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Maya Rodriguez | Project Wander

Maya stared blankly at the wall in front of her as she slowly sat down into her chair. Her cubicle was larger than most on her floor, but right now, it felt like a suffocating box. The knot in her stomach grew by the moment; a weight so immense it threatened to pull her down through the earth. And maybe, she felt, she deserved it. It had been a typical morning in the office— combing through records and checking for discrepancies. It’s not at all what she imagined she’d be doing with an accounting degree, but here she was, working for a life insurance firm specializing in elderly ailments. She had gotten her coffee, like she did every morning, and wandered to her desk. Truthfully, she didn’t even like coffee. But she found it took the edge off the gnawing disdain she had for this job. Only a few papers into the stack on her desk, she discovered a mismatch of numbers. 2 digits. And at first glance, seemingly nothing. But upon further inspection, she found that this number, to someone, would mean everything. A 2,000,000 dollar life insurance claim, paid for by a Mr. Jones over the course of 40 years. The firm had a stipulation that policies must be claimed by a family member within 1 month of the date of death. According to the paper, Ms. Jones had dementia, and her son only recently found out about the policy. He filed 2 days past the deadline, and the case now rested on her desk. Unable to resolve something this large on her own, she walked down the hall and knocked on the door of the office of her superior. A snively man opened the door. She had only been here for a month, but already she had developed an aversion to him. He was slender, but short. And his movements were erratic. His only saving grace was that he could run numbers in his head like a calculator, and he always addressed things as soon as they became an issue. “Morning, Ms. Rodriguez”, he said curtly. “What can I‌ do for you?“ Maya lifted the paper from her side. “I need your signature to approve this claim.”‌ She offered the paper, and he took it in both hands. A large, cold smile grew on the mans face until he was practically grinning. “Great job Maya!”, he exclaimed. “We’ve been trying to fight this case for weeks. This detail—the court can’t dispute this!‌ This Ms. Jones and her son have been such a headache with our legal team… but you just put an end to that, didn’t you? “Wait…”‌, Maya softly said. “We’re not going to honor their claim?” “Why the long face?!‌ You should be happy! We run an insurance firm, not a charity. And besides, You and I‌ are definitely going to get a bonus from this. I have to call up legal, but I’ll talk to you later.”

Slam

She stood, door closed in her face. She had just ruined someones life.

She jolted awake as the bus hit a pothole. Her eyes were heavy, but she was equally tired of reliving that same dream. The scene around her was dark:‌ She was in an old-school bus, surrounded by a handful of strangers and 2 staff members, excluding the driver. She heard a man snoring from the bed above hers and she wondered how anyone could ever sleep so soundly. To her at least, that concept was foreign. She rolled over, looking out the little porthole beside her pillow and watched as the moonlight danced on the waves as they rolled to the shore. The Pacific ocean. Growing up in Los Angeles, she was familiar with the waters—her family used to always visit the beach when she was a little girl. Life was simple back then. There was no pressure to perform, or get good grades, or go to college, or get a “stable” job. She could just be free, letting the tides push and pull her however they saw fit, and her joyfully along for the ride. That world felt so far away. A scene froze in her mind’s eye, and for a moment, she thought of how beautiful it would be to paint. But that thought was t-boned by the stark memory of the last time she picked up a brush. She was in middle school “Mom, look what I‌ painted” “It’s beautiful Maya,”‌ her mom replied “Do you think I’m good enough to become an artist when I‌ grow up?” “Artist struggle.”, her dad interrupted. “You need to choose a real career. One that will give you stability.” That conversation, while unique, was one of a much larger series where each episode followed the same format. Maya has a dream, Maya’s dream is deemed unrealistic by her father, Father shoots it down. Until all that remained were the options of doctor, accountant, or lawyer. Blood made her uneasy, and law absolutely bored her. She was good with numbers, and so thought she could find a fulfilling life in that field. But now, as she stared at the moon, she accepted a deep truth that would only ever be between them: she didn’t know what she wanted from life anymore. That, she figured, was part of the reason she was even on this bus, bunking with a bunch of strangers who could end up being psychopaths. The program seemed legit, but she was still apprehensive. Why would a company- a global, powerful organization, hand out such cheap travel packages. It only took her a mental moment to realize they were losing money with every expenditure. And yet… there was a charm in the way it was presented. An “exploration initiative created to bring adventure, spontaneity, friendship, and lifelong memories into the lives of the participants.” A “place to escape the everyday burdens of life, the nagging of social media, and to use each trip to break down preconceived notions and cliques that each wanderer may have had.” And her personal favorite, the claim that Project Wander was to be “a nursery for sprouting and reviving the best traits of humanity.” As skeptical as she was, she had to admit:‌ This group knew what to say to sell their product. But what we’re they selling, exactly?‌ She was still trying to figure that out. Surely it wasn’t pure altruism. As Maya pondered this ever burning question, she drifted off back to sleep once more; her newfound celestial friend watching over her from above.

Rise and shine, Wanderers!‌ A shrill announcement that reverberted throughout the metal shell of the bus. Leo stretched, yawned, and rolled out of his sleeping pod. He expected his feet to land on the floor, but instead they connected to something squishy, which immediately produced a harsh rebuke. “Ow, dude, watch what you’re-” Leo was already on his feet, helping her up and muttering condolences. When his eyes met hers, and when Maya saw genuine apology in his eyes, she cut herself off. “Sorry.”‌ She said, slightly ashamed, but too proud to show it. “I‌ don’t usually snap like that. “It’s ok,”‌ he replied. “It happens to the best of us. Your name’s Maya, right?” Maya looked a little surprised. “Yeah, how did you…” “The leader guy mentioned it last night when we were waiting for you to arrive. You held us up a whole hour!” Maya blushed a little from embarrasment. She wasn’t about to talk about how she had gotten into a fight with her dad over running away on some “hippie-trip”, or how she had sat in her car for an hour afterwards contemplating whether or not his concerns were valid. She simply offered a nervous laugh. “Whoops.” Movement to her left caught her eye, and she looked to see the trip leader standing, arms playfully crossed with a very apparently feigned look of dissapointment on his face. He was an interesting character. He was young enough to question how he got the job, but his eyes betrayed his appearance, whispering experience and maturity. “Whoops indeed, Maya.”‌ He said, a laugh peeking through the stone cold expression he wasn’t even attempting to make believable. “I‌, for one, don’t want to make a habit of being late because of you OR‌ because of Leo, so lets go!‌ We’re going to fall behind schedule and neither of you will get ice cream later if we do. Hurry up.”‌ He gave a wink, turned, and walked off the bus; joining the group that was already waiting outside. As descended the steps, he looked at the group and couldn’t help but laugh. They had no idea what they were in for. He remembered his first time on this overlook. It had taken his breath away. It had shown him just how little he knew about the world. It had set him on a path of exploring and adventure. Truthfully, it had changed his life. Seth did a quick headcount, and confirmed that Maya and Leo were now off the bus and in the group, and he signaled to the driver that they could drive off. Seth stood on a rock. “Can I‌ have your attention please?”‌ Everyone gathered around. “Thank you. I’d like to share a few things, if that’s ok.” Smiles and nods. “As you all hopefully know by now, my name is Seth Maine. I am Expedition Leader for Project Wander, and I‌ want to personally welcome you all to the Beautiful California Expedition. I hope you all slept well last night. I‌ know boarding the bus at midnight and driving through till sunset isn’t the most ideal circumstance for sleeping, but… that’s kind of the point. As you’ll soon discover with increasing velocity, nothing we do is accidental. Over this next week, we’re going to push you harder than you’ve ever been pushed. Physically— hiking, swimming, exploring… Mentally—problem solving, planning, and subtle sleep deprivation… Emotionally—Through interacting with eachother and nature, but most of all, through interacting with yourself. When we hit california city, we’ll have 2 week of a return trip. And in that time… my hope is that exposure to these wonderful natural elements- to other humans- to raw campfires and some good ol’ dirt- that you guys would all rediscover who you really are. That is why you’re here, after all, isn’t it? Even if we don’t all explicitly acknowledge it. 2 years ago, I‌ stood where you are, on a trip not much different than this one. The view you’re about to see, and the feeling that will follow… many of you are unfamiliar with. Don’t fight them. I returned home from that trip like I had returned from countless before; and attempted to go on with my life, like I had countless times before. But this time, I was unable. My mind kept wandering back to that moment, and this forest it happened in. It was more than simply wanting to go back on vacations. It was a yearning to be back in the majestic paradise of God's imagination. The farther time moved from that location, the harder it was to resist the restlessness growing inside of me. Eventually, I‌ left a job that was feeding my wallet but draining my soul. And now, we’re here. Together. My point in this is not to say that everyone needs to go out into nature and become a mountain man like myself. My point is that every person has things that they enjoy. But further than that, every person has things that make them feel alive. The great tragedy of our world is that most people don't even know what these are. To truly live is the rarest thing in our world. Most people simply exist. I think it is important to ask yourself which category you fall into. Life itself is a privilege. But to live life to the fullest- that is a choice. If your answer isn't an emphatic,"LIVING," then I implore you to pause and truly take a moment to ask yourself why. Time moves by rapidly. You blink and years are gone. So let me ask: Over the past two years, how many life changing moments have you had? I'm not talking about a nice instagram picture you took or some nice fuzzy feeling you got at a concert. I'm talking about the kind of encounter that makes you want to jump out of excitement and run and share it? Because if the amount of those is succeeded by the amount of mundane moments, then you should truly question why. Never allow waiting to become a habit. Find a way to live your dreams. Take the risks. Fail. Try again. Try something new. And with that… Let’s walk.“ Seth turned and began walking. Leo and Maya exchanged a glance. Tears had welled up in both their eyes, and they weren’t the only ones. Seth walked, and they all followed. Physically, but, wishfully, metaphorically as well. They walked and they talked with the sun high above them. And they connected, just a little.

They had been walking for 2 hours when Maya finally said what everyone was thinking. “Did anyone pack any food?” This hooked the group like a fish on a line, yanking everyone to an abrupt stop. Ethan grinned. “As a matter of fact,” He offered, “Someone did.” He gestured to an older woman with a warm smile. “Sarah offered to make everyone sandwiches this morning, which is why we didn’t stop for lunch.”‌ Maya looked at her, and instantly felt warmth. Sarah looked to be in her late 40’s, but had to be incredibly in shape, given the terrain they had been trecking through. Sarah handed her a sandwich, and it suddenly struck maya as odd how they we’re eating meals. This didn’t feel like a travel tour. It felt like.. one of her old family beach days. She pushed the thought away and thanked the woman. “Of course, darling” she spoke with such grace. “I’m Sarah.” Maya introduced herself, and after Leo had gotten his sandwich, the three sat together on a rock and began chatting. “How did you hear about this cool trip?”‌ Sarah asked aloud. Unsure if the question was directed at Maya or himself, Leo replied. “I‌ love nature. My mom recommended it to me.” Sarah smiled. “And you?” Maya froze up. She tried speaking, but she truthfully didn’t even know what she was going to say. “I, um…”‌ The knot. It was back. And the tears always followed soon af- “It’s ok.”‌ A hand on Maya’s shoulder brought her back to reality. “My husband died last year.”‌ Sarah’s tears formed, but in a controlled, almost defiant way. “We always used to travel together. Solo travelling isn’t really my style, but this-”‌ She gestured around.“ -This feels safe. And new. And I‌ feel him here.” Sarah leaned in a bit, closing the distance between her and Maya. “Nature has a way of smoothing the rough edges, dear. Just give it time.” She leaned back, and Maya, for the first time, truly felt understood. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she had something to look forward to. After lunch, the hard part of the hike came. The group climbed, higher and higher, and higher. They snaked through forests; dense, wet segments literally dripping with water, but never seemed to gain any elevation. It was as if the ground was rising with them. There we’re birds and animals and even fish in some of the streams. Maya had never been this far north before. Traveling had never really even been an interest of hers. Her map told her she was somewhere called “Big Sur” (whatever the heck that meant)‌ but she had lost service over an hour ago. The sun had already begun its descent, casting long shadows into the valley they we’re actively trying to climb out of. The group wasn’t as tight as it had been earlier. Ethan took the front, and his assistant took the rear, but the group seemed to be spaced out everywhere in between. The hike wasn’t particularly difficult, just… tiring. Tiring enough, apparently, to cause everyone to retreat into their own thoughts. Up ahead, there was a bend where the trail curved around a boulder. Ethan stood, right before the turn, facing Maya as she sputtered up the trail. “You ready?” he said when she reached him, knowing full well she wasn’t ready. She turned the corner, andfound herself standing just beneath the clouds, overlooking the pacific ocean. She was impossibly high- higher than her mind even thought possible. The ocean breeze blew up the mountain, almost knocking her back into the rock. It was all so big. And so beautiful. She sat down, awestruck at the vista before her. Far below, a small road guided 2 lanes of cars up and down the coast. She turned and saw stuffed bags and crates with the Project Wander Logo on them sitting off to the side, and immediately realized no one in their group had carried them here. “Seth.. what are those for?” she asked. “For camping, of course.”‌ We’re staying here tonight. And when the rest of the group arrives, we’ll set up camp.“‌ He himself turned back to the ocean, diving deep into his own thoughts. Maya followed suit. The knot was still in her stomach, but it was smaller; how could it not be? She was surrounded by granduer. And it was doing its job.

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