My name is Kunchok Rabten but my parents call me Norbu, which means ”very precious jewel” in Tibetan Language. I was born in 1989 in a small village called Dotse(in the eastern part of Tibet), as the third child of the six children my parents had. I don’t know my exact date of birth, which is very uncommon to the people of Western countries. I am not the only one who doesn’t know his own birthday. People from most parts of Tibet, and especially the people in my village, don’t know their own birthday. After all, they do not think that a birthday is something important that they have to know. All Tibetans consider Losar (New Year) as their birthday, and they celebrate for several days on Losar. But, due to using a different calendar, it is not the first of January when we celebrate our Losar.

My parents sent both of my elder siblings to a school to be educated. But, they couldn’t send me because they didn’t have enough school fees to pay for all of us. Also, I was needed to take care of our cattle and sheep when my elder brother and sister were going to school. I started to look after our sheep at the age of 10. Since then I spent all of my time looking after my innocent sheep on endless grasslands for seven years. But, my thirst for education and dream of being a student remained the same for all those years. Moreover, it was that thirst which led me to this strange land where everything is different from what I knew. Although I was a shepherd with

interests much beyond those beautiful grasslands and sheep, I looked after my sheep well. For that I am always proud now.

In the summer of the year 2006, I left everything behind in the Himalayas: my innocent sheep, beautiful grasslands, the quiet village, and all the people I knew. Above all, I left my dear siblings and beloved parents with huge reluctance in order to shake my thirst and fulfill my dreams. Even though it was the most dangerous journey I had ever taken in my entire life, I would luckily get to the gate of The Tibetan Reception Center in Nepal without getting hurt in any part of my body.

Those friendly receptionists warmly welcomed our group of thirty tired people as if we were the most important guests and then we were sent to Delhi. From there we were sent to Dharamsala, where the Tibetan spiritual and political leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama lives currently. I first saw The Dalai Lama one sunny morning. At that time the exhaustion of the long journey, the sadness of missing parents and country, and worry about not understanding strange languages suddenly disappeared from my mind like a rainbow. The English words I have accumulated within two years and nine months cannot describe the feeling I had at that moment. So, I can just simply say that it was the happiest moment of my life.

TTibetan Transit School (T.T.S.) is the school where I began to get water for my thirst. I joined it on 29th September of the same year. I learned both Tibetan alphabet and English alphabet at that school. There are some teachers in T.T.S, whom I would truly like to thank for being patient, and guiding me to the world of literate people. I will never forget what they have given me until the day I stop breathing in this wonderful world.

I am currently learning English and computer skills at Educational Support Tibet school (E.S. Tibet) I have been studying at this school since 11th March 2009, and I can continue my study at this school for two years. I am very happy in this school. The school provides all educational facilities for us. Besides that, the school gives us Rs 450 as pocket money every month to provide for our daily needs such as; pens, toothpaste, toilet paper and so on. I am very grateful to the family who founded this school and to all of the teachers who sincerely share their knowledge.

To be honest, I really don’t know what kind of work I will be able to do in my future. I want to be a person who at least can share what my teachers have taught him with those who are deprived of proper education just like I used to be. I think that the proudest moment of my life will come

when I can do something meaningful for my parents, for my country, and for those people who love me.

Thanking you

E.S.Tibet Student
Kunchok