Sean Ma and his family are putting a new spin on immigration.
Sean, his daughter, Sherry, and wife, Emily Jiang, left China and came to Canada in 2008, arriving in London in 2009.
On May 17 they set out on a trip to truly explore their new country.
They started in London, are currently in Regina and are headed to Vancouver.
But there?s a catch. Forget planes, trains and automobiles ? this family is travelling by four-seated united bicycle.
The family hopes to complete the 100-day trek ahead of schedule, arriving in Vancouver by early August.
Sean and Emily own a small local business, while Sherry is heading into her third year at Western University.
Reporter Melanie Anderson caught up with the Ma family on their way to Calgary, after almost 60 days on the road, and spoke with Sherry Ma.
Q: Why did you decide to travel across Canada?
As a family, we enjoy travelling. Before we immigrated to Canada, every year we travelled in a different Chinese province for our vacation. Although we travel a lot, the trips we did before were all by traditional transportation. However, people are all moving so fast in the modern era ? maybe sometimes it is a good idea to slow down a bit and take a look at our surroundings in depth.
Q: Why did you choose to bike instead of take more traditional forms of transportation?
The Trans-Canada Highway has attracted bikers from all over the world. We are just one of the many. On the way, we?ve met bikers from France, Switzerland, America, and Korea. Biking is a great way to actually feel the places along the way. It is slow enough to see things that we might miss in a speedy car.
Q: How has the bike ride been?
It?s tiring and fun. Sometimes when the hills are too high we have to walk up. Sometimes we have to ride in really bad weather, such as really rainy or windy days. But no pain, no gain. Without the bitter obstacles, how would we know that success is such a sweet thing? Everyday when we arrive at our destination of the day we feel accomplished and that will boost our confidence to continue the journey for the next day.
Q: Where has your journey taken you?
We stopped at big cities such as Sault Ste Marie, Thunder Bay, Winnipeg and small towns such as Tobermory, Rossport, Vermilion Bay, Upsala, and Indian Head. We tend to make plans just a few days ahead, not making the plan for the whole journey at once. This way we can keep our plan flexible, because the daily plan also depends on the weather and road conditions.
Q: What was your favourite place and why?
We will never forget the ride along Lake Superior. The hills were up and down like non-stop, and our heartbeats experienced ups and downs with the hills. The blue water connects to the sky and the lake is so huge, it looks like an ocean.
Q: What have you learned about Canada on your journey?
Canada is a multicultural and peaceful country. People come to help us when we are in difficult situations. When we were back in Tobermory, our chains were making random noises. My dad was checking and repairing, and a grandpa came to ask him if he needed any help. The grandpa told him the kinds of repair tools we would need and where to purchase them. He then left the motel with his wife. However, a few minutes later, he came back with a new set of tools. He went to buy them for us and gave them to us for free. Although it was just a small set of tools, we felt so heart-warmed.
Q: Have you had any cultural experiences on your trip?
We did happen to join a (First Nation pow wow) when we were riding towards Upsala (a small town north of Thunder Bay). Not only did they put a special song on for us to keep us blessed for the journey, but they also organized a small fundraising for us. This was our first time learning about First Nation culture. The friendly and heartwarming smiles on the people who just met us made us smile, too.
Q: What are you hoping to gain from the experience?
Many people think that it?s crazy long and slow, but three months are such a tiny part of our whole life. The precious experiences and broadened world view we gained from the trip are worth all the hard pedalling on the highway. Not only is this a journey, but it?s also a life lesson that teaches us how to be patient, persistent, and optimistic through both good and bad times.
Q: What are you looking forward to most when you get back to London?
We really look forward to seeing our friends and neighbors in London. Their support was the reason that we could leave without worrying about things at home. We appreciate their help and miss everyone back home!
melanie.anderson@sunmedia.ca
Twitter.com/melatLfpress
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