Date : October 5, 2000
From: America Latina 2001
Subject : First Encounter
Place : Chili / Santiago

During the first flight from Paris to Rio, were were seated at the back of the plane: row 43 (near the toilets). A guy who was about our age came near us carrying a small leather satchel and a Givenchy bag. He sat right besides us and we started chatting:

"So, you guys too are going to Brazil, aren't you?" (Fancy him talking with a strong accent from the South of France)
"We're not, actually we have a connecting flight in Rio to Santiago"
"Oh you have, and are you going to work there?"
"No, we've planned to travel around South America"
"Wow, that's a great trip... I'm going to teach french for six months"

Later in the conversation we found out that Jean-Damien had never took the plane before and that he was leaving for Macapao, a lost hole situated on the mouth of the river Amazone, right beneath Surinam. He hadn't bought any guidebook and had prepared his stay in a rather basic way. Talking with this guy was real fun. He was leaving, totally carefree, to go through an experience he would never forget.

Well done Jean-Damien, tell us about you some time!

Hasta la vista
Olivier and Philippe