Phone numbers and emails have already been exchanged and the first bonds of friendship are now being formed over momos and mock celebrations — from Tibetan marriages to Losar that marks the Tibetan New Year. There is knowledge being shared too, as Tsetan offers to improve 18-year-old Tsering Yangchen’s Tibetan lingual skills. “I converse in the language at home and even attend Tibetan weekend lessons,” he states proudly, strumming his fingers on the Dramyin and carefully jotting notes on how to play the instrument.

He is hopeful of meeting the Dalai Lama, to get him to speak about his grandfather who often narrates tales about their meetings. “He knew him personally and I want to know what does Dalai Lama remember about him,” he states, with slight mischief added to the monk-like smile.

And as the youngest in the group, seven-year-old Tenzin Tsayang, from Nepal, rattles the Tibetan national anthem, ‘Gyallu’, in the first day of the music class, others join in, marking the beginning of this journey. Back home, a fusion of hard rock and Dramyin may just take place — and Gyako may find a tiny place on the dinner table more often.