Profile - Renée Rakhorst

Sometimes things happen that remind me that I've been in Taiwan a little too long and my view of the world sometimes is a bit warped. Meeting Renée was one of those occasions. I came across her walking alone on a path back from a small village above Kalpa. As I rode up on the motorcycle, she turned and gave a big smile of "Hi!". Now here are a few things which I've just become accustomed to not happening all bundled together - a woman out in the middle of nowhere by herself, and having the self confidence to meet any on comer with a smile.

Stopping to say "Hi" back and inquire where she was heading, there was an immediate first impression of self-confidence, which was backed up by the way she talked. Since I had an assumption that here was a person who would have some good stories to tell, I invited her up to lunch with Peter and I in the hopes that I might get to hear her share one or two.

I wasn't disappointed, as she talked about her travels in India, this was her second trip, and the month long trek in the Ana Pernna range in Nepal that she just finished.

There was something in the back of my mind that was bothering me, but I didn't figure out what it was for a couple days after I'd met her. When I finally put my finger on it, I had to laugh. What was bothering me was the thought that, "girls just don't go traveling in India, or trekking in Nepal! It doesn't happen!" I'd been brainwashed by so many years in Taiwan into believing that what she was doing was unusual to the point of being unbelievable. For a person that has lived a life like I have, this is a ludicrous thought, without any basis beyond the cultural mind set that I've lived in for the past few years.

Thinking over the number of women I know in Taiwan, Hong Kong & China who would truly treasure experiences like those Renée has made happen for herself, but would never even have the thought of doing something like a trek in Nepal because like the thought I caught myself in, they think it just doesn't happen, or isn't right, or any number of the thoughts left by brainwashing to not go out and experience the world and live life to the fullest. I had to smile, perhaps what Renée is doing with her life is unusual, but unfortunately it is unusual just because most people wouldn't dare. Not that its hard, expensive or any other reason. Renée dared, and in that I found her very inspiring.