[Travel Diary] Nicolas, 25, chasing the American Dream with a baseball glove
By our special correspondent, Bon-Encontre / New York
Bon-Encontre, Lot-et-Garonne — The field is modest, nestled between the departmental road and the pines. But this is where it all began. Every week, since the age of 10, a young boy trained here, rain or shine, hitting, throwing, running, dreaming. Fifteen years later, that boy has grown up. His name is Nicolas Guyot, he is 25 years old, and he is now the player-manager of the Indians de Bon-Encontre.
But this spring, it’s not on the bench or in the outfield where you’ll find him. It’s on the other side of the Atlantic that Nicolas has decided to embark on the journey of a lifetime. A dream nurtured since childhood: to attend baseball games in the United States, where this sport is a religion.
« I thought to myself: if I’m going to do it, I might as well do it big, » he smiles. 17 ballparks, 25 games, 1 glove and 1 ball in his backpack — that’s the slightly crazy challenge he’s set for himself. Entirely self-funded, this journey across the United States is as much a sporting quest as a human adventure. He leaves alone, but doesn’t plan to stay alone for long.
His goal? Catch a foul ball. Exchange a few pitches in a park with American fans. Maybe even get an autograph or a selfie with a Major League player. « That would be magical, » he says simply, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
New York, Yankees Stadium — This is where his adventure began. The first thrill. The emotional shock. « I was standing in the stands, and suddenly… I felt the whole stadium vibrate. The energy, the chants, the looks. Nothing like what you see on TV. I had goosebumps, I was wide awake in a dream. »
But this trip is not just a stadium tour. It’s a meeting with a culture, a people, a sacred ground shared among passionate fans. Nicolas wants to forge connections, talk about baseball in his approximate English, throw balls with strangers who become friends for a moment. He left to watch baseball. He’ll return with memories, exchanges, stories. We’ll do a recap of this crazy journey upon his return.
Follow Nicolas on his Instagram page: username:
nicoaroundtheusa
