Week 9: Flight Prices Skyrocket

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. Things are a little less cheerful than last week. Jet fuel is expensive, and so are plane tickets. This state of affairs has led some of my potential clients to pull out. The least motivated and those on the tightest budgets took the news badly and were quick to cancel. A few warriors, however, have held their ground and refused to let this setback get them down. Six people have already booked their flights and are more committed to the adventure than ever. Others should take the plunge in the coming days. I expect we'll end up with between fifteen and twenty people. That's fewer than I had dreamed of, but more than satisfactory given the current context. The project is still alive, and we'll definitely be able to test this original concept on the ground. Disaster has been averted.

The First Six Sign-Ups

She had already been the very first to respond to my communication campaign, the very first to send me her choice of dates, and naturally she was the very first to buy her ticket to Java. My friend from Toulouse made a real financial effort to be part of the trip, and I thank her for it. She will leave from the Pink City and travel via Germany before arriving on our island. A teacher from the Paris training center for visually impaired people was also very quick off the mark. I helped her on WhatsApp to find the best flight, and she ended up finding something that suited her for under €1,200. It was Saturday morning, around breakfast time. The physiotherapist from the Deux-Sèvres department and her daughter, who are in the same group as the teacher, followed in her footsteps. They'll return to France two days later than planned, but got tickets for under €1,000 thanks to this change of dates. On Sunday evening around 11 p.m., just as I was about to go to bed, one last piece of good news arrived. Two Parisian students, longtime friends, also finalized their booking, landing in Jakarta two days before the start of the journey to save as much as possible.

The Dropouts

Very early in the week, a young man troubled by serious health problems told me that he would not be joining us after all. His friend, who was set on traveling with him, has also taken a step back. In another WhatsApp group, the four friends from Marseille I had managed to win over were put off by flight prices and all decided to drop out of the project. A real disappointment. As for the third group, two visually impaired travelers filled out the health questionnaire and sent it to me, but haven't really been in touch since. I don't sense much motivation on their part, and I strongly doubt they'll be there next summer. I may be wrong, but I'm expecting their withdrawal message soon. We'll see.

The Latecomers

In the highly motivated Toulouse woman's group, a German traveler who speaks perfect French told me he would take care of his tickets next week. Late-August fares are the highest, though, and I really hope Indonesia appeals to him enough to make this significant financial sacrifice. In the early-August team, my Muslim friends from Angers are considering a stopover in Saudi Arabia to visit Mecca and should make up their minds soon. The two Tunisian brothers contacted me privately and are also about to choose an offer, probably with the Saudi airline, which is gradually starting to lower its prices. Lastly, I need to visit a retired lady who lives near me to read her the itinerary and choose a flight with her. The choices of all these people will determine whether the blind woman from Nantes, who would rather not travel alone, goes ahead. Finally, a young man who wants to continue on to Thailand and a young woman heading on to South Korea may also join the party.

Coming up this week

I'll keep following up with each person individually to help everyone find flights at affordable prices. I'll spend my days on airline apps to be on the lookout for any good deals. I also need to get serious about preparing the talk I'm giving at the mosque on Saturday, October 24. With the incredible amount of time I'm spending on flights, I haven't yet found the time to work on my presentation.