Carnet de Voyage

I lived with a woman called Marie-Noelle in Paris years ago. When we were together, she used to show me this wonderful book of illustrations from places she had visited: Iran, Africa, Tunisia, New Zealand, Beijing... i often encouraged her to publish these illustrations either as a children's book or as an illustrated travel diary.

Finally, she published a book of her watercolor paintings and illustrations from Iran. Check out more illustrations from her book here.


I was thinking the other day of a story that she told me of her experience in Chad. Marie-Noelle was there for months working on a project that brought electricity and plumming to small villages. Aside from work, she would often wander off with her sketchbook and camera. One day, as she was walking through a grassy plain, some children ran up to her with an urgency and excitement that seemed a bit scary. Has someone been hurt? Are people in trouble? These questions flashed in her mind as she allowed the kids to tug at her sleeves and lead her back to their village. Apparently they had been following her for about thirty minutes. When they reached her, the kids held her hand, running and pulling her in one direction. All the while, they were talking to each other with a lot of excitement. "What is going on here, maybe they need a doctor?" Marie-Noelle thought to herself. Coming closer to the village however, she heard music. Approaching the village, she saw people feasting on pineapple and dancing as if their lives depended on it. It was then that she found out what the kids wanted--they just wanted to dance with her.

It is easy to forget the simple things in life. It is my wish this week to remember.