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After the sometimes gruelling years in Laos, Steve is currently enjoying the role of house-husband while Chris slaves away over a hot computer. Up to now, house-husbanding has actually been quite a demanding role as the settling process has proved more challenging than expected. |
Steve in garden at Taba with Fatso & Blackhead
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Little things like an erratic water supply and equally erratic electricity have been sorted out despite plumbers and electricians whose stock response is "there is no problem sir/madam" when they can't identify the fault.
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Simtokha Dzong
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However, Steve's substitute for a brain has not been entirely stagnant. He has been doing voluntary work teaching basic computer skills to monks at Simtokha Dzong, Bhutan's oldest surviving monastery. |
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The monks are initially learning the use of Windows and MS-Word with the long term objective of transcribing ancient Buddhist scrolls into computer files using the new Dzonkha font (eventually to be released as a TrueType font). |
Computer students at Simtokha
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The classes are quite difficult as there are only 2 computers per student and some are very old. The educational background of the students varies considerably, so it has proved necessary to introduce a significant self-paced element into the classes which is a radical departure from traditional Bhutanese didactic teaching methods.
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Royal Thimphu Golf Club
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Unfortunately, the good life cannot continue indefinitely and various organisations are attempting to interfere with Steve's golf games. |
He has recently completed some rather unusual work for the UNDP (involving GPS surveys) and is currently negotiating with the World Bank for a significant role in the areas of training and capacity building on a new government rural decentralisation project.
