|
|
ExWeb Interview - Monica Kalozdi: "They are with me all the time"
Apr 19, 2005 10: 56 EST
Devout wife, successful businesswoman, devoted mother of three, accomplished climber. Is there anything Monica Kalozdi can’t do? Somehow she found time in her busy schedule this spring to make an Everest bid via the North Col route in Tibet.
Explorersweb reached Monica in BC to chat about her current climb and the things she misses while on the mountain: For Monica, climbing is a passion, but family comes first.
ExWeb: First of all - how do you feel, how's the climb going?
Monica:I feel very well. I have acclimatized well to this level. I have gone for some great training hikes up to 6100m and feel very strong and comfortable. I am making sure to put on some weight at this level to help me up above, too.
ExWeb: What about your kids back home - how's their homework coming along?
Monica:I have been in daily contact with my kids, by either satellite phone or email. I miss them tremendously. For me, this has always the hardest part of any climb I have been on. But I count my blessings to have most wonderful, mature, responsible kids. They are all keeping up with their schoolwork very well, and their grades so far are fine. As my youngest one told me yesterday: She did “super duper well” on last week’s spelling test.
ExWeb: You are somewhat unique - out of some 1500 Everest summiteers – only approx 100 have been women. On top of that, you are a mother of three (perhaps the first such on Everest), and you run your own business. Have you always been different?
Monica:I don’t know. I guess I always have believed in hard work, strong family and pushing yourself to the limit. I was not brought up thinking of myself as having different limits to a man. This simply was never questioned. It’s a matter of doing the best you can no matter the gender.
ExWeb:Many male mountaineers have kids - cared for by their wives. But many women feel that it's either kids or adventure. What is your take on that?
Monica:I believe that mom and dad are equally important in raising the family. Just like we share work, we share the kids. Examples need to be set by both parents, both in parenting as well as in your daily life. I consider myself very devoted to my kids. When I am not at work or training, my time belongs fully to my family. There are choices you make. We do not go on vacations without the children. When we socialize, most of the time the kids are included. Even my adventures are as a family, totally involved.
ExWeb:In your case, your husband looks after the kids while mom is out climbing in the Himalaya. Where did you find him(i.e. how did you guys meet) - and how does he feel about the situation?
Monica:I met my husband Jeno in New Orleans 26 years ago. We have been married 23 years. From the very beginning Jeno has been my best friend, my business partner, and now my biggest supporter and fan. He is the spirit on my expeditions. He works out all the logistics, finds me all the books and videos I need to study for a climb, and supports and encourages my training schedules. Without him I could not do this.
ExWeb: Are you Jewish?: At a party in New York last week, with most guests being Jewish, one of them asked if there has ever been a Jewish climber in the Himalaya. Everyone doubted it - the stereotype being that Jewish people rate tradition and family above a life of adventure. And, here you are – a Jewish mother (!) climbing Everest. That's pretty spectacular then - what do you say to that?
Monica:My father was Jewish, and though I was not brought up in any religion, I do think that the values that my parents gave me follow very closely those of the Jewish faith. I am very proud of my Jewish heritage. Family and traditions are utmost for me. When I first started climbing it was, and still is, very much a family project. We as a family learned to climb together and every summer we had some exciting mountaineering experiences together. My taking climbing to the next degree, high altitude expeditions, I believe has helped my kids to see that discipline and dedication are needed for any goal. And watching my daily training etc I believe has been a great learning method for my kids. The best way of learning is by living it, seeing it around you. I believe the outdoor adventures that we started as a family 10 years ago, have made us a stronger, tighter family unit. My family is my biggest support; they are with me all the time.
ExWeb: You’re an inspiration to a lot of people with busy lives (men and women) who dream of exploration. Is there someone who is particularly inspiring to you?
Monica:My father, though not an outdoor person, always set the highest values and goals for himself. He was a very goal-oriented, disciplined person who I highly admired and who taught me to demand the most out of myself, set high standards and goals, to be very realistic and to get tough.
ExWeb: You’ve dedicated your climb to a specific cause this year. Please tell us more about that.
Monica: I have dedicated my climb to TEEN LIFE COUNTS, a very important project in New Orleans, where volunteers go to the schools to talk to teenagers, helping them to find help if they are depressed. The end goal is to help prevent teenage suicide, which unfortunately, is not that uncommon. This is a topic most adults do not want to confront. Through my climb, I am hoping to raise awareness of this cause, and raise money to open up another office of what we call THE NORTH SHORE. Being a mom of teenagers myself, my heart goes out to these troubled kids.
ExWeb: What's your main worry right now?
Monica: My main worry right now is not getting sick. Climbing Everest you have to be in top form. It takes a long time, and it is so important not to loose your focus, not to let your guard down. Don’t go close to anyone with the flu, don’t eat the wrong food, watch the hygiene at all times etc., etc., etc.
ExWeb: What is the main example you want to set for your kids with your climbs?
Monica: I don’t expect my kids to follow in my footsteps. They need to find their own goals and challenges. But I do believe that thanks to my climbing they have learned to set goals for themselves. They have learned that one must fight very hard to achieve them. One must work hard, and focus intensely on it. But, they have also learned that you CAN achieve your goals. No matter what you do in life the same principals apply. As a woman, I believe I have been able to show my daughter that she can do anything she sets her mind to. And to my boys I believe I have taught them to see women as equals.
Monica Kalozdi summited Cho Oyu last fall, with friend and mountain guide Jean Pavilliard. She has also summited Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Denali, Aconcagua and Mt. Vinson.
She is currently climbing Everest North side, again with Jean Pavilliard.
Image sent live over Contact 3.0 on April 12th, 2005 of Jean and Monica at 5500m, courtesy of Jean Pavilliard
|
|
Feature Stories |
|
Latest News |
more news |
 |
Everest Supercouloir: "What is a summit compared to a friend's lif
Full Story
|
 |
Mystery Chopper's Utopia summit - VIDEO
Full Story
|
 |
Annapurna South: "It was such a great climb"
Full Story
|
 |
ExWeb Special report: The Ropes and Summit Push on Everest...
Full Story
|
 |
Real men
Full Story
|
 |
Christian Kuntner - a mountaineering legend is gone
Full Story
|
 |
14 x 8000: Ed Viesturs joins the world's most exclusive...
Full Story
|
 |
ExWeb Special: Ed Viesturs "I still have peaks that I want...
Full Story
|
|
|
| Andrew Lock on Annapurna tragedy: "I wanted to keep on climbing" Jun 6, 2005 | | Gabriel Filippi and Sean Egan's soul, together on the summit of Everest Jun 6, 2005 | | "Supermom" Monica Kalozdi update: Everest Summit and hard descent Jun 5, 2005 | | Robert Milne dies during summit push Everest South Jun 5, 2005 | | Grania Willis summits Everest this morning Jun 5, 2005 | | ExplorersWeb Week-In-Review Jun 5, 2005 | | Himex summit - Update from climber Jun 4, 2005 | | No Mountain top too high, my Love Jun 4, 2005 | | Jagged Globe team summits again! Jun 4, 2005 | | More summits for DCXP/Project Himalaya this morning Jun 4, 2005 |
| | End of season... Jun 4, 2005 | | Ranulph Fiennes turns back on Everest Jun 3, 2005 |
|
|
|
|
2004
BEST of EXPLORERSWEB
|
|
|
|
