ZELA, CLASS of 2012

In 2003,  Zela my son came to the USA as a small boy, but now he is a real big boy. He started his school in Rosemont Elementary School in Gaithersburg, MD. He did his Middle School in Roberto Clemente in Germantown and he completed his High School in a huge and prestigious Seneca Valley High School in Germantown. His school is close to our house, too close for him to ride a bus, therefore, if it was not raining heavily or snowing, he walk to the school throughout his time. High School students go to school early in the morning, and get done earlier than others. Sometimes they start the class so early that they have to leave home before daylight breaks!

After  toiling for four long years, he made himself qualified to earn the High School graduate. This is something most families look forward to, this is when the parents let off their burden for the child. This is a point where the society think  the child starts getting mature. A point where he is suppose to take care of himself,  apparently, the first step from where he is going to pursue his own career.



When one graduate High School in America, there are many dos and donts and some steps to follow. They have to have  good grades, they should  have enough SSL hours, they should not have dues etc.. However, once they cross all the hurdles, towards the end of senior year they have many fun in waiting. One of those fun is prom ( short for promenade), it is a formal black tie dance for the students. It is a major High School event especially for senior students. If a graduating student wish to attend prom, he/she will have to have a date to go with. Students without  date are not restricted from going to prom, it is just uncomfortable things to do. Sometimes some students go with a group with no particular date. And attendees must be under 21 years old.

My son planned to go to prom since long before. He said he was going to attend all the gathering that graduating students were permitted to go to. Therefore he looked out for his date and confirmed with one girl. However, for the reason we didn't know the first girl could not make it and had to find another one quickly! About a week before prom he could find another date, and all the new outfits, like new shoe, new tux as well as the limo we hired would not go wasted after all. He told me that he had asked her for his date by writing an invitation on the back of a turtle, as she fond of turtle so much she had said 'yes'.

On the day of prom, they made a plan to wait up at the pier at the lake, close to our house. He told us to come along and bade him luck and see them off.

Standing alone in the pier waiting for his date.

with dad

with Mum watching people

with mum...before date arrived.

Date arrives as tradition, boy give corsage to the girl

And girl give a matching boutonniere to be worn in the lapel.

In their rented limo with their other friends..leaving.

We don't know how exactly they spend their time, but we know that prom dance floor can be this crowded.

HIS GRADUATION:

Graduation Celebration ceremony was held on June 7 2012 at 10 a.m. at DAR Constitution Hall, in downtown DC. This beautiful hall was constructed on 1929 and since then thousands and thousands of people use this hall for concerts and big gathering throughout the year. It had a seating capacity of about 3700 people. This hall was situated very close to the White House.


Class of 2012 consists of 320 students. Mr. Marc J Cohen, the Principal told the gathering people his school spoke more than 120 languages, which is really remarkable. The guest Speaker for this graduation was Jeffrey Slavin, Mayor, Town of Sommerset. He was also 2011 Philanthropist of the Year, Montgomery County. The Guest Speaker in his commencement address quoted Hillary Clinton saying as, "There may be cell phone, internet and different social media, however, nothing substitute for showing up".

The school gave out ten tickets to every graduating students, we may request additional ticket if we needed.  Puipuii d/o Rev. Maruata  came all the way from Atlanta to witness Mama's graduation day. Besides my family, Zoremi and Hruaitea also could make it on time. On the way to the venue traffic jams gave us a damnable time. Trying to be there on time I navigated and maneuvered different routes just to find out that all roads to Downtown DC ware jam tight in that very hour.  I could see my son thru the rear view mirror who was too dismay at the situation pretended to be asleep at the back seat of our mini van. Everyone was so so stressful at that time for we really were in danger of not reaching on time before the main door closed. I knew that my son who was so frustrated tried to contain his aggravation within himself, that made me glad as I considered that as a sign of maturity. Luckily, to all our surprise, we got there just on time!

They gave us a very beautiful program booklet in which they printed all the names of the graduating students. Zela Khiangte was found somewhere in the middle among all those students. At the last page they printed Mahatma Gandhi saying as, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others".  It was so inspirational especially for us who came from India to read and quoted our great Indian leader in the US. Not only does the saying was meaningful but also so appropriate for the function we attend. I assumed the school selected this saying from among many others to be the one to ring in the students' ear to guide their lives forever. And I approved.

Boys green robe, girls golden robe. The function started with singing National Anthem.

Commencement Address by Jeffrey J. Slavin

Zela's friend Joel who also graduated, sung a song he wrote.

One by one students walked up the stage to get their Certificate

Up the steps he went

Last moment with a tousle on the left

Shook hand with the Principal

Line of dignitaries shaking hands

Proud family excitedly looking on

Thrilled siblings had a good time.

Joyful family couldn't hide their feeling...

Outside DAR, picture time

He did it...

We were all happy for him.

With siblings who adore him.

For parents he was born like yesterday, yet he finished High School already..

Father and older son now lead the way..

Cruising DC by foot; no... on a way back to valet parking.

Cherished moments

See..everyone looked happy

He is now his own responsibility..

As the tousle fly on the RIGHT

Everyone else behind him...following him

Then...graduation late lunch at Cheesecake Factory; a place Mama chose to dine for celebration.

FATE HMING KA PHUAH DAN

Mizote hian kan hming avanga buaina neuh neuh kan tawh hi sawi tur kan hre fur mai thei e. Ka hming a sei avang leh, lam a har avang leh ka hming lova min koh daih fo avang hian buaina neuh neuh ka ngah tawh khawp a, hei vang hian hming sei deuh leh lam har tak neih hi a simawm ka ti riau mai a. Chuvang chuan ka fate chu uluk takin an hming ka phuah a, ka phuah hma hian hming phuah dan tur criteria hrang hrang ka nei a. Chung atanga teh chuan ka fate hming hi ka phuah ta a. Tun thleng hian ka la lawm a, ka lawm tial tial a, ka fate tak pawh an lawmin ka hria.

"Fate hming hi nu leh pa phuah tur a ni," tih hi ka ngaih dan a ni phawt a. Tichuan hming ka phuah dawn chuan a hnuaia criteria te hi inen mil nan ka hmang a; zawh fam kim ka tum hram hram thin.

Hming chu:

1. Awmze nei ni thei se:

Hming awmze nei hi a hlu a, hanm dang pawh hian an lo ching ve tho mai. Chuvang chuan hming kan tawnga awmze nei neih a hlu ka ti a. Chu chu ngaihtuah hram hram tha ka ti.

2. Global hram se:

Tun lai khawvelah chuan hming hi pahnih first name leh last name neih a ngai tawh a. Hming phuah thar tur tan hriat a tha. Hming pahnih tal neih loh chuan computer age ah a buaithlak a, an phuah belhsak tho tho a ngai thin. USA ah chuan  hming pakhat chauh nei ho chu first name ang reng atan FNU( first name unknown) an lo peksak thin. Chutiang nei chu Mizo eng emaw zat an awm.

Asia ram lamah hian family/hnam hming hi a tir lamah kan dah deuh vek a. Khawthlang ho tih dan nen a inpersan ta tlat a. Chuvang chuan Asia ram hrang hrang te pawhin an tih mek dan angin kei ni pawhin kan tihdan hlui hi bansana khawthlang ho tih dan kan lak ve mai a ngai ta a. Hei hian kan harsatna la kal zel tur a solve dawn a ni. Hnam/chhungkaw hming kha last name a tana kan hman tan chuan nupuiin pasal hming lak te faten pa te last name tawm te a remchang tawh ang.

Last name atan hnam hming kan hmang hi a tha a khat, mahse a tawt lutuk thuai dawn a, a tawt tawh mah mah zawk a ni. Last name tana Khiangte, Sailo, Ralte, Colney etc a tam tak em avangin, huaisen deuh chuan last/family name tur dangdai leh mi la hman ngai loh an ngaihtuah chhuah a ngai ta bawk. Kan hnam hming ho pawh hi chik chiah ila, pu zui lem lo mah ila chuti teh chiama han uiawm a awm lemin a lang lo. Miin Ralte nih a hreh loh chuan Ralpui nih hrehna chhan tur a awm lo va. Sailo nih a hreh loh chuan Dailo, Vailo, Mitlo, Baklo etc nih hrehna chhan tur awmin ka hre lo. Dr. Rama Baklo te ni ta ila, a mawi em em a, khawvel khawiah mah hming thu hlaah harsatna a nei lo ang.

Hming ka phuah dawna ka rilrua awm tel thin pakhat leh chu hnam dang tan a nuihzatthlak thei ang em, tih hi a ni. Kan tawnga dik thlap si, hnam eng emaw tawnga zahmawh lo ni thei daih te hi a awm thei a, hriat vek chu thil theih ni lo mahse, phak ang chin china fimkhur chu a tha reng.

3. Mizo tak ni ngei bawk se:

Sap hming inphuah hi ka dem hran lo na a, ka tih ve tan chuan ka iai deuh thin. Mizo hming ngei ka duh a, hmeichhia an nih chuan a tawpah 'i' in tawp se;  mipa a nih chuan a tawpah 'a' awm ngei se ka duh bawk. He ka tradition hming tawpa 'i' leh 'a' awm hi ka ngai hlu a, chhawm nun kumkhua ka duh.

Tin, pate hming last name atan lak vang a hmeichhe hminga entirna'n, Judy Thangvunga tih ang chi hi ka ei lo leh tlat bawk. Mipa hming leh hmeichhe hming kan dah kawp avangin inkalh ka ti. Chuvang chuan kan pate emaw kan pasal ten emaw hnam hming kha first name tan an lo hmang a nih chuan fate leh nupui chuan last name atan pa ber first name kha hmang mai se thain a hria. Amaherawhchu entir nan pa ber hming kha Bobby Thangvunga  lo nih miau chuan nupui leh fate chuan last name inang tlang, a thar hmang se, pa ber hming la lo se, remchangah pa berin last name inang tlang hmang thei turin hming la thlak leh mai se tha berin ka hria.

4. Hnam tin tana lam awl  ni hram se:

Hming lam harsa neih hi mi hnam zinga awm dawn chuan a buaithlak duh khawp mai. Hming hi lam awl tak Mizo tak a awm theih ve tho sia avangin chu lam chu awn a tha in ka hria. Kan hming lam a har chuan mi hriat kan hlawh harsa em em a, lam a awl chuan Mizo tak hming pawh ni se hnam dangin an hre thuai thei ve a ni. Kan hming hnam dang tana lam harsa tak a nih chuan, kan duh dan leh dik kan tih danin an lam thei chuang si lo va, beng an tikham thlawn mai mai a ni. Kan nu hming hi Vanlalruati a nih duah mai a, hnam dang then khat, lam dik teuh deuh te chuan Valente te an ti mai mai a. Hrilh hrilh mah ila an lam dik tak tak thei lo va, an ziak dik thei bawk lo, buaithlak tak a ni.

5. Tawi lam ni thei hram bawk se:

Computer age a kan awm tawh avang leh kan intlawh pawh nasat tawh avang hian form fill up tur hi a tam duh khawp mai a, hming sei chu a buaithlak em em bik. A chang chuan hming thenkhat a ziahna tura ruata leng lo te pawh a awm hial thei a ni. Hming nei sei ho chuan a ninawmzia an hre theuh ang. Chuvangin dan kalh te a nih em loh chuan hming tawi lam ngaihtuah a tha khawp mai. A awlsam bik em asin!

Tak a, cell phone vela hming inhrilh mawlh mai hian hming sei chu a buaithlak duh. Vai ho an ni emaw, sap an ni emaw Russian pawh ni se, kan hming a sei miau chuan an tan hriat dik a harsa hrim hrim a. Hming a tawi viau erawh chuan tihsualna chance a tlem nge nge a ni.

CHUAN....

Mizote hi tam ila, hausa ila, lar em em ila, kan tih dan dan hi khawvel danga mi ten entawn thei zel dawn se chuan, kan tih phung pangngai zel hian hming phuah mah ila a sual tam pui lo. Amaherawhchu, chu din hmunah chuan kan la ding lo va, kan la ding mai dawn lo va, kan ding mai mai ngai dawn lo pawh a ni hlauh thei a. Chuvang chuan a tha lai paih si lovin a rem chang lo leh helhawm laite erawh kan paih ngam a hun. Mi hnam kan entawn dawn a nih pawhin awmze nei, kal phung nei, kan zia leh nihna hloh si lovin entawn thiam ila. Mi tih dan dan la duak duak mai lo vin, kan mil tawk leh kan tana tha tur tawk ngaihtuah ila...chumi chinah chuan huai takin ding ngam ila a duhawm ngawt mai.

WHO'S NEXT? BASIL KHUMA

I have already posted in my Facebook, I feel I am not done yet. Because I am so proud of this BOY.

That day, May 23 2012 to be precise, like usual, I sauntered in Sports Authority store Rockville, MD probably the world's largest sports chain-store ever. I love spending some of my free time looking, feeling and donning some of the sports wear and some of the sports tools. Usually I go straight to the tennis section. This is where I usually spent half of my intended time. Looking and feeling different rackets, rummaging if there were some new good deals! I won't still buy one even if I found a very good deal as I already had more than I needed! Besides I have not gotten any rackets that would replace the one I am using now. Which fits me best than anything  else, no matter how hard I tried I have not had any other racket that make me feel proud as the one I am using now, Wilson K Blade Tour 93 with a grip of 4 1/4. This is the one Djokovic used to use before. The string pattern is 18X20 which is dense for the head size of 93; that makes good control.

Well back to that day.. I went in and went straight to the tennis section..there on the wall hung a lot of new rackets. I did not pay too much attention at first as I thought,

"Monfils changed his racket once again huh..."

"Well.." I thought,

"It's not exactly Monfils," I said to myself looking more closely at a rather-young face picture.

"It look familiar to me,  who..who is it? I knew it, I knew it.."

Then I said aloud!

"It's him...Khuma, a Mizo boy."

I quickly grabbed my cell phone and took the picture incessantly...

Prince EXO 3 Rebel 105 is Khuma's Racket

Look here he is posted along side Sharapova and Nadal..

Here's another Who's next boy name Yifan ( I don't know and I don't really care where he is from)

Now player can chose Nadal's, Federer's, Djokovic's or Khuma's anywhere in the world.

Next day I went to"Tennis Topia" an exclusive tennis store, there too they had his rackets on stock. I told the store owner that this boy was from my home town and he gasped!

I am so proud to have a Mizo boy having his own racket brand, under the caption of WHO'S NEXT- Basil; through formidable Prince, one of the largest racket companies in the world. Nobody knows how far he is going, but one thing is certain he has been going a very very long way.

KA PA LEH KA PUZAWN THLANTHUT INKHAWM

May 6 2012 (Sunday) tlai dar 4 ah khan ka pa Upa K.Tlanghmingthanga, Mission Veng leh ka puzawn Pu R. Chhingliana, Upper Republic Veng, Aizawl te thlan thutna kan nei a.  A hmun atan Pastor Biakdika Chhangte in an Biak In, Rockville Seventh-Day Church, 727 West Montgomery Avenue, Rockville, Md. min hmantir a, a chungah kan lawm hle. He Biak In hi Washington DC area Mizo awm te tan a laili tha a, a hmun a nuam a, a len dan a tawk a, a remchang em em a ni.

USA Mizo te hian tihdan phung kan neih chu kan thisen zawmpui ram danga an thiha, chhungten kan dawm hlum hman lo a nih chuan inthlahrung hauh lova thlan thutna neih a thiang a. Hetih hunah hian Mizo te kan inpui tawn liam liam kan tang rual a, kan inlainat a, awmze nei tak, ngaihthat thlak deuhvin thlan thutna kan nei thei thin.

Kan thlan thutna tiphuisui thatu pakhat chu Upa Lalbiakmawia, Comissioner of Excise, Mizoram te pafa an lo tel thei hlauh chu a ni a.  Pu Bma hian ka pa leh ka pu chu an damloh lai leh an dam loh hma pawhin a kan a, a tlawh a, thilpek a pe a, duat takin a lo enkawl thin a. Chuti khawpa ka pa leh ka puzawn duattu he an Memorial a lo tel thei hlauh hi kan vannei em em a ni.

Kan memorial ah hian mi an lo kal tha em em a, kan lawm tak zet zet. Memorial zawhah ruai kan theh a. Hemi tan hian min lainattu thahnem tawk takin ei tur tuihnai tak tak min rawn siamsak a. Kan lawm em em, lawmthu kan sawi thiam seng lo a ni ber mai. Mizo Kristian nih hi a nuam chang a ni lova, a lo ropui tel em a lo nih hi!

Rev. Lalthanzaua'n inkhawwm a kaihruai a.

Ngawi renga dingin kan pate sunna hun kan hmang a.

Rev. Lalthanzaua tawngtaina a ropui em em.

Upa Lalbiakmawia'n ka pa leh ka pu chanchin ngaihnawm takin, fiah takin a sawi a. A ngaihnawm hle mai

Pu Bma te pafa an lo tel thei hlauh hi kan lawm em em a ni.

Kan nun A pa chanchin leh ka pa chanchin a sawi.

Pu Lalthangliana Sailo, Sailsuk lal ka pa thianpa ( a hnai bera thu hi)

Rilru chhungril atanga chhuak thu sawi hi chu a ngaihnawm mai thin.

Kan lusunna atanga Pathian Malsawmna kan dawn dan te a sawi bawk a.

Mipui pawh an thahnem khawp mai.

Lusun chuan thu sawi thiam a har thin..

Mak deuh maiin fel takin fiah takin thu a sawi tluan thak mai.

Thutna awl a vang khawp mai.

Mite min tawiawmna a ropui em em.

Hun dik taka tanin, darkar 2 chhungin hun kan hmang kim hman

Sanctuary kan khat that a ni e.

Tv. Vanlalhruaia'n kan sunte pualin Violin solo a thawh a.

Mizo ho chu kan kim khat a ni ber.

Kan fate pawhin an pute an hmu leh tawh lo tur chu ngaihthiam harsa an ti khawp mai.

Pennsylvania state atangin Rev. J. H.Vanlalhruaia te chhung an lo kal vang vang a.

Thlamuanna thuchah ropui tak, " Grep hrui leh a peng te" thu a sawi a.

Mipui pawhin ngaihnawm an ti em em.

Thutna pawh a tawt tha khawp mai.

Thalai lam pawh an lo kal tha hle.

Ka pa thianpa Pu Darrikhuma pawh chak lo chung chungin a thu tluan chhuak, kan lawm em em.

Rebecca, Dini, Kimi, Sawna leh Zela

"Hun kan hmang thiam tlang a, a ninawm loh" tih kan dawng.

Pu Bma fapa Tv. Mapuia'n kan zai piano in a rem a, a thiamin zai a tinuam hle.

Mipui zaia min hruaitute tlar hmaah an thu.

Ka pa thianpa Pu Darrikhuma pawh chak lo chung chungin wheelchair in a lo kal ve hram hram a.  Hengte hi ka pa hrilh kan chak a, mahse a hrilh tur a awm tawh si lo!

Sermon in mipui a hneh hle.

Pathian chungah leh kan chunga tha te chungah lawmthu ka sawi a.

Ka puzawn chanchin ngaihnawm tak te ka sawi bawk a.

Ka pa chanchin kilkhawr deuh ho ka sawi bawk a, a hlimawm lam te n'en.

Inkhawm bana ruai min kilpui theuh turin ka sawm bawk a.

Pi Lalnguri ka pa cousin pawh a lo kal a kan lawm em em.

Ban hma chiahin Pathian chawimawi nan "Vanram ngaihtuah hian min tilawm a," tih hla kan sa a.

Zai pawh a nuam hle.

Ka pa kha solfa zai nuam timi a ni a, tel ve se nuam a ti ve khawp ang.

Pu Darrikhuma leh a nupui Pi Nguri te thla kan lakpui.

Pu Darrikhuma damlo mek na tak a lo kal thei hi kan lawm em em.

Rev.Vanlalhruaia leh kan chhungkua.

Kan chhungkua (Dini, Zela, kei, Maruati, Kimi, Sawna)

Dinning Hall set up ham..

Ruai kan theh ta.

Ei tur a tuihnaiin a tam tham hle.

Thalai dawhkan lam.

Upa H.Malsawma te nupa leh Pu Vanrova te nupa. Kham chiah hi Pu Rova Ralte.

Chaw dawh tur pawh an tlar thui hle.

Maruati'n mite a be kual.

Nupa tuak thar mai tur kan kan naute...

"Puar takin ei theuh tur," a ti.

Choka lamah Pi Zaii, Pi Tluangmami leh Monu Mami te an lo buai char char.

Nl.Kimtei kan tan a tangkai thei em em reng bawk.

Memorial service hian darkar hnih vel chiah a awh a. Hun hmangtuten thiam tak theuhvin hun an hmang a, chuang bang leh tul lo sawi a awm lo. Lo kal tam tak pawhin kan program tawi leh fel fai an ti a. Ei tur a tuhnaiin a tam tham an ti a. Heti taka min khawngaihtute lainatna kan dawng hi kan lawm a, kan sawi thiam lo zawk.

Memorial zawh hian memorial a lo kal ve hman lo leh lo kal ve tho min lainatu tam tak ten kan in lamah min zui haw a. Rei tak thlengin min menpui a, min kawm hlim a, kan lawm hle.

Thil pek te, ralna te thahnem tak kan dawng a, kan lawmthu te, a ropui zia te sawi kan chak a, kan hrilh chak te lahin mual min liamsan tawh si!