Between the pages...

Look what I found between the pages of Three Cups of Tea! I am aware that it is not the best picture, but it is a handmade card made by some children. I cannot make out to whom. I am certain someone out there is missing it, and I wish I could return it. As I cannot, though, it will remain between the pages where I found it ♥

So cute!

Three Cups of Tea

This is an inspiring and fascinating read. I have never given much thought to mountain climbing, apart from the random television show or article. I have heard of the Sherpa, but I cannot remember ever hearing about the Balti. Greg Mortenson, on the other hand, came to know and care a lot about the Balti people. After a failed attempt to the summit of K2, Greg Mortenson stumbled into a village so small it did not even show on the maps of the K2 area. The little village, Korphe, nursed him back to health and soon came to think of him as a son. Greg Mortenson's life completely changed course by that chance encounter.

This is his story. It is a story about how one person can make a difference. About the things which can really be achieved when setting your heart into something. Greg Mortenson gave up his old life to fullfill a promise about a school. Operating in such a remote and isolated area, where no foreigner has ever set foot before, can be a daunting task. Still, Greg Mortenson set out to learn the Balti language and understand their culture in order to help them.

For a long time Greg Mortenson strived to build the school fo r the children of Korphe as he had promised he would. He faced loads of problems, but kept on trying - stubborn as few. In the end he managed to find the people that were the puzzle pieces he needed to complete the school. Later on, he built many more schools for the children in the impoverished and remote areas of the Karakoram Mountains. He is their hero. He gave them the possibility of an education. It may not seem like much to you, but for them it meant the world ♥

" "When the porcelain bowls of scalding butter tea steamed in their hands, Haji Ali spoke. "If you want to thrive in Baltistan, you must respect our ways," Haji Ali said, blowing on his bowl. "The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die," he said, laying his hand warmly on Mortenson's own. "Doctor Greg, you must make time to share three cups of tea. We may be uneducated. But we are not stupid. We have lived and survived here for a long time." 

"That day, Haji Ali taught me the most important lesson I've ever learned in my life," Mortenson says. "We Americans think you have to accomplish everything quickly. We're the country of thirty-minute power lunches and two-minute football drills. Our leaders thought their 'shock and awe' campaign could end the war in Iraq before it even started. Haji Ali taught me to share three cups of tea, to slow down and make building relationships as important as building projects. He taught me that I had more to learn from the people I work with than I could ever hope to teach them." "

Three Cups of Tea, p. 150

I hope you enjoy the book as much as I have.


More teasers:
Flukten fra virkeligheten
Should Be Reading

Egypt = no books!

Whenever we travel somewhere I go pottering about until I find a book store. That is a part of the fun - to see which particular books they sell in that particular place. I love buying books as souvenirs. Often you can find a local book or a book you have never seen before!

In Sharm el Sheik this did not work out, though. I tried so hard to find a book store - but to no avail. No one knew of one. The closest thing I could find was the library in the hotel we stayed at. Which was not much to talk about, to be honest. A couple of left-behind books on a shelf only.

The result is that I have come home without any more books in my suitcase than when I left. For once. I do believe that is a new record for me! Fingers crossed our next journey will bring better luck bookwise. Although I must say I did have a happy boyfriend who got off the usual spending-time-in-book stores-hook... I am pretty sure he did not mind one bit...*laughing*

At the hotel...

At the beach...

Christian Watson "Glass Full of Questions" Kinetic Typography

I really had to share this poem - even though it seems like it is well known in the blog-sphere. I loved the drawings and the creativity of it, and I found it so wise.

Now, is your glass half empty or half full...? Do tell.

Relaxing days!

We are in Egypt! It is not as warm as I thought it would be, but that is quite all right. It is still warm enough to swim and sun bathe - which feels wonderful, I must admit. I love it down here (apart from the 97 mosquito bites I got the first evening before we bought a mosquito repellent, that is! I look truly horrible!). It seems like it will be two relaxing weeks - what with our baby godson around. Who is enjoying himself tremendously, by the way! He is rolling around in his diapers all day, all giggles and smiles. Such a happy baby. The rest of us is taking turns in amusing him. In the evenings, when he is sleeping, we sit on our balcony, chatting away, or bring him with us in his stroller while exploring the area. I can get used to this. No more pantyhoses or scarves for at least ten days to come! Yey! Why ever do we live in Norway?!

I brought with me "Three Cups of Tea" - I hope it will be a good read in the sun.

Off to Egypt!

Tonight I am wondering which books I should bring with me on my holiday to Egypt. We are about to enjoy two weeks of sunshine, swimming, beaches, relaxing - and it goes without saying - reading, starting Sunday. I know myself well enough to realise that even though we are travelling with some really good friends and their baby son (our little godson, that is!), I will eventually get bored on the beach if I have not got enough books with me.

The last time I was in Egypt (about 6 years ago), I read Zahir by Paulo Coelho amongst others. That was the perfect choice back then!

So, does anyone have any suggestions? Something fitting - like deserts, beaches, travels, the african continent, foreign countries, oceans and so on. Something that says this should be read in Africa!

Egypt 6 years ago - how time flies!

Busy busy!

It is taking ages adding all my books to my new app! I have spent hours - and I have not even done half of my library...yikes!

A busy bee!