1) I think the theme of "White Rabbit," is that travel can help us become more independent and self-reliant, opening us up to discover new things about ourselves that we didn't know before. I also think that the piece suggests that if we try to appreciate things that we don't think we'll like at first, we'll come to understand and appreciate them in new ways.
2) I enjoyed how the author used understated, yet powerful language to create a tone of frank honesty. One line that really caught my imagination was, "We stated out until the blue light of evening, the snow conditions perfect for glissading down the mountains in winter, ice axe as a rudder, the ice crystals on the trees sparkling by headlamp," I thought the imagery in this line was very beautiful. (I also had to look up glissading! It means to slide down a steep slope with the help of a pick axe). Another bit I really liked was, "Certainly your gear and your body, if you're lucky, and you work at it, can take your mind places it couldn't otherwise go. But it doesn't happen unless your mind takes your body there first. What you need most is imagination, a willingness to step beyond the frame of the everyday, to follow the rabbit." I liked how the author suggested that traveling is about more than the act--it's about the mindset. I thought that was a very powerful idea.
I completely agree when you said travel helps us become more independent and self-reliant. When we travel we discover new cultures that we have to adapt to and our travels/ adventures force this adaptation thus creating a self-reliance. I like how you brought up the mental side of travel that was prevalent in Keith's essay--the quote you used as an example was one that also stuck me as very powerful.
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