A Custom Endeavor (Movie/Choice)

Nov 24 2017
It is amazing how a journey, such as the Pacific Crest Trail, appeals to different people. Some see it as a physical challenge, an escape from their mundane lives, or they see it as an opportunity to change themselves. Only about three hundred people hike the PCT every year which, in the grand scheme of America or even the world, is an extremely insignificant amount. The trail stretches from Mexico to Canada and it attracts a wide spectrum of personalities and backgrounds.
What brings about these different people is the unique setting, communitas, and intrinsic motivation. These are all points which directly parallel with the reason my parents decided to go to China. China’s architecture is rich with history behind why and how  it was made. It seemed like an interesting place to see as it was vastly different than the mountains and forests of West Virginia. To build up the courage to travel, they joined a first-time tourist type group lead by translators. The final reason, and most important, was their desire for a daughter. My parents wanted to adopt me from China and they could not do that if they did not first gather up the courage and step outside the familiar.

It seemed highly unlikely that a couple born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia would travel to Guangzhou, Guangdong. Hikers of the Pacific Crest Trail may feel and be perceived the same way.

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