Three Cups of Tea

Reading ‘Three Cups of Tea’ has been very eye-opening experience for me. Throughout the book pages, I became sad, happy, angry, frustrated, overwhelmed as the story presented Mr. Greg’s path to establish schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan. I think most of the people in the development sector are passionate about social issues. But Greg’s story presents us the determination beyond passion. His courage, sacrifice, respect, deeper understanding of people’s feelings, responsibility to succeed to give life changing path for children of Baldu, Skardu and other villages is outstanding.

I am so happy that I could see the Pakistan through this book which I never saw it through international media. I have never been to Pakistan(UNTIL NOW) but I travelled to the high Himalayas of Karakoram, took a ride on the Truck to the laps of mountains and enjoyed the taste of the tea that Mr. Greg had. Managing personal and professional life is a big challenge for the development practitioner as their heart never stays in one place. I admire Tara equally. I know Mr. Greg perhaps would never have enjoyed and work freely if Tara’s support was not there. What an amazing woman she is.

When Twaha Ali said ‘I will sell all my land if necessary, so she can complete her education. I owe that to the memory of my father’ remembering his father Haji Ali and explaining how he will support his daughter to be educated. I remembered my dad so much. His words of wisdom and his promise to support me so that I can become an educated independent woman are the only things and reason why I am here where I am right now.

I looked at this Truck Key ring so many times when I was reading this book. Thanks to my Pakistani fellow friends for gifting this to me. Perhaps, in my imagination, I was travelling to Karakoram through this Truck.

This book also connected me to my friend more closely as I came to know that my friend was also reading the same book and she and I share the same passion for social issues and share the same perspective for life too.

I must say, it took me a year to complete this book. I was not lazy but somehow the busy travel schedule in Nepal had obstructed me to experience such a great reading. I started reading this book when I was travelling to Vietnam for the first time on the place. I was enjoying it so much and then a Nepali guy interrupted me. After that it was just in my travel my for a long-long time, but I never read the book.

Making a promise when I was leaving to USA was the perfect time as I planned to read books when I am here. After reading 4 books my BP Koirala, I finally dared to re-start reading this book ‘Three Cups of Tea’. Surprisingly, my friend Yasmine also had the similar experience. She had also stopped reading this book in between and then she recently started it again.

Although it took a long time to re-start the book, I was wishing the book would never end.