FBC - Mountains Beyond Mountains - Part 1 Questions

Hello Everyone,
Glad to hear that you are enjoying Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains, or as they say in Haiti, "Deye mon gen mon."  Our questions will be a mix from the discussion section at the back of the book and a few from conversations I have had with friends about the book.  So here goes. . .
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1.  The title of the book comes from the Haitian proverb, "Beyond Mountains there are mountains."  What does the saying mean in the context of the culture it comes from, and what does it mean in relation to Farmer's work?  Can you think of other situations - personal and societal - for which this proverb might be apt?

2.  What do you think about Farmer's unique approach to his patients?  Is this similar or different than the experiences you have had in the health care setting.  Would you want Paul Farmer to be your personal physician?  Why or why not?

3.  In chapter 4, Farmer is referred to as a 'blanc' or white.  According to the book, what makes someone 'blanc.'  As we read further, consider whether Farmer remains 'blanc.'  Have you ever experienced being 'blanc' and what is your reaction to that experience?

4.  A few of you have recently told me that the book is good - what makes it good in Part I?

5.  In chapter 4, a Haitian elder woman says to Farmer, "eske-w pa ka konprann bagay ki pa senp."  This literally translates, "are you not able to understand things which are not simple."  Why did she say this to Farmer?  How could it apply to our own lives?
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You can respond to the questions (whichever ones you want) in the comments of this post or you can make a separate blog post with your thoughts.  If you write a post, be sure to include Family Book Club in your label at the bottom of the post.  Feel free to add other questions into the mix and bring up other interesting items from Part 1 of the book.

Let's try to have Part II - The Tin Roofs of Cange read by March 15th. 

Important Haitian Vocabulary from Part I (that wasn't directly translated in the book)
gwo wout la - the big road
Wi - yes
ti kay - little house
doudou - gentle, mild mannered person
cherie - dear
maji - witchcraft