engaged in a pool of quite unusual Toilet Business. I jokingly told some of the students that our toilet pots have turned into a great antique now. Further, it was very sad to see most of the toilet doors in very bad conditions, completely destroyed. With such conditions, our toilet looks like Ghost. Looks like it was abandoned for a thousand years. Looks like some pigs have used it.

What a shame?

Perhaps, the water shortage was their blatant response. However, I suggested they make a habit of carrying water while making it to the toilet –be it a short or long toilet. Always Use Water! Such simple good habits can solve our toilet problem everywhere. I am happy since everybody promised to use water hereafter, everyone promised to cooperate –for whatever maybe the situation. Together we can. I concluded with –thank you very much!

Second is Our Waste. Despite special reminders and requests, we can still see all kinds of waste everywhere. Recently, I got a chance to share one small successful story of our own Greener Way. The renowned brand name in Thimphu City. However, we don’t feel as good as Karma Yonten feels for the waste. Someone's waste is someone's fortune, someone's money, someone's living, and someone's good luck. I told them –what it do to our environment? How to manage our own waste? How to make a good habit for it?

I am sure some felt for it and few unmoved for it.

Third is Poor Time Management Habits. Particularly, I found Bhutanese are very poor in managing time –be it office time or casual gatherings. Of late, I shared about good time management habits and its benefits. Simply, I want them to be punctual for work, or wherever.

I told them – "time stops for no one. Time waits for no one. And your excuses will never slow down time." It keeps going, and going, and going…!

I have been into the teaching service for seven years now, and the biggest challenge was that almost 99% of us come late for school and other activities. And no one bothers, and no one cares about it. Particularly, it is not good for educational institutions. I don't know the reason, why? However, in my case it is a little different, with my chest wide open, I told them for these many years, I have never come late for school and to other works. Further, as a student and a college student, I have never been late for any activities. Not even a minute late. How? How did I manage to do this simple task? It's very simple. I don't follow time. I do everything on or before time. Before I go to bed, I mentally prepare what to do the next day based on priority –first thing first! Next morning, I wake-up and prepare myself for the day's work.

I have my study duty on Thursday Morning which commences from 6:20am (for 1 hour). I make on time there as well. So, how? I wake-up at 5:50am and prepare myself.

Further, everyday my duty starts from 8:10am. So, how do I manage? I set priority –first thing first! I prepare for the day accordingly. Thus, there is no question of late for my work. It's all about how you take things, and manage things. Being positive to oneself is very important. Being honest to oneself is very important for a successful and happy life. For me, there is no question of this and that excuses someone coming late for their work. I must tell you, coming 10-15 minutes early for your work would ease you and your work. Your day will become beautiful and you will enjoy your work life immensely. There is no harm in coming few minutes early to your work. Remember, your work is lifeline!

Therefore, to make it better and reliable, I have narrated what had happened recently with "Japan's Olympics Minister. He was forced to apologize for being THREE minutes late to the meeting." Can you imagine, it's just 3 minutes late. Here we don't mind coming late for 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours...

In Japan, being unpunctual is a crime and it's a sign of disrespect to other people.

We need the same here. We need a law that protects people who work on time. This simple rule of life can make everyone happy. It can solve toilet problems, waste problems, time problems and even water problems. All we need is good life discipline.

Photography More Than a Club –II

We are into the third week of the normal club business. I have quoted "I am not afraid of death, but I am in no hurry to die. I have so much I want to do first." By Great Stephen Hawking.  

As I have introduced them to the genre of photography. I told them the background of it and helped them define as widely as possible.

Landscape photography

To make it better and easy to learn, I have put four different images and let them think for a few seconds individually or in pairs or in which way they feel most comfortable. 

As I went deep into the content, I told them it is one of the most popular types of photography, as it portrays a scenery and even shows the impact of environmental change. One can see such images everywhere and everyday. However, I told them there is also a good future scope for landscape photography and running a smart printing shop, and becoming the next Bill Gates. 

Portrait photography

The second type on the slide was the portrait photography. Similarly, to make it better and easy, I have included few quality images and asked them to reflect upon, if they have seen such images around the school campus, or in their home or other places like town and Monasteries etc...,

I told them capturing peoples' moods and expressions is an intriguing subject for any photographer. It can be close-up images, body portraits etc...,

While taking a portrait, the photographer should ensure that the subject's face is sharp and focused, especially his or her eyes.

Wildlife photography

White Wagtail

Indian Pond Heron

Well, the third on my slide was the wildlife photography. I went steadfast with the content since the title itself is simple, clear and easy. This genre of photography basically documents various forms of wildlife in their natural habitat (birds, animals, etc…,)

It is a very challenging type of photography, as it might be difficult to capture animals in their natural habitat.

Equally, I warned them, this genre requires extremely good and sharp technical skills and it needs to be planned accordingly. Otherwise, it can be a big waste of time and energy. Because, I don't want them to be eaten-up by bears and other wild animals. 

In wildlife photography, one has to be absolutely comfortable with the camera settings. 

Thank you and have a good night dream! 

                                           ...,to be continued!