"Are You Dreaming?"

Many people know me, as I own a store in Zetang, site of the Shannan Prefec-tural Administrative Office. The shop is located in the busiest part of town, at the junction of Nedong and Galsang Roads.
I opened the store three years ago, leasing floor space of some 40 square meters in a house. There are many other stores in the town, but I do good business. During the Tibetan New Year, many come to shop, and our fashions, tourist shoes and cosmetics enjoy good sales. My daughter, Zhasang, runs another store. We have to pay close to 30,000 Yuan a year for rent, but we make about 100,000 Yuan.
Some 40 years ago, I was a household slave with no land, no house, and no personal freedom. I toiled for my master, but I had to pay toll tax. We have a Tibetan saying to the effect that, though my parents gave birth to me, I belong to officials. Driven by my master's ill treatment, I fled to Zetang. I yearned for a better life, but, before long, I found all crows are black. I was forced to work for a mano-rial lord, struggling for survival each day.
Tibet experienced the Democratic Reform in 1959, and I was given land to till and a house to live in. I won personal freedom, and began to lead a better life.
I live in a two-story building, with nine rooms, and TV sets, telephones and other durable goods. It was built in 1998. In the previous years, I went to Lhasa for supplies. Given the fact that I am getting on in years, my daughter has taken my place. I hire two women to work in our stores, and another to do cooking and washing at home. We deal in clothes for children and women, Tibetan robes, shoes and hats, and goods from India and Nepal such as plant oil, snuff and perfume, all about 100 dif-ferent products.
In addition, we till about 1 hectare of land with the assis-tance of my friends and relatives. Of course, I pay them for what they do for us. Our har-vest amounts to a few thousand kg of highland barley and wheat.
I stay at home, but I often visit our stores. In the evening, I sip buttered tea while watching TV programs or playing games with my grandchildren. When it is time to go to bed, I often ask myself: "Are you dreaming?"

(Recorded by Namgyi)