Inspired by Dan Marino, a history professor from a small town embarks on a four-year journey, crossing countries and oceans to enter the heart of a Communist country to bring an innocent youth home.

No, this is not the trailer to a new indie film, but the story of Dr. John Moser and his daughter, Constanze Elaine.

Born in Bethel Park, John Moser has been an academic for nearly all of his adult life.

A graduate of Ohio University, then the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champign, Moser went on to teach at George Mason University and the University of Georgia before finally accepting a tenure track job at Ashland University.

“My first semester was real rough because they already had their schedule set and they had the new person, whoever it was going to be, teaching two sections of the first half of western civilization…and Renaissance and Reformation which I knew nothing about,” Moser said.

Despite his baptism by fire, Moser settled in and became a respected member of Ashland’s faculty.

He was “footloose and fancy-free,” yet decided to give up a large part of that in his late 30’s when he and his wife decided to adopt from China.

“We were at a bar named Linders in the middle of the afternoon on a Saturday or a Sunday, my nephews had just been to visit my sister’s kids and we had a great time…they had just gone home and we were kind of low because they had left,” said Moser.

Enter Dan Marino on the bar’s T.V. screen.

“This documentary showed that he and his wife had adopted a little girl from China and we looked at each other and said there’s no reason why we couldn’t do that,” said Moser.

They started the process that summer, expecting to have their little girl by the end of 2006.

However, this did not work out how they expected.

“For some reason, we are not clear why, the Chinese government really slowed down…so we didn’t end up going to China until February of 2009,” he said.

Despite the delay, Moser could not have been happier once he saw his daughter for the first time.

“Once we were together with our little girl it didn’t seem to matter. We knew she was the right one for us,” Moser said.

Despite the joys of having a new daughter, there was an adjustment period.

Adoptions, especially from a foreign country, often result in a messy adjustment process.

“There were some rough weeks but by late spring things were going well and she was adopted beautifully. She is as American a little girl as you can imagine,” Moser said.

Stanzi, Moser’s daughter, makes fairly frequent visits to Ashland University, occasionally swinging on the funky sculpture in front of the library.

“Unfortunately I have less time to give to students and the university than I did. It’s now more of a ‘you know here’s my work here’s my home,’” said Moser.

Despite any negatives, Moser has no regrets.

“It’s easy for me to get sentimental now having this child love me and loving her back and knowing how much of an influence we have over her is really truly been life changing,” he said. “She’s the best thing that has happened to me since my wife.”