22. november

What a busy day! I got up early to pack the rest of my things and get ready to move today! I was very excited - where was I going to stay now? And today was also the day when I should give my first presentation on my findings and recommendations - 10 am.

I walked to the Ministry as usual and started my computer up, turned on the heater, did a few little things and read my mails. At 9.50 Karma (male) came to me and told me to bring my laptop to the meeting so we could connect it to the projector. I quickly got ready to leave, thinking we should set it all up before the meeting, but Karma just looked at me and said: "There is still time." And then he started working again! I didn't like the idea that I wasn't ready at 10 to start my presentation but I had no idea where I should go and set it up ;-) So I decided to wait. 2 minutes before 10 we finally went on our way and as it turned out there were lots of time, because everybody helped set up the screen and the projector and people came dropping in during the next 5 - 10 minutes. I guess the culture is different here - it is kind of nice that we are taking things a bit more relaxed ;-)
I thought my presentation went ok, and I believed I had highlighted some important issues. Afterwards everybody started discussing and they talked about so many different issues that I got confused. Everything is still so new and unlike AARHUS TECH - but exciting. During the meeting 2 girls came in and served each of us (I think we were 10 - 12 persons) a cup of tea with milk and sugar and a few biscuits.

When the meeting ended at 12.15 Mr. Sangay came and picked me up - moving time! Together with another guy from the Ministry we went to the Khang Recidensy and had lunch and then I got my suitcase and backpack and we drove past the Ministry downhill towards the center of Thimphu, stopped by some older houses and went in. The ministry had found me an apartment with a bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, living room and one extra room. Wow, it was so big! I just left my things and went back to the Ministry to finish my work for the day.

At 4 pm I went back to the apartment, unpacked some of my things but decided to go shopping before it got too late - and too dark. Outside my front door I met a very cute little dog - apparently he lives here. He was a little scared but wanted to talk nevertheless. I tried feeding him some raisins and almonds (that was all I had) but he didn't want them. There are so many dogs here in Thimphu and they just run around where they want and at night they start having fun! They bark and bark - maybe they are talking to each other, telling stories about strange people they met during the day ;-) Or maybe they are just having fun! Outside Thimphu there are also lots of cows just wandering around on the roads, fields, everywhere. Somebody told me that they do belong to somebody and that the government keeps telling people to not let them out by themselves, but apparently they cows get it their way.

I hurried to the local 8Eleven and bought some stuff, hurried back home and ate some bread and cheese and relax in my new apartment. I must say that even though I have 2 heaters it was rather cold inside! They have no central heating system in Bhutan!