Three cups of Teaing

I'm going to start by saying i liked this book much more than SALT. Greg was truly inspirational, and it was interesting to see how his schools came about. I enjoyed the beginning, how he was a climber and the struggles he faced with his crew. I imagine my brother would like this book too for that reason; he loves reading about climbing. While lost from a climb, Greg (somewhat, after hours and hours and hours of looking for a fellow climber or town) wanders into a tiny village. It's amazing how much this changes his life. He was and is a strange sort of person. I liked reading about him because he doesn't lead an average life. I think he would be somewhat difficult to be friends with, since he was rarely home and had different priorities than most, but he is definitely deserving of friends! Tara, especially, is a perfect match. Greg is very self-sacrificing and compassionate. He made a difference in so many lives in Pakistan, but he is still humble. Jean was a funny character too; he seemed harsh, but he was very generous. I think he helped show Greg how much they had helped Pakistani children.

Along with learning about Greg, I learned quite a bit about culture in the Middle East. Before i read Three Cups, i thought Pakistani people were just primitive and bad, in most cases. I know this is an awful conclusion to come to, but through the news, etc, the middle east gets a bad reputation. It's usually rare to hear about the kind people, like the ones Greg befriends. Greg is mostly positive, but when he says anything about not getting enough help, he manages through the care of others. I learned how muslims live their lives. I think it would be strange to convert to being a muslim after my life, because they are so strict with their religion, and i am not accustomed to that at all. Greg was open to Islam, which helped him to be more accepted. They eat very different foods, and the vocabulary Greg taught gave me a glimpse of Pakistani languages. They have different clothing and houses, and have different manners and customs. Northern Pakistan, if not all of Pakistan, is completely different than my home today. It's interesting to read about, because people are all the same in how they think and interact, but they are so different in other parts of the world.

Greg deserves the recognition he gets, but he continues to stay out of the limelight for the most part to continue to do his work. Thinking now, it's sad how most people probably think they can't help like Greg because of their lives. He gave up routine to help people in need, and that's surely not a normal route. The book shows that people CAN help, and i hope we make a difference too. Greg seems to appreciate attention in the form of donations and personal stories. I'm sure his patients and students make all his work worthwhile.

Three Cups functioned as an inspiration and teacher, and i'm glad to have read a book i probably wouldn't have picked out on my own.