"Inconvenience Regretted"

No longer a dream

These mountains, reality

In them: my future

The journey of getting to Bhutan has ended, and now the journey of living here begins. I keep blinking my eyes, my brain nearly disbelieving that this is my reality. These far rising mountains studded with prayer flags, strange beautiful birds, tall pines. The valley, dotted with adorned traditional houses, fields (many plowed by hand), bridges with prayer flags like kite tails crossing the low rushing river. There are no comparisons I have seen to this place.

I am now in Thimphu, the capital, after staying in Paro (where the airport is) a day and night, waiting for the last of the teachers to arrive. Here's a short recap of how the journey getting here went:

January 21: A suspender and suit clad Joe dropped me off at the chilly MSP airport for a supposed 7:55 am flight to Chicago. At the ticket desk, I was informed that my flight was cancelled and was put on the 10:00 am flight. I was also informed that my one checked bag would make it all the way to Bangkok, where I would pick it up and then check it in again at Druk Air (the Bhutanese airline). After laying teary-eyed on the airport bench for a few hours, I boarded my flight to Chicago. In Chicago, I ran to my Hong Kong gate with very little time to spare. 15 1/2 hours of flying ahead of me, I began to question why I was going to Bhutan in the first place. I looked at my "mission statement" Camille had advised me to write, and I remembered what an opportunity this is, what a complete and immense gift I am being given. I remembered my intentions of serving others, of experiencing a new place and culture deeply, of living in a far simpler way. Instead of sadness, I filled myself with the love of my friends and family that I have the honor of embodying in my journey. I thought of how they would want me to live this new experience: with my heart and eyes open and my face smiling.

January 22: I arrived in Hong Kong for a short layover and promptly left for Bangkok. In Bangkok, a very kind Thai airport employee met me at my gate and informed me that my bag had not left Chicago. He taxied me to the passport line (with a Bhutanese monk also in tow), after which I went and spoke to more very kind Thai airport employees and filed a baggage report. I rested in the knowledge that though my bag had not arrived, I had, and that everything would be alright no matter what the outcome. I was strangely calm the whole time, keeping my mantra of grace and ease for my travels.

In the airport, I met a few of the other teachers with BCF and we all shared our anxieties and stories. It was good to meet people who were going through the same experience and we got to laugh together. They are all wonderful people and I was so happy to finally meet them.

January 24: After a few hours, we went to check in at Druk Air. I have never seen so many people checking flat-screen TVs onto a flight. When it came to my turn, they didn't even weigh my carry on (which I was told could only be 11 lbs). No ones bags were weighed, in fact. Still, I am grateful for packing light- I am learning that I actually don't need so many things.

We boarded our flight for Bhutan, the airplane smelled sweet like incense (what?!). We stopped in India to let some passengers off, and 35 minutes later we were making a sharp turn into a mountain ringed landing in Paro. Stunning. Walking down the steps into the Bhutanese air, I inhaled the pine scent and bright clear air. I nearly walked backwards into the small airport, taking in the view all around us.

We were greeted by Karma and Meena, the Bhutanese staff of BCF. They are lovely and helpful people. Karma and I talked to baggage about my bag, we exchanged some money at the bank since they would be closed the next day, and then boarded a van with decorative pillows to our hotel in Paro.

After a tight-road drive to the Deschen Resort, we were assigned rooms and I flattened onto my bed, my legs unbending for the first time in nearly two days, my eyes resting. Lunch was served, and I tasted my fist bite of real Ema Datse (chilies and cheese). The food was so welcome after the fake airplane meals of the past days.

After lunch, Karma showed 4 other teachers and I a way to walk into the countryside. We embarked on a lovely walk on a dirt road past houses, fields, flags. We attempted to greet people with our timid Dzongkha, saying "kuzuzengpo la". We received curious looks, smiles, and waves in return.

Back at the hotel, Karma tried to help me to connect to the internet, unsuccessfully, and we called the Thai airport to make sure the bag would make it to Paro before we left the next day. I could feel myself getting anxious about telling my family and Joe I had arrived safely and that everything was amazing- that they shouldn't be the least bit worried. Again, I thought of how they would want me to be in this situation, and I relaxed and continued to take in the people I was with and the scenery we were in.

After dinner in town, amazing food again, I fell into my bed at 8:30 pm and slept as if under a mountain. I woke up at 6:20 for a morning walk into Paro with Karma, Martin, Martha, and Tim. I love learning about the other teachers lives, they are all so interesting! Karma was an amazing guide and told us so much about Paro and the culture. We passed the giant Dzong (center of government/monastery), a 17th century cantilever bridge, and an archery field being set for a match.

After breakfast of masala tea and a masala omelet (?!) we waited for the rest of the teachers to arrive. My bag came with the teachers and we all left for lunch in Paro before continuing on to Thimphu. The road to Thimphu was windy and we passed many incredible sights as we followed the river there. Along the road, a sign was posted "inconvenience regretted". I laughed out loud as I thought how perfect a way to say "sorry". All the waiting, losing my bag, and not being able to communicate to my family as easily as I had foreseen, these were all "inconveniences regretted". They seemed trivial in the midst of what was happening- the immense beauty, the new people, this new experience. I breathed and smiled and continued the never ending practice of being present with what is.