From Shinjuku-Tokyo

A bumble bee street it is, filled with hustlers who do not even have the luxury to either eat, talk or even walk. Everything is moving at the speed of 2x if it was 1x back home. To catch up with them I am restoring to running instead of walking, waking up an hour early to complete my morning routine and catching up with the people back home from the restrooms. I am definitely blown away by the pace of Japan. 

It is no joke when it comes to time for them to the extent that they took us to the classroom directly from a two day flight without even a cup of water. Being Bhutanese I also became a victim of certain expectations such as a welcome tea if  not a full course meal. Maybe this is what a culture shock feels like.

The number of suppliers equates to the buyers, that we are required to register and stand in queue even for a meal. For the record, my friends and I did not get our dinner yesterday even after waiting for more than 40 mins. The trick here was we had to register in lesser head count if you want to get the table faster. No businesses here are empty like in Bhutan and maybe that’s the verification that the population is essential for any businesses to flourish. 

Money definitely cannot purchase things easily here because every purchase here specifically getting a mobile sim card is permissible only after a full proof documentation. Even after getting the sim card the procedures and the flexibility is not as mobile as in Bhutan. The sim either works only for voice or data and is too expensive (About Nu.840/month just for 5GB) if we want both in one. The carry over of the balance during each recharge is not possible so basically you lose your balance if you do not finish your data within the period and incase if it is exhausted before then the charge of extra for recharge before the period. So not everything is greener on the other side just because it is a developed nation. I am already missing Bhutan Telecom and Tashi Cell. 

 

Overwhelmed with new experiences, shocked with differences and anxious of fitting in. Even so I am glad that I took up this new challenge because now I have a different story to tell. 

A Memoir of My First Workplace

 It was the Spring of 2021 when I first came to Sha Dagay as popularly known or said by all the Bhutanese people. A huge challenge it was, for me as a first timer to work in a huge Dzongkhag with 15 Gewogs and not to mention the highly vocal people who can dominate you anytime with their words. From the initial days of confusion, regret, tears I have grown to be strong, decisive and helpful for the people and the place in my own small ways. From being labelled as a fresh graduate or a kid with no experience I have built my credibility to adding values in the meetings I attend and of course to the team. Oftentimes being able to share advice even to my seniors related to the things I did and do I could see how people’s perspective of me changed over the years. Being able to work under the leadership of two Dashos was a blessing for me as I could learn different things from both of them. Both of them guided me with their best strength and beliefs. It would be a lie if I say I never complained about them but then those complaints were just a part of the journey that I was going and I am grateful that I could do so as I could reflect and even accept the things after ranting out those  complaints. 

Would you believe me if I said it took me more than two years to find real friends at my workplace? I am sure many would not as I am often seen as an outgoing and sociable by everyone. I started off as being a loner who would eat lunch by herself watching some netflix or mukbang shows or even face-timing friends virtually but then after more than two years I am surrounded by real friends with lots of laughter and smiles. Without even realising it, lunch and tea breaks have become my favourite thing at my workplace. These friends of mine taught me a lot of adult life lessons. All of them have families and some even almost at the age of my parents yet they never let me feel like the odd one out. Not to forget my two Gen-Z friends who made the year 2024 merrier and better. I have learned to have faith in our religion given the proximity of Lhakhangs in the workplace and the regards goes to this friend circle of mine. Most of the time I had a different perspective on a subject but I have learned to come to a common understanding which neither offends them nor compromises my beliefs and thoughts. See I told you that I have grown so much over the years. 

I did what I could during my stay of almost four years at Wangdue with utmost dedication and hardwork. Starting with some promotions, facilitations, developing plans, executing them I contributed both tangible and intangible developments to the people and the place. Now it is the summer of 2024, it is time for me to take a break. I hope the people and the place will remember me for the changes and the growth I have taken  and not pick on my failures or the mistakes.