Meeting new faces, experiencing a new journey

Meeting new faces, experiencing a new journey

The ‘HAPPY Project’ has a joyful connotation to its name - when I first heard about it, I assumed that I was going to be part of a ‘social project’ that looked into the welfare of communities, of course, in an educational spectrum. Whenever I brought up the topic of the project, people would often ask and comment whether this project’s goal is to make people happy.

By Jamyang Choden

11 June, 2021

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I would answer with contentment in a genial tone explaining how HAPPY came about. Learning about the project now, what it entails, signifies, and represents made me grateful. In the manner of speaking, it is a project that will benefit the educational system in the colleges of Bhutan. The project is the first of its kind to take place at a national level with a core focus on improving Qualitative Research Methodologies. Or beyond that.

During the kick-off meeting in Thimphu, Bhutan, we met new faces – in person and via zoom. How enthralling is it when people from different parts of the world get together for the same purpose? I was delighted to meet each and everyone and talk about our vision for the project. Often it happens that people meet over a meeting for work and they talk for hours but as soon as the meeting gets over, the social connection is no more. I personally hope that all the members of HAPPY stay in each other’s contact even after the project ends. Now that the project has officially started, the excitement in me is immense.

Laughter and conversations that clicked during the zoom was yet another lively moment – the break-out rooms during the meeting really helped us connect especially. We found out what our name meant and what the partner countries’ cultures represent! It may sound plain but it was the most interesting part of the meeting. Drinking tea and munching on cookies in between our breaks, listening to Esther’s music collection before starting our virtual meeting was wholesome. Zoom is the new normal now, the fact that some people would literally just wake up and attend a meeting minute after, seems so relaxing yet empty. Hours of zoom meetings would let me be snug but I would still wonder about the current scenario without COVID. Meeting people in large groups and travelling without risks is a privilege now, we humans learn by experience and I guess in a way – this is a lesson but what keeps us up is hope. In expectation of hope, we are simply living by.