so long, farewell

A few things on my mind today...

Firstly, we've been in Arizona now for almost a month. Crazy! It has been so enjoyable to unpack all of our old furniture, pictures, and other keepsakes that have been collecting dust for far too long. While we have loved setting up our new life here, I can't help but think about and miss dearly some of the more simple things about London. I miss walking everywhere, our second family of friends we met, trees, parks, the markets, the supermarkets, and so many more things. So, I've made a decision to bring some of that simplicity here to Arizona; whether it means walking to the supermarket rather than driving (when it's less than 100 degrees outside), limiting my internet-usage, spending more time at the park, or just staying in touch with friends. Life is definitely different, but we are so happy to finally have some stability. Brett's job is going well. He is very busy but doing great and making us proud.

Secondly, this move and the new job has opened our eyes to a whole new concept: the weekend. Before, although most weekends were full of relaxing, good food, games, movies, etc.-it was always paired with a dark cloud of "what has to be done by Monday" feeling looming over us. Now, it feels amazing to have nothing "due" on Monday. We can just enjoy the weekend together as a family. I never imagined it would feel so wonderful to be done with school, when I wasn't even the one in school.

Finally, I came to the conclusion of retiring from the blogging world. I might change my mind later, we will see, I just need a break for now.

The caravan to AZ. She only slept for one hour ALL.DAY.LONG.

How she enjoyed the move-in process: eating snacks and watching The Little Mermaid in her new room-have I mentioned her obsession with "Mee Mee" (Ariel)? It has been wonderful having Maya in her own room finally.

Maya has loved being able to go swimming almost everyday-love that belly

And here are a few pictures of our new home:

(still under construction and working on filling up the empty walls)

Until next time,

brett.mal.maya.

Three Cups of Tea

One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace…One School at a Time

Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin

                                               Kashmiri refugees in school. Pakistan. Image courtesy Central Asia Institute.

Long story short:

I was recommended to this book by a friend we met while living in Belgium in 2009. By the fall of that year I had started it, but had a lot of other reading materials on my mind as I was newly pregnant. I kept it close and read it very inconsistently. It was a slow read, but always intriguing to me; the ideas, stories and philosophies always in the back of my mind. It is semi-embarrassing to admit that I finished it only a month ago; but very proud to admit that it semi-changed my life. As a teacher, it struck a passion deep within me to contribute in some way to this incredible mission.

This post is a tribute to an amazing true story, a worthwhile cause and a people and part of the world I long to see.

For those not familiar with this book, here is a brief description taken from the book:

“In 1993 a mountaineer named Greg Mortenson drifted into an impoverished Pakistan village in the Karakoram Mountains after a failed attempt to climb K2. Moved by the inhabitants’ kindness, he promised to return and build a school. Three Cups of Tea is the story of that promise and its extraordinary outcome. Over the next decade Mortenson built not just one but fifty-five schools—especially for girls—in the forbidding terrain that gave birth to the Taliban. His story is at once a riveting adventure and a testament to the power of the humanitarian spirit.”

Upon completing this book, I found myself researching the Central Asia Institute, current events in that part of the world and how exactly I could help. I decided to write about it, so as to persuade somebody else to read this book and become inspired to reach out and help. It is incredible to read how one person, when so obviously guided by a higher power and placed in the right places at exactly the right times, can make a difference in so many lives and create something so motivational and inspiring for others. 

Here are some of my favourite quotes from the book:

1. Mortenson quotes an author, Helena Norberg-Hodge, who wrote Ancient Futures and had spent years living among Ladakhi people in the nothernmost state of the Republic of India. I believe this quote is a very strong theme in this book and a philosophy that I agree in:

"Norberg-Hodge continues to argue not only that Western development workers should not blindly impose modern 'improvements' on ancient cultures, but that industrialized countries had lessons to learn from people like Ladakhis about building sustainable societies. 'I have seen,' she writes, 'that community and a close relationship with the land can enrich human life beyond all comparison with material wealth or technological sophistication. I have learned that another way is possible.'" (pg. 112)

2. This quote comes from Syed Abbas, a leader of northern Pakistan's Shia, and key supporter of Mortenson's mission. It was during a speech for the inauguration of a primary school in the small village of Kuardu on September 14, 2001, just days after the attack on the World Trade Center:

"'I request America to look into our hearts,' Abbas continued, his voice straining with emotion, 'and see that the great majority of us are not terrorists, but good and simple people. Our land is stricken with poverty because we are without education. But today, another candle of knowledge has been lit. In the name of Allah the Almighty, may it light our way out of the darkness we find ourselves in.'


'It was an incredible speech,' Mortenson says. 'And by the time Syed Abbas had finished he had the entire crowd in tears. I wish all of the Americans who think 'Muslim' is just another way of saying 'terrorist' could have been there that day. The true core tenants of Islam are justice, tolerance, and charity, and Syed Abbas represented the moderate core of Muslim faith eloquently.'" (pg. 257)

3. This last quote is from Congresswoman Mary Bono:

"'After I heard Greg speak, it was the least I could do,' Bono says. 'I meet so many people day in and day out who say they're trying to do good and help people. But Greg is the real thing. He's walking the walk. And I'm his biggest fan. The sacrifices that he and his family have made are staggering. He represents the best of America. I just wanted to do what I could to see that his humanity had a chance to rub off on as many people as possible.'" (pg. 291)

It is my plea for those reading this, to read this book, find out more about this mission and do your part to help. For those interested in reading more, Greg's story continues in his book Stones into Schools, focusing on his experience of expanding his mission into Afghanistan.

*Also, for all of you teachers out there, there is a wonderful international service learning program called Pennies for Peace that contains a K-12 curriculum linked to standards, loads of free printables ready to use and assessment tools (haven't used that word in a while). I kind of wish I had my own classroom to implement this.