[LUM#5] Like the birds of the sky
For a year, Anthony Pottier traveled by bicycle along the roads of Latin America. He had a unique goal: to share his expertise in water management. It was a life-changing experience.
Not long ago, Anthony was struggling along the jagged peaks of the Andes, sweating on the white expanse of the world’s largest salt flat; he was climbing the southern Lipez and its 5,000-meter elevation gain: a pass without a single trace of asphalt, just rocks, sand, and a vast sky above. To embark on this adventure, he gave up his apartment, sold his car, and left his routine behind.
“To help, but also to meet people and learn”
It was an adventure he wanted to focus on helping others. With a degree in water science and technology from Polytech Montpellier, Anthony Pottier had this desire: to make a difference.“The project went far beyond a simple athletic challenge! The idea was to stop in villages and help communities by applying my expertise in the field of water. This is a critical issue: many people in Latin America suffer from insufficient access to this vital resource.”
To help, but also “to meet people, learn, and see what tomorrow’s world might look like.” With simplicity, he talks about“getting involved in local development projects.” It’s not easy, however, to contribute his skills to small municipalities that are often poorly organized. So the former student turned to his employer, Veolia, for contacts. He spent three weeks in Colombia helping to get a wastewater treatment plant up and running. He volunteers his time and shares his expertise in Ecuador and Peru—anywhere his knowledge and energy can be put to use.
A Liberating Experience
Between projects, he explored Oaxaca and the splendors of Machu Picchu, the glaciers of Peru and Lake Titicaca, the paradisiacal hell of a Bolivia without paved roads, and even the legendary “Route 40,” which cuts through Argentina from north to south.“I reconnected with my emotions. I found myself laughing out loud all by myself in certain situations, with tears in my eyes at the summits of some difficult mountain passes. Everything is amplified… everything feels more real. There’s no more faking it.”
Solitary, but never isolated: “You’re never alone when you’re on a bike!” he smiles. Creating a buzz everywhere he goes, appearing in the press and on TV news, Anthony Pottier is meeting more and more people. These encounters are enriching. As he travels along the road, something changes within him—something profound. Living on less than 10 euros a day? A “liberating” experience, he says.“You no longer need anything, nor do you fear tomorrow. Sharing, generosity, and mutual aid are part of everyday life: it’s a few pieces of fruit, some water, or cookies that people hand you, sometimes with a ‘you would have done the same for me.’ My horizons have broadened. I’ve been giving much more ever since…”
Brief, luminous encounters that take root within him. Anthony had set out with grand ideas. After a year spent on the open road, he returns with a wealth of small discoveries. They are the salt of the earth.
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