Living & Learning in Bhutan

Threads of Hope: How a Quilt Sparked Hope in Bhutan’s Deaf Community 🧵🤟🇧🇹 I'll be honest, when I first saw the Coda Quilt at Colourful Coda conference in Korea, I l wanted it because it was beautiful. But after Clara and I teamed up to successfully bid for it, it became much more than just a keepsake — it became the Travelling Coda Quilt, traversing the globe between Canada and Australia each year and joining me on many adventures — including this meaningful trip to Bhutan. What I didn’t expect was the impact this quilt would have on the Deaf community here. For context, in Bhutan, hearing children born to Deaf parents are often given to hearing relatives to raise.  The reason for this is that many hearing people believe that a hearing child living with Deaf parents won't learn to speak properly. So, the idea of being a Coda is still very new, and learning that there is a global community of Codas who share this identity amazed many people here. As I shared my own Coda story and the connections I’ve made worldwide thanks to my Deaf parents, I saw tears well up in the eyes of older Deaf members. They spoke of the challenges they face with their own children who don’t know sign language, leaving relationships strained. But for the younger adults hoping to start families, the quilt gave them something unexpected — hope!💙 To KJ, the creator of this beautiful quilt— your love and artistry were not only appreciated but closely admired (your stitchwork was inspected with enthusiasm by many deaf tailors!). This quilt now represents more than just Codas; it has become a symbol of possibility. It’s planting seeds of hope within the Deaf community that they can raise their children at home, nurturing both language, connection and identity. As this chapter of the Travelling Coda Quilt’s journey in Bhutan comes to an end, I'm experiencing deep gratitude for not only the quilt but also my identity as a Coda. Soon, the quilt will continue its travels, returning to Canada and, no doubt, inspiring more people along the way. Here’s to the next adventure! 🌍 🇦🇺 🛫🇨🇦 #TravellingCodaQuilt #Coda #Deaf #Community #Hope # Connection #BhutanDiaries

🤟 Returning to My Happy Place: Bhutan 🇧🇹 Even before we landed in Paro, I could feel the excitement building. We were coming back to my ‘happy place’—the Shangri-La that is the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. What's not to love? The majestic mountains, the breathtaking beauty of the valley around Drukgyel - sure they fill us with awe and wonder. But what truly warms my heart is reuniting with the incredible #Deaf community here. 💖 #Bhutan #HappyPlace #Drukgyel #DeafCommunity #Coda #TravelDiaries #visitbhutan

🌸 Embracing the Change 🌸 Discover the beauty of transformation with the latest blog post, “Changing Seasons: A Time of Renewal.” 🔗 Link in the bio #Bhutan #bhutantourism #signsofserenity @davids_serendipitous_life

🏳️‍🌈✨ Embracing Serendipity: IDAHOBIT Day 2024 in Bhutan 🏳️‍🌈✨ Thanks, @queer_voices_of_bhutan for allowing me to be a part of an amazing event and helping me connect with the local Rainbow community Link to the blog in bio #IDAHOBITDay #queervoicesofbhutan #signsofserenity #lgbtqiacommunity #Bhutan @davids_serendipitous_life

Fun fact this #IDAHOBIT Day - @tarmon_gibson and @davids_serendipitous_life were one of the first same-sex couples in the world to be granted a dependent visa for Bhutan. Read more in the latest blog post - link in bio #IDAHOBIT2024 #LGBTQIA #Bhutan

Checking out a 600+ year old iron bridge built by whom some call the Leonardo da Vinci of the Himalayas - We’re talking about the legendary Chagzampa, the Iron-Bridge Builder himself! His 600+ year old masterpiece, the Tachogang Lhakhang Iron Bridge, is still standing strong. 🔗⛰️ Link to blog in bio #BhutanBelieve #BhutanTourism #SignsofSerenity

Seriously, these animals have to be seen to be believed 🦌🌿 Blog post in bio #RoyalTakinPreserve #Bhutan #Takin #Wildlife #BhutanBelieve #SignsofSerenity

Another extraordinary day in my Bhutan journey 🇧🇹 🤟 An unexpected gift from the King of Bhutan 🇧🇹👑 Link to full story in bio #Gratitude #RoyalGift #BhutanAdventures #SignsofSerenity

Basketball at over 8,200 feet above sea level... what could possibly go wrong! 🏀⛰️ See bio for link to the blog post

A flair for the dramatic I know but here is my latest blog post 💅🩺😷 Healthcare in the Himalayas Link in Bio