« One day, one discovery »: a journey to meet beautiful people and to find more light for sunshine in 2021… An unforgettable encounter! D-14

December 2019, Johnson, it is at Sheeba and Edwin’s that we met you. In a few minutes, humour was the order of the day. Soon enough, you suggested we take a tour of Fort Cochin and together we went to a craftsmen’s market.

The next morning, you borrowed your uncle’s car because you wanted us to discover your favourites in the backwaters outside Kochi.

When you arrived in the small fishing village, you were disappointed because they were on strike and you couldn’t show us the usual activity. At the same time, you understood their problems and their anger.

With Jean-Yves, even if, as he wrote in his article entitled « Different », you were all in contrast, the magic immediately worked and you soon found yourselves making jokes on each other, accomplices in a few moments.

You delighted us, you made us appreciate the charm of this little fishing spot that you admired so much and you made us want to know more.

Together, we laughed a lot, that’s for sure. And we also exchanged a lot about society, about injustices, about liberalism and all that it destroys around the world.

Men of conviction in full meditation in front of the infinity of the sea… it always looks serious, at least for a few moments…

You brought us into this universe that was a bit foreign to us.

Together we went to meet the fishermen and we drank chai tea as only Indians in small shops know how to do.

And then we continued a little further, in a corner that really made you dream. I believe that if you had been alone, this is where you would have chosen to live. And you told us about Anitha, your wife you were madly in love with, and Alen, your son you were very proud of.

You made us discover fishing in all its forms and you made us love this atmosphere.

You made us fall in ecstasy in front of beauty and nature. Ah, how good were all these shared moments, and so simple at the same time.

Fishing for plaice fascinated us and we spent a lot of time standing on this deck watching the coming and going of the nets.

We exchanged with a few fishermen from the sector and these moments remain forever engraved in our memories. We too were conquered by this place of great serenity far from the madness of the cities.

We were stunned by the boats that offered a fairy tale of colours on the horizon. Thank you for sharing your little secret corners with us.

The next day, you accompanied us to the Castle of Kochi?

You showed unparalleled patience so that I could find all the spices and fabrics I dreamed of…what patience in gold and all this with an incomparable sense of humour. All the merchants of old Cochin knew you and loved to laugh with you…

You even made us discover the Cochin spice exchange…incredible! So when we got back to France, we kept in touch to exchange jokes and thoughts. And what a joy it was when we received a post from you.

In the evening at sunset, you brought us to the Port of Cochin to spend an evening around the Chinese nets admiring the infinity. And now this evening we learn that you too have entered infinity.

And we learn at this very moment that Alen, your son, to whom you passed on your passion for foreign languages, has decided to take up the challenge of teaching them, even though you are no longer at his side. At the age of ten, he launches an online English-French course from his screen! A worthy son of his father, as lively and hard-working as you were! You were passionate about foreign languages because you were passionate about human encounters and our meeting was really exciting!

So although we dream of seeing Kochi again, we now know that without you, it will never be like this first time in 2019, since you left us!

It is with great emotion and much sadness that we want to pay tribute to you for your verve, your humour, your revolt and for all that you have brought us during these few days spent together in Kochi. And we wish long life to the Alen project!

Par Nathalie

Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)