Do you want to fly? Would you like be invisible? How about superhuman strength or X-ray vision? My superpower of choice is to be able to speak every language in the Universe - from Elven to Italian, Mandarin to Romulan, cat to bat, and everything in between. I'd like to hear (or receive, if it's a telepathic language) everybody's story in their own language and understand all the delicate nuances intelligent beings can fashion. Speaking of stories . . . think of the stories these guys could tell. Imagine talking to Thor in Asgardian or being able to translate all the spells from the stacks at Hogwart's (BTW - the best class EVER!). So what superpower would you choose?
Helping the people of Korphe seemed to be a better way for Mortenson to achieve what he wanted for his sister, to help other people in the biggest way he can. In order for Mortenson to build this school he would have to spend the next few years away from his family but the people he did bring with him to help build this school made it all worth while. His sister would have wanted nothing but this, Mortenson knew that this, if anything, would be a much better way to reach out and give something back to his little sister rather than climing K2 and leaving a necklace on the very top.
ReplyDeleteOne thing about Mortenson's background that might have helped him to build a school in Korphe is the fact that he was born and raised in a country (kenya) that is very similar to Korphe in many respects. It is geographically isolated from the developed world, economically poor to the developed world, and socially very hospitable unlike the developed world. On that level Mortenson might feel a much deeper bond with the people of Korphe and a great appreciation for the difficulty of their situation. I'm also going to agree with Caragurl and say that Mortenson might very well feel that as far as means of honoring his sister go, building a school for girls in a place very similar to where they grew up would seem to fit the bill. Also there is again the fact that the people of Korphe were very hospitable to Mortenson in his time of need, and he would naturally feel the desire to thank them appropriately. Building a school would, again, fit the bill.
ReplyDeleteMortenson's family background has encouraged him to take a brief decision, to build a school for the people of Korphe. He has witnessed how the people in Africa lived under the poverty line since he was a kid. His parents once had a missionaries teaching in Africa. His father himself had ever built a hospital for the Tanzanian people. This fact had forced him to do great things just like his father did. Moreover, building a school for the people of Korphe could be an honor to his sister, Christa
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