I read this chapter out loud last Friday at the Mangrove Safeway, as part of Butte Literacy Council's Read-a-Thon and a couple of people who paused to listen for a minute -- or a few seconds -- commented "Oh, that's the Book in Common." So, apparently word about the program is spreading. I like that.
I'm finding that I'm enjoying the book a lot more on the second reading and I'm noticing passages that I can appreciate more. For example, the title of the chapter is ironic, isn't it? Mortenson's wrong turn actually put him on the right side of the river for the work that became his life from that day forward.
"Mortenson opened his eyes."
That's the first line, the first paragraph and pretty the meaning of the whole chapter. I love the passage that describes what happened when he opened his eyes as an observer, rather than a mountain-climber. He's sitting on a boulder, having retraced his trail once he knew he was lost. "But he couldn't drink in enough of this setting. ... Though Mortenson had already been there for months, he drank in the drama of these peaks like he'd never seen them before. 'In a way, I never had,' he explains. 'All summer, I'd looked at these mountains as goals, totally focused on the biggest one, K2. ... But that morning,' he says, 'for the first time, I simply saw them. It was overwhelming.'" (p. 18-19)
That point is when Mortenson's life changes directions and I find it interesting that the act of perceiving can be the evidence of change. It's all in how we see things.
But another part of that chapter is simply too much fun to not mention and chuckle over. As Mortenson stumbles along, he sings an old hymn that he learned as a child that most of us know starts "What a friend we have in Jesus, He lives in Heaven." But since he lived in Tanzania as a child, he sings it in Swahili. The authors refer to the "novelty of the moment -- an American, lost is Pakistan, singing a German hymn in Swahili." Novel, yes, but I think there's something more. That cross-linguistic, cross-cultural, cross-nationality incident lets us know a little bit more about Mortenson that makes his future success in rural Pakistani villages possible.
This week, I met with two groups to talk about the book, groups with two very different opinions on it. A friend of mine who teaches English as Butte College met with me and we talked about the writing itself ... one of those quirky things English teachers love to do. Then I met with an eclectic group at Chico State University, including staff, a student and me. Although two of the book club members had not finished the book, they both seemed to be appreciating its story and message. Besides discussing parts of the story, Mortenson's character, and other aspects of the book, we talked about concerns that escalating warfare in Northern Pakistan may make Mortenson's work harder and other related topics. Both very interesting discussions, for very different reasons
So true. The book reveals how Mortensen's eyes were opened to new experiences, and a new career. But ultimately is opened his eyes -- and mine -- to how we need to help other cultures ... not by sending tons of money overseas that never makes it to the people, or by sending troops to "aid" people.
He said it best: The cheapest, most effective and long-lasting way to stop terrorism is through education.
The theme comes through loud and clear in "Three Cups of Tea."
Why can't our government understand that?
Maybe our president-elect does. I hope so. Then maybe we can stop spending so much money to "fight" terrorism.
Maybe everyone in Congress, the executive branch, the Pentagon -- everyone in the political scene -- should be mandated to read this book.