Rumble on the Rooftop of the World:

Perched on the edge of Wangsel's sports fields lies a slightly weathered basketball court. Now, don't let its humble appearance fool you. Look beyond the faded lines on the concrete, and you'll find yourself surrounded by towering tree-capped peaks and the breathtaking Paro valley, with the ancient Drukgyel Dzongkhag casting its watchful gaze from above, as it has done since the 16th century. This court staddles a blend of the ancient and the modern, a scene straight out of a storybook – or in this case, a blog post.

 Here, amidst this stunning backdrop, a Wangsel student basketball tournament was about to unfold. But before the main event, a friendly match between the staff was on the cards - and guess who decided to toss their hat into the ring? Yours truly, despite my questionable fitness level and general lack of basketball prowess. Hey, sometimes you've just got to embrace the chaos!

 At 56, I'm far from my glory days of athletic prowess, and adding an altitude of over 8200 feet above sea level to the mix doesn't exactly boost my confidence. But hey, who needs oxygen when you've got sheer determination, am I right?

 Let's talk basketball. Spoiler alert: I'm about as skilled as a penguin on roller skates. Sure, I dabbled back in my missionary days, but let's just say it wasn't exactly my calling. Stepping onto that court brought back memories – mostly of embarrassment and sweaty palms.

 But this game was different. With a mix of deaf and hearing staff, we had to get creative with our communication. Visual cues, hand signals, whatever it took. And let's not forget the referee, armed with a flag and whistle to make sure everyone knew when a foul was called.

As soon as the referee blew the whistle to start the game, a wave of relief washed over me. The cacophony of deaf voices, cheers, and jeers from the spectators, mostly deaf students and staff, filled the air, creating an atmosphere that was both thrilling and nerve-wracking. If you've never heard a Deaf crowd of spectators, it's anything but silent.

 Now, scoring points wasn't exactly my forte. But lucky for us, we had Sonam on our team – one of those truly gifted people who are good at all types of sports. Did we win? Honestly, it's not about the destination; it's about the journey, right? – But yeah, my team won 😉

As the game unfolded, I found myself less focused on the spectators and more on my own struggles – the shortness of breath, the sweat pouring down my face, the heart threatening to escape my chest. Defence became my go-to, but every now and then, fate would toss the ball my way, and I'd give it my best shot – quite literally.

And in that moment, as I moved with the grace and poise of a newborn fawn, I couldn't help but marvel at the resilience and spirit of Bhutan and its Deaf community. Just like the bouncing basketball in my hands, their destiny lies in their hands, each dribble and shot a testament to their determined spirit.