The whether out is clear and calm, birds started chirping happily. The sun of peace and harmony shine brighter over my room with warm rays touching my young skin and kissing me. I am only 6 years old by then, and my mother is going to take me to school for admission to class pp. I am quite nervous because the surrounding around me is totally different, I could see lot of new faces which I haven't see before. The environment seems so strange to me, thanks to my parents who enroll me to the school. I love to learn ka, kha, gha, nga and a,b,c,d as my seniors does. The school administration has placed me in class pp section A in one of the primary school in Thimphu, the capital city of Bhutan.
Our first session of the year was began by introducing to each other, my class teacher miss Sonam Yuden who seems to be in 20s and looks pretty had pointed her jelly like finger to the first row of table where I have seated. I was the first person to introduce to the class. "Nga ghi ming Sonam Tobden Norbu en la. Nga Mongar lay en"( My name is Sonam Tobden Norbu and I am from Mongar), as I finish introducing my name everybody in class has given me a round of applause. Then followed by my seat partner, she is quite good at speaking English from very young age. " My name is Tenzin Yangtsho, I am from Thimphu." My teacher miss Sonam Yuden is quite surprised by her speaking at very young age. I was 6 years old and she is too.
Miss Sonam is going to teach us Dzongkha, and she told us that our lesson will be start from after two days only and so she left the class after issue a handwriting practice book and Dzongkha worksheet each to us. It's on second period, a tall and giant man who seems very ferocious from outside and almost seems to be in 40s whose mustache is kept as King Vikram has entered our class. His name is Thinley only and he does same thing like miss Sonam. As said don't judge a book by its cover Thinley sir is not strict, he is very frank to us and we started loving as well. He is going to teach us 1,2,3,…. He is our mathematics teacher. Again he does same as our Dzongkha ma'am and lastly thin and tall miss came in. She is white and fair as snow her voice is soft as wool and nobody would scared of her. She is our English teacher and she took us outside the class and played a game called "Tom and Jerry" which everyone have to join the hand tightly and one have to be Tom and one Jerry. Where we should not let Tom to kill Jerry by holding the Tom.
The school is break for lunch and we are sent home after lunch. My first day at school is interesting and I wanted to go school everyday. On my way my father came to pick me with KIA CELTOS car. Within few minutes my father and me reached home and I could see my mom smiling me when I entered house. She grabbed me towards her and kissed on my cheek, she has already prepared me some dishes which I like the most. Then I told what had happened in school so she is listening to me. After few moments my father is going back to office. He kissed me too and left the house, the time is almost 3 and mother need to go and pick my sister who is 6 years older than me and she is studying at grade 6 in same school. She is little taller than me, fair and white as snow and pretty as Barbie doll. Her name is Yeshi Choden Tshomo. She used to top the class and father gave her a phone on her birthday. I love my sister because she care me as mother in absence of my mother, she is my second mom in this samsara.
My father and mother used to take my sister and me to school alternatively and the midterm exam has approach, I sit for exam for the very first time in my life. I don't know that exam really mean to the school going children since it's my time. Fortunately on the result day, fortunately I topped the class and all section. That was my first pride that I have achieved a colorful result from the beginning of school life. I promise to parents to keep the same thing throughout my school day. They appreciated me and as a gift my father gave me my favorite super hero Iron Man's toy which is bought from Bangkok.
Then annual exam approach near, and it's board examination for my sister Yeshi. She is quite afraid because she is sitting for the first time but her teacher have hope that she could top and perform well. Our family went to lhakhang which is one the oldest in the country namely Changangkha lhakhang just above the Thimphu city. I was shocked to see the statue which is size of me and I haven't seen at my Choe Sham at home. We pray there to Koen Chog Sum for good health and for all who is suffering in the six realm of life.
After our exam our family left to Mongar for vacation, which is my home town and I haven't reached once there but sister has when I was in mother's womb. After long journey I thought we reached Mongar, it's cold and chilly whether there, light snow is falling on the ground and some parts where already covered white. I ask, "Ama Nga Chey Mongar Hey Chi Ya? Mongar na Khaw Chab Ni Yoe Ya Ama?" ( Are we reached Mongar mom? Is snow falling at Mongar?). But mom said, "CheyChey Dato Nga Bumthang Na Cham Chi Hey Chi. Mongar Dhi Naba Hey Wong. Dari Nga Na Dey Ni tub? Mongar Na Dhi Khaw May Chab Wong" (Cutie, we will reach Mongar tomorrow only. We have to spent a night here at Bumthang okay? I don't think there will snow falling at Mongar or not.) My sister and me get out of the car and went to where the snow has fallen. We made little snowman which is size of me. After few moment we move to Chamkhar town and booked one room for our family.
The next day we started our journey again, I could see lots of beautiful flowers bloom across the highway side and beautiful place as well. The whether at Bumthang is little bit foggy due to snow fall. After an hour of drive we reached to a place where heavy and thick snowfall is seen. All the forest is covered with white blanket, there is no ground to be seen due to thick snow. The whether is so chill where temperature fall below 0°C . I asked my father, "Apa Anni Dhi Gaty Enna?" ( Where are we now dad?). "CheyChey Nga Chey Thrumshing La na Hey Chi Dato Cham Chi. Mongar Jo Go Wa Chin Anni Dhi Gay Jo Go" ( Dear, right now only we reached Thrumshing La passes. We have to cross this passes in order to reached Mongar.), said father.
After crossing the Thrumshing La passes we finally reached to our final destination, Mongar. The town is located on the mount of Kadam which is smaller compared to Thimphu, less buildings and shops are seen. But differently most of the people speaks their local language Sharchop, only rare people speaks Dzongkha. I don't know how to speak Sharchop as well as I don't understand single words but my parents does. A fat giant aunty came close to me and asked me lots of questions in Sharchop when I am with my mom in one of shop. "Ana Rok key Sharchop Sey Lo Man cha La" ( sister he don't know Sharchop), my mother help me to convince that giant aunty. That aunty didn't say anything to again, I think she was shy after asking me what not thing unnecessarily. That time my mother is my translator as well.
My real home town is again far from Mongar town. My mother sad that our real home town is Yadi which is again little far from Town. We reached there at home around 9 pm at night. I could see old couple smiling to us when we enter from gate. My grandparents help us to reach out luggage up to the home. My grandma prepared us a hot milk tea thinking that we were cold after passing high peaks on the way. They were surprised to see my sister grown up tall and pretty but they haven't seen me, that time I was not born . " Kota Nan Ga Ming Sho Hang Ya?" (Son what is your Name?) My grandma is asking me but I didn't get what she is asking to me. I replied, " Nga Gi Ming Sonam Tobden Norbu Enn La" ( My name is Sonam Tobden Norbu) I estimated when hearing "Ming" thinking that she is asking about my name. Yes, definitely it's true that time my estimation is correct.
Our has spent two weeks with grandparents, there I could learn some basic Sharchopkha from my grandparents, because they don't know how to communicate with two of us. My grandpa understand Dzongkha and speak as well because he was once a Gup (Local Leader) of Ngatshang Geog. He used to communicate Dzongkha with me but my grandma always in Sharchop. Sometimes I feel irritated because of not knowing my mother tongue. " Layshom bay Jo May Alo Shu lay Thoen Wong Agay Dang Angay Choe Ni Chey Wa."( Safe travel dear son and daughter, sometimes your grandma and I will come to meet you there.) "Yaya Agay, Layshom Bay Dey" (Okay grandpa, Stay safe) two of replied to him and then we bid adieu.
Again traveling through same way we reached back to Mongar town and we are going to spend our night there because tomorrow we are not going from Bumthang again due to heavy snowfall and road block. We are going down to the Nganglam and the through Indian Highway from South. Early in the morning we started our journey, then we finally reached to the cross road near the Kuri Zam where road is divided. One to the way to Lhuentse, one to Bumthang and one to Gyalpozhing-Nganglam highway. When reaching Gyalpozhing I could a big pool, I was very curious to know what that is and finally I asked to Apa, " Apa Ga Chi Enna Aphi Gi"( Dad, what pool that is?) He replied me that it's a dam which generates electricity. That is unforgettable in my life, because I have seen for first time in my life, that is mysterious.
After passing the cliffy and rocky road way towards Nganglam, I have seen different types of landscape on the way and I didn't expect that it will be enjoyment for me and us as well. My sister was fallen asleep lining on mother's shoulder. I didn't feel sleepy because I seated on the front sit with my father. On the way two of talk like an old people gossiping after a meeting long time back. Then I was feeling so sleepy and ask, "Apa nga ngey ye may. Nyidu chab chi" ( Dad, I am feeling sleepy now, can I sleep for a while?). "Yaya Alo, Kalay Aie lhong Gay. Nga Ra ChamChi Boring Thoen Ni May" (Sure son, you can. But before that I will let mother to wake up. I might feel bore without gossiping), replied me. Then I was sent back with my sister who is already in fantasy, mother came front to my sit.
Then it's time for lunch, our family drop the car at Nganglam town and get in one of the restaurant there. We even didn't took thirty minutes to complete eating because we all are in hurry. We have to reach phuntsholing by any means that evening. We entered in Indian territory, it's scary to see the Indian Army with different types of gun holding each and guarding the country. Their face was half covered with muffler, eyes staring us when we are passing the main gate from there. I was inspired by there services to the nation. I told my Ama, "Aie, Nga Yang Shulay Khong Zum Army Bwy Ni. Tamay Gam Chi Ja Way." (Mom, I wanted to be army in future like them, see how smart they are looking with such uniform.) She didn't said any but moved her head only, because they were thinking that what nonsense I am talking, when I don't know how to swipe my mucus from nose. They don't want to here my talk.
When traveling through Indian Highway, I have seen lots of beggar there, some of them has also lost their body part . I was feeling pity on them but I have no choice rather than going with my parents and living silently. When seeing such suffering, my innocent mind ask to be monk in future to find the root of suffering.