My first journey to School

    

First Journey to my School 

 

First Journey to my School 

 

Once below a time, a couple lived happily looking after the herd of cattle consisting hundreds of Oxen, Mithuns', and bulls. They, too, had few horses to transport goods on seasonal migration. She was a short beautiful silky trimmed hair lady and a giant tall man who lived harmoniously with their beautiful little daughter in a small hut surrounded by dense, tall trees. In the evening, the herd of cattle would move around ringing the different tones of bells hung on each cattle, making the environment even more harmonious. The bells of the cattle early morning would be the alarm for the couple to wake and churn the milk. Even today the couple have the same chores.

I was born in 1977 and my brother in 1979.  They had another two sons added to their family, comprised of three siblings. I still remember that I was skinny with blonde hair, and my brother was fat and had blonde hair too. When I was five years old, I accompanied my giant father to look after the herds of cows. When the cattle were busy grazing, father and son would find the best place to sit and exchange conversations. Father asked me, "Do you like to look after the cattle?" I replied with a smiling face, "Yes, father! I like it because I get to stay with you." Father asked again "Would you like to go to school?" I replied with a screamy voice, "No, I don't want to go… cried!" Father remained silent with shining eyes for a few minutes kissing me and apologizing for asking such a question. When I stopped crying, the father explained, "If you go to school, you don't have to suffer like me in the future. If you study well, you will lead a happy life.” He asked again, “will you go to school?" I listened with a hiccup and remained silent.

 After a couple of years, in February 1984, parents were busy packing things consisting of two beautifully stitched jute sacks, husked buckwheat pillows, and woollen white blankets. They also packed fried cheese and clarified butter in bamboo-made containers and a few kilograms of popcorn. One evening, dad and mom took us to meet grandpa and grandma. They packed everything, loaded it on a giant white horse, and started our journey. It became dark, and my father felt pity for us and mount on the horse in addition to the load. Travelled a few meters, we rolled aside and hung upside down from the horse's barrel as the saddle billet strap was loose. We screamed but tied the billet strap, mounted again and started the journey. Mother scolded father for his carelessness and reached home late at night.      

In March 1984, my father and I with my brother travelled a day long to reach school; it was a tiring journey for us. However, father knew the route and loaded on the loin of the gigantic white horse again. We were happy to ride the horse but scared and sigh to cross the scary cliffs. However, we arrived in a beautiful plain place at around 2:30 pm. We had lunch and took a rest for half an hour. We continued to travel, and the younger brother is loaded again on the loin of the horseback. He banged on the horse's croup and galloped, erecting the white bushy tail and flung the mane beautifully. The brother shouted at the top of his voice and cried. However, my father instructed the horse and stopped galloping. 

We reached to the school in the evening, and it was a strange place for me and my brother. The school is located in a deep narrow valley surrounded by giant cliffs, we could see only the sky. There were only three buildings constructed in traditional Bhutanese structures. We wore a green school uniform and half-green gumboots the next day. My brother and I were admitted to the school, and our father left home screaming with the horse, and I too cried with my brother. We screamed every evening while sleeping on a beautifully stitched jute sack mattress laid on a dusty planked floor for almost a month, feeling very sad to be away from home. 

 Nothing is achieved without suffering. So, this is how I started my education and I always remain thankful to my parents, teachers, Kings and the giant white horse for lifting me to this current stage.