Getting Down to Basics: How is the climate of Bhutan different from the climate of Vermont?

During my tutoring sessions with my Bhutanese tutee, I have constantly found myself wondering how different life must be in Vermont for Bhutanese refugees who have been accustomed to living in camps halfway across the globe. Many of the differences that spring to mind are things such as the food that is available in Vermont, the surroundings, and of course, the climate. How often do we really think about the ways that our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being are influenced by the climate in which we reside? Perhaps we rarely think about it until we are faced with adapting to a new climate...?

Bhutan's climate varies according to altitute. There are three distinct climate zones within the country, 1.) substropical in the southern region, 2.) temperate in the central region, which is the most populated area, 3.) and alpine in the northern region. The majority of the refugees from Bhutan are natives of the southern region and are accustomed to a sub-tropical climate. One can imagine that the transition from a sub-tropical climate to the continental moist climate of Vermont, that is known for it's long and cold winters, would be a difficult one to endure. As home-school liason, Madhu Neupone, mentioned in his presentation about the Bhutanese refugee experience, many of the Bhutanese refugees have never seen snow until they spend their first winter in Vermont.