Seminar Two Prep Sheet

Dictionary Terms
1.Implored: To call or pray for earnestly
2.Billeted: An official order directing that a member of a military force be provided with board and lodging.
3.Haggled: To cut roughly or clumsily.
4.Exuded: To cause to spread or ooze out in all directions.

Quotes
“Abdul intercepted Mortenson on the way to his room tsk-tsking at the tear, and suggested they visit a tailor” (Abdul 61).

For some reason this quote caught my eye more than once. I believe that this passage represents how dedicated Mortenson is to building the school. To me this quote explains that he doesn’t even care that his only clothing he has to wear is ripped, and that all he cares about is saving money to build the school. Mortenson has to live in those clothes until the school is complete. If it were me I would be making sure that I had good clothes to work in. On the other hand Mortenson does go to the tailor to get two new shalwar’s, but only because Abdul suggested it. He is a people pleaser and that’s the bottom line. Mortenson would not tell Abdul no and that’s why he went.

“Sahib, Greg Sahib” Abdul pleaded, “Much better for you to be the clean gentleman. For many will respect you” (Abdul 62).

This passage really solidified why Mortenson came back to build the school. A few lines before this quote Mortenson requests that both his new Shalwar’s be brown so that they wouldn’t show the dirt. Then Abdul says the quote which was mentioned above. Mortenson then “pictured the village of Korphe, where the population survived through the interminable winter months in the basements of their stone and mud homes, huddled with their animals around smoldering yak dung fires, in their one and only set of clothing.” He then proceeds on with only the brown Shalwar. To me this shows that the children and the way that they have to live is the reason he came back. He didn’t care whether everyone respected him or not, that wasn’t the point, the point was to build a school no matter what it took or what anyone thought.

“His Shalwar pocket was crammed full of receipts for hammers, nails, saws, nails, roofing and lumber worthy of supporting schoolchildren”(Mortenson 67).

I particularly enjoyed this quote because it explains that for one Mortenson was careful about his spending and made every rupee count. He wasn’t just carelessly spending money, he was actually bargaining to get the best price. Also this to me shows again how much he cares for the children, he didn’t buy to cheap lumber that was said to only last one year. Mortenson bought the best of everything so it would last as long as possible. You would think that he would be going for the cheap stuff because he only had $12,000, but no he had bought the best of the best. He wanted what was best for the children of Korphe and that’s what they are going to get.

Mortenson’s Website Summary #3

After reading this article about Mortenson I was astonished by the fact that he has built 141 schools totaling about 64,000 students. It’s astonishing to me that one man’s dream became reality. The writer of the Tyler Morning Telegraph explains” We were using him (Mortenson) as an example of how one person can make a difference …” she said. “(We wanted) to teach these students the power of with just one penny and one person, we can change the world one child at a time through education.” To me the article basically explains all the things that Mortenson has accomplished and how a lot of schools have contributed to the CAI that Mortenson founded to help fund his operation. The article also touches briefly on the subject that Mortenson will be trying to emphasize teacher training this year in addition to building 40 new schools.