My parents immigrated to Canada in 1990 to escape the tyranny of the Chinese government and to build a better life in Canada. After listening to their stories of hardships and frustrations, I realized how fortunate I was to be living in the country I now called home. When the day came to revisit my homeland, I felt uncertain and nervous. Would I fit in? Would I like it there? These were some of the concerns that were racing through my mind. But as the trip progressed, I realized how much I enjoyed staying inChina. Despite what started off as a foreboding voyage, this journey turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life.
It had been a long time between my move from China to Canada and the visit to my homeland. As a baby, I had left for Canada and adopted many new traditions and learned many new things. Going back to China for the first time in eleven years would offer me incredible new experiences, but I wasn’t prepared. I wasn’t ready. Leaving my birth country at the age of one and
forgetting many of the proper Chinese traditions, I felt so isolated from my culture. The only encouragement I had of taking this trip was from my parents, who reassured me that I was going to do fine. However, my doubts still remained and I knew this would be an obstacle I had to overcome.
In the end, my voyage to China was successful and pleasant. I learned so much about my birth country, and of its people and customs. Furthermore, when I looked back at the anxieties and fears that I had before taking this trip, I realized they were so unnecessary. This journey brought out the compassion in me, and it would give me empathy for others in the future. Overall, my trip to China turned out to be a limitless
opportunity, and it taught me more about myself than I’d ever ...