Cars rushing in four directions with high speed, resounding the whole streets. A large mass of people in various fashion dressed up never seems to free the streets. Every morning before dawn breaks out, I lie on my bed recollecting and brooding over a cheering smile of people. When it was about 7:00 I woke up, washed my face, dressed my robes and start to walk among New Yorkers along the streets. It’s incredible to think of people in different accents and races who gather for their living. A lover of pets, they usually dress up with thick coats. Old and youngsters with various fashions dressed up, as one passes by, another comes and goes that fills the streets whole day long. I walk every day to the museum and on my arrival I make my offerings and walk back to my chair. From the very early morning I had a tea, secondly I had a coffee and bread Anna brought to her office. I had six pieces of bread that was soft and tasty. When my ceremony was over, I walk back to my apartment for lunch which I often cook rice and curry. I had a plate of rice and chili bite with salt and came back for my evening ritual. I felt so busy that even I didn’t find my time to Rest. At the eleventh hour Anna gave a coffee cake which was so good and I even forgot to look a time for my evening prayer. It was left only a several minutes, so I left my cake and left for prayer. Again back from the prayer I had my cake once and for all. At 7:00 I attend the talk of Lama Sogyal Rinpoche which was really wonderful. His visit really brought joy and happiness. After the talk I left home, cook my dinner of rice and curry dish. Every day I had a plate of food with a raw chili bite that add to the taste of my food.

“Time and tide wait for no man.” Tick! Tick! Tick! As the time crawl by and tilt to every minute and second, in a long length of my lonely night time seem to pass so fast where my past thought flashes upon my eye at distance, where my fellow cheering New Yorkers comfort my night that will soon out of my sights. Every morning I wait in great anticipation and gaze on my window to see a car light. Today when it was about 7:30 I woke up and went to bathroom. There was a bit of headache where I then splash cold water. A moment later I started to bleed from my nose a minute but still did not bother. After a while I was dressed and proceeded to the museum with my daily prayers in my lips. Today when I finished my morning ceremony I went with Sonam to watch a movie called Slumdog Millionaire. To my eyes it was based on the Indian civilization. I really enjoyed the movie and when I was out from the hall I felt refreshed and relaxed. Walking among New Yorkers are most fun and exciting too. When I walk along the street I keep my eye on and learn to do something. On my way back to home I walk lonely enjoying the beautiful dazzling lights and the people. Abide by the traffic rules, signs are showed automatically. It was halt on the red light, but last seconds where cars were ready to speed up. I just coincide my step and a car, the driver honk at me. Oh God! By the grace I was safe, throbbing my heart I rushed to my home. Then I cooked my dinner of rice and I had every time a green raw chili bit with my food and went to bed.

Recently the chilly morning breeze had gone so long that I usually had a good experience of cool morning breeze. But today it is back to its normal position where I felt the same severe cold. My hat and coat hardly protect a piercing cold that even made me to chatted my teeth. My prayer was lost in the cold, then I take a long step in haste. It was warm in the museum, thereby slowly my cold was drove out. Today Anna was the first to come in the office, but often I used to be a first person to step into the museum. I had my coffee and at second time Anna again taught me to steam the milk which is much better than my coffee. Today I walk to the Whole Foods Market to buy cheese and I picked pasta for my lunch. When my evening ritual was over, I accompanied with Martin for dinner. We had a porridge noodles type which was delicious and it was my first time that I had porridge here at NY. It’s my fancy food in Bhutan usually had during various occasions. We had fruits, nuts, and tea and cool drinks where we gather on a round table in a neat room. We shared our talk and at the last minute I had juice and left with a word of thanks and good night. Then I walk back to my apartment along the chilly street, but my hat and coat still keeps me warm. I really enjoy here at my dreamland with different people, surroundings and food stuffs too. So soon I will be missing my dreamland.

Usually every morning I wake up at around 6:00 but especially during the weekends I feel lazy as all my cheering staffs are out on holidays. So I stay in my bed till 7:00. In their absence it’s calm to the usual days where they cheer the room with laughter and amusement. Today I woke up at 7:30, recited my short prayers and shave my head. When it was done, it was almost 8:00 where I then rushed in haste to the museum. In the museum sometimes I had to walk a long spiral case taking a long trying breath. When everything is set up in my alter, then I walk back to my chair to browse internet and reading of news as well. After sometime I prepared a coffee with a steaming of milk. After my ceremony I wait so long for my Bhutanese friend to pick up at museum but they did not show up, so I gave up my hope and again I went back to my desk. I had a tea on my chair and at 5:00 I join Tashi for her lunch and tea. Then I walk back to my home, cook my Bhutanese rice and curry dish of potatoes and broccoli. I had a plate with a raw chili bite with salt and went to bed so early.

Nothing unusual to my usual day. Recently before morning day break out time to time there was a stomach ache which made me roll on my bed. Normally I wake up at around 6:00, wash my face and shave my head every morning. After that I dress my robe and as I step down from the stairs I feel the cool fresh breeze. Today as I was heading towards the museum I was stuck behind one lady wearing a knee-length boot and cigar in her lip which she puffed out all the smoke and in the fresh morning I had a hard time to exhale out. When I arrived at the museum I made my offerings first and rushed back to my chair where I engrossed in browsing of internet and reading news. In the meantime I got out of my chair and prepared two cups of coffee with hot steaming milk. After my ceremony I met teenage students from New Jersey who waited so long in patience since I was in the shrine hall in process of my ceremony. I was much excited to meet them all and moreover a question from head educator from the museum was wonderful. After a while I walk back to my apartment for lunch where I usually cook red rice and curry. I had a plate of rice and a raw chili bite with salt. It was spicy and when in time of slicing I had happened to blow my nose, after few minutes it was so hot that made ooze tears. Then I went to the bathroom and wash out with cold water. After a while I relief and again I walk back to the museum. When evening prayer was over, I join Tashi for tea and having tea I went to Burlington Coat Factory, nothing I could buy but I made a look and came back home. I went to bed around 12:30 midnight, plugged with my ear phones which soothe my nights.

Every morning I wake up at around 6:00 but today I was woken by a severe pain of stomach at 4:00. It was still dark and streets were busy by noise of cars and shouts of people till dawn. I rolled on my bed for some time but still there was no sign of relief. Then I forced to close my eyes and somehow in the meantime the pain was recovered when I was back from my sleep. I woke up, dressed my robes and started my journey to the museum. As when I step out of my door step, I felt not the cool breeze but a chilly wind I had experienced a few days ago. Usually I recite my daily prayers and listen to the music until I reach the museum. Today I learn to make different coffee with steaming of milk from Anna. Days seem to pass so fast as time passed by, and Friday could be a sad day for me as staffs are out for holidays.

Sadly I turn from Anna with a word of good night and as I step out I met with Robert. I accompanied till his house and on my arrival I had a coffee and a pasta dinner. Then at 9:00 we headed to Jackson Heights to buy rations. Since I am not familiar and he too, we had hard time to find the rice store. We made a several rounds but we could not. At last with help from one guy we got into Indian food market. I bought a bag of rice and vegetables. He drove back and on our way we had a coffee. As when he was driving I leaned on seat and enjoy a beautiful view of streets lights. On a clear blue sky, a crescent dim light moon pass lonely and stars are rare to find in the sky. I arrived at 12:00 and dinner was already done, still I never miss to taste my Bhutanese rice. So I had a plate of rice and went to bed at around 1:30.

Since I step out from my native land to my dreamland, I felt as if dream. Soaring high beneath the blue sky, neither it seems to move forward but remain in same position as when my eyes struck on the wing of the plane. Wow!!! It was wonderful. Motionless it was to my sense of feeling, though it wasn’t in reality. I try to forget my accent and pick others but it was hard for outsiders to catch up my poor language yet I am still encouraged. It was warm and the morning was fresh, but my weary eyes closed for the deep sleep. I learnt to walk following the long step of my Bhutanese friend Tashi. The first food I tasted was pizza and coffee which coffee is still my favorite and pizza as well. I learned to cut, but still I prefer a big bite. Then followed by some day later, days seem to be night for my eyes and night as day light. It hang so long as days passed by I had adapt to the environment and timings. Sleep was heavy in first time, recently however I go to bed late; it’s enough and before dawn breakout my eyes open. Then I rolled in the blanket to go to sleep, but still I cannot sleep. Every morning I walk to the museum with my daily prayers, eyes on my direction I made my step and when I coincide with cars rushing I run to cross the road like New Yorkers. When everything is ready on my alter I rushed to my chair for coffee but still I have to wait until Anna’s arrival. When one cup is done, sometime I get myself when she is busy. Then I walk to the main entrance to light incense for the morning ceremony. I walk daily for lunch to my apartment and sometime I pick from restaurants. Every day I learn to do new thing which is different from my tradition and customs.

Going to bed early is not my habit, but sometime I do when tired. Last night I went to bed around 9:00 and by the time when my sleep was over it was just 12:00 midnight. I had a tough time that I could not go to sleep. My eyes wide open, focus on the white ceiling, a mirror it seems to be where my lovely New Yorkers appear at my eye distant in their cheering smile. At my first step here at NY, I feel bit scary as it is too big that I may get lost at any time, but having adapt to environment and known little about streets and avenue I am confident to walk alone at any time. As days are knocking I feel distress to leave behind my dreamland and every single New Yorker. Every morning as when my eyes open for the day, my day welcome by smile of my Anna where I wait in great anticipation to meet every morning. No worry, my regular coffee will be ready and serve by Anna every morning before I leave for morning ceremony. When ceremony is done I walked back to my apartment for lunch and rushed back to the museum. At around 12:00 I walk till 23rd Street to shave my head and went to Whole Foods Market to buy vegetables. As day turn down to dusk, in low mood I left my lovely staffs with word good night, plugged with ear phone I walk along with the masses of New Yorkers where I felt much comfort.

My first travel in the plane from my country was most wonder. Soaring high beneath the blue sky on the white foam of clouds, it shared a immeasurable joy to my heart. It was just a hearsay that even the cup of tea does not shake and spill. “Yes,” exactly it was and whenever I heard the sound of plane I gaze the direction I had been thinking so long and question myself, “Do I have a fate to fly from the sky one day?” By the grace of my lord and fate had destined to my dreamland. At my first arrival as the day and night had totally changed I could not cope. About week I sleep in the day time instead of night. As time passed by I adapt to the environment and timing, but still I sleep at the least seven hours. The impression on new environment and people here at NY show the way of my life.

When dawn break and every pace I think of what new event I could learn and come across. Today as I was heading to the museum I came across a man with his dog dressed in thick coat. Whenever I see the pets I feel that every pet they owned are the heart of every New Yorker. I made my offering and walk to my chair and wait for Anna where she serve best coffee every morning. After my morning ceremony I went to Century 21 with Sonam to buy socks. I had been looking for the shoes in various stores and online, but I could not get, luckily yesterday I got my shoe. After shopping we went around the ruin of World Trade Center. It was touching to see all the photos of people who lost their lives.

Then I rushed back to the museum and on my arrival Anna brought a cool water that relief from hotness after having long walk. Then I started to burn the disc of music and in a meantime Anna and myself prepared my coffee. Every day we share fun and to my eyes, among millions of New Yorker, Anna was the one who came forward and guide me on my right path. I am proud of her loving kindness to every single one and in her absence my day turn down and soon I am turning from her cheering smile, but still it will be inscribed in my heart forever.

In deep sound sleep, apprehending dream woke me very early this morning in drowsy sleepiness. I got my iPod plugged to my ear and went to sleep once again. By the time when I was back from my sleep it was about 7:00. Then I went to bathroom, washed my head and walk to the museum. In the museum I made my offerings first and sat on my cushion about hour reciting long life prayer. After that I rushed hurriedly down to the staircase to my chair. I just slip off and bang on my knee, but luckily I was safe. On my chair I waited for Anna for best coffee which she usually serve every morning. Today when my morning ceremony was over I went to Jackson Heights accompanied by Sangay and one Bhutanese friend. New York is host of world people who gather for their living. I come across every tribe and races and food stuffs too. I am fond of Mexican food and sandwiches that really taste good. After my puja I went to DSW store to find shoe. But I could not get the exact size which I had seen online. Hanging so long and starving whole day, today I could not reach at my apartment. On my way I pick turkey sandwiches and juice. It hardly took 5 minutes to finish up that I was so hungry. I thanked the waiter and left to my apartment and again I cook my dinner and I had my usual meal of rice and curry. Having dinner I went to bed at around 11:00 plugged with ear phone and a music that really soothe my lonely night.