Winter has arrived. As I look outside my window, I see rooftops, roads, and all things green, covered in a thick layer of snow. It’s the first major snowfall of the year.
When I was younger, I remember feeling overjoyed by the mounds of fresh snow, and welcoming it by wearing my snow pants and tobogganing down the hill in our school yard.
But now, things are a little different. I went out for a couple hours to shovel the driveway, and I couldn’t believe how cold it was. Every time I took a breath, I felt like the icy air was going to freeze my insides, even thought I was wearing a bazillion layers. I never remember it being THIS cold when I was younger! Brrrrr…
So, when I came back inside, I decided to make a cup of hot
tea to help myself defrost. I know hot
chocolate, cocoa and coffee can all do
the job too, but there’s just something special about a steaming cup of tea (or chai as
we like to call it) . As many South
Asians know, tea has all sorts of magical qualities. It can chase away the flu, help with digesting a meal or serve as a drink of choice when families visit to solidify marriage unions.
However, Greg Mortenson, an American mountain climber, learned just what kind of value a simple cup of tea has in Pakistani and Afghani society.
In 1993, he came across a small Pakistani village in the Karakoram mountains after an unsuccessful quest to climb K2, the second tallest mountain the world. Inspired by the kindness of the village people, he decided to undertake mission to build the village their very own school.
As he shared numerous cups of tea with village people across the mountainous regions of Pakistan an Afghanistan, Mortenson quenched his thirst to provide education for thousands of children who would never have gotten the opportunity otherwise.
Mortenson help build over 55 schools, including schools for girls. In the novel, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin, the authors recount Mortenson’s skillful ability to submerse himself in a culture so different from his own, in order to “promote peace…one school at a time.”
Although a cup of tea has many purposes, Haji Ali describes the role of a cup of tea in Mortenson's humanitarian efforts best. Ali, a village Chief from the Karakoram Mountains says "Here in (Pakistan and Afghanistan), we drink three cups of tea to do business: the first you are a stranger, the second you become a friend, and the third, you join our family, and for our family we are prepared to do anything - even die."
Take a break from the cold and curl up with this worthwhile winter read. Mortenson's extraordinary and selfless efforts are not only going to make you thirsty for a hot beverage, but will warm your heart.
Keep warm!
Until next time... WORD!
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