Week 5: Glass Ceiling

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. The project has settled into a steady cruising speed. Two new travelers joined the journey over the past seven days, and it seems we're not far from hitting our glass ceiling for this year. Three well-defined groups are now taking shape. The first will probably be made up of visually impaired people from my circle and former listeners of my podcast. The second will include the students of AVH Paris and one of their teachers. The third will be reserved for my Muslim friends in Angers. We're leaving pre-registrations open until early October so that latecomers can hop on the train at the last minute. After that, it will be time to build the final teams, coordinate everyone together, and buy the plane tickets.

The Friends from Toulouse

The only new pre-registrants this week are a boy and a girl who live in the southwest of France. They've already traveled together across mainland France and in French Guiana, near the Brazilian border. They have real experience, which will benefit the rest of their group. One is partially sighted, the other is totally blind. The one who can still see a little has promised to act as a guide for his companion. She is also heading to Japan very soon to take part in a Ceci rugby tournament, which should give her a first taste of the endless charms of Asia.

A Need for Independence

Something I hadn't necessarily anticipated before launching Java Horizon, and that keeps coming up in what my future clients tell me, is their reluctance to hire the dedicated guides we offer them. Many visually impaired people tell me they're independent enough to get around on their own, but they also mention that they need a cane at night or need extra time on terrain that's too steep. I suppose they know themselves well enough to decide to travel without assistance, and that we have to trust them. They're adults and understand the difficulties tied to their condition well. The upside is that our group will be compact, which should help the most severely impaired keep up with the group. We'll still have to stay vigilant every second and keep a close eye on everyone to avoid accidents. I know it's extremely restrictive for someone with residual vision to be treated like a blind person, so I'll do my best to respect everyone's wishes within reason.

The Power of Word of Mouth

My list of personal contacts and my email address book of organizations working in the field of visual impairment are almost exhausted. About ten people told me they aren't available for 2027 but might be interested in 2028. Still, if I want this activity to last, the feedback from my first clients will need to be positive, and they'll need to motivate others to take the leap. I tell myself that traveling to the other side of the world with a team of beginners can be scary, but that written or video testimonials will do a good job of reassuring the most skeptical. I'm already looking ahead, and starting today I'm considering my next communication campaign so that these inaugural journeys aren't the only trips we ever organize. My planned advertising aimed at an international audience in several countries is also a powerful lever I haven't used yet, and it seems to me to have a good chance of success.

Coming up this week

A few dozen more prospects to contact and the whole world will know that Java Horizon is open. In ten days, I'll ask each pre-registrant to tell me their preferred dates, and we'll be able to move forward on buying plane tickets. I also need to finish writing the roadmap, which contains the detailed program and the technical details of our getaway to Java. Everyone will receive this document and be able to make the final decision on whether to go, fully informed.