For this Gen Y Wanderers interview I was fortunate to be able to hook up with Christophe in person for a little chat.
I met Christophe about a year ago when I started going to some of his yoga classes offered in Chiang Mai. Though I’ve known him for a while, I’ve never actually sat down and talked to him much or knew his story about how he ended up in Chiang Mai. When I began this new series, I knew I wanted to feature Christophe, not just because he fits the bill of another fellow Gen Y-er traveling and living abroad, but (along with the past Gen Y Wanderer interviews with Jessica Festa and Kimberly L. Bryant) because he’s actively trying to build the career and life that best suits him, rather than following the crowd. As someone who is trying to figure out her own life path and career choices, I find it especially helpful and encouraging to learn about other people who are my age and their experience with doing things a little differently.
So, with a little creative editing and paraphrasing, here we go…
- Name: Christophe Cappon
- Age: 27
- How long have you been traveling or living abroad? In college I spent a year in Spain and then a year in Thailand. Afterward I traveled around India for a year and half, then taught English in rural China. I’ve lived in Chiang Mai for the past three years.
- Do you miss home? I love Canada – I love many things about it – it’s not about missing it though anymore… I go back once a year and appreciate the good things. I consciously decided to live here so I don’t miss it there, the day I start missing it I’ll probably move back. What I appreciate about Canada is the abundance, raw expansive nature – camping and trees. Here [in Thailand], I appreciate the freedom, the organic way of living and being able to fly under the radar if you want to. Driving sums up Thailand in so many ways… (Yes it does! Kind of like what I wrote about here)
- Do your friends and family understand and support your traveling/living abroad? Yep…and everybody comes to visit!
- When did you start getting involved in yoga and decide to pursue it full time? While in China I started to think more about pursuing yoga, but the interest began in India when, to better know the culture, I spent my time in ashrams and yoga centers as opposed to just backpacking.
- What are some good poses for travelers? After flights do some inversion poses (where your legs are above your head) w
ith the swelling in legs and feet from the flight, it’s good to reverse the flow of blood. Walk around, drink lots of water, do some spine twists, pull your knees into your chest, stretch up to sky and get your legs up. I always take my mat with me and practice between flights; it makes a difference recuperating after jet lag. That’s what I love about yoga, it works. - How old were you when you made your first big trip or visited another country? I was 20 when I went to Spain. From then on it was, “give me more”.
- Where has been your favorite place to travel? Canada…I can live abroad and then be a tourist in my own country.
- Least favorite? Beijing
- Hostel or hotel? 5 star resort (It helps when many 5 star resorts want your teaching skillz…)
- Why do you think it’s important for our generation to travel? Generally speaking, it’s good to have an idea – a greater appreciation – of what you have and value, and what you don’t. The awareness to skillfully make decisions about what is important to you. If you feel like it’s time to go travel, go for it, but if it’s not for you, don’t. You can lead a fulfilling life anywhere; it’s not where you are or what you do, but how you do it and the meaningfulness you attach to it.
- One travel tip: Valium, good supply of passport photos, good stack of American currency.
- What is the most important thing travel has taught you? There’s all kinds of ways…
- What do you think you’d be doing right now if you weren’t teaching yoga in Chiang Mai? Probably working as a food critic… (Here the ‘interview’ ended and we had about a 15 minute conversation revolving around food and the best places to eat in Chiang Mai…)
To learn more about Christophe and his yoga courses (he doesn’t just teach in Chiang Mai…you can go to one of his upcoming retreats in Sri Lanka!) visit his site at http://christophecappon.com/ or check out his Facebook Page.