A week ago, I received an email that caught my attention. “Peace-walker passing through Arles” was the title. “Oh, really?” I thought with a sardonic arch of the eyebrow. But as I continued reading, I was immediately intrigued. It had been sent by Wijnand Boon (pronounced Vine-andt) and after explaining that he had come across my blog while googling Arles, here is how he introduced his mission:
“I have started walking from the Netherlands in September 2010 and I just got back in France after having crossed Portugal and Spain. I am on my way to Cairo in Egypt for a peace organization called MasterPeace (www.masterpeace.org). I find my places to stay along my way through the internet, the mission being to show how the internet can bring people together and that help can be found everywhere. A simple, positive message and I try to share my experiences with as many people as possible.”
Wijnand’s message was extremely articulate and included links to articles that had been written about his journey as well as to the social media accounts that he uses both to document his experience and solicit aid. He was simply asking if Remi and I would be willing to host him for Friday night, when he estimated that he would be in Arles. After a verification of all of the info (once a journalist, always a journalist) we quickly agreed. And I am so glad that we did.
He arrived in the early evening and after hauling up the fantastically designed cart that holds his belongings, we settled in for a long apéro during which we learned more about him and his fascinating project. He explained that it was initially inspired after a speech by the Dutch Queen Beatrix in which she claimed that the internet was pulling people further apart, that the essence of virtual connections are a detriment to society. Wijnand was determined not only to prove her wrong but decided to go on a pilgrimage using social media to do so. Via Twitter and Facebook, he has reached out to strangers along his route. So far, he has stayed with around 250 families (from sleeping on a mat in a crowded studio to ocean-view mansions) with nary a bad experience in the lot.
A lot of that has to do with Wijnand, of course. He is incredibly charming and well-spoken on so many subjects that at one point I turned to him and asked “is there anything that doesn’t interest you?” He is aware that people might be shy or nervous about letting a stranger into their homes and has that magical quality of immediately putting someone at ease. It was a delight listening to his rapid fire political and economic discussions with Remi that took place until long into the night and watching him capture the essence of the Saturday market the next morning. He is never intrusive and was respectful of our schedules and space. As he was recovering from an injury, we were in ready agreement that he stay with us for an extra night, for in truth, while we were providing a roof and dinner, he was giving us just as much if not more in return, including performing a few songs on his guitar.
I have written quite effusively on this blog about the positive and real impact I feel from the contacts that I have made here and Wijnand is literally walking proof of that. It is just that he is taking it to a global level. He is an incredibly inspiring person that embodies the idea that we can make our dreams into reality and even if we don’t know what the future holds, we just need to keep going, one step at a time…
Friends, Wijnand is heading East towards Salon-de-Provence on his way towards Rome and then Jerusalem before his swing towards Cairo in time for MasterPeace’s International Day of Peace in September 2014. An approximate list of the cities that he will be travelling to can be found here. Would any of you be willing to host him on his journey or do you know anyone that might? And if that doesn’t interest you (and he does not put pressure on folks), would you be willing to mention this on either Twitter or Facebook? You can find his links below and his email is tw*********@***il.com.
Wijnand’s project is Ben-approved!
Wijnand Boon:
Check out my website
www.twalkwithme.eu
Follow me on Twitter
@TwalkWithMe
Join me on Facebook
Twalk with me
Twalk with me for MasterPeace
www.masterpeace.org
Help me share my story and complete my mission:
One day of walking costs about five euro’s, but you already make my day with a cup of coffee a month. You can support my mission by donating to 3156.17.918. I thank you for your support!
PS You can also help by retweeting on Twitter and share my posts on Facebook with you friends. Help spread the word!
www.twalkwithme.eu
Follow me on Twitter
@TwalkWithMe
Join me on Facebook
Twalk with me
Twalk with me for MasterPeace
www.masterpeace.org
Help me share my story and complete my mission:
One day of walking costs about five euro’s, but you already make my day with a cup of coffee a month. You can support my mission by donating to 3156.17.918. I thank you for your support!
PS You can also help by retweeting on Twitter and share my posts on Facebook with you friends. Help spread the word!
Bonne Route, Wijnand. Here is one for the road…With all our best from Heather, Remi and Ben…
Hugs right back at you, friend. And as always, you hit it perfectly–he does have a big personality and a self-assurance without the ego that is impressive. You would have loved hosting him I know and your family would have hounded him with questions!
As for around the world, I think not as he is determined to walk every bit of the way. No boats or planes allowed! But who knows…?
Hope you are well!!
Good afternoon Saigon! How I love imagining the thought of Madeline Peyroux's voice wafting through the giant mango…I will email you a list with some other suggestions. 🙂
Yes, I am sure that you are already in the process of opening your new doors there but it is true in Wijnand's case he is advancing into the unknown. That he is able to do so with such an open spirit and humor in tact is exceptional, I think. Remi compared his journey to the true expeditions of old, the real explorers. And who wouldn't feel a bit of envious of that!
Gros bisous et à binetôt,
h
We do, Helen. He has such a positive character that it was definitely very quiet around here when he left. And it was an odd situation for Remi and I to be in as when we travel, we are usually the ones to leave. Ben was absolutely over the moon for him and would NOT stop giving him bisous on the day that he left.
I am sure that Wijnand will appreciate your prayers. Yes, it is such a long journey , so much so that it can be hard to take in. I will be worried when it comes time for him to make his descent towards Egypt as he will either cross Syria or Iraq.
Thanks again for all of your support. So happy to know you.
xo,
Heather
I agree Leslie. What he is doing seems so against the grain with our contemporary society of "each man for himself" but he is proving it isn't the case…
Hope all is well for you in Portland.
xo,
h
Yay, merci Julie! With your contacts, Wijnand could find hosts for a year!
You never know Veronique–dude gets around! Thanks for forwarding.
Debra, you have such a wide reach with your audience, it must feel wonderful to connect with like minds all over the world. I know I definitely feel that.
xo,
H
What a beautiful and fascinating project! Thank you for sharing Wijnand's story. I have to admit, I'm also intrigued by his clever rolling cart.
Great post, thanks so much for sharing. I've just written to him, so who knows? He may visit us here in Rome or up in Umbria.
It would take a person with a big personality to attempt such a fabulous feat. I bet he was most interesting to talk to!
And Ben-approved – so he has been "stamped" as good to go. I wonder if he would consider turning it into a round the world trip, to complete the journey? How our little world is changing so quickly, with all the vagaries of communication, and the possibilities it provides. What would Christopher Columbus thought of such a trip? He would have been keen to do the same, if he were in a time machine, no doubt!
Hugs from down under. xx