Week 10: A Conference at the Mosque

If my little family and I could settle in Indonesia, if we could make a living by introducing this beautiful country to tourists from all over the world, if the money we raise could help the children of our village build a better future — these are the dreams that carry me forward. Even though the promotional campaign is officially over, introducing our little business doesn't stop there. I was delighted to have the chance to tell my story to a group of motivated Muslims who braved the protests and the bad weather to arrive on time. No one has yet told me they want to set off on an adventure with us in the coming months, but our offer was clearly heard, and the local Muslim community now knows who to contact to organize a holiday in Indonesia. My story also helped my audience understand the difficulties blind people face, and how to go about helping them without being pushy or awkward. I think I was fairly at ease at the mic. I wasn't overly nervous, which probably helped me keep things interesting.

A More Academic Talk

Since some friends who had already attended my previous conference were sitting in front of me again this Saturday, and since we were in a religious building, it was essential to change up my talk. Whereas last time I had spent a long time describing how I came to meet visually impaired people and how I travel independently as a blind person, this time I tried to move through those topics more quickly and to dwell more on the spiritual side. I took the time to explain the reasons that led me to become a believer, while highlighting the benefits this change in outlook has had on my mental health. I also went through the history of the Indonesian archipelago across the centuries: the Indo-Buddhist kingdoms, the spread of Islam through merchants and marriages, the influence of the Wali Songo, colonization, independence. I wanted to emphasize this unprecedented mass conversion, achieved not through the violent invasion of a foreign army but solely through human relationships and political strategy. I'm passionate about what makes this part of the world so unique, and I'm very happy to be able to sing its praises with my modest knowledge.

Wide-Ranging Questions

The questions from the audience were extremely varied. People were just as intrigued by my path to God as by my visual impairment. One woman asked me which verses of the Quran had particularly helped me fight my depression. A man wanted to know how local Muslims managed to blend their new religion with their ancestral culture. I told him about the popular Hindu-inspired puppet shows that imams from the Middle East transformed with Islamic symbols and messages. A lady I know very well asked me for a lesson on the right way to approach a blind person in the street. I took the opportunity to share how hard it can be for me to find a seat on the bus or to approach other parents outside my son's school. We wrapped up this incredibly enriching discussion with a demonstration of how I use my smartphone with a screen reader. The children were amazed to see me browse Facebook and Instagram with ease without being able to look at the screen.

Lovely Encounters

My wife and I had originally planned to take the bus home, but a family we didn't know kindly offered to drive us back. We gladly accepted. On the way, a teenage girl bombarded my wife with questions, asking her to teach her a few words of Indonesian and confiding that she had always dreamed of going to Asia. Maybe one day we'll have the chance to show her the riches of our island for real. Before that, I was able to chat with a fellow convert, and we talked about the power of nature and of these faraway lands to strengthen one's faith. A visually impaired man who attended the same specialized school as me, from a different generation, also came up to me. Incredible to meet a former boarder from my beloved boarding school in these circumstances. Finally, I was able to talk with one of our future clients, whose home I'm heading to later today to help her buy her plane tickets. I'll tell you all about it in an upcoming article.

Coming up this week

Nothing special planned for the days ahead. I'll keep advising my clients on buying their plane tickets, and I hope some of them won't be scared off by rising prices and will make the effort to stick with their trip despite the difficult economic climate. Ten travelers have bought their tickets so far. It would be perfect if we could wrap up this critical phase with a group of 15 to 20 adventurers.