At 4:00 o’clock on this cold and rainy Saturday afternoon, a welcome celebration for new students and teachers was held in the multi-purpose hall at the school. I arrived dressed in my gho and discovered that I was the honoured guest. Tshultrim Dorji, the head teacher and principal, directed me to sit with him at the front. A hand-lettered sign on the stage read, “Welcome Mr. Grant to Chumey MSS.” Early in the program I was ushered onto the stage to say a few impromptu words before the commencement of the student portion of the program. 
We got off to a good start: Three young men sang a traditional Bhutanese song which was followed by a traditional dance. Then the power went out. Five hundred students behaved themselves remarkably well—far better than I imagine most North American students might in a similar situation. After several minutes I began to worry how long the students could keep it together. I suggested to the assembly that they sing for me the Bhutanese national anthem, which they did—beautifully. Still without electricity, I sang for the students the Canadian national anthem to much appreciative applause. I encouraged two student teachers to lead the students in a traditional song. Lovely. Still no electricity on this late afternoon which was sinking quickly into darkness. Mr. Dorji suggested I teach the students a new song—did I know a Canadian one? My mind went completely blank and out of nowhere I proceeded to sing, “Que sera, sera”(!!!) (The unconscious editor in me managed to alter “little girl” to “little child.”) 
We sang the song several times. Then, for almost two hours, the girls and boys (who sat on opposite sides of the hall) took turns singing the modern Bhutanese romance songs of which they are so fond. When the room had reached almost total darkness (with a biting chill), it was decided that the evening’s program would have to be postponed. My dynamo crank flashlight from Lee Valley Tools was instrumental in ushering the children (girls first, then boys) to the doorway. I walked with Mr. Dorji to his home for dinner. Altogether, it was a lovely, if somewhat surreal, successful evening. So: there are now 500 Bhutanese students who can sing Doris Day’s (Canadian) classic. What will be, will be.
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