ABOUT
MAX
Né à Manizales, au coeur de la “zona cafetera”. Adopté étant bébé et élevé en Belgique. Belge et colombien. Je façonne un pont entre mes 2 pays, entre mes 2 réalites.
Après un parcours influencé et inspiré par des experts de l'univers du "Café de Spécialité", en Belgique et en Colombie. Je suis (re)venu me former comme barista à la Medellín Barista School en octobre 2022. J’y suis ensuite devenu “profe de barismo”.
Pendant 2 ans, j’y ai encadré des étudiants et de groupes de curieux, venus de tous les horizons. Développant ainsi mon projet d´“Experiencias Cafeteras”.
Aujourd’hui, c’est depuis Bruxelles que je construis le pilier belge du projet.
I speak Spanish, French and English. This allows me to share with you my love of coffee and a unique perspective on Colombia.
El BelgARISTA☕
Capitulo 1
Manizales - June 2019Hola Familia,
Today, I've started writing my story on my smartphone to share with my Families, Friends, the people who matter to me and who support me. (Writing allows me to tell my story and my story to myself. 😉)
No doubt 1001 questions will arise. Ask them if they nag at you. But I won't answer them until I have the answers myself. For some of them, it may take some time (a lot).
So here's the "1st" chapter. In the rest of this post 😉
The meeting (Martes 26 de junio 2019)
The meeting point is at 2.00pm in 1 of the ICBF (Instituto Colombiano de Bienestar Familiar) offices.
Like a good Colombian ☕, I set off when my being commands me, when I feel it's time. I'm ready. Like a good Belgian 🍟, I arrive at the office at 1:38pm.
Martha, who I think is the coordinator of the Manizales "adopciónes" section, chats to me and explains how the meeting is going to work. She tells me she's never done anything like this before. But everything is well thought out in terms of administrative and legal processes. Her mom's heart gives her the strength to barely tremble, and to live her emotions calmly.
1.50pm. Martha tells me that senora "Luz" has arrived and is talking to 2 psychologists to "prepare".
2.pm more or less pil, vamos! We cross the patio and enter the office we were in 2 years ago.
I meet my mother, Senora "Luz".
First of all, there are 5 of us. 3 to take care of us, making sure everything runs smoothly and fulfilling administrative obligations.
"How are you feeling?"
The feeling is indescribable. Happy, content, felices... No tengo palabra ni en francés ni en español. 2 strangers who meet, but the obvious link and the context create an emotion, a feeling that, at that moment, can only be experienced.
Very simply and naturally, we introduce ourselves and gradually the space is created for discussion. Senora Luz has 5 children, 1 of whom is right in front of her. She's seeing him for the first time since 1985.
At that time, I met my biological mom, but I now know that I have 2 brothers, 2 sisters and a nephew...more+.
No tengo palabra ni en francés ni en español. Life and my journey offer me the chance to meet them. Vamos, Con mucho gusto 😉 !
Maxime van Caillie