Hello, it's me, Christophe, who invites you to take this hero's journey. I am 62 years old and have extensive experience as a traveler and coach. My first trip was to the Netherlands in 1978, during an exchange with a swimming club in the city of Delft. I was 15 years old. The following summer, I left hitchhiking, with a friend and a few hundred francs in my pocket, towards The Hague (Den Haag). I knew the time of the interrail card which allowed young people to crisscross Europe for not too much money. During my years at high school, I explored, backpacking, all the countries of Northern Europe and even made a memorable foray into the USSR. Then, in the 80s, there was a Caribbean period. I made six memorable trips to Martinique, Guadeloupe but it is French Guiana and its jungle which have left the strongest mark on my mind. But that was nothing compared to my love affair with Asia, where I first arrived in 1990, in Thailand. I found work there and stayed there for almost 10 years, which allowed me to explore all the ASEAN countries and make a few forays into China, which had just opened up to foreign travelers. I learned to speak Thai and, since then, I've returned there a good twenty times, always with great pleasure. As for coaching, I discovered its existence when I returned from expatriation at the turn of the 2000s. I am a coach who comes from sports: being a swimmer myself, I had the opportunity to coach a national-level team that won several FFN titles. I invested time and energy to obtain a COACH U certification (https://www.coachu.com/home/) in 2000 and I first practiced in the social field, with young people in difficulty. It was difficult but particularly formative. Then, in 10 years, I carried out nearly 300 skills assessments, before founding in 2017 the Parenthèse au vert (https://www.laparentheseauvert.fr/) an activity welcoming people going through a burnout or a depressive episode, an initiative which responds to a very strong need. The hero's journey is the continuation of this exciting adventure.
Some memories of my travels: to Berlin in 1980; to Marigot, Martinique in 1987 and to Thailand in Krabi in 1991
Sources of travel inspiration:
- The age-old tradition of pilgrimage. The pilgrim takes to the road to purify himself before changing. He agrees to step out of his comfort zone to encounter his faith in the world, in life. To encounter trust, awareness.
- The philosophers of antiquity. Feeling better, experiencing joy are ancient problems that philosophers have been pondering for millennia. I think of the Peripatetic philosophers, the Stoics, those who called themselves in Latin the PROGREDIENTES, that is to say, "those who progress": every day getting up and asking myself what progress, big or small, I can make today, deep down.
- Scout camps. The LET'S GO TOGETHER trips are also inspired by the "youth movements" of the 60s and 70s. We would go away in the summer, in small groups, with an itinerary, a tent, a pocket knife, and four pennies. Let's collectively rediscover the lightness of that era and the carefree spirit of youth for the duration of a trip. A wonderful school and a boost of life! When I was a young swimmer, I had the chance to participate in international exchanges within the framework of the labor federations (UST and FSGT). It wasn't about achieving extraordinary performances and always being first, but about giving young people an opportunity to meet their peers, to MEET others: hosting families, local internships, exchanges, and twinning.
- The reality TV show Koh Lanta. I admit I've never watched a full episode, but I've seen a few clips in passing. This show has captivated millions of viewers for a decade. Why not imagine a version in the mode of kindness, solidarity, and cooperation where the show focuses on competition and the elimination of "competitors" who become "enemies"?
- The film THE BEACH with Leonardo di Caprio. It's not his best film. Nevertheless, I liked the beach life in this film as it is presented (and idealized). Long days of leisure, where it's good to do nothing, practicing complete letting go within a small community with a few rules "but without ideologies." It's so good that everyone has to keep this little intimate paradise a secret.