Hello From Colombia
- May 2010
- Hi Steph Simple Living
Dear Steph.
I know you are busy and a “rock star” but i will appreciate if you take some time to read this mail.
I just finished High Infatuation two days ago, and during the time I spent in every page I had a lot of mixed feelings because I found many links between the sentences you wrote and the way I think. First of all I am from Colombia, South America, by then my first language (as you can see) is not English. I am Engineer and currently I am doing my MSc in environmental engineering. I past my time dealing with things that nobody seems to be interested in, like atmospheric chemistry, air pollution, ozone, parts per million, papers, publications, anyway!
People, even climbers, are used to see the climbers like a bunch of hippies, hanging on the rocks, smoking pot, but the first link I found with you is the academic background, and its makes better to read a book wrote by some who went to college (not because others can’t but because academic profile gives you some tools to make it better, at the end that is the reason people go to college, to learn how to do it better). I am also a climber, 5.10, A1 climber, I went to Salt Lake to take English courses at U of U and you talked about this place, I would freak out if someday walking through the campus I met STEPH DAVIS!!, actually it happened to me with Jason Kehl, but he is not cute as you, he is not my type hehe.
I found a lot of connection between your histories of amazing tales and sending hard routes in remote places, with my “elementary school climbing trips” to climb 10 pitches of 5.9, but you know why? because climbing is a matter of been climbing,forget all the space and all the time, and just be there and in this moment. is to be sharing with partners, and collecting tons of memories.
The way you tell the history is nice, I feel like a friend in front of me is telling me about a trip, I got trapped into thestories. I underline a lot of sentences. You are just awesome, today a friend of mine ask me, “so Jose show me the girl of the book you where reading during the sampling that morning” I searched on Utube, and I found the video in the castleton, i said “oh my gosh, i climbed the north chimney and I heard 2 climbers pushing and suffering in the north face and this girl is soloing”
Anyway Steph, for me is nice to find a person, with this way of thinking, even you are world class climber, but I agree “And if my goal in life is to become a new person, shouldn’t I be teaching myself not to force the outcome?” “at a certain point, you just have to start and see what happens” “I have learned to welcome the unknown”
I just want you to know you are great, inspiring and pretty (sorry about that but i have to tell you). Just want you to know that.
By now I am reading Brave New World…
Best
Jose
Ps: Do you speak spanish? I saw many quotes of spanish speakers in your book, like Borges.
Dear Jose,
I speak a little spanish, but not nearly as well as you speak english. Thanks so much for writing to me, and for all your heartfelt thoughts. I am so glad my book resonated with you. And I also want you to know that I think environmental engineering is not only interesting but extremely important to everyone! Thank you for your work.
I hope you are enjoying Brave New World too, and wish you all the best!!
🙂 xxSteph
