sherpas are people too
July 19, 2009
I once thought that sherpas were a type of pack animal, due to their proximity to mountain goats and yaks in sentences like, “You’d need two sherpas and a yak.”
Then I found out that Sherpas are actually people, an ethnic group residing mostly in Nepal. The word “sherpa” has also grown to include anyone employed as a mountaineering guide in the Himalayas.
So, if you think a sherpa could give you a piggy-back ride to the top of Mt. Everest, you’re wrong.
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Yeah, I was totally with you on that. I thought that, too. They’ve been totally misrepresented by context for a while now. Maybe they need a Sherpa Awareness Day or something.
I used to think “Abos” were a kind of Australian animal – I later found out that it is a racist term for aboriginal. It made we think about the song “tie me kangaroo down sport” in a different way. – It shows we learn words by context.
“So, if you think a sherpa could give you a piggy-back ride to the top of Mt. Everest, you’re wrong.”
Really? Even if there was a large sum of cash?
And sherpa is such a fun word to say, spell, and I’m sure they’re fun to interact with–that is those who are both by occupation and ethnicity sherpa.
Maybe that’s why one of our friends uses sherpa as an affirmative answer.
Could you pass the yak butter?
Sherpa!
Actually you would be suprised how much they can carry. So if you still need that piggy back ride I would re-consider a trip. After all nobody has to know you yourself did not climb Everest.
I did a project on Sherpas in the 5th grade, so I DID know they were a people group, however, I can certainly see where the misconception comes from. Maybe I could find that project and do a presentation for Sherpa Awareness Day. I mean, it was on a tri-fold project board and everything…complete with pictures and perhaps even a graph &/or pie chart.
hhhmmm – Just Read Proverbs 30:26, same people group? I might have more understanding if so….