This
article is written based on my perspective, feelings and experiences. Jotted
down like a diary of my daily life, it must not apply to every participants.
It’s
about the three days Youth forum held at DYS in Thimphu, participated by six
youth from every youth centers in Bhutan.
28th
December 2015 – Reporting Day
I
don’t really remember how the day has begun but I remember how it ended. I and
my band-mates were at audition for Music Spotlight, BBS. It took more time than
I expected because of the registration (I didn’t know this should be done) at
the gate. And we received calls from our youth madam that we must report at the
DYS at 3:00 PM which we could not. Directly from BBS Studio, we (I and my
friend Jamyang, the co-participant of forum) ran to DYS in tense and sweats but
a taxi helped when I felt my wallet rocking in the big pocket.
After
getting dropped below DYS gate, we walked in with some nervousness, so happened
that it was our first time in this place. I could see familiar faces at the
awning. We moved forward to let know that those people were our fellow mates
from Zhemgang with our caring Youth madam (I will thank her in later part)
waiting patiently for our arrival.
No
sooner did we smile at our fellows than two girls of DYS came to us for hostel
allocation. Out of those two girls, I am quite familiar with the one, Lekzin
Dema whom I have in contact over Facebook though we never met even once before.
Then
some boys guided us to the DYS hostel. But as I was nothing ready to settle in
hostel, I promised our madam that I will be back from Yangchenphug (that’s
where my belongings resided) in two hours after bringing some clothes and
Laptop.
As
promised, it happened, punctual and perfect.
The
first thing I liked when I first came to DYS is the dinner. Then all the
participants joined the introductory session at auditorium but to be honest,
new people never got familiar enough with the session.
After
that, we got a bed in the hostel, free and fine, met new friends, sang some
songs with guitar, and I called it a day.
29th
December 2015 – Commencing Day
The
three days grand youth forum began with a………….. breakfast. Haha
Some
sense of humour.
Breakfast
was followed by registration of participants. Then anyone can imagine the
following programs; welcome and overview of the program, presentations by two
youth centers (Harmony and S/Jongkhar), then a break was set for tea and
snacks.
I was
nervous then! For the next set of presentations, Zhemgang was included and I was
the presenter. Let’s get back to work!
So
presentations were continued after break by Bajo and Tashigang. All the
presentations were focusing on very similar topics of Youth Issues like drugs
abuse, teenage pregnancy, alcoholism, groupism, broken families etc.
So
then came my turn to present on behalf of Zhemgang youth family. I began my
presentation with saying a little fact (as a humour); “In olden days, house
were made with the windows that can be opened easily from outside, and
therefore, gentlemen used to go for night hunting. But today, the windows can’t
be opened from outside, therefore, gentlemen became too reckless that they RAPE
on the street.”
I also
talked on same issues as other presenters. And ended my presentation by saying,
“His Majesty always mention that the country’s stability depends on the hands
of today’s youth. These are just words until someone comes in and gives it a
meaning. So all of you, you are the meaning.”
And it
was lunch which was continued by the presentations of Paro, Gelephu and
Changjiji. Then recess. Phuntsholing and Mongar followed with the
presentations.
The
day has been quite congested though I liked it and everyone would have felt the
same. Around evening 5, consolidation program was followed by bonding session
where we played some games by forming groups consisting of mixture of
participants from all the youth centers.
Back
to dinner again. Then to bed. The day seemed longer than we lived.
30th
December 2015 – Issue Discussion Day
Waking
up at 6 was not a challenge due to the excitement we got for the day even
though the room temperature was freezing. And breakfast again.
Till
lunch was consumed by discussion of issues presented by different youth
centers, tea sessions and role of youth in youth development.
After
lunch was an exciting moment; Local tour. We went to Bhutan Postal Museum. It
was an amazing moment to see all those stuffs, artifacts and some stories
within the arts. Then all of us moved to Memorial Chorten. Some of us, who
doesn’t stay in Thimphu, went to Little Bhutan. I loved it, seriously. And the
night session was full of songs and dances by participants which wasn’t too
catchy to eyes.
31st
December 2015 – The Closing Day
Morning
was exciting. We visited Buddha Point, Takin Zoo, and Ludrong Palace out of
which the two places, I was reaching for the first time. Not only did I went to
Takin Zoo for the first time but also I am seeing a real takin for the first
time. Speechless Ludrong Palace got me and Jamyang into a tensing situation. We
forgot that it was our day to Filming in BBS Music Spotlight. I received a call
from the producer and, booooom, we were already late and had to cancel. But it
was worth it after getting to go to places where we never reached before with
people whom we never met before.
Lyonpo
Mingbo Dukpa, the minister of Education was welcomed at around two o’clock.
Some presenters presented him the issues which we discussed and transformed
into a powerpoint. He gave us a talk, then, which almost kicked all of us to
sleep. 
After
the meet with Lyonpo, it was already dark and we had to prepare for camp fire.
I don’t know what happened at DYS then. Our band had to perform at Space 34 for
the New Year Eve. It was the first time I am joining a night club. After doing
some singing, we joined the floor! We shook ourselves without any reason. I
don’t think someone have to really go to exercises if they come to night clubs.
People jumped, shook, and never got tired. I think I lost some kg jumping for
no reason there.
One
very fact, I can at least say, I was the only head in the room without a drink
or a cigarette. I don’t do it.
1st
January 2015
So
dances continued from 2015 to 2016. It was 2:00 AM and the club had to close.
So I headed to DYS hostel with my mates. I thought the hostel would have been
closed by now. I was completely wrong. I have hardly seen a person sleeping in
the hostel. I entered in and acted drunk! Haha. Some of them believed while my
fellow mate Sonam (the law captain of our shool) knew that I was just acting
that way. Maybe he really know who I am. At around 5 AM, we slept.
I really really want to thank our youth madam for her impressive and care and support to us during our stay in DYS. I never felt the absence of my Mummy when I was with her.
And I wanted to thank all the people involved for their immense hospitality and fun which I made me impossible to remove it from my heart.
The morning was an emotional part. I had to say Bye to those people who became my very close friends. Tears fell, and I think it is normal. Only if we departed without feelings, that really is abnormal. I and Sonam walked together till Memorial Chorten where we departed having different way to move forward, me to Yangchenphug and him to Olakha.
Just like a sad movie ending with a melancholic background music, I can still feel the winds that blew through my cheek as I walked along Lungten Zampa.
