TRIP TO VARANASI
BY ANI PEMA LAKHEY

One afternoon Ani Choying called all the senior nuns to her dormitory. She told Ani Pema Rinchen, Ani Pema Wangmo, Ani Tenzin Dolma and I to be ready to leave for Varanasi to give entrance examinations. God! For heavens sake! It felt like I was just dreaming. I can’t express in words how happy I was to hear such enchanting and heavenly news. I told my family about me going to Varanas for my further studies and they were overjoyed to hear this awesome news

Ani Choying gave us advice and pocket money for all the stuff. We felt bad to say goodbye to all our friends, family and Ani Choying on the third day of Lhosar (Tibetan New Year). I was both happy and sad at the same time. I was happy that my dreams was getting fulfilled and I was feeling sad that because I was leaving my gorgeous school, friends and my beautiful country.

In bus I couldn’t get any sleep at night due to the eagerness to reach Varanasi. We reached the Indian border at 1:30 PM. We waited for the next bus but one man said that the bus will not go because there weren’t enough people. We paid some more money and hired a van. The four of us were quite afraid because we were the only passengers. One Nepali guy came with us till Gorakpur. From that place my heart started beating so fast with fear that I was traveling for the first time at night in a strange place that I had never been before. I had also heard that it was not safe to travel at night in India.

We arrived at the bus station at 1 AM. We hired one tempo and set out to find the Khagud monastery. We searched everywhere in Sarnath but could not find the place. The place was dark and the hotels were closed. Our bodies were so cold and the mosquitoes were biting us. We went back to the station and luckily one hotel was open near the station. We went there. The charge of the rooms was very expensive but we felt it was better to stay in a safe place than stay outside with fear. In the morning we called Khenpo, who is Anila’s friend. He gave us direction and then we finally reached our destination and felt quite relaxed with peace in our hearts. We took tuition from Khenpo and lay teacher, we struggle a lot during the four months of preparation for the entrance examination. It was really tough time for all of us because of hot weather, though it was really challenging and fun. We cooked by ourselves in turns and I didn’t even realize how time had passed by so quickly.

It was day for the exams. All the students were on their seat in the examination hall. There were so many teachers to check. As the first bell rung my face got flushed with nervousness. At the beginning my hands were shaking but slowly I felt okay and I wasn’t feeling that nervous. As we finished our exams, we packed our stuff and went back to Nepal.  We went to school and met Ani Choying. She asked us how our exams were and we said we had tried our best. Even in Nepal I wasn’t feeling well because of the examination. I was wondering how our examination results would be. After one week Anila took my best friend Rinchen and me to watch a documentary. At the middle of the film, Ani Choying’s mobile rang and she answered the phone. As she finished her conversation she said three Anis had entered the university.  I couldn’t hold my tears as I heard the tremendous new. I was really glad to see a smile on Ani Choying’s charming face.

Finally my dream has been fulfilled which I have been setting since long time ago. It has been possible due to the blessings of the three Jewels, and kind support of Anila. As well as it could not have been possible to fulfill this dream without the help of compassionate sponsor Mr Kay. I know I can never pay back what you have done for me. I would like to offer my gratitude and thanks from the core of my heart. May I be able to benefit other in same way as you have done for me.

May peace prevail on the earth!