Three Cups Of Tea Essay

Three Cups of Tea

The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time you take tea, you are an honored guest. The third time you share a cup of tea, you become family, and for our family, we are prepared to do anything, even die (Haji Ali). This quote was one of the most important quotes in this book Three Cups of Tea by David Oliver Relin, and was most likely the basis for which the title was formed. This quote also had more significance in which it explained the concept of the theme of this book, which was the importance of building up relationships. Building up relationships takes time, and Mortenson had to learn that it didnt take three literal cups of tea to gain trust, it was the time spent while drinking tea as a Balti custom that built trust and respect, and that allowed relationships to form and build up assurance and alliances. Throughout the book, Mortenson faces challenges that he finds frustrating and inconveniencing, often viewing them as wrong decisions. But it was those same bad decisions or failures that led him to success in many aspects of life. One thing that Mortenson seemed to struggle with was his impatience, and that is what led Haji Ali to explain the importance of patience, especially with dealing with his culture. When Mortenson was able to overcome adversity he was able to flourish in favorable circumstances.

Mortenson, who was vividly described as a risk taker who was used to much attainment, ironically recognized his meaning in life when he actually failed at something. He went to Pakistan to climb the K2 Mountain in memory of his sister who died and when he failed to complete that task he felt like he was such a failure and that he failed his sister. On this mission, he became sick and weak and had to be treated by the people in the local village. It was then, when he felt at his lowest, when he discovered his purpose. While being treated he saw some children using sticks to write in the dirt which was a method in which they received somewhat of an education, at least what they could afford. He decided right then and there that he was going to come back after he got better and went back to the states and build a school for those children and he made a promise to them that he would. Throughout the book, Mortensons goal was to build that school for them and every time he felt he was progressing, something went wrong and he felt like he was taking steps backwards instead of forward. But despite it all he kept his promise and the intention of initially building one school advanced to the founding of the Central Asia Institute which helped build schools all over Pakistan. But there were so many things that Mortenson had to go through and overcome to finally get to this point. He went from losing his job, to being homeless, to going through a romantic heartbreak, almost being revoked from Pakistan because of religious customs and because of his passion to build the school, being abducted by foreigners with his life possibly on stake, being separated from his wife and children and other numerous accounts of disadvantages. But this leads to what Haji Ali was talking about when he explained the concept of three cups of tea. Because of the relationships that Mortenson was able to build up, he was able to continue to do what he needed to do. When they tried to stop him form building schools, Haji sacrificed what was seen as most valuable to the village, in order for him to continue his work. That is what he meant when he said once you become family, we are prepared to do anything, even die.

I found this story very motivational in different aspects of life. I saw that he spent majority of his time in Pakistan, one of the many places that was associated with terrorist attacks and rivalry to America. So not only was his life at risk, but he was helping people in an area who in a sense did the opposite for the people where he came from. Not only did he have to work through all of these conditions, but the fact that he followed through until the end was more than commendable. To see someone basically give up their lifestyle to help other people who he did not even know on a personal level yet was truly inspiring. He lived out of his car and sometimes went without food for these people. He did it with a genuine heart and with selfless good intentions. I felt like when he finished what he said he was going to do and more, that people looked at him like he was a hero. But never once did I get the feeling that his intention was to be their hero, to make a huge transformation, or to receive some kind of glorious recognition. All he wanted to do is keep his promise and by keeping his promise more good things came for the Pakistani people and for himself. I feel like all that this guy went through, he should have gave up but he did not he just persisted sometimes being too impatient and becoming anxious and when simple things happen to us we are so quick to give up.

Relin allowed me to perceive the imperativeness and uncontrolled situation growing and overbearing Mortensons life pertaining to his work in Pakistan. Although I had somewhat of a difficult time reading this book because of the verbal construction and prolonged passages, I still believe that it sent a great message. I know that in life especially as a youth in college, we tend to struggle determining what our purpose is in life and we get discouraged when things do not go our way especially on our time. It can become such a burden to the point where we feel like giving up and falling off the face of the earth especially because we expect things to change immediately. But this book most definitely shows that time is the best solution for most problems and something good can come out of every situation. Mortenson could have allowed himself to sit in his funk and pity himself, or even held a grudge against the girl that played him but he let it go and kept it moving. We cannot allow life to sway us to make selfish irrational decisions based on how we feel in certain situations. We have no control over the things or the outcome of things that happen in life. But we definitely have control over our actions and what decisions we make and I think this is a lesson this story taught that everyone can benefit from in life.