'Three Cups of Tea' by Greg Mortenson

Introduction

David Relin begins his introduction with an anecdote about riding in an old airplane with a Pakistani pilot and Greg Mortenson. The airplane is almost out of fuel and Mortenson realizes that they are flying the wrong way. They were flying through a craggy canyon and if they couldn't make it to their drop zone, there would be no suitable place to put the airplane down. Fortunately, as Relin hung on with white knuckles, the pilot, Brigadier General Bhagnoo, settled the skids at the center of a large H for helipad. He commented afterwards that it was a lovely sortie, but might not have been without Mr. Mortenson.

Discussion

It was at Korphe where Mortenson arrived emaciated and exhausted after his attempt to climb K2. It was also here where Mortenson's life changed course and where he found a meaningful path to follow for the rest of his life. Relin and Bhagnoo were welcomed along with Mortenson with open arms and the people of the village began to talk about how their dreams for the future had grown since the big American - Mortenson - had arrived ten years before. They were taken for a tour of the school Mortenson had helped build. Bhagnoo remarked that Greg Mortenson was the most remarkable man he had ever met. He had attracted the most under qualified and over achieving staff of any charitable organization on earth and had achieved well beyond any expectations. The staff consisted of people from every stratum of Pakistan's society and from all the warring sects of Islam. Soon, Relin became aware of the extraordinary character of Mortenson as well. Relin had heard many stories about Mortenson's adventures building schools for girls in the remote regions of Pakistan. After hearing all this, the author ...