Yannick (42) knows how to accomplish a multitude of feats that would take most of us a lifetime to achieve only one! Have a look: Google Yannick Daoudi.
Dividing his life roughly into thirds, this Canadian professor lectures for parts of the year, and spends his remaining time on serious adventure traveling and international volunteer work. Over the recent 10 weeks he has been cycling from Zimbabwe on his way to the Western Cape. Often sleeping in his little tent along the roadside.
We had the honour of hosting Yannick and his sprightly, delightful partner, Emily – who joined Yannick three weeks ago. What an adventure to be able to listen to stories about their journey, exchange cultural gems, to explain unique words and phrases, to gain a view into each other’s lifestyles, and to explore what makes us all tick.
Special people.
Alas! Yannick and Emily left this morning. Cape Town, Agulhas, and the Eastern Cape beckons…
We could only stand in silent awe as we watched them disappear around the first corner. Yannick with a big sun hat and his long shirt flowing in the wind, Emily with a colourful bouquet of birthday flowers mounted on her handlebars, as the sounds of their cheerful Quebec-French chatter drifted back towards us.
Finally out of view, we turned back to continue with our relatively ordinary lives.
But there has been a shift… something has stuck inside us.
If ever you have the opportunity of hosting people like Yannick and Emily – be sure to DO that! You will also be going on your own little journey…
Thank you, Yannick – for sharing your many horizons. And for broadening the horizons of so many others.
