Update: GNH Exchange Program Moving to California?

After a complete year of function, we have been very happy with the results of the GNH Exchange Program. Unfortunately, the project will be discontinued in Weston High School because the administration is unwilling to sponsor the trip of their students to Bhutan because of financial and liability concerns. Although this is unfortunate, we are anticipating bringing this program to the Claremont Colleges in Claremont, California. This consortium of colleges, specifically Pitzer College, has a reputation of sponsoring exchange programs and study abroad programs and has already expressed interest in giving this exchange program a new home. This will be a good place to bring the project because it will counter some of the difficulties we have had with bringing Bhutanese students to New York in the winter. Furthermore, all the five colleges that make up this consortium are ranked within the top thirty-five liberal arts colleges in the country. This means that the exchange program would now be run through academically prestigious colleges as well as engaged and culturally interested student body. Updates will continue to be made on the progress of this movement.

Pictures: Thank You Notes From Tashidingkha

Update:The Last day At school.

The Principal of the high School offered us an opportunity to visit the Middle School. She herself drove us to the Weston Middle School. We were welcomed warmly by the Principal. A teacher was attached with us to take us around the school campus and to various classes. We were very happy  to experience this yet another thrill of being with smaller kids who are very curious and asked us a lot of questions. We visited many classes and observed them. We presented brief talks to them about Bhutan, GNH, Bhutanese Education System and so any other things. They showered us with questions. It was so much fun.
Back at WHS, in the afternoon I made presentation to the 10th Grade History Students on Bhutan, its Brief history,  Geography and Politics as well as on GNH. The day was satisfying as we talked with so many people on a lot of different things.
We met the Principal and few teachers and said our goodbyes...

Update: Day 17

This was the first Cruise experience for all three of us. It was three hours fun filled sightseeing cruise getting to see many spectacular sights of New York from water. There was a knowledgeable  tour guide pointing out to us famous landmarks and explaining their significances. The most awaited and also breathtaking sight being that of Statue of Liberty, followed by magnificent structures like Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, United Nations building, Roosevelt Island and many Skyscrapers and many more. It was completely a new way to see NYC and it was total entertainment though it was freezing cold.
After the Cruise we went to a popular Italian restaurant  named after the Italian Robinhood -
 Il Brigante. We had a very delicious dinner. Thank you Il Brigante.

Report: Concerning the Progress of the GNH Exchange Program

Report:

Concerning the Progress of the Gross National Happiness Exchange Program

Written by Julian Jacobs

I am writing this report in an effort to help illuminate some of the challenges and successes that this program has had in its infant, first year of function. As is stated in its official project description, the Gross National Happiness (GNH) Exchange Program was developed for the purpose of created a greater sense of intercultural understanding, tolerance, and social responsibility within both the Kingdom of Bhutan and the United States through their respective interaction with one another. Since such an exchange program has never materialized prior to this one, this first year of function has been one marked by constant assessments (and reassessment) of the capacity for this program so serve as a useful means of interaction between two distant countries. This, coupled with questions regarding the role of the program’s participants, the allocation of funds, its extension in a university / college environment and the impact of this project with the community have driven much of our work throughout the last year and half.

Nearly all the coordination and planning done for this program took place over frequent Skype calls between Namgay Wangchuk and me. Our work together moved smoothly despite the occasional difficulty of coordinating an appropriate time for a call. By having one member of the Royal Education Council (REC) to help coordinate the “Bhutan half” of the exchange program, I was able to direct more of my attention to gaining the funds we needed to get the exchange off the ground. This was an effective way of coordinating this project because we were working, primarily, amongst ourselves and did not need to slow down the process on account of anyone else. Still, friction did occur on a few occasions, lending to brief setbacks in our ability to finalize the program. The first concerned the name of the exchange. Although I had initially presented the title “Gross National Happiness Exchange Program” to the REC, I eventually felt that the title “Bhutan-US Exchange Program” would be a more accurate title for the project. This name was denied by the Ministry of Education, forcing us to revert it back to its original title. One question we are still considering is whether or not this program has the capacity to serve as a larger, international, exchange program between countries outside of just the U.S. and Bhutan. The current title seems to lend itself to such a possibility.

Although I have said that Namgay and I were able to work around the occasional coordination issues that came through working from so far away, our efforts came, at one point, to a complete when issues revolving around visas and passports emerged. Still, as this program gains a stronger foothold, we anticipate that such issues will be minimized if not nonexistent. After a full year of function, we are convinced that this program has a lot to offer and can play a significant role in the way its participants view the world. The Weston High School students were amazed at the simple, yet fulfilling life that the Bhutanese people lead and were able to have the incredibly unique opportunity to actually live with a family in Bhutan for a month. The effects of this exchange program on these students has been absolutely transformative, as many of much of the experience and maturity they gained in Bhutan seems to have been carried back to Weston. Furthermore, the small kingdom of Bhutan has become a large source of discussion amongst a student body that previously had no knowledge of the country. On the other hand, the Bhutanese who traveled to the U.S. through the program (and are still here as I write this), were able to have a privileged interaction with a country that the vast majority of Bhutanese will never experience. This took the form of trips to places ranging from museums in New York, a Knicks game, and a Shakespeare play on Broadway. These experiences were set in context with work in Weston High School, as both the students and the teacher who traveled to the U.S. during this first year were able to take complete courses at Weston High School and learn through a complete different style of teaching in an entirely different environment (one that is more technologically oriented). The teacher Sonam Zangpo was so inspired from his experiences that he proclaimed at a school reception that he would bring everything he learned in the U.S. back to Bhutan to revolutionize his school. This seems to validate the capacity for this program to have an immense impact within both the U.S. and Bhutan. Still, we are anticipating that this program will become highly competitive within the next year and we hope that such an environment would make for better, more qualified, candidates to travel through this exchange.

Update: Day 16

We have Poetry Slams in our schools, but Poetry Jam Open Mic Slam sounded very exiting and unique, so the spiciness attracted us to witness it on the evening of Feb. 7 at the Weston High School. There was also a basketball game going on between WHS and Norwalk HS along with this program. The Open Slam was hosted by Teen Peaceworks - a club in the school with the theme "No excuse for Abuse". The program basically had poem recitation by a Teacher writer and students and the exciting part was the student groups singing Karaoke. Mr. Sonam Wangchen - a Bhutanese student,  also sang an English Song and pretty impressed the crowd to receive an standing ovation and applause. Weston HS won the basketball match. There was so much of energy and enthusiasm in the auditorium as the competition was neck to neck. It was fun and an engrossing night.

Photos: Shakespeare

                                               With Yale Architecture Professor

Update: Day 15

Wednesday I got this Once in a Life Time opportunity to witness a Shakespearean Drama in the world renowned Belasco Theatre in the New York city. This was my FIRST and the Most astonishing Shakespearean play: The Tragedy of Richard The Third.When at a time, in my country the big debate for reinstalling Shakespeare into the education curriculum is being intensely carried out at various levels, for a pro-Shakespearean like me, and a humble aficionado of literature, this play was sans inspirational.
The play was executed so elegantly that I am left thrilled and in love with Shakespeare again. I will continue this crusade to put back Shakespeare into our curriculum with whatever small means I can. I would also like to thank wholeheartedly Mr. Brian Jacobs- my host, for making it possible for me to witness this, what i would call, "A Magic".

Photos: Bhutan Reception

Zangpo delivering a speech 

At the meeting

Julian standing up to give his speech

Donating books from Bhutan to the WHS library

Receiving WHS hats

Zangpo and the principal of WHS

The entire group at the reception 

Julian with the participants of the GNH Exchange Program from 2013-2014

Outside WHS

Speech by superintendent of Weston Public Schools 

Update: Day 12 - 14

Tuesday, we had a formal reception by the The Board of Education, Weston. The Principal, some members of faculty and all Bhutan Club members were present for the occasion. The Principal, Weston High School, followed by the Superintendent of Education, welcomed us formally to WHS. The Principal expressed that they are privileged to have us in their school. The Superintendent thanked the Coordinator Mr. Julian Jacobs and the other Co-founders and Pioneers of this program. I also took the chance to thank them all for sponsoring our trip and stay in US. I also vaguely though, highlighted the merits of  this Exchange program. Mr. Julian thanked the principal for the arrangement of the reception.

Photos: The Museums

Update: Day 8 - 11

We visited the American Museum of Natural History on Sunday, 2nd Feb. We had an adventurous time at the museum. We got a marvelous opportunity to see a huge collection of specimens of plants, humans, animals, fossils, and human cultural artifacts. My students were very excited to see all these things in their most original form. I am very sure they must have learned a lot of new things as our guides- host families and the Weston students explained and directed us through the museum's many exhibition hall. The Fossils and the Dinosaur exhibits was the biggest draw for us. Even the Ocean Life exhibits were amazing.

It was so much fun, simultaneously and more significantly  it was a multidimensional educational tour around the earth and beyond, encompassing the past, the present and the future. Personally the most remarkable experience was in the Hayden Planetarium with the new space show of Dark Universe. It introduced to us the discoveries that have led us to greater knowledge of the structure and history of the universe and our place in it. We felt like we were launched into the Space in some kind of shuttle. We voyaged the infinite universe.

After having a hearty dinner at the Olive Garden Hotel, we came out to the brightly illuminated Times Square in the heart of New York City. It is also known as one of the world's busiest pedestrians and there was so many people waiting for the the Super Bowl Final to be projected on the many huge screens that were hung on skyscrapers on all sides. We were told the Square never sleeps.

We were also taken to one of the host families for witnessing the Super Bowl Final together. It was a warm and welcoming polish family. We loved watching it together though we were not able to make a complete sense of the game. The enthusiasm the Americans have for this game totally amazed me.

Update: Day 7

We visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City on the afternoon of 1st Feb. It was the most incredible thing that I have ever been to. I found the Whole World in here. The Human Civilization in its entirety is so meticulously captured in this museum. I got the taste of every culture from around the world. It was just awesome. I witnessed 5000 years of human Civilization in all its magnificence in this magnificent building. There is a lot to learn and explore...a lot...

Update: Day 6

My hosts planned for a hike in the late morning around Weston. We got ourselves dressed warm and went for the hike. It was an hour and half hike through the woods of Weston. It was a rather different experience to sweat in the snowy cold atmosphere. It was refreshing all throughout as we scaled the lands plotted by serpentine and hazy ancient walls...I would love to go again...

Update: Day 5

It was a great privilege to go to what is popularly known as "The Worlds Most Famous Arena"- MADison Square Garden. And it made us all MAD. we cheered the New York Knicks and they won. I cant word the difference between watching NBA Basketball on TV and Watching it right in front of your eyes.

Photos: Knicks Game

At Madison Square Garden

Outside Grand Central 

The train to NYC

                                                               Our Group in Grand Central

Update: Day 3 - 4

Its completely a different experience to observe and be a part of any Weston Classroom in the  Process. I saw miracles happening  in the Weston Classrooms and the teachers or any instructors are the miracle workers. This assertion should not sound like an exaggeration or a hype of any type. I have seen it happening at Weston, the most remarkable of things that I have only studied as a part of some highly acclaimed educational theories and ideas. I have seen all those great philosophies of teaching and learning in the most tangible form in the classrooms, corridors and auditoriums of Weston. These statements are however relatively made with most of the educational institutions that I have been a part of or seen in my part of the world.

 The classrooms here are equipped with the most latest technology and a variety of teaching aids. The lessons here are delivered in more the one medium.The class size  and the teacher - student ratios are so favorable for a high quality teaching and learning to happen. I have always associated school with Chalk and teachers life for "chalk and talk" but this was the first school in my life where I have not seen even a piece of chalk. They have instead something known as Smart Board and that really qualifies its name. It just kept me absolutely amazed. You can do absolutely anything on it. Its fun to be both teaching as well as learning here at Weston.

to be continued...

Photo: Sonam Wangchen in the Library

Update: Day 2

First Day At Weston High School

It was the first day at school on 27^th Jan. My host drove me to the school. We were bit late for our welcome and introduction session scheduled twenty minutes before the school. I was anxious on my way to school. Unexpectedly the principal of the school was there at the entrance outside of the school holding, I suppose a cup of coffee and wearing her most cheerful smile. She greeted us and we got introduced. She was such a charming lady that she made us feel welcome and very warm in the chilly cold morning.

They kindly assigned my students with classes according to their areas of interest. Likewise I was also given classes to go to and observe. The school offers a much diversified curriculum. We were given a spectrum of courses and curricula to select from. The Weston curriculum caters to the holistic development of the head, heart and hand of a child. All educational institutions strive to achieve this, but I have seen this happening in the most real sense at Weston.

I went around to about three classes on different courses. I was surprised by its striking ambiance for learning. They are the classrooms of the 21^st century. The whole modus operandi of teaching and learning is exemplary as far as my knowledge of education is concerned. At Weston it happens.

At the end of the day I felt like I was put into some kind of a time machine and launched hundred years ahead into time.

Photos: First Day Of School

Weston High School banner made by the Bhutan Club to greet the Bhutanese 

In art class

At Five Guys for their first American dinner. 

Update: Day 1

My first day at Weston

“The WOW thing...it's just wonderful...the white snow everywhere, the lofty naked trees, the timid sunshine peeping through the woods, the white smoke swelling up from the rooftop chimneys and blending with the white around, the squirrels looking for their squirreled nuts...and all of these greets me GOOD MORNING...it’s AWESOME...all of these were stuffs of my dreams... Thank you BHUTAN CLUB and this time I am not dreaming...”

The three host families namely (the Jacobs', the Pritskers', and the Babinski's) already had a plan through which to introduce us to their beautiful town of Weston. It was Sunday, 26^th Jan, an outing was charted to visit remarkably beautiful places around in Weston. We were taken first to a reservoir- a natural lake totally frozen on the surface, which spreads over a vast area. It looked like a vast ice desert. It was piercing cold outside that without gloves and hats one will not feel the existence of fingers and ears.

The next place of our visit was a restaurant with a slogan, “America Runs on Dunkin.” It is a very popular restaurant. There we had hot chocolates and donuts of our pick.

We also visited a beach on the south. It was too windy and very cold. There was very few people and dogs playing on the beach. We tried to collect the sea shells and chase the sea gulls. We saw light houses at a distance. All of these were things we saw before only in pictures and movies.

Next we visited Westport public library. It was a huge building with a spacious hall with books I suppose on every spheres of knowledge. This was the biggest library I have ever been to. The most fascinating thing happening there was Three-D printing. I or neither of my students have ever heard anything about it, forget about seeing it happen. We took photos and made videos to take the concept to Bhutan.

In the evening we were taken to a restaurant named “The Five Guys”. We were accompanied by seven other American friends from Weston High School. So it was the evening the ten guys went to the Five Guys. There we had the most American dinner. It was the first Hamburger experience at the place of its invention (Connecticut).

This is how our First American Day ended. It wouldn’t have been more wonderful than this. Thank you everyone who made this possible for us.

Photo: At The Airport

                         
                                 

Photos: At the Beach

Update: The Prelude

The Prelude

I was in Eastern Part of Bhutan for a very important personal work when I received a call from Mr. Namgay, from the REC saying that I was nominated for GNH Exchange Program to US. I just couldn’t believe it. Going to US would just mean so big a thing for any Bhutanese. And For a teacher like me such a grand opportunity would if at all, scarce come our way. I was just very much happy. But it was a troubled happiness because I was just nominated and there was also another teacher nominated from another school. I was called by REC office to immediately come to the capital to process my necessary documents at the same time to submit my Curriculum Vitae with supporting documents for the selection. I was there at a far corner of my country for a very important though personal work. I was in a quandary not being able to decide what I should do. But going to US is ‘once in a blue moon opportunity’ so how could I let it go. I quickly posted my CV and relevant documents through email.

After anxiously waiting two or three days, finally I got a confirmation of my selection. Then I rushed to the capital to prepare for the odyssey that I was to take as a chaperone.

At the capital the students were also selected based on their academic performance and the interview they sat with the Program Director, Mr. Namgay. A draft of our itinerary was also sent from the US. We were to travel from Bhutan to New, Delhi – India and Process our US Visas and if it’s confirmed then proceed to US via Amsterdam. The program though was purely official; we decided to travel on ordinary passports, so were required to sit for visa interview. The whole idea of applying and sitting an interview for US visa was fascinating as well as completely a new experience for all of us. We suffered from anxiety neurosis till we gave our interview. It was a wonderful opportunity and a new degree of exposure for us and more so for my young students.

We had a lot of valid supporting documents for our program so our Visas were approved. On 24^th Jan. we flew to US via Amsterdam. Yet my students were asking me, “Sir! Am I dreaming or am I awake? Are we really going to US?” It has been really hard to believe we were going to US. We landed at JFK, New York at about 4:00 PM in the evening of 25^th Jan. We were received very warmly by our host families and the organizing team.