A Small But Spirited Group Discuss Three Cups of Tea.
Locate your pointer in the middle of the picture to see the caption. Click to enlarge it.
Use the web page back button to return the picture to its normal size.
Ages ranged from senior citizens to a four-month-old baby at the small but spirited discussion session held in the Van Doorn room at the Fremont Main Library on September 10.
Rosemarie Everett of AAUW – she’s VP of Programs – led the discussion and Genevieve Angelides, chair of Three Cups of Tea informed people about the scope of the program and how it all got started.
Rosemarie opened the discussion by holding a teacup in her hand and reminding book talk attendees of what it must have been like for Greg to be a guest in Korphe, Pakistan and what the tea that Greg drank there (with yak butter) must have tasted like.
Rosemarie herself is extremely well traveled and will be going to her sixth continent in November. That’s why she was so fascinated with the book about an exotic land she had actually visited.
One of the participants felt that the tea in the book represents patience. “This book,” she said, “is about patience, fortitude and understanding. Mortenson knew how to work well within the people’s culture.”
A participant from Central Asia outlined some of the challenges of people living in that area. “Some people,” he said, “make as little as $1 to $2 a month and are in no position to offer their children an education. And there is little hope for change. Mr. Mortenson brings some hope by offering a secular education to children. That can change their world.”
The discussion session was held a day before the 9/11 commemoration and one of the participants felt that what Greg was doing was an important step toward peace and away from suicide bombers.
“He’s doing the biggest thing you can hope for,” said a gentleman from Afghanistan.