I've started to read Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. This is the quote in the beginning Chapter 3, "Progress and Perfection",
'Tell us, if there were one thing we could do for your village, what would it be?'
'With all respect, Sahib, you have little to teach us in strength and toughness. And we don't envy you your restless spirits. Perhaps we are happier than you? But we would like our children to go to school. Of all the things you have, learning is the one we most desire for our children.'
-Conversation between Sir Edmund Hillary and Urkien Sherpa, from Schoolhouse in the Clouds
I love this quote because as Americans we feel like everyone wants to be like North Americans. Like Urkien Sherpa says which I believe of myself, I have a restless spirit.....of needing more, consuming more, spending more, ....it goes on and on......
I also just started this book, not quite that far yet (spring break reading). I agree we can learn so much from other cultures. We are generally much to egocentric in America. We call ourselves a melting pot but think we would be better off going for a stew with the best of all of ourselves instead of creating a mush in which we lose the unique qualities of the cultures and history that makes up our country.
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