Chapters+17+&+18

Chapter 17, Libby Mchugh Cherry Trees in the sand Scene 1:One Important scene in this section was when Fatima Batool talks about the events she witnessed with her sister in Pakistan. Fatima was a girl that he met when he went to visit another village. It talks about the devastating and emotional effects of the war. It all began when the Indian prime minister accused Pakistan's prime minister of invading India. The argument continued to grow and grow until things got violent. Over 250,000 Indian shells and bombs fell on Pakistan. Fatimas sister was killed and her family was displaced from their home and taken to the outskirts of Skardu. I think this scene is important because it really shows how much devistation is in Pakistan. It is a war-torn country that clearly needs help. Fatima is a very strong charecter in this book because she is one of the surviving villagers. It shows how courageous and brave the people of Pakistan are to share their story.

Scene 2: Mortenson is approached by Syed Abbas to help give water to his village. He brings him to a place where refugees were staying, and tells him they were forced to move there by government officials. He tells him that that he approached several different relief funds for water, but they never returned his request. Mortenson is able to get the funds to build them a water pump after digging down very deep to find that they could get pumps in to get the water out. I think that this was important because it is now starting show how much the country really relies on him and his services to make them better as a whole. It also shows that Mortenson shows no signs of slowing down in his work to rebuild Pakistan.

Scene 3: This scene talks about how Fatima and her sister had to flee their village because of the firestorm, but then had to leave. When they left they were terrified of being followed and bombed. When they finally reached somewhere safe her sister Aamia died. As the scene ends, Fatima has reached the 5th grade. She sees the cherry trees that are finally growing in Skardu that remind her of her home. I think this was a very meaningful scene because it has strong symbolism. It shows that there was hope for Fatima once she left and finally found some place safe to rebuild her life.

Ashleigh Fiske

Scene 1

In an effort to raise money to build new schools and give an education to isolated villages and refugee camps, Greg started giving public speeches about the work of the CAI. They were in desperate need to raise funds in order to build new schools so Greg traveled around many country's and would usually make a sum of two hundred dollars and was pleased with anything he could get his hands on, but soon his efforts looked like they were going to fail. He was scheduled to give a speech but it appeared that nobody had sat down. Greg though continued with his speech and as he spoke he caught sight of a middle-aged man in the crowd as he talked about his goals. After his speech, he went to the mans chair and found a check for twenty thousand dollars. Later on, what this man did supported the CAI and Greg's goals to build new schools greatly and without him this probably wouldn't have been possible.

Scene 2

After one of Greg's hero's Mother Theresa dies, he is absolutely devastated. He remembers how she dedicated her life to helping the poor and how amazing it was that she founded the her own order called the Sisters of Charity. He visited her body and just sat in the corner looking at her. He was at a total loss now on what to do. She was one of his hero's as a child and he was just blown away at the fat that someone so small could make such a huge affect on humanity. Even after two years, he always thought about her and her accomplishments , even growing a little frustrated. So for awhile, he ignored everything else and started studying more about the tragedy on the boarders of Afghanistan. This scene really shows how much of an affect Mother Theresa had on Greg and looking back at her accomplishments it made Greg even more determined than he had ever been to make a difference.

Scene 3

Greg is trying to become a better business man so he spends most of his time in his basement studying books on management and finance. He came to the conclusion that not all lessons can be learned from books so he traveled to the Philippines and Bangladesh to learn more lessons from the organizations that supported the poor. After he arrived in Bangladesh, on of the poorest countries on earth , he was blown away by how educated the woman were. He talks about how he visited the schools that educated girls and said he watched how amazingly strong these women were in how they worked. It felt so good that they were following his same philosophy and how it influenced him to fight for the rights of girls. This scene shows how smart woman really are and how an education can make a huge difference in the world.

**Chapter 17(Cherry Trees In The Sand) & 18(Shrouded Figure)** Claudia Ouellette

Scene 1: On May 26, 1999 India sent their air force into Pakistan because of accusations of both of the countries Prime Ministers. Fatima Batools story about her experience when the first shell went off caused Mortenson to make a trip to Pakistan. During that summer, more than 250,000 Indian 155-millimeter shells, bombs, and rockets were dropped on Pakistan. Fatima, 10 years of age, was sewing buckwheat with her older sister, Aamina, when the first round of shells went off. Rushed to get to a safe place, Aamina brought Fatima to a cave along with the rest of the bustling villagers. As Aamina was helping other children in the cave, a shell went off, and Aamina was never the same after that. I think that this is an important scene because what conflict can do to a village because of something non-related to them particularly can be destructive.

Scene 2: Fatima living in the cave, and having to rebuild her life. Since Fatima was so young, and he sister in an animal like state since the shell went of near her at the mouth of the cave. Whenever a shell went off, she'd start to whimper, like an animal. After three weeks, the villagers (living) of Brolmo, made their way up the north valley. Once they arrived in their new village, Aamina passed away. Fatima, telling the story 5 years later, is now attending Gultori Girls Refugee School. This is an important scene because if it wasn't for Greg, she wouldn't be at school (since she is a girl) and she would probably not as well off as she is now.

Scene 3: Mortenson goes to give a speech, which not many people show up to. A total of six, with a man who left $20,000 in his chair. Mortenson was surprised to receive so much money, especially with a lack on money and need in the CAI. I think this is an important scene because Greg was doubting that all he'd get was $10, and nothing else. Surprises that people give you can make a person very happy. It seemed to have made an impact of Mortenson.