Three Cups of Tea November 2, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in Middle East.Tags: Afghanistan, Arabic, Greg Mortenson, Middle East, Pakistan, Three Cups of Tea
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Just finished Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time written by co-authors Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. Read it in preparation for the forum speech he gave at Brigham Young University last week. Got a chapter short of deadline but finally finished a week later.
To me it’s a very cool story of a guy who was in the right place at the right time and willing to do something remarkable. People must have thought he was crazy in the beginning. He was. For all logical reasons. Yet, it turned out to be exactly what the people of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and America needed.
I work on this side of the ocean trying to help students understand the Middle East. Reading this book makes me feel like I’m part of this big adventure sweeping the country. I just read another article today about a new teacher of Arabic in Memphis, Tennesee of all places.
Before this report becomes all glowing and no guts, I will add a few other things.
1-Something about the writing was jolting me around. Maybe it was because I knew enough of the story, I wanted to get to the meat.
2-I’m a little sad there were so many references to the Nobel Peace Prize. I definitely feel Greg Mortenson is a great candidate for the prize but I thought it was a little tactless to mention it so many times in his own book. Understandably people were quoted referring to it and Mortenson was not the only author of the book. This is why meeting him in person helped me resolve that concern I had. See my post below about his coming to Provo.
3- We all can be dismissive to a certain degree. There were a few times I cringed at some dismissive ways “Europeans” and “Americans” were sometimes sized up in the book, though. Many of the references come from typical stereotypes. American stereotypes of Europeans. World stereotypes of Americans. The thought that kept going through my mind is how many dedicated European humanitarians I’ve met around the world and many Americans are interested in more than the bottom line figure in the bank. (Another concern which was resolved by his presentation.)
Two of my favorite quotes from the book:
“The only way we can defeat terrorism is if people in [Pakistan and Afghanistan] where terrorists exist learn to respect and love Americans,” Mortenson concluded, “and if we can respect and love these people [in Pakistan and Afghanistan]. What’s the difference between them becoming a productive local citizen or a terrorist? I think the key is education.” pg. 268
“…You have to attack the source of your enemy’s strength. In America’s case, that’s not Osama or Saddam or anyone else. The enemy is ignorance. The only way to defeat it is to build relationships with these people, to draw them into the modern world with education and business. Otherwise the fight will go on forever.” –Brigadier General Bashir Baz pg 310
Finding a moderate Arab voice October 16, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in Middle East.Tags: Arab, Middle East, Moderate Arabs
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I am very turned off by extremists in any direction. I came to value moderate views living among Israelis and Palestinians. I saw the futility of bunkering into a position that ultimately leads no one anywhere. The win only creates a loss creating another need to win.
I want to find moderate Arab voices. I didn’t even know they existed but I think I might be starting to stumble upon them. Arabs who can check some of the passion and bring logic and common sense to the table. These are Arabs I am beginning to respect and even admire. I am lucky that my co-teacher Mohamed El Naggar is very moderate and sensible.
As he speaks about the Arab states and their relationship to the West I can feel my perspective slowly changing. Our whole community is lucky to have him visit schools. If Americans in general could see a moderate Arab voice, I can’t even imagine what could happen.
Hosting a Jordanian Administrator October 1, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in Middle East.Tags: American Councils, Egypt, high school, Jordan, Middle East, NMELRC
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Abeer Harazneh, an administrator from Jordan, is staying with me tonight beginning her 10 day visit to Provo High School and Brigham Young University. She will later be staying with administrators from the high school shadowing them during the day. I’m to facilitate the cultural adjustments between Jordan and the US. I’m brushing up on my Jordanian dialect which is pretty weak after being submersed in Egypt for so many months.
Tomorrow she has an all-star cast to instruct her and take her around BYU, which houses a world-renowned Arabic program and the National Middle East Language Resource Center (NMELRC).
This is now the third program I’ve participated in with American Councils for International Education. This summer I participated in ISLI which took me 6 weeks to Egypt for intensive Arabic emersion. We are now involved with TCLP (Teachers of Critical Languages Program) by hosting an Egyptian teacher for a year, Mohamed El Naggar. This is the Host a Jordanian Administrator program. Our school and much of the valley has caught the spirit of the Middle East. Many are excited to have these visitors come into their classrooms and community meetings. Dr. Kirk Belnap and Dr. Maggie Nassif of the NMELRC have been very supportive and willing to help facilitate these experiences.
Mohamed El Naggar September 7, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in A Comment.Tags: Arabic, high school, Middle East, Mohamed El Naggar
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Mohamed El Naggar is out exchange teacher from Egypt this year. He has been a great asset.
Taraq Ibn Ziyad July 13, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in A Comment, Middle East.Tags: Andulusia, Arabic, Middle East, Straights of Gibralter, Taraq Ibn Ziyad
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Classes are very interesting. We had a literature and a media class today. The part I love is seeing the world from the eyes of the Middle East. For example: Taraq Ibn Ziyad opened Andulusia (Spain) and the Straights of Gibralter are named after him. In Arabic it’s called, “Gebel Taraq” or mountain of Taraq. We learned about the educational system and which news papers are the party line and which are more free. Sometimes I honestly feel like I’m in an opposite world. I’m not sure if that makes sense but it makes sense to me. (But then again I only speak English online these days so my English probably sounds a little funny.)
Accosted by Germans June 29, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in A Comment, Middle East.Tags: Alexandria, Arabic, Egypt, Frankfurt, Germans, Middle East
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I was a very jet lagged American asleep on a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Alexandria. I don’t know what I did but in the middle of the flight the German woman sitting behind me violently shook my seat (it felt like a mild car crash) and yelled at me in German for quite a while. The flight attendent finally came and removed her and her husband. I stayed half unconscious and figured if there was a real problem they would speak to me in English. Funny enough, it was my Syrian neighbor sitting across the aisle who stood up for me.
I like the Middle East a little more each time I come. There were a few key pieces of information between this time and the last time that I was in the Middle East that are helping me appreciate the Middle East more. For example: The streets never were supposed to be beautiful. It’s the oases inside the houses which are supposed to be beautiful. Or, I have been learning a lot more about pop culture which helps.
Needless to say speaking Arabic makes the Arab world much more accessible anyway. We’re hanging out with Egyptian girls who live in our dorm.
Oh, and Alexandria isn’t a huge tourist destination so I’ve been enjoying the relative normality of the people and the city. …and we have AC in our rooms and a sea breeze. Not as bad as I was preparing mentally for.
The Plans June 22, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in A Comment, Middle East.Tags: Egypt, Middle East
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Tomorrow early morning departure: DC (Orientation)
June 25/26: 9 hour layover Frankfurt (In Sha Allah a look around the city)
June 27: Arrive in Egypt
My grandpa called me on the phone to tell me Egypt was his favorite place to visit. Didn’t know that before. I love that guy. I stopped by to see him and my grandma. They gave me all the Middle Eastern advice they normally do. Then my grandpa stood outside and watched me leave. That meant a lot to me.
PS-I will be writing more real time on this blog which means I might not post again for a week or so but I am pre-scheduling my other blog so it will run more consistently. There are some Palestinian family stories, a thought from Tom Regan coming up, and a poem. Mideast Snapshots
Middle East a little hot June 20, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in A Comment, Middle East.Tags: Alexandria, Cairo, Egypt, Middle East
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So this will be my fourth trip heading to the Middle East. I’m getting the last details tied down and thinking about what’s ahead. There’ve been well wishes and I will need them.
You kinda have to be a tough cookie as an American girl. There are guys who like to grab in Egypt. And, if you’re in Cairo, you’ll never make it on the metro during busy hours if you don’t push. (Cairo was great job training for high school.) 
Don’t even start to be flattered by things guys say to you. Yawn and walk away. Actually…they love that. (I think a lot of guys like that.) Act deaf and then if necessary, deck ‘em. Learn phrases like “Alai khaliik, ya akhi.” (God keep you my brother.) In other words—well, I’ll let you pick your own translation for that one.
Oh, and did I mention it is a little hot—ok, maybe a lot hot. I hear Alexandria is cooler than Cairo but that’s not saying much. I looked it up. This week the high is only 95 but that’s just getting started. I’m not expecting AC either. My Arab friends tell me I should at least wear sleeves to my elbows and pants to my ankles. Yikes.
Otherwise the Arab world is awesome.
O’ Falafel May 14, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in A Comment.Tags: Arabic, falafel, Middle East, Middle Eastern restaurants
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O’ Falafel is a new Middle Eastern restaurant in Salt Lake. A little more cazh than Mazza and specializing in a slightly different menu. Very delicious. The falafels are amazing. I took the Arabic students there today for dinner. The owner Mustafa, a Palestinian from Jerusalem, sat with us for quite a while graciously speaking Arabic and answering questions. Super fun. The students were brave and tried out their Arabic even though he spoke in a Jerusalem dialect they hadn’t been exposed to yet.
Greg Mortenson October 27, 2009
Posted by bookncurls in A Comment, Middle East.Tags: Greg Mortenson, Middle East, Three Cups of Tea
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Greg Mortenson completely won me over today in his forum address to students at Brigham Young University. I was actually struggling to get through the book, Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time. However, the reasons I was struggling through it were completely cleared up today.
I made it a field trip. Ustaz Mohamed and I took about 45 students practically running up the hill from Provo High to make it for a descent seat. We even had commandos scout ahead for group seating possibilities.
First, Did you know his book is required reading for a large number of military personel in Afghanistan?
After listening to him speak, I see the unique characteristics that make him so successful in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
1-He ditched the podium mic for a hand-held to speak to everyone, turning around to catch even the establishment.
2-He obviously did some research on the community to whom he was speaking.
Which for example includes: At least 90% or more of the audience was Mormon (of about 5000 seated in the building and probably another few hundred in overflow). At least 1/3 of the audience would have served full time missions to countries all over the world. Many in the audience have built schools in all parts of the world as well.
He talked to us like we are the same kind of people; relating his parents’ missionary experiences to ours, using religious values/terminology that are important to him and us, helping us to understand concepts through our own experiences working with impoverished people, etc. He was so good at speaking ‘our language’ in fact that one of my students leaned over to ask me if he was Mormon.
3-Really I believe this means he’s good at making people feel their contributions to the world are valid and important. Because of his skill in doing this with us, I have no doubt of his skill in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
I got excited today. I like what he did today for us and hopefully these impressionable students that we brought.