Bhutan Canada

A New Year, Six New Blogs

2012-02-10T09:03:00.000-08:00

BCF Class of 2012 in National Dress
Photo Credit: David Green

Over the past few years, we've been lucky that several of our BCF teachers in the field have kept blogs, offering all of us a window into their adeventure in Bhutan. This year is no different. In the Class of 2012 we have six new teacher bloggers and, fortunately for us, Vicky & Ian from the Class of 2011 continue will continue to share their experience on their blog, In the Shadow of the Mountains, as well.

Here's the new list (also post on the right hand column of this blog.)

The Bhutanical Adventures of Dave Green - by David Green
Huffmon in the Himalayas - by Ashley Huffmon
Tiger in a Trance - by Tim Grossman
Year of the Dragon - by Delaine Keenum
Sarah's Travels & Adventures - by Sarah Carlin
Himalayan View - by Aurelia Smith

Happy Reading!

Teacher Orientation: Road Trip

2012-02-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

Last Friday, BCF teachers set out on what is surely the most exhilarating road trip of their lives! Together they traversed across Bhutan, up steep, rugged mountains, down lush, tropical valleys, along the most harrowing highway in the world. One by one BCF teachers were dropped off at their new communities.

Below is an interactive Google map, which gives you a sneak peak into the communities where our teachers are placed. Have a look!

View BCF Map of Bhutan in a larger map

Teacher Orientation: Etiquette in Bhutan

2012-02-07T10:23:00.000-08:00

With orientation finally wrapped up for BCF teachers, one last interesting subject that will be important throughout their time in Bhutan is etiquette.

Proper etiquette is essential in many different aspects of Bhutanese life, so we figured we’d fill you in with Bhutanese Etiquette 101!

Visiting a Dzong or Temple:
Himalayan Buddhism has a generally relaxed approach to religious sites, but you should observe a few important rules if you are invited to enter a lhakhang (temple) or goemba (monastery).

It is customary to remove one’s shoes and hat upon entering the important rooms of a temple.
It is acceptable to take photos in the courtyard but not inside the temple.
Always move in a clockwise direction and do not speak loudly in respect for the sanctity of the place.
If there is a ceremony being performed inside, always check before entering that it is okay.
It is customary to leave a small offering of money, for example Nu 10 on the altar. To make this offering fold the money lengthwise, press it to your forehead and then place it on the altar. When you make this offering, the monk accompanying you will pour a small amount of holy water, from a sacred vessel called a bumpa, into your hand. You should drink this or make the gesture of drinking this, and then spread the rest on your head from front to back.
Always remember to walk around a chorten, prayer wheel or temple in a clockwise direction.

Exchanging Gifts:
The exchange of presents is an important part of Bhutanese life.

When you receive a present from someone, other than a superior, you are expected to reciprocate by giving a present in return. If the present comes in a container, you are expected to return the container with a few sweets, fruit or biscuits in it. To return an empty container is thought to indicate a lack of prosperity.
A present is never opened in public or in the presence of the one bringing it.
Bhutanese will refuse something three times before accepting it.
If you are the receiver, you are also expected to politely refuse to accept at least for the first time. The tone of the "pretended" refusal is important - it must not be a loud definite "No."

Visiting on Special Family Occasions:
For the first three days after a child is born, until after the lama has performed a purification puja, the mother receives no visitors apart from close family members.

Always ask if it’s convenient before visiting a mother with a new baby.
A present of eggs, rice or maize would be given in a village and perhaps baby clothes or diapers in a town.
A small amount of money is also given to the new baby for good luck.
When a death occurs in the family of a friend or colleague, it is polite to visit the family taking a white scarf, an uneven sum of money in an envelope and some food e.g. biscuits for the deceased. Ask when would be a suitable time for your visit. It is much appreciated if you also take a bottle of whiskey for the bereaved. You will be expected to sit quietly for a short time with the family and drink tea.

Dining/Eating Etiquette:

When eating in a group, on all occasions, wait for everyone to be served before starting to eat, even in restaurants.
When invited as a guest, the host will politely ask to you to start eating once everyone is served.
You may notice some members of the family or the host himself will serve himself only after the guests have started their meal. This is in keeping with the Bhutanese custom of serving the guests first.
When you invite a Bhutanese for a meal, make sure you request the guest to start the meal. You yourself should start only after they have started eating

Greetings and Farewells:

Shaking hands is not a Bhutanese tradition but it is becoming quite common, especially in the towns.
A formal greeting is to bow with hands open and outstretched and the palms up.
When wishing to be polite or to indicate interest, the Bhutanese add “la” to the end of sentences during a conversation. Often they add “la” even when speaking in English.
When a senior person enters a room, everyone is expected to stand until the person sits down. When it is time to leave, everyone waits until the guest of honor stands, indicating that he or she is about to go.

Forms of Address:
Titles are extremely important. All persons of rank should be addressed by the appropriate title followed by their full name.

Male member of Royal Family = Dasho
Female member of Royal Family = Ashi
Minister = Lyonpo
High officials = Dasho
Directors = Dasho
Teachers = Lopen
Monk = Gelong or Lopen
A man is addressed as ‘Aap’ and a boy as ‘Busu’; a woman is addressed as ‘Aum’ and a girl as ‘Bum'

Personal Space:
The Bhutanese have a different approach to personal space and personal property than do westerners.

When it comes to personal property the Bhutanese often have a “what’s yours is mine” attitude, primarily based on the fact that, as Buddhists, they have little regard or interest in personal property, as it is of a fleeting nature and relatively unimportant in the grand scheme of human existence.
If you are courteous and respectful of religious beliefs, you are unlikely to cause offence. Using the word la at the end of a sentence in either Dzonkha or English is a sign of respect.
You should also follow normal Asian standards of courtesy and behavior in Bhutan. These include respect for monarchy, modest dress, and no public displays of affection.
Use the right hand, or better yet, both hands to give or receive an object.
Don’t use your fingers to point, especially at deities or religious objects; use an open hand with the palm up.
When waving someone towards you, keep your palm pointed down.
Never touch the crown of the head, for example a young child’s; this is considered a special part of the body.
Most lakes are the abode of gods or spirits. Don’t swim, wash clothes or throw stones into them.
As in all Asian countries, you should never point your feet at someone. If you are sitting on the floor, cross your legs or kneel so that your feet are pointed behind you. If you happen to sleep in a room where there is an altar or statue, ensure that your feet do not point toward it.
The Asian concept of keeping face also applies in Bhutan. Try to suggest instead of insist. Asian people dislike saying ‘no.’ If you make a suggestion to visit a certain landmark or order a particular dish and are met with an obviously lame excuse, this means that it is probably impossible.

Photography:
A camera is still a curiosity in most of Bhutan, particularity in remote villages, and your camera may draw a curious crowd.

Photography is not allowed inside any temples; don’t embarrass yourself by asking.
If you are attending a festival, do not let your picture taking interfere with the dancers or block the view of the spectators.
Most people like having their picture taken, but out of respect, ask first. People love to be shown the photo on the screen

Dress:
Asian standards of modesty apply.

Both men and women should avoid wearing revealing clothing, including short shorts, halter neck tops, and tank tops. Nudity is completely unacceptable.
Bhutanese are flattered if foreigners wear traditional dress, and are more than happy to help you buy, and put on, a gho or kira, which is not an easy process

Phew! Now you can see just how important etiquette is in Bhutan – keep these handy hints in mind when visiting!

Teacher Orientation: Buddhism Basics

2012-02-03T06:57:00.000-08:00

As BCF teachers finish orientation and head out to their placements, they will have already no doubt witnessed the full emergence of Buddhism in the every-day lives of Bhutanese.

Villages in Bhutan are strewn with temples and religious structures, which are present along the roads and trails. One can also see many prayer flags on the hills and high passes, fluttering in the breeze. Prayer flags are inscribed with auspicious symbols, prayers, and mantras onto colorful cloth, which are then mounted on long poles and placed to bless the surrounding countryside. It is believed the energy of the prayers that are blown in the wind will bring joy, happiness and good health to all who see them as well as their families, loved ones, neighbors, and all people throughout the world.

Among other religious monuments are chorten, the Bhutanese version of the Indian stupa. They range from simple rectangular "house" chorten to complex edifices with ornate steps, doors, domes, and spires. These earth, brick, or stone structures commemorate deceased kings, Buddhist saints, venerable monks, and other notables, and sometimes they serve as reliquaries.

Each district hosts a dzong (fortress) which serves as the religious and administrative centre of the region. Most of the monasteries and temples throughout Bhutan are built on steep hillsides and in other remote places. This ensures the monks get solitude and serenity. Because of the religious significance of nearly every important event in the life of a Buddhist, monks visit households and perform rites on such occasions as birth, marriage, sickness, and death.

Once a year a dzong or important village may hold a religious festival, or Tsechu. Villagers from the surrounding district come for several days of religious observances and socializing while contributing auspicious offerings to the lama or monastery of the festival. The central activity is a fixed set of religious mask dances, or cham, held in a large courtyard. A number of annual festivals highlight different events in the life of Buddha. Many of the festivals feature symbolic dances, which are thought to bestow heavenly blessings on the participants or viewers.

Buddhists believe in reincarnation and the law of karma. The law of karma dictates that an individual's decisions and behavior in one life can influence his or her transmigration into the next life; for example, if someone lived life in harmony with others, that person would transmigrate to a better existence after death. In contrast, someone who had lived selfishly would inherit a life worse than the previous one after death. In other words, it is the result of our own past actions and our own present doings. We ourselves are responsible for our own happiness and misery.

"Happiness is about one's outlook on life, and Buddhist values help people appreciate and focus on what they have instead of what they do not have. Values such as compassion and respect foster greater social interaction." Karma Tshiteem (Bhutan's GNH secretary)

For the next year, Buddhist values and rituals will be a part of daily life for BCF teachers in the field as they attend local Tsechu and rimdro (school purification rituals) and observe puja (worship) for birth, marriage, death and everything in between.

Teacher Orientation: Cooking & Shopping

2012-02-02T07:16:00.000-08:00

A typical local market

As orientation continues for the BCF 2012 Class, the teachers will be learning the fundamentals of two important and unique aspects of life in Bhutan … cooking and shopping!

Cooking:

To give everyone an idea of the types of food eaten in Bhutan, some of the staples and specialties include:
Rice and lentils
Momos – small steamed dumplings filled with meat, vegetables or cheese (delicious when dipped in chilli sauce!)
Devilish red or green chillies (found in most traditional dishes)
Ema datse – a dish comprised of large green (sometimes red, but always very hot) chillies, prepared as a vegetable, not as a seasoning, in a cheese sauce
Phak sha laphu – stewed pork with radish

As the teachers settle into their new lives, cooking will become an important skill, and many teachers enjoy learning how to cook traditional Bhutanese meals during their posting. Orientation will prepare the new teachers well through lessons about how to purchase goods at the market, how to use their gas stoves, and how to cook many Bhutanese dishes.

Shopping:

Before leaving the capital city of Thimphu, the teachers will be taken to the local market to learn how to navigate Bhutanese shopping. Here the teachers will stock up on the majority of supplies needed throughout their placement – as essential items such as kitchen utensils, furniture, bedding, and even gas stoves are difficult to find in most rural areas.

Bargaining is not a Bhutanese tradition, and you won’t get very far with your haggling skills here, except with trailside vendors in places such as the hike to Taktsang (the famous “Tiger’s Nest” monastery) and in the local handicrafts section of the Thimphu weekend market. Like most North American businesses – Bhutanese shops, restaurants and hotels all have fixed prices.

Want to try out a Bhutanese dish? Here’s a recipe for Kewa Datsi!

Ingredients:

4 potatoes
80 ml (1/3 cup) of cheese, (Swiss, farmers, Velveeta, or almost any kind of white cheese)
60 ml (1/4 cup) of chopped red onions
1 tbsp oil

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp chilli powder or fresh chilli peppers (to taste)

Method:

Slice potatoes into thin pieces, as if making scalloped potatoes.
Put the potatoes along with some oil and salt in a saucepan or pot.
Add 360 ml (1 1/2 cup) of water.
Cut the cheese into small pieces and when the potato is almost cooked, add the cheese. You can add some chopped onions and tomatoes to taste. Don't forget the chilli powder.

You don't want too much water in this dish but don't let it dry up completely either. Add little water every time it gets low.

Enjoy!

Teacher Orientation: Dzongkha Basics

2012-01-30T12:22:00.000-08:00

The BCF Class of 2012 has now been in Bhutan for almost a week! As orientation progresses, one important topic to be covered is learning Dzongkha.

For those of you who are scratching your heads, Dzongkha is the national language of Bhutan. And, even though the language of instruction schools in Bhutan is English, it never hurts for our teachers to have a few Dzonghka words and phrases up their sleeves.

Interestingly, Dzonghka is only one of many languages in Bhutan. For centuries, the different valleys of Bhutan were isolated from each other by torrential rivers and deep gorges. As a result, most of these valleys developed their own dialects. At present, there are about 13 different dialects spoken in Bhutan.

There are, however, three major languages in Bhutan: Dzongkha, Sharchopkha and Nepali. Dzongkha is mainly spoken in the west, Sharchopkha in the east, and Nepali in the south.

In its spoken form, Dzonghka exhibits some similarity to Tibetan, while the alphabet is exactly the same (but uses a different style of scripts).

Translation: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Below are a few key phrases that our new teachers will want to memorize before heading out to the field:

Greeting: Kuzoo Zangpo La (can be used all day)

Reply: Kuzoo Zangpo La (La is a word for respect, similar to Sir in English)

How are you?: Gadaybay Zhu Ga?

I am fine: Legshom (pronounced Layshom)

Thank You: Kaadinchey La

What is your name?: Choey gi Ming ga chi mo?

My name is _____: Ngayi Ming _____ een

Where is the toilet?: Chhabsang ga ti mo?

How much is the cost of this item?: Di gi gong ga dem chi mo?

Please reduce the cost a bit: Gong Aa tsi phab nang.

OK I will buy it: Toob, Nga gi nyo ge.

See ya later: Shoo lay log jay ge.

Sit sit: Zhu Zhu

Stand up: Yar long

Teacher Orientation: National Dress

2012-01-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

BCF Teacher Andrea in her kira

Getting outfitted for national dress is an exciting part of teacher orientation in Bhutan. As we've discussed in previous posts, national dress is an important part of Bhutanese identity and something that BCF teachers fully embrace once they get to Bhutan.

For women, the traditional national dress is made up of colourful blouses over which are folded a large piece of rectangular cloth called a kira, creating an ankle length dress. A short silk jacket, or toego, may be worn over the kira. Because traditional kira are quite difficult to tie, many women opt to wear the half-kira as their day-to-day dress, with the full-length kira reserved for special occasions. Luckily for our BCF teachers, there is even such thing as a "cheater" kira, which fastens with snaps and hooks instead of having to be tied!

Men wear a gho, which is best described as a full length robe, fastened with a belt. One of our new teachers, Dave, describes the challenges and benefits of the gho in a recent blog post entitled "The Moment You've All Been Waiting For...The Gho!" Dave remarks that he is particularly fond of the gho's large pocket, which he says makes him "basically a marsupial."

Here's a great picture Dave recently posted on his blog of himself in his new gho!

BCF teacher Dave showing off his new gho!

For more info on national dress, check out this post. For some fun, watch this great video.

BCF Teachers Arrive in Bhutan!

2012-01-25T08:13:00.000-08:00

After months of preparation, the BCF Class of 2012 has finally arrived in Bhutan! Today is the first day of a 10 day orientation in the capital city of Thimphu, after which begins a multi-day road trip across the country to drop the teachers off at their new schools.

Orientation is an important time for new teachers - it's a time to acclimitize to a new country, a new elevation and a new culture, a time to get to know the Thimphu office staff, a time to bond with fellow teachers, many of whom will be sources of support throughout the year, and a time to stock up on all of the supplies needed for a year in the field.

Although we can't experience orientation alongside our new teachers, we thought it might be fun to share some of the topics they will be discussing and experiences they will be having over the two weeks. We'll begin by introducing you to the city where they are all staying, the capital of Thimphu.

Dubbed "The Happiness Capital of the World," Thimphu is both the capital city and the largest city in Bhutan, with a population of roughly 80,000 people. It is situated in the western central part of the country, approximately one hour drive from Paro airport.

View Larger Map

Thimphu also serves as the political capital of Bhutan, with the National Assembly of the newly formed parliamentary democracy of Bhutan residing in the city, as well as Dechencholing Palace, the official residence of His Majesty, the King.

Local agriculture, livestock and tourism serve as large contributors to the country's GNP, making the Thimphu region an economic hub in Bhutan.

Although Thimphu is a major stop for most tourists to Bhutan, until recently, they did not have a tourist map. Fortunately for them, a young Canadian (and friend of BCF!) named Andrea, offered up her skills to create one. The map highlights main points of interest in Thimphu and can be used by both visitors and locals alike.

Tourist Map of Thimphu

You can read more about the process of creating the map HERE.

For the next ten days, the new BCF class of teachers will call Thimphu home as they take language classes, review the Bhutanese curriculum standards, and meet with various ministries and government officials. Even when they have departed for their respective placements, Thimphu will continue to serve as an important point of contact, and source for luxuries like peanut butter, chocolate and rolled oats!

Class of 2012 Profile: Noorin Shivji

2012-01-16T14:04:00.000-08:00

Today we're ecstatic to announce our last addition to BCF, Canadian teacher Noorin Shivji, who will be living in Punakha and teaching at Khuruthang MSS.

Born in Canada, raised in Kenya, and having taught in China, Pakistan and Northern Canada, Noorin has been able to explore various cultures and experience the uniquely human aspect that education has to offer. She believes that education takes place in each breath that an individual takes.

In her more recent adventures, Noorin has been involved in teaching and working in several Anishnaawbe communities, which has afforded her the opportunity to learn Indigenous skills and participate in activities beyond her imagination; ice fishing, rabbit snaring, and weathering -53 degree weather.

She is looking forward to teaching in Bhutan, which has a curriculum etched in preservation and progress, and cannot wait to share and learn in the nature and nurture of life’s synchronicities that global society has to offer!

In Bhutan, Noorin will be teaching at Khuruthang Middle Secondary School and living in Punakha. She looks forward to shopping at the Punakha market, biking on the valley’s trails and exploring other parts of the country.

Welcome Noorin!

Class of 2012 Profile: Ashley Huffmon

2012-01-12T10:45:00.000-08:00

Ashley Huffmon with father, Donald.

Today we're excited to introduce our latest BCF teacher from Freeburg, Illinois who is heading out to Kanglung PS in T/gang.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”- Gandhi. When Ashley began to think about this expression, she reflected on how she wanted to live her life. She recently took a trip to Quito, Ecuador that changed her life. She worked at a local non-profit school deep in the heart of Quito (San Marino School) with children who live a level of poverty she had never witnessed. This experience enabled her to realize that making lifelong connections with these diverse individuals can change their lives as well as hers.

Ashley graduated from Mckendree University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in the spring of 2011. After visiting Ecuador, she knew that the only way to start the next phase of her life is to help others, while continuing to improve through personal growth. Working with students and children for the past eight years as a tutor, mentor, and recreational aid has shaped her views that she wants to help future generations.

While teaching abroad, Ashley plans to further her knowledge in educational studies and become immersed in a whole new culture. While teaching, she plans to volunteer her help, knowledge, and pure determination to be of assistance to children and adults who are in need. She believes by immersing herself in this culture for a year will not only help others to further understand the culture and community, but will also help her career to open her mind and heart to others around the world. Ashley believes that any person in a leadership position should have an open mind and love what they do.

Welcome Ashley!

Class of 2012 Profile: Dave Green

2012-01-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

Introducing Dave Green, a teacher joining us from the UK, specialising in physics and chemistry.

Dave grew up in Southport in the North of England where he lived a life of mischief and imaginary adventures until he went to Nottingham University. There he studied Chemistry & Molecular Physics, learnt to play guitar and found out that the world was bigger than he had previously thought.

After a stint of working in London he departed for the East and, following a chance encounter with a grumpy guitar-genius, he set off on an adventure that would turn into Music of Maninjau, his first novel, published in 2007. More scribbles followed, as well of lots of songwriting, gigs, some web-design and eventually the beginning of his teaching career and the first practical steps towards getting him to Bhutan.

Dave has taught Science at Chepstow School for three fantastic years, specialising in Physics at 16-18yrs. It was difficult to leave a great job, but being in Bhutan is an ambition he has held for more than 15 years. Dave recently said:

“I can’t wait to finally get the chance to live in Bhutan and am looking forward to getting stuck in to my teaching job in Pakshikha MSS. I’m fascinated by the Bhutanese culture, am really excited about the friends and colleagues I’m going to meet, and am curious to see what it will be like being immersed in a culture that is at once very different to the one I’m used to, and at the same time so appealing to me in so many ways. It’s going to be an interesting time!”

Welcome Dave!

Class of 2012 Profile: Iman Mefleh

2012-01-05T09:20:00.000-08:00

A warm welcome to new BCF teacher, Iman Mefleh, who will be heading to Rukubji PS in Wangdue.

A product of the Minnesota winter wonderland, Iman was born in a snowstorm in the great city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. She grew up in a Lebanese-Scandinavian-American household filled with siblings and languages. She taught English as a second language to middle school students in Minneapolis before deciding to explore beyond the city she had known since birth.

Learning, connecting, and moving transports Iman through life, whether in biking, yoga practice, skiing, or the arts. An adventurer, a "yes"-sayer, Iman has enjoyed exploring the world and nature, travelling and camping in North America and abroad. She has the utmost excitement and curiosity for the opportunity to live in Bhutan as a teacher.

To keep up to date on her Bhutanese adventure, visit http://imaninbhutan.blogspot.com.

Welcome Iman!

Class of 2012 Profile: Sabrina Soares

2012-01-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

We're happy to announce another new BCF teacher who will be heading out to Chumey MSS in Bumthang.

Sabrina was born and raised in northern California. She attended San Diego State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Liberal Studies as well as her Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential. She also received her Master of Arts in Teacher Education at SDSU.

She has been working with students of all ages in multicultural settings for over ten years. Some of the various positions include a tutor, science instructor, P.E. teacher, and literacy support teacher. She chose to be an educator because she believes that education is the key to transforming the Earth and all its life forms for the good of humanity.

Her hobbies include reading, writing, hiking, gardening, and dancing. Her favorite books are A New Earth, Anatomy of the Spirit, and Secrets of the Millionaire Mind. After watching a documentary on Bhutan, she fell in love with the country and looks forward to having a cultural exchange.

Welcome Sabrina!

Class of 2012 Profile: Simon Brownlie

2011-12-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

Today we're happy to introduce Simon Brownlie, a high school teacher from Australia, who's heading to Tashitse HSS.

Simon Brownlie is from Queensland Australia. He was born into a farming family and raised on farms in central and southern Queensland and northern News South Wales.

He is currently on leave from teaching in Australia and has just finished a six month journey through Central and South America, where he interspersed touring with volunteering with community projects, animal shelters and a marine conservation program.

He enjoys scuba diving, mountain biking, bushwalking, rodeo, travel and long walks on the beach at sunset. :)

Simon is looking forward to teaching in Bhutan and learning about its unique culture when he arrives at Tashitse HSS, T/gang.

Welcome Simon!

Class of 2012 Profile: Sheal Bhagwandin

2011-12-28T12:58:00.000-08:00

This week, we're proud to announce Sheal Bhagwandin, a teacher from Toronto, Canada, who is posted at Kidheykhar LSS in Mongar.

Sheal is a graduate from Centennial College’s Operations Management program and Ryerson University’s Bachelor of Commerce program in Toronto, Ontario. Following her passion for travel, culture and adventure her journey took her to teach English in Japan for over two years. The experiences of exploring Japan, South East Asia and Australia, to learning Japanese calligraphy to climbing to the top of Angkor Wat to view the sunset, motivated Sheal upon her return to Toronto to continue her quest as a teacher.

She enrolled and graduated from York University’s Bachelor of Education program and has taught in various socio-economic communities in Toronto. Sheal’s continued interest in Buddhist studies inspired her to spend a summer in Hawaii where she was drawn to learn more about Qigong, yoga and cultural diets that now infuse into her daily life. She enjoys creating collage art using Washi paper, cooking and reading both fiction and non-fiction books.

Sheal is enthusiastic about integrating into the Bhutanese culture and its education system in Mongar. Through these experiences she is looking forward to growing both personally and professionally.

Welcome Sheal!

Class of 2012 Profile: Sarah Carlin

2011-12-21T11:01:00.000-08:00

A warm welcome to new BCF teacher, Sarah Carlin, who will be beginning her teaching career at Bjishong MSS in Gasa!

Sarah comes from Naples, Florida, and graduated college with a degree in Elementary Education and French in 2010.

Since graduation, she has worked in Antarctica, which has only increased her desire to travel and experience the world. She is very excited to live and teach in Bhutan for 2012.

Sarah writes about her adventures, and wherever she might find herself, on her blog sarahstravelsandadventures.blogspot.com.

Welcome Sarah!

Class of 2012 Profile: Martha Ham

2011-12-19T09:44:00.000-08:00

Today we'd like to introduce you to Martha Ham, a Canadian teacher, with a wealth of experience both within Canada and abroad.

Martha Ham is a graduate of Bishop’s University where she completed her BA, ESL certificate, and most recently her M.Ed. In Canada, Martha has been teaching in the primary and secondary English system since 1993.

She has also taught English as a Second Language to adults, teens and tots since 1998. She volunteered in 2000 to teach ESL to Tibetan refugees in Dharamsala and has wanted to return to the East in the teaching capacity ever since.

Martha has travelled throughout Canada, United States, and parts of Europe with her family. She then branched out by herself to tackle England, Switzerland, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Palestine, Turkey, and India. She saw a poster to teach in Bhutan with BCF and was hooked.

Welcome Martha!

Happy National Day

2011-12-17T08:02:00.000-08:00

Today is Bhutan’s National Day, a day which commemorates the 1907 coronation of the First King of Bhutan, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuk, at Punakha Dzong. This event in 1907 ushered an era of peace, unity, and prosperity in Bhutan.

In Bhutan today, his Majesty The King, celebrated National Day by honouring the armed forces and several other Bhutanese citizens. Read more on Kuensel.

Tashi Delek from all of us at The Bhutan Canada Foundation!

Image via Kuensel Online.

KPS Observer: Issue #3

2011-12-16T08:17:00.000-08:00

Over the past few months we've shared several issues of Kanglung Primary School's newspaper, the KPS Observer. Today, we're happy to bring you the final 2011 issue of the Observer. Many thanks to BCF teacher, Lisa Phu, who championed this project.

Enjoy!
KPS Observer Issue #3

Class of 2012 Profile: Becky Story

2011-12-14T08:53:00.000-08:00

This week, we'd like you to meet and welcome Becky Story who is beginning her teaching experience at Phongmey PS, T/gang, we're thrilled to have her aboard!

Becky joins us from Colorado. Originally she went to Cumberland College where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Public Health.

After moving out to Colorado to spend a year volunteering at a homeless shelter, she took a position running the local school and community gardens. It was here that she discovered she wanted to be a teacher. Becky returned to school and is now certified in Elementary Education.

Bhutan will be her first official teaching placement, and she is excited to be part of this dynamic education system. Other pursuits that have kept her busy in recent years include Latin American travels, various organic farming projects, and school food reform.

Welcome Becky!

A Letter From Our Chair

2011-12-12T13:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

Last April I traveled across Bhutan to visit teachers placed in Bhutan through the Teach in Bhutan program. For several weeks I drove across the country by auto, teetering on the edge of sheer drops and climbing some of Bhutan's highest mountain passes. I saw schools in some of the country's most remote communities and met students from all over Bhutan, some of whom have left the family home in pursuit of education. In one community, I met a young boy named Pema who walks seven kilometers to school each way, up and down a steep mountain path. His dedication amazed me, but his story is not unique. Pema is just one of thousands of young Bhutanese children eager to receive an education.

I've included a photo from this trip, as well as a picture of the BCF teacher class of 2011, seen here with Honourable Minister Lynpo Thakur S. Powdyel, Minister of Education.

Since 2010, The Bhutan Canada Foundation (BCF) has worked in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Royal University of Bhutan to improve educational opportunities for students of all ages. Next year promises to be a tremendous year for The Bhutan Canada Foundation. I am writing to ask for your financial support of our work in Bhutan.

In January 2011, BCF sent nineteen teachers and university lecturers to Bhutan, where they joined five returning teachers already in the field. This group of adventurous teachers brought enthusiasm, experience, and excellence to their respective schools, often going above and beyond the call of duty to lead club activities, hold after-school tutoring sessions, and champion new school initiatives. In the classroom, BCF teachers were part of an effort of reduce average class sizes to more effective levels, model innovative teaching and learning techniques, and encourage the development of spoken and written English skills.

Education remains vital to Bhutan's continued development as a nation, as it does to the country's ability to reduce nationwide poverty. According to a 2004 Poverty Analysis Report, attaining a mid-secondary level of education is enough to raise a person out of poverty. In 2012 we will continue to support Bhutan's development, growing our program to reach new communities across Bhutan and increasing the number of BCF teachers in the field.

We need your help to continue this important work. Over 81% of funds raised go directly to programming, which means each dollar you donate has an immediate impact. As a friend of Bhutan, I would like to ask you to support The Bhutan Canada Foundation by making a gift online at https://bhutancanada.merchantsecure.com/donatenow/ or by following the instructions below.

The Bhutan Canada Foundation is committed to improving education in Bhutan. Just like Pema, we may encounter mountains along the way, but with dedication and support from donors like you, we will achieve educational excellence in Bhutan.

On behalf of the BCF staff in Thimphu and Toronto I wish to thank you and your family for your support of The Bhutan Canada Foundation. We wish you all the best in the year ahead.

Warm regards,

Sam Blyth
Chair, The Bhutan Canada Foundation

P.S - This year every dollar you donate will be matched up to $25,000. Double your gift when you donate today!

THREE WAYS TO DONATE:

Donate ONLINE NOW!
Make a donation over the phone. Call (416) 572-3767
Send your donation in the mail to:

The Bhutan Canada Foundation
720 Bathurst Street, Suite 411
Toronto, ON M5S 2R4

* Please make cheques payable to The Bhutan Canada Foundation.

Charitable organization number: 817719891RR0001

Class of 2012 Profile: Delaine Keenum

2011-12-08T09:47:00.000-08:00

Introducing Delaine, a primary school teacher, who is heading to Zhemgang Lower Secondary School in Zhemgang.

Delaine Keenum is from Keller, Texas. She received her B.A. from the University of North Texas where she studied Regional Geography and English Literature. Delaine has taught Early Childhood Music and Movement and Kindergarten.

Delaine has two daughters; Bryn, 18 and Alysa, 20. Bryn will graduate from high school in the spring and Alysa is a sophomore at Louisiana State University.

When not working or reading books or blogs, she likes to camp, hike, and go to the symphony. She is looking forward to going to Bhutan to learn as well as teach!

Welcome Delaine!

Now Recruiting Lecturers for Royal Thimphu College

2011-12-06T08:02:00.000-08:00

Royal Thimphu College (RTC), Bhutan is now recruiting lecturers for terms beginning February 2012 and July 2012.

For the Spring, 2012 semester, RTC is actively recruiting for the following areas:

English
Economics
Political Science
Demography
Commerce/Business/ Management/IT

For more information on opportunities at RTC or to find out how to apply, please visit http://www.teachinbhutan.org/.

Class of 2012 Profile: Aurelia 'Reidi' Smith

2011-12-05T09:42:00.000-08:00

Aurelia 'Reidi' Smith

This week, we're delighted to introduce you to Aurelia Smith who goes by the nickname Reidi. Reidi, a middle school teacher from Hemingford, Nebraska will be posted at Autsho Middle Secondary School in Lhuntse.

A country girl, Aurelia grew up on in rural Nebraska, farming the land and raising the various animals her family had. She believes this unique upbringing, aside from producing some hilarious stories, also coincidentally prepared her for the time she will be spending in rural Bhutan.

She graduated from the University of San Diego in 2003, majoring in Interdisciplinary Humanities and Philosophy. In the time between her undergraduate and postgraduate studies, she was a tutor in AP Lit./History, Essay Writing, SAT prep, and all other English and History subject areas, primarily for ESL students that had immigrated from China and Korea. This experience was the catalyst for her attending San Diego State's College of Teacher Education and receiving her Secondary English credential in 2011.

As a new teacher, she is ecstatic to have this teaching opportunity in Bhutan as one of her first, and to be able to have this experience be foundational in the formation of a long career in teaching! This will be her first journey to the Kingdom of Bhutan, or anywhere in Asia, and she is incredibly excited to learn about and absorb the amazing Bhutanese culture!

Welcome Reidi!

Class of 2012 Profile: Tim Grossman

2011-12-02T11:51:00.000-08:00

Today we're thrilled to introduce you to Tim Grossman, an elementary school teacher from San Rafael California who will be posted at Tshenkharla Middle Secondary School in Trashiyangtse.

Tim was born in San Francisco and grew up across the Bay in Marin County, the home of Mt. Tamalpais (pictured here.)

As a child, Tim was fortunate to vacation with his family at Donner Lake in the Sierra Nevada. This exposure to the mountains was formative and instilled in him a passion for the outdoors, in particular a love of downhill skiing and hiking.

Tim enjoyed several seasons making tracks at Alpine Meadows in the Lake Tahoe basin before beginning his teaching career in South Korea in 2007. He taught kindergarten through 5th grade to an amazing group of students near Seoul. Teaching overseas was a life changing experience that left Tim certain of his path. Upon returning home Tim earned his California Teaching Credential.

His primary passion is working with students to achieve their own personal academic and social goals. Tim believes the role of a teacher extends beyond the classroom and he is ecstatic to make a difference in The Kingdom of Bhutan.

Welcome Tim!

Introducing the Class of 2012!

2011-11-30T13:43:00.000-08:00

As we get closer and closer to the New Year, we here at The Bhutan Canada Foundation are ecstatic to announce that our recruitment for 2011 is over, visa applications are in the midst of being processed, and we have 15 amazing, energised, and eager teachers heading to Bhutan in less than two months time. They will be living in remote communities across the kingdom teaching a variety of subjects and grade levels. They will be joining five of our current teachers who are renewing for a second (and third year!), which brings us to a total of 20 BCF teachers in the field in 2012!

Our new teachers are coming from Canada, the United States, England, and Australia and have a wealth of experience teaching, volunteering, travelling and more. We are going to profile all of our teachers over the next few weeks leading up to their departure so stay tuned!

Today, we are pleased to introduce Martin Thorn from Saltspring, British Columbia who along with his wife, Tara, will be heading to Bumthang.

Martin Thorn

Martin lives on Saltspring Island, on the West Coast of Canada with his wife, Tara, in the family home he built. Now that his children have grown up and left the Island, Tara and Martin are looking to do "something completely different". He looks forward to sharing with his new students at Wangdicholing LSS in Bumthang his passions for language, performing arts, and discovery of the world around us.

Having studied German and Philosophy at The University of Victoria, Martin then lived in Europe before returning to Canada for a Teaching Certificate. He has taught French Immersion at the Middle School level for over two decades. When not playing soccer or involved in local theatre productions, Martin loves to make things: in the forest, the garden, the basement and the kitchen!

Stories From The Field: A Football Match

2011-11-21T10:47:00.000-08:00

As part of our ongoing "Stories From The Field" series, today we're featuring a story from second year BCF teacher, Nick Morris, who is posted in Khaling. Nick recently shared the following story with us:

Yesterday I was on the school bus, returning home from a football match between our school team and a team from Rangjung. I have been coaching the school team for the past four months or so, trying to establish some sort of cohesion in an otherwise disorganized, albeit extremely talented team.

We won our match 8-0 and the team’s jubilation was expressed through song and cheers the entire three-hour journey home. The bus ride reminded me of so many school team trips that I had been a part of during my student days. There was a spirit that I had hoped would blossom through hard work and dedication to the improvement of the team. I have been pushing the boys hard, making them run several kilometres every day in an effort not only to improve their fitness but also in the hopes of building solidarity.

Last night, on our long journey home from the match, I watched team spirit manifest itself on our school bus. I selected twenty players for the school team this year, but only fifteen were allowed to play in this tournament. The five players whom I asked to sit out accepted the role humbly and without argument. They were disappointed, of course, but they understood. And on our journey back from our victory, I can honestly say that I could not have distinguished between those who had played in the match and those who had sat out. When I named the “man of the match” the rest of the team cheered zealously for him. And then the praise took on a life of its own. At first, one player shouted out another player’s name and noted a positive contribution he had made during the match…the others all cheered and applauded. Then another followed suit. And soon, each player’s name, not to mention my name and the names of those students who were asked not to dress, were being called out to a roaring chorus of cheers.

There was an energy, a cohesion, that I hadn’t felt since my days in competitive sports. We were each a part of something bigger than just ourselves. As night fell, the individuals of the team faded in the darkness, and the voice of one unit brought together by the bonds of brotherhood and friendship rang out through the bus. We are a team: we will win as a team and we will lose as one. I was honoured to be a part of it.

BCF's Teach in Bhutan program is supported by generous donors. Please show your support by making a donation online today.

Stories From The Field: A Photography Club In Rangjung

2011-11-09T07:57:00.000-08:00

BCF teachers are truly an incredible bunch of people. Not only do they work long hard hours teaching classes six days a week, but they somehow also find the time to start exciting new projects and initiatives in their schools. Newspaper clubs have been championed by Lisa, Nick and Keira at each of their respective schools, a recycling and waste management program is getting off the ground with Kendra's help in Trashiyangtse, and in Mongar a special education resource center is being filled with new materials with the help of Julia and Charly.

In Rangjung, BCF teacher Vicky has gone above and beyond the call of duty to start a photography club. Currently, the photography club has one camera, which Vicky brought with her from Australia. Over the past year, Vicky and her club of enthusiastic and talented members have worked incredibly hard to raise funds to purchase new cameras so that each class level might have its own chapter of the club. BCF will match the funds raised by the club and new cameras will be purchased during the school break this winter.

Vicky sent us a fantastic email detailing the great success of the club and incuded some beautiful photos taken by club members. Enjoy!

Finally I have almost collected all the funds I set out to and the final figures are available. We sold an amazing total of 3,087 photographs and made 5 ngultrums on each one, so our total raised is 15, 435 nu!

I have researched the camera situation and with your support we should be able to buy 4 x Canon Powershot A3300IS cameras and some spare batteries and SD cards for them. This would mean that each class level would have a camera of their own and that our club should be able to grow to 4 times its current size. These cameras have good specs and rechargeable batteries and come in different colours making it easier for me to keep track of which camera belongs to which year level.

Tomorrow night will be Rangjung Secondary High School's Award Night and the student co-ordinator of the club will be given a certificate and as it turns out she will also get a prize for having sold the greatest number of photographs this year. This achievement is all the more astounding as she stopped being a club member at the beginning of this semester to focus on her studies, as she is in Class XII. Her Name is Khandu Dema. I will announce at the assembly tomorrow that we will be able to buy the cameras and the exact funds raised so that the students concerned are all aware of the results of their hard work.

Cheers,

Vicky

Welcome Class of 2012!

2011-11-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

After much deliberation, interviews, late nights on Skype and more, we are delighted to introduce our Class of 2012!

The BCF is excited to work with teachers whose experience is as vast as working in Antarctica to volunteering in the Canadian north to teaching abroad in Korea.

We thank everyone that applied; this year we had more applicants than ever before, all with amazing experience, qualifications and passion and we are thrilled to have 20 new teachers joining us in the field alongside five seasoned experts who are continuing into a second year.

Over the upcoming weeks, we’ll be sharing stories from our veterans and meet our new teachers as they get ready for an experience of a lifetime!

Highlights from the Royal Wedding!

2011-10-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

Celebrations of the Royal Wedding continue this week. Check out these highlights from last Thursday's ceremony, broadcast live by Bhutan Broadcasting Service.

Congratulations to the King and Queen

2011-10-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Her Majesty Queen Jetsun Pema wed today in a ceremony in Punakha, Bhutan.

Great coverage of the event as well as photos and video are available on The Globe & Mail.

Student Newspaper a Huge Success

2011-10-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

In June, we told you about the KPS Observer, a brand new student newspaper launched by BCF teacher, Lisa Phu, at Kanglung Primary School. As a BCF school development project, Lisa and the KPS Observer student team have received funding support to print more issues of the newspaper, which are distributed to students throughout the school.

Now the second issue of the KPS Observer is out and people are taking notice! Last week the Bhutanese newspaper, Keunsel, profiled the newspaper club and Lisa!

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Issue #2 of the KPS Observer is now available. Read below!

KPS Observer Issue #2

Help BCF support school development projects like Lisa's! DONATE to BCF today!

BCF Founder Becomes Honorary Consul

2011-10-07T07:14:00.000-07:00

On Friday October 7th, 2011 His Excellency, Lhatu Wangchuk, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bhutan to Canada and the United Nations and BCF Board Member, announced the appointment of Sam Blyth as Honorary Consul for Bhutan in Canada.

"I am honored by the appointment and am delighted to serve Bhutan and it's people both as Honorary Consul and as Chair of the Bhutan Canada Foundation", said Sam Blyth.

Congratulations Sam!

Gross National Happiness on the World Stage

2011-10-04T11:52:00.000-07:00

Check out this great article from the Toronto Star on happiness as global public policy. Great mention of Bhutan's development of the policy of Gross National Happiness.

"Happiness is grabbing an enormous amount of attention in terms of global public policy. A resolution passed at the UN General Assembly in July stated that “the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human goal” embodying the globally agreed targets in the Millennium Development Goals.

UN member-states along with civil society groups and foundations also embraced the offer of Bhutan, the tiny Himalayan country that uniquely has adopted the concept of gross national happiness over gross domestic product as the barometer of developmental success, to convene a panel discussing happiness during the current General Assembly session in New York."

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

Stories from the Field: Shauna in Bartsham

2011-09-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

We're recently received some fantastic stories from our teachers in the field and guess what?! We want to share them with you. For the next few weeks we'll post a story a week, coming to you directly from our teachers currently working in Bhutan. This week....Shauna West!

Shauna, Bartsham Middle Secondary School
It was Day One, in February 2011, a cool and dry winter morning at Bartsham Middle Secondary School when I first greeted my 9C English class. I walked into the room and cheerfully exclaimed, "Good Morning 9C!"

As expected, I received an equally enthusiastic reply from 34 standing and smiling teens. What I didn't expect, however, was that this was where the discussion ended.

"Welcome back to school, 9C, how do you like to be back?" Answer: silence... You could literally hear a pin drop!

I realized then and there that the focus of the year was to promote speech in the class, to encourage both boys and girls to stand up straight and tall and speak confidently, not hunched over, a hand covering the mouth, mumbling speech as they burrow their gaze into the floor.

It took time, patience, and cultural understanding however the kids finally came around to realizing that English class is place of community, of sharing ideas, and of creativity.

By taking baby steps and injecting a good dose of humor into the classroom, students' confidence increased and learning flourished.

Now on days when I hear those terribly shy kids suddenly pipe up in class, I feel the rush of pride and delight overwhelm my heart as I realize, "Oh yeah, THAT'S why I came here!"

BCF Featured in Education Canada Magazine

2011-09-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

This Fall BCF is thrilled to be featured in Education Canada Magazine, Canada's premier source for education news and discussion! Read the full article HERE.

Jeffrey Sachs on Happiness and Bhutan

2011-08-31T07:06:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey Sachs, professor of economics at Columbia University and special adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General on the Millennium Development Goals, has written about Bhutan several times. In his most recent piece in The Globe and Mail he explores Bhutan's "happiness for all" quest and presents conclusions as to how we can re-order our own lives to build community and promote sustainability.

He says...

"Against this backdrop, the time has come to reconsider the basic sources of happiness in our economic life. The relentless pursuit of higher income is leading to unprecedented inequality and anxiety, rather than to greater happiness and life satisfaction. Economic progress is important and can greatly improve the quality of life, but only if it is pursued in line with other goals.

In this respect, the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has been leading the way."

Read th full article HERE.

Cooking in Bhutan

2011-08-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

It is suffice to say that food in Bhutan is very different than in North America. It is often very spicy and is usually some form of rice, chilles, cheese or potato.

While we were travelling across Bhutan visiting our teachers in April, we were lucky enough to be escorted by Rinzin Norbu, a former restaurant owner from Thimphu! On one of the last nights of our journey Rinzin was kind enough to give us a cooking demonstration that we would like to share with all of you:

Future teachers: Give some of these dishes a try and let us know what you think!

Help choose a name for BCF's Newsletter!

2011-08-07T11:49:00.000-07:00

Over the past few month's we've tested out a few different names for our email newsletter, but nothing seems to stick.

Help us choose a name for the BCF newsletter! Send your suggestions to kristen@bhutancanada.org. The winning name will be announced in our fall newsletter and the winner will receive a signed copy of Jamie Zeppa's, Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan.

Get your thinking caps on and email us your ideas today!

Applications 2011 are closed!

2011-08-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

Our 2011 recruitment season has been overwhelmingly wonderful. We have received an incredible number of quality applications this year, and whittling down applications to interview has been very difficult. We are really excited to conduct our last round of interviews next week to find our new and incredible Class of 2012!

Check out Ian Swift, Class of 2011 hard at work in his English class at Rangjung Lower Secondary School:

Thank you to everyone who applied, we hope to meet you in an interview!

Support School Communities in Bhutan!

2011-08-03T11:47:00.000-07:00

Our teachers make a difference. You can too.

BCF teachers make a difference in the classroom everyday. Outside the classroom they work just as hard by championing school development projects, which support the unique needs of their school community. Our teachers lead projects that engage students and focus of developing new skills and building community.

Current projects include:

Photo Club at Ranjung HSS
Books for Bartsham
Newspaper Club at Kanglung Primary
Waste Management and Recycling Program in Trashiyangtse
Special Education Resource Center in Mongar

You can help support these projects by making a donation to The Bhutan Canada Foundation today!

Three ways to DONATE:

Donate ONLINE
Make a donation over the phone by calling (416) 572-3767.
Send your donation in the mail to:

The Bhutan Canada Foundation

720 Bathurst Street, Suite 411

Toronto, ON M5S 2R4

* please make cheques payable to The Bhutan Canada Foundation

Meet Bestselling Author, Jamie Zeppa

2011-07-27T06:20:00.000-07:00

On August 2nd BCF will host an evening with BCF Board Member and bestselling author of Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey Into Bhutan, Jamie Zeppa.

Attendees will have a chance to hear Ms. Zeppa read an excerpt from her new novel Every Time We Say Goodbye and participate in a question and answer period. Copies of Ms. Zeppa's new book will be available for purchase and attendees will have the opportunity to have copies signed by the author.

Date: Tuesday, August 2nd
Time: 7pm-8pm
Location: The Center for Social Innovation, Second Floor

720 Bathurst Street, Suite 411, Toronto, ON M5S 2R4

To RSVP: please email raewyn@bhutancanada.org

BCF Board Member Spreads Happiness to UN

2011-07-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

Photo credit: BBC

This week BCF Board Member and Bhutan's ambassador to the United Nations, His Excellency Lhatu Wangchuk, encouraged the General Assembly to make happiness a development indicator.

You can read the full BBC article HERE.

Momo Night a Huge Success

2011-07-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

Last night BCF held the first ever Momo Night at Mt. Everest Restaurant. BCF supporters came out in force to learn how to make the delicious dumplings!

The owners of Mt. Everest Restuarant gave us a fantastic lesson on how to make momos and then let us loose to try our hand.

Although our first attempts ending up looking a bit more like tacos than dumplings, with practice we wound up with three plates of (almost) perfect momos.

After the momos were steamed in the kitchen we had a chance to sample our wares. Tasty!

As a nice surprise, Mt. Everest offered a gift certificate to the evening's best momo maker. Margaret Hageman walked away with the top honor. Congratulations Margaret!

If you would like to try your hand at making momos we've included the instructions from last night's event (with some helpful handwritten notes) below. One of last nights attendees, Andrea, has also posted a blog of the best momos in Thimphu. If you're heading there in the near future be sure to check these spots out!

How to Make Momos

If you really love momos don't forget that you could be eating them all the time if you lived and worked in Bhutan as a teacher with The Bhutan Canada Foundation. We're hiring now. Apply online today at http://www.teachinbhutan.org.

Thank You Natalie!

2011-06-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

Natalie Charlton is one of several university lecturers working in Bhutan in 2011. She is almost at the end of her time in Bhutan and we wanted to say THANK YOU to Natalie for all her hard work at Paro College of Education!

When we visited her in Bhutan, Natalie was nice enough to sit down for an interview and tell us about a typical day in Paro. Enjoy!

Don't forget we're still accepting applications to TEACH IN BHUTAN in 2012. Apply online today!

Teacher Blog of the Week: Post Exam Celebrations!

2011-06-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

We all know how the feeling - exams are finished, the break is looming and you feel as though you are on top of the world. School break excitement is the same the world over, but exactly how that break is celebrated is certainly different everywhere you go.

Our teacher blog of the week comes from our two Australians Ian and Vicky and their blog In the Shadow of the Mountains. In this post the take us on a photo journey through the post - exam celebration in their town - a monastic ritual!

For more incredible photos like this please the rest of the post Monastery Celebrations.

Attend the BCF Momo Night!

2011-06-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

Please join us on Tuesday, July 5th at 7pm for BCF's first ever Momo Night. For just $10 participants will have the opportunity to make, steam and eat their very own momo's. This is a great opportunity for interested teachers to learn about Bhutanese food, and for everyone to learn how to make this delicious Bhutanese delicacy!

Location:
Mt. Everest Restaurant
469 Bloor St. W
Toronto, ON M5S 1X9
(416) 964-8849

To RSVP please click HERE and pay $10 for each person attending Momo Night. In the "comment" section please write "RSVP Momo Night" so that we know what your payment is for.

This is an open event, so please invite your friends!

Introducing...The KPS Observer

2011-06-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

This morning we received an email from BCF teacher Lisa Phu, who is stationed in Kanglung. Lisa is Literary Coordinator at her school, Kanglung Primary School, and decided to start a school newspaper. Below is the first edition of The KPS Observer, written and photographed by 22 class 4-6 students.

This semester Lisa has taught the students all about the basics of newspaper-ing, from how to write news stories, to lessons on digital photography and how to conduct interviews. Lisa and the club hope to produce two more editions next semester!

Will you help to support next semester's printing of the KPS Observer? By donating even $1 you will be giving one of Lisa's students a copy of the paper they worked so hard to create! Show your support and DONATE ONLINE now.
The KPS Observer

Teacher Blog of the Week: Life in Samtengang

2011-06-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

Our teacher blog of the week this week is really exciting, as it comes from Carson Koller (Class of 2011)'s new(ish) blog Druk Mail!

Hailing from Seattle, Washington, Carson wasn't really planning on keeping a blog while in Bhutan. He relented once he found out how much his friends and family were enjoying his long emails home every few weeks. His blog is essentially a collection of those emails that he has thankfully allowed us (and you!) to enjoy. Check out his most recent post "The Break is Coming! The Break is Coming!" about life in Bhutan leading up to the oh-so-exciting summer break!

We are certainly happy that Carson has decided to let all of us in on his personal emails. He is one of our more entertaining teachers, and seems to encounter some of the craziest situations!

Crazy Carson

"You know those moments in your life that will last forever? Those times that you know you will look fondly back on in your wizened and elderly state? Such an event took place recently. It was the middle of a hot day and I had just entered my 7th period class, 7B English, when one of my students ripped out her tooth. My reaction was something like this:

Carson: ‘Oh my god! Are you alright?’
Phub D.: ‘Look, my tooth.’
Carson: ‘Uh, yeah, look at that! Does it hurt?’
Phub D.: ‘Yeah, it’s paining a little.’

Perhaps it was shock, or most likely her blank stare as she ripped out a tooth while looking deep into my eyes, but I couldn’t help but laugh at this point, WHAT THE WHAT?!"

- Carson Koller The Break is Coming!

23 Years Ago in Phongmey

2011-06-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

Nancy with community members in Phongmey

Twenty-three years ago BCF's Executive Director, Nancy Strickland, had just started teaching in Trashigang district in Bhutan. Last week she found a letter she wrote home describing her experience! Have a read!

Don't forget, there's still time to enter our Teacher Recruitment Contest! Help us spread the word and you can win great prizes.

Nancy Phongmey Letter

Come to a BCF Info Session Online

2011-05-30T09:16:00.000-07:00

Have you always wanted to attend a BCF event but have been unable to because you live too far away?

Join us for an online Bhutan information session on June 14th 6pm-7pm ET! The webinar will be interactive and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions. If you're interested in teaching in Bhutan in 2012 this is the perfect chance to learn more!

RSVP to kristen@bhutancanada.org

There's still time to enter our Teacher Recruitment Contest! Help us spread the word and you can win great prizes!

Teacher Blog of the Week: Sports Meet in Bhutan

2011-05-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what kind of sports Bhutanese kids play in school way high up in the Himalayas? Our teacher blog of the week answer just that question!

Vicky Chartres and Ian Swift are our two Australian teachers who are living and teaching in the heat of Rangjung near Trashigang in Eastern Bhutan. Ian is teaching at the Lower School and Vicky is teaching at the high school and has taken up the duty of the table tennis club. This post from their blog In the Shadow of the Mountains takes us through a day at a recent sports meet at Vicky's school.

Table tennis is very popular at Rangjung HSS!

"When I put up my hand to run the table tennis team I didn't really understand that that would make me T/T co-ordinator at the cluster meet. In fact I wasn't in the least bit confident that I could umpire even if there were were only 3 schools involved and we were stationed in a hut out near the boys toilets! The regular club members play for fun and are largely rank beginners with whom I feel very comfortable. There is a competitive element in the boys group and they lobbied immediately for not being left in the hut but relocating the table to the stage in the hall. To their credit they also did the work that that involved and found students better able to fulfil the umpire and scorer roles too. When I first discovered that this would be my responsibility, I was a little surprised to discover that last years national girls doubles runners up were out there somewhere in the school cohort. But they came forward as did other non-club members and the team selected itself as it were. The better players have emerged in the last 2 weeks and we had a frenzy of after school practices last week and the real test was yesterday."
- Vicky Chartres and Ian Swift Cluster Sports Meet

Be sure to check out their Blog for the rest of the post!

Beautiful Bartsham

2011-05-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

We took a lot of video while we were in Bhutan. A lot. Unfortunately, we weren't able to upload anything as we went along because we just didn't have the bandwidth. Actually, we tried once but when the YouTube upload notification said "677 minutes remaining" we decided we would just have to wait until we were back home.

This video is from a lovely day spent in Bartsham, where Shauna and Julian are placed.

Teacher blog of the week: Romancing Bhutan

2011-05-21T09:55:00.000-07:00

Because we are so excited about the re-launch of the Teach Blog of the Week series, we have decided to feature TWO blogs this week!

Nick Morris (Class of 2010) was our star blogger last year updating his blog Bhutanlines an incredible 31 times. (It is even more incredible when you see just how long some of his posts are!) His incredible writing skills and touching stories allowed us to experience Bhutan right along side him. This year Nick has continued with his blog which features a great new perspective as he embarks on his second year of teaching in Khaling in eastern Bhutan.

Check out Nick's most recent post "Peaks and Valleys."

GNH at work

"No, this is not a traditional love story; it is the story of the love between a man and a country, and just like any relationship, it is filled with ups and downs, highs and lows, peaks and valleys.

What’s interesting is how quickly the tides can turn. One moment I’m loving life, enjoying every minute of my day, and then, as suddenly as the clouds sweep in and block out the sun, emptying themselves on the world below, my mood changes and I’m left feeling frustrated or sometimes even angry. I don’t want to feel this way, obviously, but “life” sometimes forces this mood upon me. My only hope is that just as the flowers grow in the wake of all the rain, so too will my resolve and love of this country."
- Nick Morris "Peaks and Valleys"

Check out the rest of this blog post HERE.

Teacher Recruitment Contest - Enter to Win Great Prizes

2011-05-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

What is BCF?
The Bhutan Canada Foundation believes that education is key to the thoughtful transformation of the young democracy of Bhutan. Through the provisioning of teachers, materials and scholarships we encourage the growth of a vibrant and universal system of education based on collaboration and knowledge exchange, thus carrying on a legacy of Canadian and Bhutanese cooperation and goodwill.

Looking for Teaching Talent!

We're currently recruiting teachers to join the BCF Teacher Class of 2012! At the request of the Secretary of Education in Bhutan, BCF is planning to recruit twenty-five to thirty new teachers this year. All applications can be made online at http://www.teachinbhutan.org/

The Contest
Do you know an adventurous teacher who would jump at the opportunity to teach abroad in the Himalayas? Help us spread the word and you could win great prizes! One grand prize winner will win a limited release Robert Bateman "Cranes of Bhutan" print, signed by the artist worth $200! Two runners up will win one signed copy of Jamie Zeppa's book Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan worth $50 each.

Enter to Win:

Step 1 of 2. Sign up for Bhutan Canada Foundation E-Newsletter:

Step 2 of 2. Share this contest with your friends on Facebook.

That's it! Spread the word and don't forget to like our page on Facebook for extra good karma points! Check back regularly for updates on teaching in Bhutan, recruitment news and more.

Don't forget, applications to teach in Bhutan in 2012 are now being accepted, so apply today!

Terms and Conditions:
Must register to receive BCF E-News. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The Bhutan Canada Foundation's “Teach in the Himalayas” Contest (the “Contest”) begins Friday May 20, 2011 at 9:00 a.m ET and ends Friday, July 29, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. ET. To enter, entrant must register an Email (“Entry”) at http://teachinbhutan.blogspot.com/ (“Contest Site”) and provide your first name and last name for Contest winner contact purposes only. One entry per person. One Grand Prize consists of one signed Robert Bateman “Cranes of Bhutan” print. Two Runner Up prizes consist of one signed copy of Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan by Jamie Zeppa. Odds of winning vary depending on number of contest entrants. Draw will take place the morning of Monday, August 1, 2011. All contest winners must answer a skill-testing question. If Sponsors are unable to access potential winner(s) after 3 tries within a 24 hour period, another random draw will take place. Email kristen@bhutancanada.org with any questions or concerns. Brought to you by The Bhutan Canada Foundation (the “sponsor”).

Teacher blog of the week: Overcoming culture shock

2011-05-18T07:54:00.000-07:00

Today we are really excited to be launching the "Teacher Blog of the Week" series again after a short hiatus.

Recruitment for the Class of 2012 has officially opened and with it has come a barrage of questions about what life is like for BCF teachers in Bhutan. Many people are often concerned with the culture shock that invariably comes along with moving to a foreign country, working in a foreign school and generally just missing the comforts of home. Our teacher blog of the week touches on some of these issues and I think will be a great tool for those interested in teaching in Bhutan.

Class of 2011 teacher Meghann Turner is teaching at Phobjikha PMSS in the western part of Bhutan. Surrounded by stunning peaks Phobjikha is one of the most beautiful postings but is also one of the coldest. Our girl from Manitoba can handle it though and has done an incredible job of settling into her new community and school routine.

This week our choice comes from Meghann's blog In the Land of the Thunder Dragon. In her post titled "Yak Babies and a new Kind of Love" Meghann talks about overcoming culture shock and her new found love of her home, Bhutan.

"After this dream, I started having these tiny moments of joy that linger and seem to multiply into more moments of joy. When I am looking at the sun hitting only parts of the mountains, when day by day the valley turns a deeper shade of green, when my students ask a question in English that is more complex than they ever have before, when I am alone with Bhutanese people and I feel like I am at home.

So let me tell you about some of the intensity before this switch in the night, because I was starting to feel out of place with an attitude I couldn’t shake…"
- Meghann Turner "Yak Babies and a New Kind of Love"

Check out the rest of Meghann's blog post HERE.

Baby yak (not in Bhutan)

Implementing GNH

2011-05-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

The article "Stories from schools and classrooms" from the May 15th Kuensel outlines a GNH seminar that happened recently at Paro College of Education in Bhutan. This gathering of principals, teachers, lecturers and students met to discuss the various ways that GNH is implemented in schools across Bhutan. The seminar was a result of the Educating for GNH program that aims to "create teachers who understand GNH, and who will then establish a GNH learning environment for children, by 2012."

Bartsham Primary, the school that BCF teacher Julian Richards calls home, is mentioned as a leader in GNH implementation when it comes to environmental protection. At that school students organized a massive cleaning campaign that earned them 45, 000 Nu after selling the plastic. They used this money to replace their school's blackboards with a more environmentally friendly alternative.

"Every child must succeed: Education minister Thakur S Powdyel speaks at the seminar"

Check out the article HERE.

An exciting opportunity for teachers from Calgary!

2011-05-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

Are you a teacher from Calgary? Do you currently teach with the Calgary Board of Education? Well, have we got an opportunity for you!

The International Bureau of the Calgary Board of Education is working with The Bhutan Canada Foundation to offer Professional Improvement Fellowships in Bhutan! A professional improvement fellowship (PIF) allows teachers who currently work with CBE to teach abroad for one year while still maintaining their current status and position with the board.

Teachers who receive a PIF fellowship are expected to share learnings from their experience with the Calgary Board of Education upon return to Canada.

For more information on how to apply visit the International PIF website.

Ask a BCF Teacher!

2011-05-11T07:22:00.000-07:00

If you're thinking about (or have already!) applied to join the Class of 2012 you probably have all sorts of questions about what it's really like to live and work in Bhutan. Fortunately, one of our BCF teachers, Kendra, kindly agreed to answer a few questions for us when we visited her in Trashiyangtse.

In this video we've asked, "What is your favorite thing about teaching in Bhutan?" Watch and find out her answer!

Interested in joining Kendra in Bhutan? Recruitment for the Class of 2012 is open. Apply online at http://www.teachinbhutan.org.

Bhutan Nights Spring/ Summer Series - An Update

2011-05-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

Our first "Bhutan Nights" event, the Former Teachers Panel at the Center for Social Innovation went off without a hitch. We would like to thank all of our fantastic panelists Ann Curry (and her daughter Jessie), Cam Kilgour, Ann Berman, Jamie Zeppa, and Roy and Nancy Greenwood. It was amazing to have all of the different perspectives of former WUSC teachers who taught in Bhutan in the 80's and 90's, recent BCF teachers who taught in Bhutan last year, and young Bhutanese Canadians who have spent quite a lot of time in Bhutan.

We have decided to re-vamp our schedule a little bit and hold the Webinar in June and the Momo Night in July. Check out the new schedule below:

Webinar
When: June 14th
Time: 6:00 – 7:00 PM EST
Where: Online
What: Have you always wanted to attend a BCF event but have been unable to because you live too far away? This is your chance to attend a Bhutan Information session online. The webinar will be interactive and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions.
RSVP: kristen @bhutancanada.org

Momo Night
When: July 5th
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM EST
Where: TBD
What: Have you always loved momos and want to learn how to make them? Come to BCF’s momo night to learn how to make these delicious treats. Of course, there will be plenty of opportunities to taste the wares!
RSVP: kristen @bhutancanada.org

Jamie Zeppa “Author’s Night”
When: August 2^nd
Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM EST
Where: TBD
What: In celebration of the release of the much anticipated follow up novel to Beyond the Sky and the Earth: a Journey into Bhutan, BCF will be hosting an Author’s Night with writer Jamie Zeppa. Participants will have the opportunity to hear Ms. Zeppa read an excerpt from her new novel Every Time We Say Goodbye, have the author autograph your copy, and participate in a question and answer period.
RSVP: kristen @bhutancanada.org

Remember: Applications to join the Class of 2012 are officially open! If you are interested in teaching in Bhutan, or know someone who might be interested in teaching in Bhutan, attend the Webinar on June 7th to learn more about our program!

Apply now to join the BCF Class of 2012!

2011-05-05T10:42:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in living and working in Bhutan in 2012?

Applications for the BCF Class of 2012 are now open. Think you've got what it takes? Here's what we're looking for:

Qualified teachers with either 1) three years relevant teaching experience 2) a degree in Education or 3) teacher certification.
Aged 22-59
Native English speakers of any nationality.
Priority is given to Primary teachers and Secondary English, Math and Science teachers.
Adaptable and enthusiastic adventurers who are looking to make a difference!

Applying is easy! Just go to http://www.teachinbhutan.org/ and complete our online application. If we think you're a good fit we'll contact you to set up an interview (in person or via Skype!) If you have any questions you can always email us at info@bhutancanada.org.

Destination Druk Yul: A Big Thank You!

2011-04-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

Our much anticipated trip to Bhutan has now come and gone. We arrived back home last Saturday and have spent much of the last few days readjusting to life in North America: the straight roads, the noise and chaos, the bland food and the conspicuous lack of mountains.

We’ve also spent much time answering the question, “How was it?”

“Incredible!” we say. “Amazing!” “Beautiful”

But, the truth is, that doesn’t even begin to describe our experience. Our trip to Bhutan was inspiring and authentic and, most of all, transformative.

As Toronto office staff, we spend most of our time promoting our programs, recruiting teachers and ensuring that North American operations are running smoothly. Our previous knowledge of Bhutan was gained through discussion with BCF field office staff, reading Keunsel or, in Raewyn’s case, a brief visit to Bhutan in 2008. Now, having spent nearly a month traveling across the country, enduring the bumpy roads, staying in teacher accommodations, meeting with school principals and education officials, interacting with students, visiting with locals, taking bucket baths and taking in endlessly breathtaking views, we can say that we have firsthand knowledge of the country and the experience teachers will have when they decide to teach in Bhutan.

Our trip would not have been the same without the support, guidance and humor provided by incredible drivers/guides, Nima and Rinzin. Whether we were listening to Nima softly singing as we ascended some of Bhutan’s highest passes, or holding on for dear life as Rinzin raced us down a particularly bumpy road to get to the Bank of Bhutan before it closed, we always knew we were in good hands. We both feel incredibly lucky to have been so well taken care of and to have made two new friends.

The hospitality of both our BCF teachers in the field and members of the communities in which they live was astounding and touching. Each village we visited felt like a long forgotten home and its inhabitants our dear friends. I cannot think of any other place I have visited where I have felt so immediately welcome.

And finally, the purpose of our trip all along was to see our teachers in action. When we started out we expected to find at least a few teachers who were struggling or homesick or discouraged. What we found was the exact opposite. Our teachers are flourishing. They have made Bhutan their home in record time and are quickly becoming part of the community. Most importantly, they are incredible in the classroom; students pay full attention, listen carefully, follow instructions and are engaged and active learners. BCF is proud to have such wonderful ambassadors in communities across Bhutan. Keep up the good work and THANK YOU!

Destination Druk Yul: Becoming Bhutanese

2011-04-20T03:52:00.000-07:00

“To be a good teacher in Bhutan you must become Bhutanese.”

Bartsham

Throughout our travels in Bhutan we have been offered many wise words. This particular advice came from the Home Minister, after he had been asked his suggestions for new BCF teachers preparing to start work in Bhutan.

Over the past few weeks we have had the opportunity to observe many BCF teachers as they go about their life in Bhutan. As our journey winds down, we’ve had a time to reflect on the Home Minister’s advice and how our teachers are applying it on a daily basis. What is most evident is that, although there are commonalities between our teachers (i.e. they are all adaptable, adventurous, motivated, etc.), the experience of working in Bhutan is different for each and every one. As a result, the advice to “become Bhutanese” is expressed uniquely by each BCF-er.

Julian with his Class One PE students

In Bartsham, Shauna and Julian teach at the Lower Secondary School and the Higher Secondary School. Perhaps two of our most adventurous teachers, they have fully embraced Bhutan’s incredible outdoors by trekking the countryside in their free time. In fact, during school break in July they have volunteered to plan a 5-6 day trek to Sakteng for the rest of the BCF group!

Kendra in Trashiyangtse

In Trashiyangtse, Kendra is becoming Bhutanese by embracing the culture. She has learned to make traditional Bhutanese food, and has even put a spin on one of her favorite dishes kewa datsi, calling it “Kendra datsi.” She is also enrolled in a course on traditional Bhutanese painting and, much to our surprise, extolls the virtues of the bucket bath.

Scott, Lisa and Natalie have quickly and easily integrated into their community of Kanglung. Scott is a lecturer in the Life Sciences department at Sherubtse, Lisa teaches at the primary school and Natalie is a Class 11 English teacher. In between their busy work schedules, they have all found time to socialize with fellow teachers, attend local rimdros and pujas, and make new friends. For these three, becoming Bhutanese is about community.

Scott and Lisa in Kanglung

At Jigme Sherubling HSS in Khaling, Nick is a constant fixture. Whether it’s coaching sports teams, chatting about new ideas with his principal, or having jam sessions with his colleagues.

In Wamrong (where we are now), John and Maureen have done the almost impossible task of learning the local dialect, Sharshopka. They may not be fluent (yet…) but they have picked up enough to share a short conversation with the locals.

Yesterday, as we drove into Wamrong to visit our last two teachers, we both started to feel quite sad that our Bhutan adventure is drawing to a close. We’ve had an incredible trip and are lucky to have experienced the world famous Bhutanese hospitality and generosity first hand. Although our time here has been short, we both know that the adjustment to life back home won’t be easy. The truth is, in the last few weeks, we’ve started to become a little Bhutanese too.

Destination Druk Yul: Kendra's Trashiyangtse

2011-04-19T07:27:00.000-07:00

We spent a lovely day and a half in Trashiyangtse visiting Kendra! Fortunately for us, Kendra has posted a blog about our visit! Have a read :)

We’ve seen so many teachers over the past few days and will be sure to blog about all of them before we leave Bhutan on the 22^nd!

Destination Druk Yul: It's All About the Kids

2011-04-17T06:23:00.000-07:00

For a new BCF teacher, living in Bhutan may not be the easiest adjustment. In rural Bhutan the comforts of home will seem very far away; electricity is not always available, hot water can come and go, and fresh fruit and vegetables are sometimes in short supply.

Over the last few weeks we’ve had a chance to visit many of our teachers in the field and surprisingly, when asked about their life in Bhutan, none of these challenges are mentioned. Instead they’ve all said the same thing, “I love my students.”

Scott with his Vice Principal and Principal at Yadi MSS

Whether it’s Scott in Yadi, who said his math and chemistry students are very receptive to his North American teaching style (and Utah accent), or Ian in Rangjung, who managed to get his class five students to dress up in costume to act out a lesson on constructing arguments, our BCF teachers all remark on the incredible intelligence, dedication, and enthusiasm of their students.

Ian at Rangjung LSS

We witnessed this enthusiasm first hand when we paid a visit to Jean-Daniel’s school in Bidung on Friday afternoon. When we arrived Jean-Daniel was just about to begin his class. As we made our way across the school lawn we experienced what we have been told is called “the swarm.” This is exactly what it sounds like- students of all ages (but mostly small ones) engulfed us the moment we stepped onto school grounds. “Madam! Madam!” they called. “Hello, madam!” “Where are you from, madam?” “What is your name, madam?” At one point we each had ten to fifteen children hanging off our arms, holding our hands, or just generally trying to get our attention.

Jean-Daniel invited us in to his grade-three math class but, because one of the grade-four teachers was out for the day and there are no supply (substitute) teachers in Bhutan, Jean-Daniel had to settle the grade-four class before beginning his math lesson. This meant that we were left to keep the grade-three class entertained.

Jean-Daniel's Class Three in Bidung

In most other school visits, we do a little question and answer session with the students, giving them the chance to ask questions about us or about North America. Most often, the students are quite shy or reserved and getting questions out of them becomes quite difficult. However, class three students are full of confidence and don’t seem to have any reservations about asking all sorts of questions. “What is the name of your village, madam?” “What is your mother’s name, madam?” “What class are you in?” “How do you like Bhutan?’” “How old are you?” The questions kept coming and coming, each response soliciting giggles, whispers and chatter amongst the students.

When Jean-Daniel eventually returned and began his lesson on borrowing the students gave him their full attention. However, when the lesson was over and we all moved outside for a yoga class, the little ones engulfed us again, leading us through the yoga poses, checking in to make sure we were doing okay, fighting each other to sit beside us, and giggling giggling giggling like they had never seen anything as amusing as two North American girls.

“Madam! Madam! You are soooooo white. Like a cloud, madam! And so thin, madam and so long! Madam is very beautiful, madam.”

Compliments, enthusiasm and general cuteness aside, Bhutanese students really are incredible. They are focused, studious, engaged and eager to learn. In Bhutan, education is highly prized and it shows in the quality of the students. This is a country that is cultivating a generation of leaders. We at BCF couldn’t be more thrilled be part of the growth and continual betterment of Bhutan’s education system.

Destination Druk Yul: The Road to Mongar

2011-04-13T04:26:00.000-07:00

“Ah, you are going out east,” our hotel proprietor, Pema, said as we prepared to leave Bumthang. “Now you will see the real Bhutan.”

We left Bumthang on Monday to begin our journey out east, which is where most BCF teachers are placed. It’s the most rural part of the country and therefore the area where the teacher shortage is most acutely felt.

The drive from Bumthang to Mongar is long and harrowing. For eight hours we drove along rough and winding roads, clinging to the side of the mountains before eventually descending through Alpine forests to sub-tropical valleys.

When we finally arrived in Mongar, where we were promptly taken to see Julia and Charly Ritt at their home (the other BCF teachers call it “the palace.”) Nathan Woollard, whose school is located about 5 km up the road at Kilikar, joined us as well. As we sat, drinking tea and catching up, thunder rolled into the Mongar Valley. Apparently this is typical. Mornings in Mongar are warm and sunny. In the late afternoon a storm usually blows in and drenches the valley for a few hours.

Our two-night stay in Mongar offered a bit of respite after two very long and nauseating days of driving. The next morning we had the opportunity to visit both Julia and Nathan’s school.

Mongar LSS

Julia’s school, Mongar Lower Secondary School, is a large school with close to 800 students. It is also a pilot school for Bhutan’s special education program, which Julia heads up along with a Bhutanese colleague, Yeshey. At the moment, the special education program is comprised of “pull outs”, where Julia takes five to seven students at a time for remedial and catch up work. Julia told us that most for the fifty-four students in her special education pullouts do not necessarily have learning disabilities, they are just several years below grade level and need specialized, one-on-one attention to catch up with their classmates.

Julia's Special Education Pull Out

Nathan’s school in Kilikar is located about 5 km from Mongar. The campus is situated far up the hill, with an incredible view of the Mongar Valley. Nathan teaches math to three sections of class 7. We had a chance to sit in as Nathan taught one class how to plot ordered pairs. The students are incredibly receptive to Nathan and there were many hands in the air when he asked for students to come up and plot points on the chalkboard.

Nathan's Class 7

At both schools we had a chance to sit down with the principals and vice principals as they told us a bit about their schools and the challenges they face. In Mongar, they are hoping to create a new classroom especially for Special Education classes, so that more than five or six students can be accommodated at the same time. They have a building (an old maintenance closet) but need some help to make the appropriate repairs so that it is student-friendly. In Kilikar, it was mentioned that sanitation and access to clean water is an issue (which it is across much of Bhutan.)

Kilikar School

In the near future, BCF hopes to be able to provide support in these areas, in addition to providing teachers. Sometimes, providing access to education and enabling success among students by improving school conditions is just as important as recruiting excellent teachers!

Today we are in Trashigang, the Bhutanese hometown Dzongkhag of our very own Nancy Strickland! We’re looking forward to seeing a number of teachers for a group dinner tonight before continuing our tour of the east tomorrow!

Destination Druk Yul: The Long Journey Begins

2011-04-10T18:45:00.000-07:00

“Bhutan is a Kingdom of short distances and long journeys.”

This is what we were told by our friend, Tashi, when we first arrived in Bhutan a little over a week ago. He was referring to the fact that, although the longest distance across Bhutan is only about 600 km, the journey takes days, something we have come to experience first hand this week.

We spent a very busy three days in the capital city of Thimphu meeting officials, seeing the sites, and shopping for supplies for our teachers in the field. During this time we had the honor of attending a meeting with the Secretary of Education, where she reiterated the need for our teachers and asked BCF to supply twenty-five to thirty new teachers in 2012, in addition to those already in the field who decide to renew for a second year.

On Friday we began our journey east, driving over one of Bhutan’s highest passes, Dochula, from which you can see Tibet! From 10,000 ft we began our descent into the Punakha Valley, a tropical, lush green valley. The district (or dzongkhag) is home to one of Bhutan’s most beautiful and historic dzongs and two BCF teachers, Andrea and Lynda.

Punakha Dzong

Of the two, Lynda’s placement in Gaselo is the most remote. In fact, it was almost an hour’s drive up a very windy and bumpy mountain road to reach her small village! Once there, Lynda gave us a tour of her school. She told us that last year part of the roof collapsed in the primary school building. Fortunately, it’s been fixed now and the school has some other new additions, including hostels for boarding students (previously students who boarded had to sleep in the classrooms.)

Gaselo Lower Secondary School

Following our tour, we drove back down the very windy mountain road and had lunch in Wangdi with Andrea and Lynda, before making our way to see Carson in Samtengang and Meghann in Phobjikha.

Carson’s school is also located on the very top of a mountain. Sadly, we didn’t have much time to look around because we had a long drive ahead so we grabbed Carson and brought him along for the ride. Meghann’s placement is in Phobjikha, an incredibly beautiful valley that is approximately 9,000 ft above see level and the winter home for the famous Black Necked Cranes.

Phobjikha Valley

We were lucky to visit Meghann on a very special night. Two of her colleagues at school were hosting a “promotion party.” In Bhutan, when you get a promotion you host a party for friends and colleagues to celebrate. The event took place in the “long house” a small, open hall, which would usually used to store potatoes. There was much food, ara, and traditional dancing. Despite the fact that the party was in honor of the two teachers who were being promoted, we somehow ended up being the guests of honor and were seated at the front of the room on the best carpets. Bhutanese hospitality never fails to amaze.

Meghann and her Principal

After a sound night’s sleep at a local farmhouse we awoke early to have breakfast with Carson, Meghann and her principal. We then had a tour of Meghann’s new school, which was recently built through a grant from the Japanese government. The students take incredible pride in their school. Even on a Sunday they were out cleaning and taking care of the grounds!

At Meghann's school!

Eventually we said goodbye to Carson and Meghann and got back in the car to make the journey to Bumthang, a drive of only 190km but which takes a remarkable 7 hours!

Today we head to Mongar to see Julia and Charly Ritt and Nathan Woollard J

Destination Druk Yul: Visiting Sue Hollingsworth in Chamgang

2011-04-07T19:06:00.000-07:00

After our incredible Bhutanese lunch on Wednesday we headed out of Thimphu to visit BCF Class of 2011 teacher Sue Hollingsworth at her school, Chamgang Lower Secondary School. The school is only a 30 minute drive from Thimphu but as you ascend the mountain you are transported into a different world. Set among towering pine trees and high on the top of the mountain, Chamgang reigns over the Thimphu Valley below.

Chamgang LSS

When we arrived at the school Sue was busy with her Class 5 English class. The children were very eager to speak with us and asked many questions about where we were from and how we were enjoying Bhutan thus far. They were very chatty and not shy at all! Sue is in Bhutan teaching English to Class 5 - 7 students. She has become very involved with after school activities and has even created an English Conversation Club at the school.

Chamgang school was originally built in the 1970's to cater to the children of the yak herders who descend from the north of Bhutan in the winter to escape the extremely harsh conditions closer to the Tibetan border. Because of this the school was previously primarily a seasonal school that only operated only in the winter months. In the summer time the yak herders and their families would leave Chamgang and head back up to their homes in the north.

Students at Chamgang LSS

The Bhutanese government has made an effort recently however, to grant land in the area to the families of yak herders. The hope is that the children will stay in these homes with their grandparents so that they can attend school year round when their parents head back north with their yak. Because of this the school is currently growing and new buildings are being constructed. Included in this are plans for boys' and girls' dormitories so that students can have the option to board at the school to continue their studies.

Sue and Kristen

Tomorrow we head off to the tropical valley of Punakha to visit BCF teachers Andrea Giesbrecht and Lynda Deszpoth.

Stay tuned!

Destination Druk Yul: Traditional Bhutanese Lunch

2011-04-06T19:09:00.000-07:00

One of the initiatives run by The Bhutan Canada Foundation is a scholarship program, which provides funds and support for two Bhutanese students to complete their high school studies in Canada. In the first year of the program, BCF was thrilled to welcome Yeshi Choden and Gaki Wangmo Wangchey to Toronto to study at Blyth Academy.

Wendy with Yeshi's Family

Yesterday, Yeshi's family gave a lunch at their home in honour of Wendy Adams Oosterman who, along with her family, is hosting both girls for the duration of their stay in Canada.

Upon arrival at Yeshi's home, our group was offered khadar (ceremonial white silk scarves) by both Yeshi and Gaki's parents. We were then ushered into the main room of the home, which is adjacent to the family alter room. Once inside we took our seats on the floor and were treated to a traditional Bhutanese "grand lunch", which consisted of a number of traditional Bhutanese offerings including, suja (buttertea), ara (homebrewed Bhutanese wine), maize, zaw (puffed rice), Bhutanese red rice, meat and cheese momos, ema datsi (chilies and cheese), dried beef and fresh asparagus.

Wendy with Gaki's Family

Since we, in the BCF office, see both Gaki and Yeshi on a regular basis it was incredible to meet their families. It was especially moving to see the girls' mothers chat with Wendy, their Canadian mother.

Following lunch we headed off to visit one of our teachers, Sue Hollingsworth, at her school in Chamgang, which is just outside of Thimphu. We met some wonderful students, took some great pictures, and were even treated to a dance! More on that later!

Destination Druk Yul: Tiger's Nest

2011-04-05T20:34:00.000-07:00

We had a day off from official BCF duties yesterday and so decided to see Bhutan's most iconic site, Taktsang (Tiger's Nest Monastery).

Perched on a sheer cliff face, Tiger's Nest is a sacred Himalayan Buddhist site and temple. As legend has it Bhutan's wisest sage, Guru Rinpoche, flew to the location from Tibet on the back of a tigress and meditated for three months in the cave around which the temple is now built.

Below are a few pictures!

Destination Druk Yul: A Visit to Paro College of Education

2011-04-04T03:52:00.000-07:00

Commuting to work is a completely different experience when your route is surrounded on all sides by the foothills of the Himalayas.

This morning began bright and early as we joined BCF lecturer, Natalie Charlton, on her daily walk to work at Paro College of Education (PCE). We walked down narrow roads, through rice paddies, past archery fields, and beneath the historic Paro Dzong, eventually arriving at PCE, just in time for morning assembly.

Paro College of Education

Assembly is held at the beginning of each day, with each class level attending on alternate days. Today’s assembly began with a prayer for wisdom in which students and faculty ask for their brains to work and for their minds to be uncluttered, so as to allow in all the knowledge of the universe. Prayer is followed by 3 to 5 minutes of meditation, announcements from the Director of the College and student presentations in English and in Dzongkha (the national language of Bhutan.) Today’s presentations were on the topic of the importance of developing “reflective practice” as a teacher.

“You’ve come on a very exciting day!” Natalie told us after the end of assembly. “There’s a celebration for the Academic Dean today. He’s just received his Ph.D.”

Sure enough, following assembly we were invited up to the office of the Academic Dean where he was presented with khadar, a ceremonial white silk scarf given only on auspicious occasions, by both faculty members and students. After congratulating the Academic Dean on his accomplishments, we joined the other well-wishers for desi (saffron rice) and suja (butter tea).

Natalie and her Class Three students

The rest of the morning was spent observing two of Natalie’s academic writing classes. We even took on the role of assistant teachers during the Class One section! Although many of the students were a bit shy at first, they became more comfortable as the class went on, asking questions, cracking jokes, and even letting us take a picture with the class puppy, Maxi (one of the students had her hidden inside his gho!)

Raewyn and Maxi

We concluded the morning with a visit to the Academic Learning Centre, a resource and support centre for students, which was created last year with the help of BCF lecturers, Roy and Nancy Greenwood.

Tomorrow we hike to Tiger's Nest, Bhutan's most famous monastery. Stay tuned!

Destination Druk Yul: We've Arrived!

2011-04-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

After approximately fifty-six hours, three flights and one full day layover in Bangkok, we officially arrived in Bhutan this morning! The flight from Bangkok was a breeze. We stopped off at Bagdogra airport to unload a few passengers who were not heading to Paro. A few minutes later we were once again airborne and looking out the window at perhaps the most dramatic and sublime view you will ever have from an airplane, the Himalayas!

We quickly began our descent into Paro International Airport, supposedly one of the most difficult and harrowing approaches in the world. Today, there are only ten pilots who are qualified to fly into Paro.

We were greeted at the airport by two members of the BCF Thimphu office, Meena and Nima, as well as Matt Robinson, a BCF lecturer at ILCS. After settling into our hotel and chatting over a few pots of tea we joined another BCF lecturer, Natalie Charlton and her partner, Tom, at their home which is conveniently right up the road from our hotel.

Natalie informed us that we were the first guests to tea she has had since arriving in Bhutan in February. She put out a great spread and we all enjoyed the beautiful view of Paro Valley from her balcony.

We soon met up with BCF Executive Director Nancy Strickland and we all had lunch at Gangtey Palace, a historically significant building that was once home to the former Prime Minister of Bhutan.

Our day begins bright and early tomorrow morning as we head to Paro College of Education with Natalie to observe her classes and meet with some of her colleagues.

More soon!

The opening of recruitment 2011 is one month away!

2011-04-01T12:43:00.000-07:00

The count down to the opening of recruitment 2011 has officially begun! In one month, on May 1st, we will begin accepting applications for the BCF Class of 2012.

Who we are looking for:

Qualified teachers with either a teaching certificate, a teaching degree, or at least three years relevant teaching experience.
Ages 22 - 59
Primary, Elementary and High School Math, Science, English and Special Education specialists.
Enthusiastic adventurours who are looking to make a difference!

If you think that you fit the bill, check out our website Teach in Bhutan on May 1st to apply!

Time line of events:

May 1: Application opens
June 20 - August 12: Interviews to be held in Toronto and by Skype
August 19: Successful candidates are presented to the Ministry of Education in Bhutan.
End of September: Ministry of Education approvals are finalized. Successful teachers are given offer of employment.
January 20, 2012: Class of 2012 arrives in Bhutan!

Travel a world away. Make a world of difference. Teach in Bhutan!

Teacher blog of the week: Life in Mongar

2011-03-31T06:36:00.000-07:00

Julia's most recent post in her blog Julia's Journey's receives the honour of our blog of the week!

In this post titled Out and About in Mongar she takes us on a tour of her new hometown and gives us an inside glimpse into what she and her husband Charly have been up to in the East of Bhutan. Included are photos of one of her classes, her giving a speech for World Water Day and even photos of her with Miss Bhutan 2010!

Check it out HERE!


Mongar Lower Secondary School

Photo Credit: Julia Tousley- Ritt

Note: The Teacher Blogs of the Week are going on hiatus for the month of April as the BCF Toronto staff is heading to Bhutan. We will be traveling the country from west to east visiting all 21 of the BCF teachers in their communities. We will be blogging from the field so check back often for updates on our adventure!

Destination Druk Yul: BCF Toronto heads to Bhutan

2011-03-30T06:27:00.000-07:00

It’s been two months since the BCF Class of 2012 headed out to the field to begin their year-long teaching adventure in Bhutan. Time has flown by!

This Thursday, BCF’s Toronto staff, Kristen (that’s me!) and Raewyn, will begin a much anticipated journey to visit these teachers at their new homes in rural Bhutan.

We arrive in Bhutan following two-days of travel (Toronto > Beijing >Bangkok >Paro) and, after taking a few days to adjust to our new surrounds, we will hit the road. We’re driving across the country from West to East, over mountains and through valleys, making daily stops in the small towns and tiny villages where our teachers are placed.

We’ve mapped out our trip using Google Maps. Take a look!

View BCF Map of Bhutan in a larger map

Now for the really exciting stuff!

Barring any internet stick disasters or other technology malfunctions, Raewyn and I will be blogging our trip across the country! We’ll post as we go and hope to get something new up every day. This may be a tall order considering access to both internet and electricity can be hard to come by in some of the most rural areas of Bhutan, but we’re going to do our best to keep our readers updated, whether it’s by posting stories to this blog, photos to our Flickr photostream, or updates to Twitter (@BhutanCanada) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/teachinbhutan).

Bookmark this page and follow along!

Teacher blog of the week: School purification ritual

2011-03-25T12:10:00.000-07:00

Our teacher blog of the week comes from Ian and Vicky's blog In the Shadow of the Mountain.

In the post Vicky describes the "Rimdro" (school purification ritual) that was performed at her school. She includes tons of incredible photos - it looks like an amazing experience!

Monks

"I got to school early to see the big event and when I arrived at 8 am, the monks were already in place chanting and playing their cymbals, drums, trumpets, conch shell, and long horns at specific points. I knew that the purification ritual had begun as soon as I stepped onto our balcony in the morning actually, as there were clouds of smoke coming from both our schools. Huge branches of pine trees with the needles still attached are burned and offerings are added to the fire all through the day and the smoke was the evidence that it had obviously begun"

- Vicky Chartres Rimdro: School Purification Ritual


Butterlamps

"Perhaps for me the best part of the day was participating in lighting this beautiful display of butter lamps!"

Announcing "Bhutan Nights" Spring/ Summer Series!

2011-03-24T09:01:00.000-07:00

The Bhutan Canada Foundation is holding a series of events to take place this spring and summer. They are a great way to learn more about what it is like to teach in Bhutan, what the Bhutan Canada Foundation is all about, and to participate in fun Bhutan activities!

Check out the schedule of events below:

Former Teacher Panel Discussion

When: May 3^rd

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Where: The Centre for Social Innovation. 215 Spadina Ave. Toronto, ON. M5T 2C7

What:To celebrate the May 1st kick off of our 2011 recruitment season, The Bhutan Canada Foundation is holding a discussion with teachers who have previously taught in Bhutan. If you are interested in teaching in Bhutan this is the place to come and get all of the answers to your questions!

RSVP: info@bhutancanada.org

Webinar

When: June 7th

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM EST

Where: Online

What: Have you always wanted to attend a BCF event but have been unable to because you live too far away? This is your chance to attend a Bhutan Information session online. The webinar will be interactive and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions.

RSVP: info@bhutancanada.org

Momo Night

When: July 5th

Time: 7:00 – 8:00 PM

Where: TBD

What: Have you always loved momos and want to learn how to make them? Come to BCF’s momo night to learn how to make these delicious treats. Of course, there will be plenty of opportunities to taste the wares!

RSVP: info@bhutancanada.org

Jamie Zeppa “Author’s Night”

When: August 2^nd

Time: 7:00 – 8:00

Where: TBD

What: In celebration of the release of the much anticipated follow up novel to Beyond the Sky and the Earth: a Journey into Bhutan, BCF will be hosting an Author’s Night with writer Jamie Zeppa. Participants will have the opportunity to hear Ms. Zeppa read an excerpt from her new novel Every Time We Say Goodbye, have the author autograph your copy, and participate in a question and answer period.

RSVP: info@bhutancanada.org

Remember: Applications for the 2012 school year open on May 1st - so come on out to an event to clear up any questions that you might have!

Chats with the Chair: Episode 4

2011-03-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

In our last episode of Chats with the Chair we ask Sam Blyth, Founder and Chair of The Bhutan Canada Foundation, "What is your favorite memory from your time spent in Bhutan?"

Watch and find out! See every episode of Chats with the Chair on our You Tube Channel.

Check out BCF in You Tube's "Good Work" competition!

2011-03-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

"Use your creativity for a cause and enjoy a spot at Cannes!"

What it is:
You Tube has partnered with the 58th Cannes International Film Festival on an interesting new program called Good Work, which gives creative professionals the opportunity to use their skills to make a difference and gain recognition for their work.

How it works:
Non profits all over the world often lack the resources and time to create truly spectacular promotional videos for their cause. These non profits submit a brief to Good Works which can be displayed on the brief gallery. Professionals can then pick the brief that appeals to them and create a video ad for that organization.

The prize:
The top 5 submissions will have the chance to show their work at the 58th International Cannes Film Festival!

The deadline to submit your entry is May 9th so head over to You Tube to check out The Bhutan Canada Foundation brief!

Check out this video for more information:

Teachers in Barthsham

2011-03-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

BCF Executive Director Nancy Strickland recently made the trip out east to visit all of the teachers in the field. She sent us this great shot of Julian Richards and Shauna West in their new hometown of Bartsham!

Their house is the little one on the ridge next to the big house (the Naksang) with the prayer flags coming off of it.

Teacher Blog of the Week: Friends in Delhi

2011-03-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

Our teacher blog of the week comes from Nick Morris. Now in his second year of teaching in Bhutan, Nick spent his holiday break travelling around India. In this post from his blog Bhutanlines Nick describes his joy in meeting a new Bhutanese friend in Delhi.

"We talk for nearly an hour. He explains that he was a teacher back in Bhutan and how he was forced into retirement when he turned sixty-five. He speaks of his sixty-forth year as a time of happiness, as the ‘good times,’ but things have become much more complicated with just one added notch on his belt. His grey hands tremble as he sips his chai and tells me of his family – a wife and one daughter, one son, both just finished their high school studies. He speaks of their hopes and dreams – their ambitions and aspirations– as if they are his own, every so often lowering his shaking head into his hands, slicking his long, silver eyebrows with his thumb and forefinger. The topic clearly upsets him, but he never loses his joyful countenance, his glow."
- Nick Morris, Bardow the Beautiful

Chats with the Chair: Episode 3

2011-03-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of the beginning of recruitment for the BCF Class of 2012, which kicks off May 1st, we asked Sam Blyth, BCF Founder and Chairman of the Board, "Who makes a good BCF teacher?"

Teacher Blog of the Week: Spring has sprung

2011-03-11T06:28:00.000-08:00

Our teacher blog of the week comes from Kendra Matheson's blog Bamboo Valley.

In this beautiful post she uses the arrival of spring as a metaphor for life and in particular getting to know her Bhutanese students.

Check it out HERE!

"Unfolding Buds" Kendra Matheson

Photo Credit: Kendra Matheson

Chats with the Chair: Episode 2

2011-03-10T06:47:00.000-08:00

In this week's episode of Chats with the Chair we asked Sam Blyth, Founder and Chair of the Board of Directors for BCF, to discuss his vision for the organization. Here's what he had to say:

Bhutan Celebrates International Women's Day!

2011-03-09T08:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday two of our teachers, Ian & Vicky, attended a colourful celebration of International Women's Day in their new hometown of Rangjung.

The day was full of processionals, dancing and speeches by distinguished guests, including the Minister of Education.

Our very own Executive Director, Nancy Strickland, was on hand to help out!

You can read more about the celebration and view more of Ian & Vicky's prictures on their BLOG.

A New Book on Bhutan!

2011-03-08T06:42:00.000-08:00

CNN interviews Lisa Napoli, author of the new book "Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth."

PLUS some great pictures of the Kingdom!
http://www.cnn.com/2011/TRAVEL/03/08/bhutan.author/

Teacher Blog of the Week: A Journey to Bidung!

2011-03-04T07:38:00.000-08:00

Our teacher blog of the week comes from Ian and Vicky's blog In the Shadow of the Mountains. In this post they describe their journey to Bidung with fellow BCF teachers Julian and Shauna to visit Jean- Daniel who is posted in this remote community. They set out on foot on a journey that takes them a little over two hours. Although a difficult trek, it sounds like an amazing way to take in the sights of rural Bhutan!


The view from the top

"We refreshed ourselves with a mango juice from one of the shops and then went to the school where JD spends most of his waking hours. He was there and a football match was just about to start, the monks vs the teachers/students. The teachers won, largely thanks to JD’s friend and football coach, LD. We seriously wanted to get back down to Rangjung before dark and we had a deadline of 4pm to leave. After the game Julian and Shauna walked off toward Bartsham and we checked out JD’s place briefly before ourselves heading back downhill."

- Ian and Vicky Upwards, ever upwards, Bidung and back!!

Photo Credit: Ian Swift and Vicky Chartres

Chats with the Chair: Episode 1

2011-03-02T07:17:00.000-08:00

This month we're sitting down with Sam Blyth, Founder and Chairman of the Board of The Bhutan Canada Foundation.

Each week we'll post a new conversation with Sam. This week we've asked him to tell us about his first visit to Bhutan.

Fourth King Inducted into Kyoto Earth Hall of Fame

2011-02-28T06:23:00.000-08:00

On February 13th the Fourth King of Bhutan was granted the honour of induction into the Kyoto Earth Hall of Fame for his outstanding work and contributions to environmental conservation.

"The Fourth Druk Gyalpo was among the earliest world leaders to become conscious of the mounting pressures of development on the bountiful, yet fragile ecosystem," Her Royal Highness said in her address to the gathering.

“As a result, Bhutan is more green today than it was at the beginning of Bhutan’s developmental process some 50 years ago and highlighted that Bhutan has a forest cover of 72 percent, with almost 50 percent of the country declared as protected areas that host an array of flora and fauna, including some of the rarest and threatened species in the world,” Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck said. “Such achievements emboldened Bhutan to pledge before the world at the COP 15 that it will forever remain carbon neutral.”

In the acceptance speech that was read out by Her Royal Highness, the Fourth Druk Gyalpo said that he looked upon the award as a recognition accorded to his people and country for their efforts to live and progress in harmony with the natural habitat, and that he dedicated it to the people of Bhutan and all those, who have been steadfast in their support and commitment to preserve the natural environment in Bhutan and the world.

Read more of the inspiring article from the Kuensel HERE.

Teacher Blog of the Week: The First Week of School

2011-02-25T06:34:00.000-08:00

Our teacher blog of the week comes from Julia Tousley- Ritt's blog Julia's Journeys.

"As I walk toward my office, every student stands and says "Good Morning Madam." I try to respond to them all, and listen to them giggle as I walk by. My short curly hair and being a foot taller than most Bhutanese make me easy to spot in a crowd. Charly and I are currently the only westerners in Mongar, but most locals are eager to say "hello" and give us a smile. This is a great place to be a 'filingpa!'"
- Julia Tousley- Ritt, 1st Week of School

A poem about the king

Photo Credit: Julia Tousley- Ritt

Language in Bhutan

2011-02-23T08:06:00.000-08:00

For centuries, the different valleys of Bhutan were isolated from each other by torrential rivers and deep gorges. As a result, most of these valleys developed their own dialects. At present, there are about 13 different dialects spoken in Bhutan.

However, there are three major languages: Dzongkha, Sharchopkha and Nepali. Dzongkha is mainly spoken in the west, Sharchopkha in the east and Nepali in the south. News is broadcast in these three languages from the Bhutan Broadcasting Service in Thimphu on short wave and FM.

Dzongkha is the national language of Bhutan. It has some similarity to Tibetan in speaking, while the alphabets are exactly same as Tibetan (but uses different style of scripts). It is also taught in schools and all students can speak Dzongkha and English. Although Dzongkha is a major subject in schools, English has taken precedence over Dzongkha in terms of students' interest and their literacy, because most of the subjects like mathematics, science and geography are taught in English.

The language of instruction in Bhutan is English which students begin learning in about grade 2. All subjects (except for Dzongkha of course) are taught in English, which means no language barriers for BCF teachers!

Bhutan Celebrates National Education Day!

2011-02-22T06:55:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, while Canadians celebrated Family Day and Americans observed President's Day, Bhutan took a moment to reflect on one hundred and four years of education with the first ever National Education Day.

Formal education was not common in Bhutan until 1907 however, “[d]espite the late start...there were already awakened minds and enlightened initiatives which lit the lamp of learning, albeit in the most modest surroundings, right from the beginning of the last century,” said the education minister, Lyonpo Thakur S Powdyel.

READ the full of the article HERE.

Teacher Blog of the Week: Home sweet home!

2011-02-18T10:30:00.000-08:00

Our BCF teachers have finally made the long journey across Bhutan to their postings. They traveled from west to east dropping of people along the way on a journey that can take up to four days for the people posted in the far east.

Our blog of the week focuses on Kendra Matheson and William Spavold's journey to their new home in Trashiyangtse which is one of the furthest east of the postings. They give detailed descriptions (with photos!) of the journey as well as their new home.

Day 1: Thimphu to Wangdue
Day 2: Wangdue to Bumthang
Day 3: Bumthang to Mongar
Day 4: Mongar to posting location!

"And now I am very pleased to present our fabulous master bedroom. It was pretty amazing to wake up this morning to monks chanting a deep, long song accompanied by something like a didgeridoo. The curtains and bed frame came with the room. We brought the mattress and bedding from Thimphu. Our mattress was too large for the bedroom so within a couple of hours a cheery pair of carpenters came by and built an extension on the bed frame. We are so well taken care of!"
- Kendra Matheson Our New Place: The Virtual Tour

Photo Credit: Kendra Matheson Our New Place: The Virtual Tour

Bhutanese National Dress

2011-02-16T06:50:00.000-08:00

National dress is a part of Bhutanese culture that dates back to the 17th century when it was introduced to lend a unique identity to the people of Bhutan. All Bhutanese citizens are required to observe the national dress code during business hours, and students are required to wear uniform's of national dress to school.

Men wear a gho, which is a knee length robe tied with a belt. The gho is folded in such a way that a pocket is formed in front of the stomach. This pocket is an extremely useful storage compartment - you would be surprised at the things that some out of those ghos! Women wear colourful blouses over which they fold and clasp a large piece of rectangular cloth called a kira, creating an ankle length dress. A short silk jacket, or toego, may be worn over the kira. Everyday gho and kira are cotton and wool according to the season, and are patterned in simple checks and stripes in earth tones.

For special occasions and festivals, colourfully patterned silk kira and, more rarely, gho may be worn. Additional rules of protocol apply when visiting a dzong or a temple, or when appearing before a high-level official. Male commoners wear a white sash called a kabney, from left shoulder to opposite hip. Local and regional elected officials, government ministers, cabinet members, and the King himself each wear their own coloured kabney. Women wear a narrow embroidered cloth draped over the left shoulder, called a rachu.

Last year our BCF teachers had great fun in their kiras...

BCF teachers are encouraged to wear national dress in school, but it is not mandatory. Many teachers have found however that wearing national dress is simply the easiest option, as it helps them to fit in and feel part of the community. It is also just a comfortable and practical piece of clothing to wear every day.While in Thimphu for orientation teachers have the opportunity to purchase and be fitted for national dress.

Check out the class of 2011 in their new gho's and kiras!

Class of 2011 i n Thimphu, February 2011

Teacher shortage still an issue in Bhutan

2011-02-14T06:40:00.000-08:00

As Bhutan moves into a new year, the year of the iron female rabbit, it is time for reflection on the year that has passed. In the year of the tiger the ministry of education acknowledged a teacher deficit of about 1000 teachers as the biggest challenge facing education in Bhutan.

An uneven number of teachers in urban areas versus rural areas has been address as one of the major problems. To combat this the ministry has implemented a new limit on the number of years that a teacher can spend working in a city center from 18 down to 5 years. Once a teachers 5 years is up they will be transferred to a rural community where their skills are desperately needed.

"In the tiger year, the education ministry committed to ensure that teacher supply met demand by 2013"
- Kuensel Feb. 6, 2011

This year BCF has 21 teachers and 3 lecturers in the field. This is a step towards helping the Bhutanese fill this gap, but will need to be increased in 2012 to continue to make a real difference.

On to the year of the iron female rabbit!

Teacher Blog of the Week: Orientation over!

2011-02-11T09:31:00.000-08:00

Once our BCF teachers arrive in Bhutan they all take part in a two week orientations session. This is a really fun time when the teachers get to know each other as well as the BCF staff in Thimphu. While in Thimphu they have cultural lessons, curriculum training as well as learning the basics of the local language.

Our teacher blog of the week comes from Ian and Vicky's blog In the Shadow of the Mountains where they recount their experiences during orientation over the last two weeks.

"We have now finished orientation and today we head out east to our postings. We have been warmly welcomed and treated to some incredible experiences over the past 2 weeks. We have been given lectures introducing the education system, the special aspects of democracy and the basics of Buddhism and now feel that many aspects of Bhutanese culture are now much more familiar to us. Both the Minister for Home and Cultural Affairs and the Education Minister made the time to receive us and spoke eloquently about their visions for Bhutan and their passions for developing the education system. Their deep concern for the youth of the country and their clear perspective on the role we will all play was both impressive and inspirational"
- Ian and Vicky Heading out East

Photo Credit: Vicky Chartres and Ian Swift The Road Trip to Our New Home

Robert Bateman Print Now Available on Ebay

2011-02-09T11:25:00.000-08:00

The Bhutan Canada Foundation is now offering the limited edition signed Robert Bateman print "Cranes of Bhutan" for sale on Ebay. This beautiful print is one in a set of illustrations from the book, "Birds of Heaven", and has never before been offered for sale. The cranes pictured are held sacred in Bhutan, where they are often seen as harbingers of heaven and omens of longevity and good fortune.

All prints are signed by Robert Bateman. Prints are 10.5" by 15.75" with borders of 2" top/sides and 2.5" bottom. All prints are unframed.

100% of funds raised through the sale of the print will go to support The Bhutan Canada Foundation programming in 2011. Prints are $195 + shipping and handling.

Purchase your print today. Click HERE.

Canadian Dentists Provide Aid to Bhutan

2011-02-08T10:55:00.000-08:00

Bhutan Dental Mission Team

The Bhutan Canada Foundation is a proud supporter of the Bhutan Dental Mission, a group of dental professionals who provide much needed aid to villagers in Eastern Bhutan.

In 2010 Dr. Andrew Cheng and his team traveled to Bhutan for the first time, helping villagers in the town of Bartsham with their dental needs. Following the success of this first mission the group now plans to permanently install a clinic in Bartsham, Bhutan.

Below is an excerpt from the group's travelogue:

day.two.

I ask Andrew how he is doing. "Sore fingers and back," he says blurringly through the mask. "I can't believe we have 200 more to see. Why did I let myself get into this?" " You'll get your reward through enlightenment," I venture. He throws a swab (unused) at me. The volunteer assistants we have are 18 years old and have disappeared for a quick break "Peter, come and help". I grab the saliva sucker but get it in the wrong place. "Further over," he says testily but then smiles and apologizes. He is feeling the pressure. I ask Tony too. "Pretty focused," he says. "I have to be." Nicky shouts patiently, "Next monk please". " 20 more coming up," says Serena. With all these long robed individuals it's like as I imagine the 12th century to have been.
read more...

In March Bhutan Dental Mission will host a gala event in Vancouver, BC. Proceeds will go toward funding a second dental mission to Bhutan, including nine (9) dental personnel, mobile dental chairs and operating set ups.

Guests of the Gala will enjoy a fabulous cocktail reception, a decadent 3-course dinner, spectacular silent and live auctions, exciting live entertainment and many more fun surprises! You are guaranteed for an enjoyable evening.

Tickets are $150 each. Call 604-765-7605 to get yours!

If you cannot attend but would still like to support the Bhutan Dental Mission donate online today!

See the Bhutan Dental Mission in action. Watch the video of their trip!

Bhutan Dental Mission Documentary from Greg Bartels on Vimeo.

Class of 2011 Profile: Scott Forbes

2011-02-07T06:35:00.000-08:00

Introducing Scott Forbes, a university lecturer heading to Sherubtse College in eastern Bhutan:

Scott Forbes

Scott Forbes was raised in rural Wyoming and has spent the majority of his life in regions with high wilderness availability to human population proportion. He spent several years as a fly-fishing and whitewater rafting guide and enjoys many modes of outdoor exploration. After obtaining a master’s degree in biology from Northern Arizona University, Scott headed to Alaska where he worked as a fisheries biologist for seven years. He spent last year teaching biology and agriculture at a secondary school for under served Maasai students in Tanzania with his partner Lisa.

Scott will be traveling with Lisa to Kanglung to be a lecturer in the Department of Life Science at Sherubtse College and is looking forward to teaching and being taught in a very special culture.

Teacher Blog of The Week: An audience with the Minister of Education

2011-02-04T09:38:00.000-08:00

Our BCF teachers keep amazing blogs while they are in the field deep in Bhutan. Last year we were lucky enough to be able to read along as Nick Morris and Ann Berman experienced their first year living and teaching in the eastern parts of the country. This year we are lucky to have another amazing group of people, many of whom have decided to chronicle their journeys on their blogs. We are going to be featuring a "Teacher blog of the week" with excerpts from some of our favourite posts. Keep reading for an excerpt from Kendra Matheson's blog Bamboo Valley: Tales From Trashiyangtse.

"Today we had an audience with the Minister of Education. He shared his vision for all Bhutanese schools. He took a broader perspective and spoke with greater wisdom and passion than a Canadian politician ever would. He talked about giving students knowledge that grows into wisdom. He wants them to love the essence of each academic subject- the mathiness of maths and the languaginess of language. He wants them to understand the beautiful, and the right, and the good. Here values have value."
- Kendra Matheson Happiness and Freedom

Kendra in front of Tiger's Nest Monastery February, 2011
Photo Credit: Kendra Matheson Tiger's Nest