Jordan

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


 * Entry #1**
 * Chapters 1&2**

Summary: This story is about a man named Greg Mortenson who is climbing the mountain K2 in Pakistan in memory of his younger sister, Christa. It took him much practice in order to begin his ascend up this legendary mountain. But after a failed attempt and rescue, he gets lost from his porter, Mouzafer, and spends the night in a cold cave. The next morning he finds his porter, all the while describing the incredible beauty of this place and his history with it. Such as the tales of Etienne Fine who collapsed at a very high altitude and had to be brought down to the base camp by the climbers immeadiately. Also, after meeting up with Mouzafer, he gets lost again on his way to Askole and ends up in a different town, Korphe, which is quite a ways from his actual destination. The chief in the village named, Haji Ali, takes care of Mortenson and treats him like family during his stay.

Discussion Director: This book has so far been very historical and informative so I feel I cannot decide whether or not I like it. I do have a few questions about it though. My first question is what ended up happening to Fine after the climbers brought him down from the high camp? I understand that he lost his toes but did he continue to climb since he was a professional or did he leave? Also, what happened to Mortenson before he was rescued? He talks about rope burns on his arms from the rescue but he doesn't mention exactly what happened - do you think that he will tell us in future chapters? My last question is what happened to Mortenson's friend, Darsney?

Chapters 3-7**
 * Entry #2

Summary: In this section of assigned reading, we learned a lot about the town of Korphe and Mortenson's stay in this very poor village. After the failed attempt up K2, he resides in this town in order to regain his strength and while there, he tries to occupy himself with "hobbies." He is shown the town by Haji Ali, and most importantly, the schools. There is no designated building or supplies to teach with. The children only have a teacher for three days out of the week because of the expensive cost of one plus, the students use the dirt and long sticks to write down notes and math problems. These poor children are deprived what we in richer countries take for granted. While back in the States, Mortenson tries to raise over a thousand dollars in order to keep the promise he made to build schools for the Pakistani children. The locals are very happy about this and when Mortenson honored his commitments. He wrote letters to respectful people around the world for support and only received one reply back; he also sacraficed some of his own luxury goods to help out the less fortunate in Pakistan.

Passage Master: "He was appalled to see eighty-two children, seventy-eight boys, and the four girls who had the pluck to join them, kneeling on the frosty ground, in the open. Haji Ali, avoiding Mortenson's eyes, said that the village had no school, and the Pakistani government didn't provide a teacher. A teacher cost the equivalent of one dollar a day, he explained, which was more than the village could afford. So they shared a teacher with the neighboring village of Munjung, and he taught in Korphe three days a week. The rest of the time the children were left alone to practice the lessons he left behind...the children sat in a neat circle and began copying their multiplication tables. Most scratched in the dirt with sticks they'd brought for that purpose. The more fortunate, like Jahan, had slate boards they wrote on with sticks dipped in a mixture of mud and water." (pg. 31-32) I thought that this passage was very important to the book as a whole. It describes the horrible conditions that the young children were going through because they wanted a good education and they didn't know any better; this also shows what inspired Mortenson to come up with such an important promise of building schools in Pakistan that changed many lives. Mortenson was shocked by the fact that they had no paper to write on or a pen to write with let alone a designated building or shack for the children to go to during the three days per week that they had a teacher. This is so different from our life, its hard to imagine taking history notes in the dirt with a stick while the we in America use technology like computers to take notes. Seeing all those children acting more mature then children in our society today by taking responsiblity of their own assignments and not goofing off while the teacher isn't there really shows how developed these kids are at such a young age. They have been through more as a child than most adults in the States have been through. (poverty, malnutrition, disease, death of family, war, etc.)

Chapters 8&9**
 * Entry #3

Summary: In these chapters, Mortenson shows the problems that are occurring because of his promise to build schools. He realizes that he can't just build **one** school for **one** poor Pakistani town because there are many more than that in that country. Also, people are getting in large fights over which town should have one of Mortenson's schools such as the arguements between Janjungpa and Akhmalu. He tells both of these important village leaders that he promised to help the people of Korphe and that is who he is helping first. When he arrives, Haji Ali greets him and tells him that before they build a school in the town, they need a big stone bridge to cross the great river. Currently they have a small cable car that is hanging on a very small wire; it creaks a lot and if it falls, you will die, so it is very unsafe for the townspeople. Also happening at the same time as this Marina, Mortenson's wife, has kicked him out of their house and has been migrating from one sad dwelling to another because he has no money. He gets a job as a trauma nurse during the horrible night shifts at a San Francisco hospital and burn center. He feels as though his life is falling apart at his time, but then he gets an inspirational call from Lou Reichardt. This K2 climber tells Mortenson to continue with his dreams and promises by calling Jean Hoerni and asking him for money for a bridge for the Korphe people.

Connector: Chapters 10-12**
 * Crossing the large river in the cable car to get to Korphe is like overcoming obstacles that are in the way in your life. Mortenson is trying to find away around this by making the people a bridge; but like the river, there are many challenges to this like the funding and the budget.
 * Education is also very important in both Pakistan and in the United States. Mortenson is try to build a school for less fortunate children while kids in the USA are going to school everyday for 9 months or so out of the year.
 * Entry #4

Summary: In these three chapters, Mortenson finishes building the bridge between Korphe and the outside world. The villagers are very happy and thankful about this because now they (the women espeically) can go visit family members and they create a stronger maternal bond. Mortenson is a taking a rest during the winter season and is preparing for his next project - to build a school in Korphe to educate not only boys but girls as well. While in San Francisco, Mortenson meets a wonderful women named Tara, they are the perfect match and get married after six days of meeting each other. The talk for hours because the conversation flows perfectly and soon Tara is pregnant. Mortenson goes back to Korphe to work and complete the school that he promised. Mortenson isn't as far along as he had hoped but keeps going with his friends behind him to back him up. He ends up becoming a little too controling but Haji Ali takes care of the situation. Haji Ali also takes care of the situation between Korphe and Haji Mehdi (the leader of Ashoke). He believes that the school should not be built because educating girls is against Muslic code - Haji Mehdi forces Haji Ali to give him 12 of his best rams as a price for the school to continue. Jean Hoerni decides that Mortenson is doing such a great job taking control and leading these people to years of education that he starts an organization for Greg. Building schools for all the 'stans' is his job and he will get an actual salary from doing this.

Researcher: Sir Edmund Hilary - ascended Mt. Everest for the first time on May 29, 1953, he was 33 years old and became one of the first climbers to reach the summit, after a very successful life he devoted his time to an organization that he funded called Himalyan Trust which helped the people of Nepal by building schools and hospitals. He is the inspiration to Greg Mortenson and he actually met him the night he met his wife, Tara. Tara's father was very good friends with "Ed on the Edge" and they hung out a lot and talked of their journeys up Everest. Also, Hillary was a part of the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition and reached the south pole in 1958 (he also went to the north pole a few years later)

Geography of Pakistan - I was curious to where exactly the Karakoram moutain range was and it is actually located in the northern highlands and in the south there is the Arabian sea and in the middle it is mainly a steppe plateau. Pakistan is one of the most populated countries in the world and it is about the size of Texas and Louisana combined. "Pakistan." __About.Com: Geography__. 1 June 1998. 22 May 2008 http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa060198.htm. "Geography of Pakistan." __Wikipedia__. 20 May 2008. 22 May 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Pakistan. "Sir Edmund Hillary." __Wikipedia__. 22 May 2008. 22 May 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Hillary.


 * Entry #5**
 * Chapters 13-14**

Summary: Mortenson returns to Pakistan to finish building the school in Korphe. Throughout this process, he was captured by the Wazir for a few days because he was looking for camp at dark. Mortenson greeted the guarding men politely but that was the only thing he knew how to say in their language. He was scared and didn't know what to do until he met up with another haji who let him go free from those parts of Afganistan. When he returns he finally finishes the school and heads home to his very pregnant wife, Tara. She ends up giving birth to a baby girl. Also in the end of our reading we hear that Jean Hoerni is dying of leukemia cancer and doesn't have much longer to live. His dying wish is to see a picture of the school that he funded - Mortenson grants this wish and stays with him during his last few days.

Discussion Director: If you were in Mortenson's position with the Wazir guards - what would you do? What did you think about the pictures in the middle of our reading? Pick one and write a short description (why you picked it, who's in it etc.)

Chapters 15-17**
 * Entry #6

Summary: Over the span of a few years, Mortenson is buidling more schools than ever (approximately a few each year) with all of the money that he inherits from Hoerni's will. Slowly, there is some tension with Mortenson's idea of the education of women. Although many people agree with this, many people disagree as well. This gets the government thinking he has other motives for being in Asia and getting so close to all the local rulers. There was thought that Mortenson would be thrown out of Asia, but that disaster was miraculously averted and he was allowed to keep building his schools. Throughout his time of panic, there was political panic between Pakistan and their mortal enemy, India. There has been a lot of fighting and many women have lost their homes and families. Here, Mortenson begins working on a refugee center for women. He gets them fresh water and it gives the women a warm place to stay during the cold winters. Mortenson continues to build schools in Pakistani towns and keeps the dream of educated women alive everyday.

Passage Master:
 * "'I've heard some people say Americans are bad,' she says softly. 'But we love Americans. They are the most kind people for us. They are the only ones who cared to help us.'"
 * This quote is from Fatima Batool who is talking about her love for Americans. I find this very interesting that she says that almost everyone loves Americans because I think that the sterotypical thing to say is that everyone hates Americans in The Middle East/Southwestern Asia region - although that could be just right now in 2008. I think that this was very kind of her to say but I think she is just saying that because she is a women, she is probably getting education for the first time and Mortenson is boosting women's rights (just a little bit). It is very important that we understand the point of view of the passage.

Chapters 17-19**
 * Entry #7

Summary: The Central Asia Institute is running low on funds so Mortenson tried to set up public speeches to different cities and towns all across America in order to get more monetary donations. Many people tell Mortenson that they are very interested in giving large donations to the CAI so Mortenson goes to visit them - where ever that may be - and he spends a night or so there to collect the money. Many times, Mortenson is sent on a wild goose chase and is never given the donation that was promised. Also during this time, Mortenson is practicing very unhealthy habits such as not sleeping, not eating right and not exercising at all. Many CAI members are shocked at Mortenson's appearance and it is a large turn off for donors as well as board members. Also during this reading, we see that Mortenson has a son named Khyber and what happens to him on September 11th. Actually, Mortenson was with McCown and they were both very close to Afganistan at the time. It was very nerve wracking and all the body guards had guns in hand, ready to fire. They were prepared for any threat.

Connector: As connector I will connect Mortenson's exprience during September 11th to mine. This was the first thing I thought of when I was reading this chapter.
 * Mortenson was located in Pakistan very VERY close to the Afganistan border on September 11th. He was with many other people and body guards too. There was lots of tension and the ungodly hour that they woke up at (I believe it was 4:30).
 * I was in Fredericksburg, VA, USA not at all close to the Afgan border. It was like any normal day - I woke up, went to school and things were the same as they always were. But after lunch, the teachers told us that there was a change of plans and both classes would be in the same room and we would watch the movie, Shiloh. I was really excited to see all my friends in the other class and watching a movie in the same day was making it seem like the best day ever! The teachers began to cry in the opening credits and I knew something was up but carried on my normal business. After school, I remember Rachel Z and her friend, Julia, were supposed to go home together. But Julia's mom told Rachel that she couldn't come over. Everyone started freaking out because this had never happened before. They ALWAYS went home with each other, even if they were sick!! (practically). I got home and turned on the TV hoping for Spongebob when instead I saw buildings catching on fire and people screaming, billowing smoke everywhere and complete chaos. My mom told me that "terrorists" took over air planes in the Middle East and purposefully ran them into those buildings killing as many people as possible. At the time I didn't understand. Of course I felt bad for those who died, but I didn't really know what was going on at the age of nine...

Chapters 20-21**
 * Entry #8

Summary: After 9/11, Mortenson received countless warnings from the US embassy to get out of Pakistan because of its distance from Afghanistan - it was one of the most dangerous places in the world at the time. Mortenson, ignoring all the warnings, continued traveling throughout Pakistan when one day he decided to try and cross the Afghanistani borders. The guard mutilated his passport so he tried going to all the big cities to get a temporary one in order to get around for a month. Mortenson was denied a passport in Skardu so he traveled to Katmandu. Here he was held hostage for a few days by part of the US military. They thought that Mortenson might know where Osama bin Ladan is so they questioned him endlessly about his work, even though they didn't really care. Mortenson ended up convincing the men that he didn't know where Osama was and he was freed and given a temporary passport. Back in Pakistan, there was lots of chaos with television broadcasters showing up trying to get in on the breaking story through a Muslim's point of view. Mortenson realized that the answer to stoping this war is to educate the children in Afghanistan. He starts trying harder than ever to come up with a plan to get across the borders and successfully help the innocent civilians that are being bombed everyday by the US. Many US citizens believe that Mortenson joined forces with the Pakistani's but the truth was he was merely trying to do his part to contribute to the war.

Researcher: - The Taliban
 * a Sunni Islamist and Pashtun nationalist movement
 * it ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 when its leaders were removed from power
 * currently engaged in a protracted guerrilla war against the current government of Afghanistan
 * headed by Mullah Mohammed Omar
 * many Talibans were actually from Western Pakistan which is why the military in Katmandu were so sure that some of the student's parents were members of the Taliban
 * implemented the "strictest interpretation of Sharia law ever seen in the Muslim world
 * known internationally for their mistreatment of women
 * they are NOT allowed to work or BECOME EDUCATED after the age of 8. -- this could be a problem for Mortenson
 * also, if women wanted an education, they had to revert to secret underground schools where they could potentially be killed (as well as their teachers) if they were caught.

Chapters 22&23**
 * Entry #9 (The final reading log)

Summary: A lot happened in the reading tonight! It all began with a journalist named Fedarko who came on a journey with Mortenson to try and get a hard hitting story about something big that was happening in Asia. They were way outside their comfort zone with they arrived in Korphe in Pakistan but that didn't stop them from getting an intense story. Fedarko's first morning in this small town consisted of a meeting with the town elders that was interrupted by the chief's daughter, Jahan. (This was a big deal for a woman to interrupt the men speaking privately and she completely ignored them while speaking to Greg) She came in to the meeting only to talk to Mortenson about her education. She the first woman graduate of the school that Mortenson built and she wanted to continue her dream of becoming a doctor and take medical training courses in Skardu. This was great but she needed 20,000 rupees to attend that class. So, she created a petition in English detailing what she would be doing in Skardu, what classes she would be taking, and the cost of it all. Mortenson asks every girl that builds a school for what they want to do when they grow up and each time he tells them that he will do everything possible - so right here on the spot Mortenson wipped out the money and gave it to her father who paid for her classes. Fedarko, who watched this whole thing happened, realized what a great story Mortenson, himself, was! He built schools for girls and other refugees who need help in Pakistan. Fedarko contacted his friend from the magazine //Parade// and they printed out his article about Mortenson. Mortenson received a huge number of fan mail and only one negative response came from it all. And to think that this mail was from people of different religions and races who all supported Mortenson and his idea. Mortenson got a huge raise on his paycheck as well as all who worked for him. A bit after this happened, Mortenson met the King of Afghanistan on a plane to Afghanistan and they talked about Mortenson's new project idea: bring women's education to Afghanistan. The king told Mortenson to speak with a personal friend of his - Sadhar Khan. Mortenson went through a lot just to meet this man he went many days without food or electricity. Also, he was almost blown up by landmines, almost hit by a huge truck in the Salang Tunnel, and he was almost killed in a schism between different opium dealers. Mortenson went through a lot but he loved every minute of it and thought it was all worth it. When Mortenson finally meets Sadar Khan, he prays to Allah that he will help him. And once Mortenson tells Sadar Khan who he is, Khan hugs him! It was an amazing connection and they immeadiately started to discuss plans for future schools that they will build together. At the very end, Mortenson says that by helping Khan build new schools he is already starting to 'climb' another internal mountain.

Discussion Director: On page 310, the fifth paragraph shows General Bashir's view of Osama bin Laden. He says that he is a creation of America. Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? How did you like the ending of the book? Was it what you expected? It was pretty open ended - did you like that?

The Taliban did not approve of the education of women and so many went to schools underground so they wouldn't get caught. Also on page 310, General Bashir was watching a live CNN feed and it showed many poor women carrying dead bodies out of bombed buildings - would that have stopped you, if you were Mortenson? Would you be afraid of being a target for the Taliban or another group against the education of women?