Beyond the Sky and the Earth... by Jamie Zeppa

[Celia]

Beyond the Sky and the Earth is an autobiographical work that details her experiences and transformations after spending three years in Bhutan. It is as much a book about Zeppa's day-to-day life in Bhutan as it is about the personal awakenings and realizations that she had while living there.

[Gail]

Just started reading Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey Into Bhutan and I am enjoying it

[Celia]

Gail wrote: "Just started reading Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey Into Bhutan and I am enjoying it"

I will have to look for your rating and review. Thanks for commenting Gail.

[Gail]

Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey Into Bhutan is both a young woman's quest for finding and confronting the risks in life rather than simply swallowing her family's expectations, and a wonderful travel adventure in Bhutan. Jaimie, a young teacher from Canada who has never really traveled before, heads to Bhutan to teach and falls deeply in love with the people, the landscapes and the simple ways of Bhutan life. Like most Western people, Jaimie has her own expectations, namely that her values are universal and appropriate for all and therefore she struggles with the need for conformity and rigorous societal rules about minorities in Bhutan. She finds Buddhism to be a way for her to quiet her mind but her desires actually rage out of control when she falls in love with a Bhutan student. As a westerner, she goes for the risk and the reward rather than to pass by what will never be a cultural partnership.
I really loved her descriptions of the landscapes and the people and their stories about the Vomit Comet, and the 2 day "stroll" to get to the next town. I also loved her slowly getting to know and except that there really needs to be hot chilies on everything.
It was an exceptional introduction into Bhutan and although the love affair was less satisfying, it was based on her real experiences so she couldn't really have changed the ending just to suit her readership.
Thank you Celia for recommending.

[Celia]

You are more than welcome, Gail. Happy reading for the rest of 2020 and in 2021 and beyond!!