My only and unique brother, Gom Dorji.

Gom Droji and Jigme Zangpo

We Are Brothers by Fate

We are brothers by fate, and I am happy to be his brother. Growing up in the same family, I have many memories that have comforted my lonely mind whenever I think of them. Unlike other brothers who are not always together, we have always stayed close—until I left for Spain for the exchange program scholarship.

We studied in the same pre-primary school in our village. In 2003, I separated from my brother and went to Lauri Primary School to complete my Class Six. In 2004, while he was still in Class Six in the village, I was in Minjiwoong Lower Secondary School, studying in Class Seven. We were together again in 2005 at Minjiwoong School, where we even shared the same bed. Unfortunately, I fell ill in 2005 and could not attend the final exams. But instead of feeling unhappy in 2006 for missing a year, I was happy to study together with my brother. From that point onward, we were always in the same grade.

At Nanglam Middle Secondary School, we were in the same class (IX A) and shared the same bed. We completed Class X peacefully in 2008, in the same class and same bed.

The results of the Bhutan Certificate of Secondary Education (BCSE, Class X) were declared in February 2009. We both qualified for Class 11 and were placed in Nangkor Higher Secondary School. He was in 11 Science B, and I was in 11 Science A, but we shared the same room. We completed our +2 studies at Nangkor in 2010.

The Bhutan Higher Secondary Education Certificate was declared at the end of January 2011. We both joined College of Science and Technology to become Engineer. 

Looking back at where we are today and where we came from, we are proud of our hard work and determination. Three years of college have gone by, and the days and nights we spent together in the same room for six semesters were truly wonderful. You obeyed me as I was your brother, but brother, I am sorry that I could not obey you as much as you did. That is my only lingering regret when we are no longer together. I now realize the value of respect and obedience. Once again, I am sorry, my dear brother Gom Dorji. Please forgive me for being impolite sometimes. I am happy because you always understood my nature.

Brother, I shall always strive to keep our bond of brotherhood strong, now and forever. I have great expectations from you that you will unite our family as a family should be.

Now that you are in your final year, my hope and deepest prayer are that you always remain true to yourself, stay away from negative friends, and continue to care for our precious parents.

Your brother will be in Spain for 10 months, missing you all.

With affection,
Jigme Zangpo

My visa for Spain has been approved.

Finally, I received my Spain visa after almost a month since submitting my documents. Thank you to everyone who helped me obtain the visa. Now everything is ready, and I am prepared to leave for Spain.

On 1st September 2014, I will be traveling to Spain via Brussels, the capital of Belgium.

Emotion of Departure

From 7th to 12th August 2014 was a truly memorable time—a moment of happiness. The reason I consider it a moment of happiness is that I was able to meet my parents and relatives. However, that happiness was only temporary.

The moment of happiness turned into a moment of sorrow as soon as I said my final goodbye to my parents and relatives. It became even more painful when I saw tears of love and care falling from my mother’s eyes. I consoled her by saying that I would return soon. I am going for a good purpose—I am not going to die, nor am I going to stay there permanently.

I will always remember your sweet words of advice to become a good son. My affection and care for my parents and relatives will never leave my mind as long as I live. I will make all of you realize my true love and care.

My only prayer is to meet all of you again in good health, just as before, when I return.

Documents submitted.

                                    

It was on day 4 in New Delhi I could submit the documents to the office of Spain Embassy, New Delhi. I could submit documents within few days because of staffs of VISA section in Bhutanese Embassy being supportive. Visa Officer Mr. Jigme Norbu coordinates the procedure of Visa processing sequentially. He requests his visa assistance (Indian) and driver to reach us to desire destination. We have to go to Hospital to withdraw Medical Certificate, go to Jawaharlal Nehru University to get Medical Certificate translated in to Spanish.  

Finally all the procedure was completed and documents was submitted to office of Spain Embassy, New Delhi. Verbal interview is conducting. Why you are going? Who sponsor you? What course you are going to take? Which university you are going to? From which university you are going? For how long you are going to stay?

I would like to thank Mr. Jigme Norbu, Visa officer at Royal Bhutanese Embassy, New Delhi for rendering full support and guidance. I also thank all your assistance visa staffs (Indian) and drivers for helping me.

Address

New Delhi
Royal Bhutanese Embassy,
Chandragupta Marg,
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi 110021.
Phone : 91-11-26889230 / 9809 / 9807
Fax : 91-11-26876710 / 24674664 / 24102231   

Better to be alone than one direction friend.

  

Friends are important, and we all need friends. To become friends with certain people, we have to observe and understand them before truly forming a friendship. There are many friends who are ready to ruin your life. There are friends who never listen to advice from their parents or elders. There are friends who are always happy to do mischievous deeds rather than meritorious ones. Friends who do not possess the qualities of a good friend should be avoided. However, we should try to help friends who have gone off track and guide them in the right direction. Whether they want to come back on track or not, we must at least try to correct them. Those who truly want to change will change.

Bad friends will ruin your life if you blindly follow their lead. Be friends with all types of people, both good and bad, but you should always be able to make your own decisions after considering the influence of your friends. If you cannot make decisions on your own, it is better to be alone than to be a one-direction friend. You can survive without friends.

I will always remain in my own world if I am with one-direction friends.

A year waste some say.

Exchange program scholarship is an opportunity to me but some say it is a waste of a year as we have to stay one more year to complete degree course. If the modules we are going to take in Host University are not same as home university, it is for sure we have to study in home university for another one more year.

The undergraduate mobility period is 10 months in my case. It’s about two semesters. I have to stay one more year in College of Science and Technology (home university) as the modules are not same in Host University as home university.

The university so called Mondragon Uniberstetea under Basque Country in Spain is located north of Spain. This is university I will be staying for 10 months.

I have nothing special plan to do when I reach to Spain. Regarding academics, I may take few modules and carrying out project work on top of learning Spanish.

A year waste some say but I say it’s an opportunity, exposure, experience and tour in my life. Opportunity comes once in a life. I don’t think I will get such opportunity in future. So, it’s an opportunity for me and I shall take it as precious opportunity to enjoy my stay in Spain.

I am coming soon Spain.

VISA processing.

I am here in New Delhi to submit document to get VISA of Spain to Embassy of Spain in New Delhi. It's tedious job to get job done. We have to get medical certificate, MC from certain Hospital of India. In my case, I get MC from Primus Super Speciality Hospital. In spite of obtaining Medical certificate from only certain Hospital, we have to have the certificate in Spanish language and it should be legalize. . To get MC, we have to pay 850 INR.

No Objection Certificate, NOC form Police of Bhutan will not accept easily unless it has been attested by Ministry of Foreign Affair and it has been legalize. In order to translate NOC into Spanish language, it should be paid 1000 INR per paper. To legalize per paper cost INR 2591.

The document required for processing VISA of Spain for Bhutanese student are:

1) acceptance letter from University.

2) Accommodation conformation.

3) Insurance Policy.

4) Passport.

5) Passport photo two.

6) VISA fee in INR 5080.