3+cups+Discussion+Notes

//Three Cups of Tea Dissucssion Notes//

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 * //Our general first thoughts? Did we like the book? Do we like the author and his writing style? What did we like the most? Where do we think the book is going? Did we have any concerns about what our reading is about, were we confused?//**=====

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We were slightly dissapointed at the beginning of the book with the first 6 Chapters, we thought it was good but we were surprised with what the book started to introduce us to. The first two chapters were alot about Mortenson trying to climb K2. Though we all found it interesting to learn about his sister Christa who never recovered from an illness and died of a massive seizure, we weren't very interested in everything else. We thought Christa was important, it was important to Mortenson's story about her necklace, and why he was climbing the mountain all in all for her. Bu throughout the first 6 Chapters Mortenson was giving us excess information that a lot of the time was boring and unesscessary. We think the book will hopefully improve, because now the actual story begins about Mortenson trying to build the school for the Pakistan people in the village and build the self esteem, of the gracious and humbling children he came in contact with. Most of us are just now concerned about where the story is going, and we are hoping that it is going to greatly improve because at the moment like I said we are dissapointed. We didn't have any confusion with the story, it was pretty straight forward just following Greg Mortenson, who he comes in contact with and what he is doing to complete his promise that he made to Haji Ali, that he WILL build a school for them (PAGE 33). Something else we disscussed that we really enjoyed was a majority of the information that was given to us in Chapter 4 "Self Storage" about his family. We thought learning about his family was important and intersting to get a real feel for who Mortenson is. Learing about Mortensons background we discussed it was impressive, as was his parents, and Christa's because even though she had problems preforming everday tasks, Mortenson made sure she had independence and preform manual labor tasks. It was impressive, inspirational and showed a lot about Mortensons character and foreshadows the future of the book for us. For our essential question we have been going back and forth on whether or not history makes a great individual or if a great individual makes history. In the beginning of the book we thought that history was making Greg Mortenson who he was because when having to take care of his sister Christa, and travelling with his family to a lot of foreign places doing activities with like the one he is doing now with the Pakistani people made him grow up to help others today and do the same because he was brought up that way. But now that Greg Mortenson has entered Pakistan he is having to create his own way. He is having to learn about the culture, and learn what works for them to make a great school. He has to use his own contacts and take the intiative to get him in the direction he wants to go.===== ​
 * __Wednesday, May 5th 2010: CHAPTERS 7 and 8:__ Ramesses**

There were some confusion as to where Mortenson was. He was not in Korphe like some of us thought yet that is where he wanted to go however the other villagers took Mortenson to his village.
 * What were some confusing parts?**

We first believed that he was changing history because his sister influenced his childhood, and also his parents work which brought him up to do the work his parents did. His history back then affected what he is doing now. But now we see that in Pakistan he is having to create his own oppurtunities, he is having to figure out ways to fund the school, how the work is going to get done, and so many other factors that go into building the school. We shall see what else helps us determine our decision.
 * Did anything stand out more in these chapters that would help us relate back to our essential questinon?**

We are seeing that he is really starting to fufill hsi promise to the children, and it isn't just about his mountain climbing. We are reading about what we essentially thought we were going to start our book wiht.
 * What were some good things about these chapters?**

//Greg Mortenson's obsession with the image of being a Pakistani, and being percieved as one.?// He isn't obsessed, that is to strong of a word. He wants to learn about thier culture, he wants to be like them so he can create a school modified to thier culture. When his dad built the hospital in Tanzinia because his dad learned so much about the people in Tanzania and adopted their culture, he was able to say to the Tanzanian people when he finished the hospital that he didn't build they built. Maybe Mortenson is striving for the same thing wanting them to feel accomplished.
 * Other questions discussed?**


 * __May 9th, 2010 Chapters 9 and 10 DISCUSSION NOTES: Ramesses__ **

These chapters were pretty straight forward. What were some good points that help tie to the essential question? ** Since the first chapters we see that man changes history rather than history shapes man. We see that if Mortenson never started the project their would not have been any schools built, the town would not have the bridge.
 * What was confusing or misleading about this chapter**?

__May 10th, 2010 Chapters 11 and 12 DISCUSSION NOTES: Ramesses__

These chapters were also pretty straight forward. The pace begins to pick up and we see Mortenson going back and forth from Pakistan to America. He takes some time to stay with Tara Bishop his new wife.
 * What was confusing or misleading about this chapter**?

As far as the essential question goes, Mortenson and Jean have done a lot for the organization that helps it progress. Since the organization progresses the project of building schools goes faster. Mortenson wants to build more and more schools.
 * What were some good points that help tie to the essential question?**

__** May 12th, 2010 CHAPTERS 13 and 14 DISCUSSION NOTES: Ryan **__

It was a lot more interesting because he got kidnapped, it was kinda scary but suspenseful at the same time. This was one of our favorite chapters as a group. People really seemed to like the action, and detail about him being alone in this room blindfolded, and the suspense of how he got in and away from there.
 * 1. What did you guys think about these chapters?**

We were confused about the kidnapping. He was all of a sudden in the back of a car, and he was riding to this random place by people we hadn't known about. Then he was now getting sued as well for teaching women and religious reasons. But that was the only main confusion.
 * 2. Did you find anything confusing?**

There he still is a foreigner no matter what. People are not going to like him no matter what. So it makes sense for him to get kidnapped. He thought he was going to die, it was the perfect scenario, for him to feel like he is going to die, and then when they took off the blindfolded he realized the gunshots he was hearing was in celebration, of them giving him money and the building of the school. VERY CONFUSING!
 * 3. Why did they kidnapped him? Why did it make him feel scared and when was it a perfect setup?**

We don't think it can get much worse, its at a peak and it could only get better. We think it will talk more about his school building, and that they build more schools, and there will still be more conflict with building them. But overall we like the book so far.
 * 4. How do you feel about this book this far?**

This last set of chapters where our favorite. The action and the suspense of the story of this scary part, made this last set of chapters the best. __**May 13th, 2010 Chapters 15 and 16** DISCUSSION NOTES: **Ryan**__
 * 5. Best Part so Far?**

Kind of a let down, because it wasn't very exciting. A lot of stuff happened, as far as how many schools he is building. Supreme Council in Iran is on his side, religion factored out of his plans, and schools. He is accepting tons of girls, and there is a specific girl "Shakeela," who Mortenson allows to go to thier school, and she is a very good learner, and this is an example of how the man is creating history and letting other people learn.
 * 1. What did you think about the reading?**

The story about Shakeela was random and through us off. but it wasn't confusing, the jump to it was.
 * 2. Did you find anything Confusing?**

It was a really big step for the people. They don't want to westernized, but the supreme council see's it as a good idea, because it gives the people a chance to learn. These people can also help Mortenson to, because he is helping them. They see it as a positive (supreme council)
 * 3. What did you think about the Fatwa Charge on Mortenson? Thoughts on the final decision?**

Yes he is doing an awesome job. He is leading this organization in the perfect direction and has seemed to get through all of the hard ships, and found ways to get the job done. He can't advance in the job since Jean Hoerni gave him complete control basically.
 * 4. How do you think Mortenson is doing as the Director of the CAI?**

History (in the form of technology and the support of others such as Jean Hoerni and the Supreme Council) has allowed the individual (Greg Mortenson) to shape the future through the building of schools
 * 5. With Mortenson's plan to keep building on building the schools, in relation to that, how does the essential question come into play with his situation?**

He will keep building schools. Maybe he will have another kid.
 * 6. What do you expect for the next 7 chapters?;**

__**Chapters 17-18

1. What did you think?**__ We thought it was pretty interesting. it was cool that he met, and got to know people in particular that are going through hardships. It wasn't as good as 13-14 but a close second because of all the personal experience that was interesting.

__**2.Anything Confusing?**__ Trying to get money--> but then it jumps right into the baby. the jump was pretty confusing but other than that it was pretty straight forward.

Chapters 19-20 May 18th
They weren't as interesting as the chapters where Greg got kidnapped, but they were ok. It was interesting because the chapters took place around the 9/11 attacks and how people reacted to them. The Pakistani people, despite not even knowing what the World Trade Center is, knew how big a deal it was. The madrassas embodied a similar thought going on in the minds of the terrorists, though the madrassas were to raise extremists rather than balanced educated adults as Greg's schools were. These events that took place in these last couple chapters help show how the individual affects history. Even though the 9/11 attacks influenced Greg and his ability to build schools, the events were carried out by other individuals and so it's really just individuals affecting other individuals by creating these events. Guess no one understood that part...
 * How'd you like the last two chapters?**
 * How did these chapters affect your understanding of the main question?**
 * Who was the Muslim group who got rid of the second Fatwa?**

Chapters 21-23 May 21st
Didn't like the end because it was just a happy ending that trailed off to saying he would go on a build more schools. Didn't entirely like it because we expected to be more interesting but the only parts that really grabbed our attention was when he was kidnapped by the Taliban. The final chapters wrapped up how the individual makes history and the book's overall idea was that the individual (in this case Greg Mortenson) changes history.
 * How did everyone like these chapters?**
 * What did everyone think of the book overall?**
 * How did these chapters make you think of the question and what is your answer to the question after reading this whole book?**