one drop

Back in February of 2008, which at this writing seems like an age ago, my husband and I took a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, for no other reason than to sate my wanderlust and fulfill a desire to see Angkor Wat.

I laugh now when I think of how we deliberated over spending $400 more to take a 4 day sidetrip to Siem Reap and the Angkor complex. Those 4 days changed my life. Amid all the western-style comforts and the onslaught of Korean tourists in their aircon buses, I saw a lot of unnecessary poverty. It was one painful irony after another. So much wasted food at hotel breakfast buffets, and less than 15km away, skinny, dusty children begged for money on the way to Phnom Bakheng, the mountain temple built at the end of the 9th century. Loads of tourists walked right past, not even acknowledging their existence. What can one person do?

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.
- Mother Teresa

heroes

I don’t have heroes. I do, however, admire many great people, and some that were admirable in some ways, but despicable in others.

• Einstein - he changed the science of physics, and our idea of the universe, forever
• Mother Teresa - her compassion was endless, an advocate of the poorest of the poor
• Lola Montez - she traveled the world and had dos cojones
• Beryl Markham - she was fearless and was driven to adventure
• Elizabeth I - she was a great leader with a profound sense of duty

But Lola Montez was a conniving liar, Beryl Markham was irresponsible and aloof, and Elizabeth was selfish and vainglorious. Even Mother Teresa’s actions had raised some more conservative eyebrows for accepting donations from drug lords and criminals.

In order for the wheel to turn, for life to be lived, impurities are needed, and the impurities of impurities in the soil, too, as is known, if it is to be fertile…. But immaculate virtue does not exist either, or if it exists it is detestable.
- Primo Levy

I just added one more to my short list: Greg Mortenson. His book Three Cups of Tea is about a failed climb to K2 that lead to his fulfillment of a promise to build schools in the most under-served areas of northern Pakistan. Few books move me to tears. His did. Thank you for your inspiration and selfless giving, Mr. Mortenson.