Nia

=Nia's Reading Log (Researcher, Discussion Director, Passage Master, Connector)=

Entry # 1

Summary: We are introduced to the main character Greg Mortenson, he has gotten lost while trying to return to the city of Asokle after a failed attempt to climb K2 in the memory of his little sister. He is on a trail that he doesn't recognize and doesn't have the proper gear to get him through more than a night, he finds his guide and is back on the trail again, he then gets lost AGAIN!!- he is now 8 miles away from his destination when he gets lost agian. He arrives at a completley different city, and spends the night among foreign people.

Researcher: Greg Mortenson = this is similar to an autobiography in that the book is about him and his experiance in Pakistan ; he was born in 1957- he was not only a mountain climber but also a US Army Medic and Humanitarian from Montana - climbing K2 in honor of his sister who died from epilepsy, set up a number of orginizations since the climb. He loves children but his main focus is girls in honor of his little sister

Time Period: The climb took place in 1993 and afterwards is when he met the children that inspired him to build the school; there is still alot of strife between Pakistan and India. '93 was also the first time in their history that the Supreme Court overturned a presidential order'

Mortenson's Orginizations [|www.penniesforpeace.org http://www.ikat.org/|www.ikat.org|www.ikat.org|www.penniesforpeace.orghttp://www.ikat.org/|www.ikat.org]

Entry #2

Summary: Mortenson is lloking back on his trip to K2 and realizes that even though he didn't accomplish what he set out to do, there was another purpose in his visit. He saw all of those children and saw that they really didn't have a teacher or a real place of learning. He decides to build a school. It wasn't easy though. He had to live put of his car, wrote over 500 letters to people for help, and had to eat the same thing everyday in order to save up enough money to build the school. When he returned to Pakistan with the money he began to become accostomed to the daily prayers and the importance of Islam to the people. He was respected by the people and some even thought he was from Bosnia not America- he was known as a man who set out to help the people of Pakistan and they loved him for that.

Discussion Questions: Why do you think Mortenson wrote so many letters (over 500 to various leaders in society) yet he only received one reponse to it? DO you think that one response was all he needed? What does Mortenson think about the Pakistani society? (religion, culture, etc) Have you ever felt like an outsider in a place; can you relate to what Mortenson thinks and feels? During the reading i thought alot about how i would have not had the drive or courage to live out of my car, writing letters to people i could only hope would help- i don't think i could have done it, what do you guys think? What was the problem with the Karakoram Highway and how did affect Mortensons journey? WHen they finally reach Korphe how does Mortenson feel, why do you think he feels this way? Questions about the future: what will happen between Mortenson and Marina? Will he be able to build the school with what he has? Does he have enough money? he only has 12000 dollars and i keep wondering if it is enough!

Entry #3

Summary Mortenson has seemd to hve failed again. he got all the supplies but that is about it. After getting to a village near Korphe to visit with some old aquaintances, Mortenson gets caught in the middle of a 'promise' he made.Everyone wanted him to build a school for them and it took a long time for him to finally get to Korphe, where he seems to run into another problem. A bridge needs to be constructed to get the people and supplies across. The current way was over a unsteady rope suspended high above rocks. He returns home to find that his girlfriend has moved on. He looses his job, no transportation, and he is quite lonley. He then gets a call from a famous fellow climber that gives him courage, that it just may take a while before to complete- it is a job much harder than climbing K2.

Passage Manager "'I wish to thank Mr. Girek Mortenson for honoring us and coming to build a school for the Khane village' Janjungpa said...'Yes one school as you promised,' Janjunga said, gazing intently around circle of men as he spoke, as if delivering a summation to a jury. 'A climbing school'." pg. 88 paragraph 4. I chose this because it almost seems like everything will go perfectly he has the supplies and he is close to Korphe but then he is suprised by the fact that not only Korphe is expecting a school but also Khane and he is not prepared for that. "But we have decided. Before the ibex can clim K2, he must learn to cross the river. Before it is possible to build a school, we must build a bridge. This is what Korphe needs now." pg. 97 paragraph 5. Yet another problem in his plan to build the school. This shows that building the school can't happen without a few other essential things, that cost money...that he doesn't have. "The people have spoken" pg. 102 top of the page. Greg relates this phrase to everything that is going on in his life. This is when everything has seemingly fallen apart. He has no girlfriend, he was fired from his job, and he was sleeping on the floor in a hallway- how much worse could life get? "How could they put so much faith in him when he had so little in himself" pg. 105 paragraph 4. I chose this because this is where i think we see Greg at his lowest so far. He begins to really question himself and if he is doing the right thing. He doesn't believe in what he is doing anymore.

Entry #4

Summary He is married! Greg was finally able to get Mariana. She tried to get him back but he turned her down. His progress with the school was still going pretty slow until he met another American on his trip who helped him get support. The there is Hoerni, who keeps funding him and giving him money. The bridge has been completed and witht the help of Hoerni, Greg is te Director of the Central Asia Institute. He married a climbers daughter after only knowing her for 6 days. They later moved to Montana (near her mother) and are about to start a family, with one child on the way. The school is now really underway, the roofing is all that is left to do! There is a brief conflict between teh Haji of another village but it was resolved.

Connector - Haji Medi reminds me a little of todays government (no offense)- taking money from people and then not really doing anything for them

- the Shia and Sunni issue is similar to small scale genocide. While there are not mass killings, a specific group are stopping a bus in order to kill those that are not the same as them

- The sunni vs. Shia way of praying- similar to many different religions. For example catholic vs. baptist- there both forms of Christianity but there are different rules for each and it may be inapproproate or sometimes offensive if those rules are substituted for another

- the relationship and quick marriage between Greg and Tara reminds me of a sappy love movie- finding love at first sight, just knowing that someone is the right one- almost doesn't seem like it can happen for real

- the idea of 3 cups of tea (stranger, guest, then family) is a unique idea reminds me of similar things we do in the US but not in teh same way. For example when you first meet someone, they are a stranger, then you see them a few more times you become familiar with them and comfortable, then you see them all the time and you are always hanging out like family.- it is more of a ritual in Korphe, where the importance is not as great in the US

Entry # 5

Summary:

So the school has finally been completed! It took him awhile to do, especailly because he was kidnapped by the Wazir. He was held hostage for about 8 days but im sure it felt more like an eternity. He was given a single time maazine to look through and couldn't communicate with the guards because they spoke a different language all together. The he met another Haji that eventually freed him, after learning about the work he was doing with the schools (which he ives him alot of money for) and he is able to return to his pregnant wife. Hoerni is dying after being diagnosed with cancer. He wants the school to be finished as soon as possible so he can see a picture of it before he dies. Hoerni donates 1 million dollars to the CAI before he dies. Mortenson is able to bring him the picture. His wife gives birth to a baby girl. Moretnson takes care of Hoerni and serves as his nurse in his lasts days. He died in January of '97.

Researcher:

The Talian (huge focus in this reading) - This period of time marks the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan and the rise of Osama Binladen except Mortenson didn't know what was going on and ended up in the middle of it. What is it?- They are a group of students that came to power during Afghanistan's long civil war. Managed 90 % of territory in Afghanistan and had poor treatment towards women. Groups of //taliban// ("religious students") were loosely organized on a regional basis during the occupation and civil war. Although they represented a potentially huge force, they didn't emerge as a united entity until the //taliban// of [|Kandahar] made their move in 1994. In late 1994, a group of well-trained //taliban// were chosen by Pakistan to protect a convoy trying to open a trade route from Pakistan to Central Asia. They proved an able force, fighting off rival //mujahideen// and warlords. The //taliban// then went on to take the city of Kandahar, beginning a surprising advance that ended with their capture of Kabul in September 1996.

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/taliban.html

Entry #6 05/27/08

Summary Mortenson is spending alot of time and losing alot of sleep over the CAI. He has alot of educators on his board and it getting alot of support, more than he ever could have imagined. He has built over a dozen schools and is widley known throughout most of Pakistan. Mortenson was not only getting requests to build schools, but also to build empowerement centers for the women of the village and after that work for the men, the job requests are endless, and Mortenson found himself not being able to answer them all. He dedicates the Korphe school and brings his wife and daughter with him but he is being followed and researched because some people of the government are suspicious of him. He is finally given the papers (in a red velvet box) that allow him to continue building schools and he is not thrown out of Pakistan like he was expecting to be. There is rising tension and conflict between India and Pakistan, civilians along with soldiers are dying and the people of one village in particular called Brolmo had to completely relocate themselves to a place that was very unfamiliar to them. Mortenson statrts focusing on the greater education for girls and therefore constructs a refugee school for the girls who were displaced because of all the fighting.

Discussion Director

What do you think of the work that Mortenson is doing? Did you expect that he would be able to build so many schools?

Faced with some opposition from other Haji's and the government what would you have done and why? (meaning would you have voluntarily left Pakistan or would you stay and continue to build until they forced you out) Had you heard about the 'Kargil Conflict' before this book? If so, did you learn anything you didn't already know? If not, what was your reaction to it?

Take look at the quote on the top of page 224 said by Fatima Batool in regards to americans, do you think that the good done by one person in our country could/should change the way they think about the whole country? What i mean is Fatima says that Americans are not bad after the kindness she has seen through Mortenson, do you think this is a correct assumption? why or why not?

Entry #7 5/28/08

Summary In this reading Mortenson is continuing his work but the funds of CAI are dwindiling and he is making speeches to crowds of 3 people, well not always, but he is having trouble...its almost liking he is spending more money than he is bringing in. There is also the point where he is taking 3 and 4 months in Pakistan and with his family and the birth of a new child, his wife is not very happy. He gets very little sleep over the Kargril Conflict and spends most of his time hiding out in the basement. This turns off quite a few of his board members. Then he returns to Pakistan in late summer 2001 and remains there through September. On September 11 he was in Pakistan partying and sleeping from the inaugaration of one of his schools when he gets the news about what happened. He is with George McCowan who is worried out of his mind about being held hostage, while Mortenson is tkaing everything one step at a time. Haji Ali, who was like a father to Mortenson has died leaving him witht the advice to listen to the wind.

Passage Manager

" He accomplshed alot. But I felt we could do so much more if Greg agreed to run CAI more responsibly." pg. 230 top of page This was said by Jennifer Wilson about Greg Mortenson, she feels that he is not taking his job as an director seriously. He hides out in his basement and doesn't answer the phone or the tons of emails he gets. I choose this because before, when he first began he was eager to answer the phone and eager to do all the work but now he tries to get away form it.

"What we are trying to do may just be a drop in the ocean...but the ocean would be less because of that missing drop." Said by Mother Teresa but quoted by Greg Mortenson on the bottom of pg. 227. Mother Teresa was one of his heroes and she died, but he makes it a point to keep her beliefs alive. I chose this quote because of teh significance it has. While you may only be making a difference on a extremly small group you are making a difference and without that, it wouldn;t be the same.

"I request that America look into our heatrs,...and see that the great majority of us are not terrorists, but good and simple people. Our land is stricken with poverty because we are without education." said by Syed Abbas at the inaugaraiton of Changazi's schools in the 6th paragraph on page 257. I think this is the single most important passage of this reading. I picked it because it voices what all Americans think...that all arab muslim are terroists. That is not true, just because a few people caused destruction, the whole thing shouldn't be placed on the people of the whole nation.

Entry #8 5/29/08

Summary

The tension has really stareted to rise between the US and Afganistan. After the Taliban flees there is talk about giving Osama Binladen up but they don't..the government thinks they can avoid war. US promises to help aid Afghanistan but has not done it very well. Bombs are being dropped everywhere and many innocent civilians are being killed, the people hate America now. Mortenson ignores countless warning to leave and return home, and instead insits on checking out his schools. He believes that the conflict in Afghanistan stems from the lack of education..the key is to educate the children. People in and America and Afghanistan have issues with what Mortenson beleives. Many Americans considered him a traitor and he got a lot of hatemail but also alot of encouragement. he started going around the country making speeches and raising the awarness of what was happeneing on teh other side of teh world.

Connector:

The empowerment that the women of Afghanistan are feeling after the Taliban and during the war is similar to the rising rights of women during World War I and II in AMerica. This shows that while they are on completly different continents and beleive different things, they all want more rights. Rights to education, to jobs, and to have a larger role in their communities.

This book shows the other side of the war, the part that we don't here about on the news. This shows what the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan were feeling. After the ombing of the trade centers, both the US and Afghanistan changed dramatically, and neither will ever be the same. It is assumed that the US as suffered the most, but in reality both places have suffered great losses. The military was bombing and killing thousands of innocent people while the terrorist attacks did the same thing. While one may have triggered the other, the effects are very similar ( not exactly!) and that is something that the people of the world today should realize

Entry #9 (Final One!) 5/31/08 Summary Mortenson finally got hos story heard. He took a reporter with him who was looking t report on both sides of the line Afghanistan and Pakistan. He saw the work that Mortenson was doing and how he was really helping people and making a difference. He decides to talk about his story. the funds of CAI skyrocket to over a million dollars and even more. Everyone got a raise, Mortenson finally hired some help and he was excited to return. He stillfaced some opposition by Hajis but they fatwa was overturned. He even met witht the former king of Afghanistan who had been exiled and had now returned. From there he was able to meet with and make plans to bbuild even more schools with the man who had the most power. Commandhan Khan.He is continuing to build schools and has dozens in all parts of Pakistan and spreading into Afghanistan.

Researcher Opium - I didn't know it had become such a big problem in Afghanistan. Along with forecasting another near-record opium harvest in Afghanistan this year, the United Nations says that cultivation of cannabis, or marijuana, is also on the rise. Afghanistan was already one of the world's leading marijuana producers, and farmers in 2007 are estimated to have expanded their cannabis crops by almost 30 percent over 2006. In its [|latest report], the [|United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime] warns that even more marijuana will likely be grown in 2008.While opium production in 2008 might decline slightly from 2007's records levels, the output continues to rise steeply in the southern provinces, which account for 69 percent of the country's total crop. Most of the heroin made from Afghanistan's opium poppies eventually makes it way to Europe, though it is also fueling a rise in heroin addiction—and drug money—in neighboring Pakistan

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/news-desk/2008/2/6/another-huge-opium-harvest-in-afghanistan.html