Opening Notes
Kyoto, 21 Mai 2025.
Une envie de commencer une nouvelle aventure. Non pas une aventure physique, mais un vagabondage de l’esprit. Les pages sont encore blanches, une invitation à écrire – non pas simplement ce que je vis, mais également ce que je ressens, et ce que le voyage m’inspire et me fait comprendre sur le monde et moi-même.
Ultimately, I wondered: should I write in English or French? I love French — because this language always seems to have the right word, or rather, several words, to capture something specific, something subtle.
But realistically, traveling is also about expanding your worldview — your models, your ways of seeing.
And in the world I live in now, far from France, I speak English. The people I meet come from all over the globe, and so I think English reflects my journey better — and what it means to be a nomad in the twenty-first century.
As Shakespeare wrote:
“Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.”
And so, the language itself doesn’t matter that much.
Hence, I shall write in the tongue of Shakespeare.
Introduction
I’m not going to lie — as I write these first lines, I can’t help but feel a bit like Ernesto Guevara penning Notas de Viaje. I’m nearly ten years older than he was at the time, and my life is far from being that kind of adventure.
That being said, I’m writing with a similar perspective in mind — one shaped by cultural, anthropological, and political curiosity. Those who know me well know I’m a nerd in more ways than one, and that includes how I interpret the world around me.
When I was young — maybe ten or so — I was always dreaming about fantasy worlds. I imagined myself as a knight with long hair (at least I got that part right), or a superhero saving the world. My imagination has always been boundless, and even now, I still find myself drifting into made-up worlds and untold adventures. One day, I’ll write a novel.
I suppose I should tell you a bit more about myself — after all, we may not know each other, and context is everything.
I’m Guillaume, thirty-one as I write this. When I’m abroad and people ask my name, I usually go with “G.” You’d think I’d be used to people mispronouncing it — Guyomi, Gilaumi, or whatever version they come up with — but the truth is, it still gets to me. Most of all, I don’t always recognize myself in the way it sounds when they call me.
It’s also a nice icebreaker, because people usually either find it funny or “amazing” (Americans — you guessed it), and that sparks a chat about my real name, where I’m from, and just like that, we’re in a full conversation.
Being a hybrid — a “leave me alone” introvert when I’m not in the mood, and a double-extra extrovert when I’m full of energy — I’m not really into small talk. So introducing myself as G works perfectly.
In early 2025, I decided to let go of my flat in Paris after four years. Some people might call that a “thirties crisis.” I’d say it was something I’d been thinking about for a while — a while meaning a few years, in my case.
I did get some sort of push in mid-2024, and I’m grateful it happened the way it did. Sometimes in life, you just need a gentle kick. For me, it was a reminder that there’s still so much to experience — and that it was time to follow my gut even more than I usually do.
Now, on to the boring part of the story: the classic “What do you do in life?” Because yes, we’re often defined by our work — and most often, our business life.
To put it simply: I’m an entrepreneur. I’ve been at it for about seven years now. Some might say I’m successful, but if you talk to me for more than five minutes, you’ll realize that’s far from enough in my book.
I’m always trying to push further. I guess that’s just how I’m wired.
I won’t get into everything I do on the side — let’s just say I’m not great at any one thing, but I’m good at a lot of different things. I learn fast, and I want to try it all.
That’s it — you should have a clearer picture of who I am now.
My father always said, “Le voyage forge la jeunesse” — travel shapes youth — and I agree.
But I’d simplify that and say: travel shapes you. It doesn’t matter how old you are — what matters is that it pulls you out of your comfort zone. And that’s where growth happens.
Until one day, that comfort zone expands to just about anywhere in the world.
I’m getting there, I think.