Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan

After earning her master's degree in English literature from York University, Toronto/Sault Ste. Marie native, Jamie Zeppa, became lost with her life's course. Yearning for adventure, she impulsively leaves her country, fiancé, and a potential doctorate education to teach English for two years in Bhutan; an isolated Himalayan kingdom, often referred to as the world's last Shangri-La; a country that has repelled globalization, undergoing little change in centuries."I want to go home. I tell Sasha I am coming down with something, and lie in bed and wish for things: a Cosmopolitan magazine, a bagel and cream cheese, a grocery store, the Eaton Centre two days before Christmas."Due to the polarization between the industrialized society of Canada and the rural way-of-life in Bhutan, Zeppa struggled tremendously with her process of acculturation. People no longer spoke English, Buddhism became the dominant religion, urban infrastructure was practically non-existent, and all the simple pleasures of Canadian life were gone. Misery consumed her as the risk of disease and sickness was brought into focus: a house infested with rats and bugs, questionable meat at the local markets, and hospitals that were miles away. However, with the help and kindness of the Bhutanese people, her fears would progressively dissipate and Bhutan would become her serenity."I remember my arrival in Bhutan and how miserable I was, and all the other teachers who seemed inexplicably content. They were right all along, I think. This is the most remarkable place, after all."Fundamentally, "Beyond the Sky and the Earth" is a love story. It is a memoir that recollects Zeppa's romance with a landscape, a people, a culture, and a man. Intricately written with compassion, Zeppa's book fashions us- the reader- into her persona, and systematically render us into her affection for a place. We will be carried along with her, as she journeys through joy and heartbreak; empathize with her as she flows from triumphs to struggles and righteousness to shame. And by the end of it all, we all will be humbled by it."They [her young students] curl up under a blanket, and I stand in the doorway, watching their small faces relax into sleep. I must squeeze my eyes tightly to stop the tears. If I feel this sad leaving Pema Gatshel after five months, I cannot imagine how I will feel leaving Bhutan after two years."What's also extraordinary about "Beyond the Sky and the Earth" is Zeppa's imaginative style of description. Unlike the conventional lackluster scenery narratives of most contemporary travel literatures, Zeppa's depictions are artistic and breathe life into the mysticism and beauty of a landscape forgotten by time."All around, the mountains rise and rise, pale gold and brown in the February light. At one end of the valley, beyond a wall of black, broken peaks, one white summit shimmer; at the other end, the mountains grow tamer, softly rounded and turning smoky blue in the distance."The only flaw- if it's even considered a flaw- with "Beyond the Sky and the Earth" is the book's potential to manufacture subjective non-literary criticisms. There are certain scenarios in the story in which the author comes off rather hypocritical. Some readers may also be distressed by Zeppa's heightened libido towards her male [college] students. But nevertheless, "Beyond the Sky and the Earth" is a well-written, concise, and honest piece of literature that is full of heart. It is a philosophical, anthropological, geographical, sociological lesson all bundled together inside the boundaries of an entertaining travel memoir. It is an experience and a pleasure to read- and similar to the country of Bhutan itself, this book is a hidden beauty. I highly recommend it.

Lovely book explaining glimpses of Bhutan and bhutanese culture from the eyes of a Canadian in her 20s that went to Bhutan to teach. Being an English major, the book is well written and for the most part entertaining. The story sounds like a fantasy that took place in a remote exotic land.. As much as I enjoyed it, having lived in some "exotic" lands for years myself, I couldn't avoid to see some of the romanticism coming not from an exotic land but from the first long trip of someone. Was Bhutan really that magical and unique, or the author didn't know better after living all her life only in Canada before going to Bhutan? Was it really a path of (self?) discovery or just a bit wilder adventure of what many 20s years old do? That's up to you to decide, but it was enough for me not to give it 5 stars

Profoundly engaging, beautifully written with magnificent imagery..."the sky weeps & wipes its face on the mountains". It was my introduction to a wonderfully practical & austere culture. The love story was magnificently lived. This will surely be one of my most cherished books. As it relates to our present condition..... "Everyone wants a cleaner, simpler, safer, sane world but no one wants to give up anything. No one wants to take the bus."

You’ll be swept away to this tiny, magical realm by Zeppa’s account of her time in Bhutan. Beautifully remembered and rendered.

Memoir of a Canadian Teacher in BhutanJamie Zeppa, an English teacher from Canada, in 1999 wrote of her life experience in Bhutan from 1989 to 1992. With the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) financed overseas education program in Bhutan, the slightly over 20 year old teacher changed her whole life to take a chance at living in a completely different part of the world. Practically without knowledge of the culture she was going to impact and loads of useless baggage she transferred to this tiny Himalayan kingdom convinced of reaching the Shangrila. The cultural shock of the small village posting, the solitude, the breathtaking but initially frightening environment, the incapacity of connecting to such a different population almost drove her crazy at the beginning. But due to her strong ego and a particularly ironic and self-mocking attitude she slowly learns to cope and understands the life philosophy of these simple but practical people. "Anyone can live anywhere" she wisely concludes. The beauty of the landscape and the joy de vivre of her students conquers her heart and starts a transformation that not only converts her to Buddhism but leads her to accept a new challenge in a superior school in a bigger city.The college students and colleagues contribute to her re-evaluation of her Western cultural heritage and the deeper comprehension of the Eastern way of life and open her vision of the true nature of Bhutanese culture and difficult political situation. With magisterial delicate tones Zeppa describes the political and ethnological undertones of the Bhutanese youth and the gender discrimination of women.Unexpectedly she also falls in love with one of her students and bravely decides to make a life commitment to her new found values.This diary/novel is well written, funny, full of quaint and memorable episodes and a pleasure to read. It conveys all the puzzlement of cultural shocks in the pre-globalization era and shows how the concept of "sustainable economy" was already evident at the beginning of the 1990's. The book contains a plethora of useful information to understand modern Bhutan.The "spirit of place" is conveyed with grace, the personal experiences gain an universal value and it is possible to identify with the Author.If you like these types of memoirs I suggest reading Louisa Waugh's "Hearing Birds Fly", a similar experience of a British teacher in Mongolia.

I bought this book while waiting to board a flight to Paro and finished it while coming back on the flight! It is such an amazing tale of going to Bhutan and unraveling its beautiful culture, people, and intricacies that it completely grips you. The book informs a lot about the fundamentals of Buddhism, cultural traditions, the magnifiscent nature in all forms - mountains, weather, and even the then political situation in the country - however it does not become an informational book but a beautiful tale that is almost like a fictional novel! Although you may not have ever seen the author Jamie or read about her before, you meet the faceless 23 year old who took the plunge to move across the world to go and teach in a village in Bhutan! Hats off to Jaimie!

Acquistato “a scatola chiusa” si è rivelata come una bella sorpresa. Un libro e una storia che rimangono dentro.

Ce livre n'est pas parfait. Le reliure est mauvaise (les pages dépassent légèrement la couverture). Deuxième qualité

This is a lovely book, full of adventure, humor, passion, and romance. A true story that I highly recommend!

Libro crítico pero que tiene un final muy brusco, creo que la autora no había tenido un cierre emocional y le costó trabajo compartir en dónde estaba su vida al escribir el libro. Sin embargo, es un libro crítico sobre Bhutan porque no lo idealiza.