Almost on the road

Wednesday 4 January

BCF teachers and staff with MoE and RCSC officials
Photo by Dylan Haskin

Another whirlwind couple of days with all the ins and outs of our stay in Bhutan, logistics and paperwork being discussed as well as more meetings and presentations from the Ministry of Education and the Royal Civil Service Commission, our employer.  I think it is a reflection of the importance that the government places on the BCF program that so many high-level officials take time out of their day to talk with us.  I just hope I will live up to their expectations.  We were also treated to a talk about Buddhism, which was most informative.  For the meeting with the officials today, we were all dressed in our new finery, and very lovely we looked.

Breaking all the colour mix rules!

The logistics for packing and travelling are a wonderful example of the great organisational skills of the BCF staff.   Karma, with now very tatty list in hand, making sure that the larger items he undertook to purchase will end up at the right destinations, and directing the results of 16 teachers and one spouse appearing and reappearing with bags, boxes, buckets, tin trunks, mattresses and sundry other items for packing.  This is no mean feat given that we are spread pretty well across the country.  We will leave early on Thursday, and for some of us it will be Sunday when we reach our destination.

My list consists of:  one fridge, one gas stove, one gas cylinder, one water filter, water boiler (small urn), heater, rice cooker and pressure cooker – all in their original packaging, plus a tin trunk full of smaller items and 4 plastic buckets with lids, packed full of crockery, cutlery, kitchen utensils, cleaning products, toiletries, non-perishable foodstuffs to get us through the first few days, as well as items that might only be purchased in Thimpu, a couple of small rugs, broom, mop and umbrella and a mosquito net which is an awkward shape

Just some of the stuff for my house.....
(not the table, hotel would not like that!)

and will not fit into anything else.  Oh, and the 2 large bags I started with.  Some of the other teachers are going to schools/accommodation previously occupied by BCF teachers and have been able to buy much of this second hand from the previous teachers. 

Breakfast this morning was a delightful dish of spicy potato with delightfully light and fluffy Indian bread – maybe parathas??  A lovely change from eggs.  I have been particularly enjoying the momo - small dumplings with fillings, and the pakora – so much so that besan was an essential item on my shopping list.