Walk For Happiness

Scott and I joined a large group of Sherubtse college students for an annual Walk for Happiness – a 22-kilometer walk from Kanglung to Trashigang (almost all downhill, thank god). Before the walk started we were all given old rice sacks so we could pick up garbage along the way. A garbage truck from Trashigang accompanied us as we walked so we could empty our sacks when needed.


Periodically throughout the day though, everyone was given mango and litchi juices and pieces of gum, the containers and wrappers of which we saw sprawled along the road. I like to think four hours of walking in the hot sun picking up garbage made a difference, resulted in some kind of happiness, but it may have just resulted in a really bad burn.

The highlight of the day was walking with Pema, a Sherubtse student who’s majoring in economics and geography. He’s 26 years old and has already worked five years with the Department of Immigration before attending college. He’s married with two daughters. Pema didn’t pass his class 12 test in secondary school so was forced to take the Royal Civil Servants Commission (RSCS) test at a young age. (The majority of college graduates will be taking the RCSC test this November to see if they qualify for a secure job with the government.) Luckily, Pema passed and was chosen among other qualified applicants for one spot in the Immigration Department. Now he’s studying, which will allow him to go back to his job at a higher grade, and is seemingly happy.