Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (ལུང་ནག་ན)

Wake up, my child.

Ah, kids these days,

roaming like horses all night, sleeping like pigs all day.

Wake up.

Don't you have a meeting with your boss? You will be late.

If you are like this,

what will you do when I am gone?

If this is your attitude,

you might not last in your job.

Grandma, I told you I don't want to be a teacher.

What? What did you say?

You should take your life more seriously.

Good morning.

Good morning!

Yes?

Is there something I can help you with?

Oh, I am the teacher from Gedu.

I am supposed to meet the Secretary today.

I'll let her know you are here.

In our country, we have

over a thousand teachers working for us.

Yet, I have not seen anyone less motivated than you.

Madame, please don't be angry.

You are in the 4th year of your 5th year of mandatory service.

Do you wish to continue to serve the government?

Well, Madame, over the years I have realized

that maybe I am not meant to be a teacher.

Enough! Enough!

I know the likes of you.

Do you realize you are not done with your contract?

You still have one more year.

Madame, this says Lunana.

Yes, Lunana.

You said you are not happy in Gedu.

We just got word

that the Lunana school needs a teacher.

It looks like a perfect situation for you, no?

Go up to Lunana.

But isn't Lunana in Gasa?

The Lunana school is not only the most remote school in Bhutan

but probably in the world.

Our government's pursuit of Gross National Happiness

demands for us to provide education for every single child

be it in the city or the most remote villages.

Madame, I don't think I'll be able to do this.

Plus, I have altitude problems.

Altitude problems?

Aren't you Bhutanese?

This is not altitude problems, this is attitude problems!

Stop making excuses, and go up.

Because of the remoteness and cold,

the school closes at the onset of winter.

Finish your lessons and come back at that time.

- Can't be that bad. - What?

I said it can't be that bad.

I heard that it's very beautiful up there.

You mean Lunana?

Do you know what Lunana is like? They don't even have electricity.

Plus it's eight days hike, man.

Why do you want to go to Australia that badly?

You have such a respectable job.

And you want to leave that and go?

I want to do things, man.

And that is?

You want to leave your good government job,

and go to a foreign country to be a singer?

Yup.

Isn't it difficult for Bhutanese to get the visa?

It's all done.

I just have to follow up in three months.

And your grandmother? Are you going to leave her alone here?

Ladies and gentlemen!

My special friend Ugyen wants to sing a song.

You don't have to worry about Grandma.

Hey, Ugyen!

Come up!

Let it be.

Ugyen, Ugyen, Ugyen, Ugyen, Ugyen,

Ugyen, Ugyen, Ugyen, Ugyen,

Ugyen, Ugyen, Ugyen, Ugyen, Ugyen.

Alright, how are you guys doing?

Alright.

Oh, you know my Australia visa...

Before I go to Lunana, I'll give it to you.

Can you please follow up with the embassy in Delhi?

Don't worry about that, I'll take care of it.

I'll bring something to eat.

Hello, Grandmother.

Oh, it's you, Tandin.

Hope your parents are well?

Yes, we are all well.

Have you lost weight?

Yes, I lost a little.

I thought I'll try to keep fit.

Back in the day,

big and heavy men were considered good catches.

Nowadays they seem to prefer ones who look like sticks.

Ugyen, what did you mean this morning?

Ugyen, I am talking to you.

Grandma, I told you

I don't want to work for the government.

What? What do you mean?

Others would be honored to serve the government

and here you want to leave your job?

You lost your parents as a child.

You completed your education, and got a decent job.

I hoped this would be a good life for you.

You are going to a foreign country, aren't you?

I saw your papers.

There's only the two of us left.

Why would you want to leave home?

The ministry wants to send me to Lunana.

Do you even know where Lunana is?

Do you know how it is?

Wherever they send you, you should just go.

Anyway, do whatever you want.

Tandin, be well.

You need a good shoe to go up.

Look, this has a thick sole, and it's also waterproof.

Good, huh?

Yes, this is waterproof.

Have you ever heard of Gore-Tex, this is Gore-Tex.

Are you sure?

Very sure! 200%!

You know Brad Pitt and Leonardo?

This is what they wear.

There's reception till Gasa.

I'll call you till then.

After that I won't be able to reach you.

I know that.

Yeah.

Besides, you are up there only for a few months.

Next year we will go together to that beach...

What is it called?

Bondi Beach!

It comes on Baywatch.

- Bye. - Bye.

Okay then, Grandma,

don't worry about me.

Tashi.

Safe journey.

Take this betel nut.

I don't eat these disgusting things.

It is cold up there, this will help you.

Take it.

Bye.

See you guys soon.

Gasa! Gasa! We are in Gasa!

Hello. Are you Mr. Ugyen Dorji?

- Yes. Huh, who are you? - I am Michen from Lunana.

The village headman sent me to receive you.

The village headman knows of me?

Of course he does.

In fact, all the villagers are excited about your arrival.

Anyway, please let me know if I can be of service to you.

Let me take your bag.

Give me his luggage.

We will spend the night here.

Tomorrow, we start first thing in the morning for Lunana.

Let's go inside, I have ordered dinner.

Thank you.

Your food.

Gasa is always like this.

The electricity always comes and goes. Very unreliable.

You are really an expert with that.

Please have a betel nut.

You don't eat?

No, I don't.

This is Zam, Maja and Kasha.

And this is my friend Singye.

- Good morning, sir. - Good morning.

He is also from Lunana.

Sorry for the delay,

the village headman wanted us to do some shopping

for your stay in Lunana.

Shopping? What did you guys buy?

Milk powder, sugar,

and toilet necessities.

We heard that city people can't take shits without toilet paper.

So we were worried for you.

For us, leaves do it.

Will the walk up be hard?

It will be easy.

It will be a stroll along the river for the first six days.

Then there is a little climb.

As we reach up there, the walk is so nice.

You will wish it never ends.

Let's start.

- Hey. - Yes?

You said the walk will be a stroll by the river.

Yes, it is.

But...

...we have been climbing up for over three hours.

It's only a little bit more. It's easy.

Okay.

What's this?

You said it will start to go down.

It's been climbing the whole time.

It will start to go down over there.

You have been saying that the whole time!