Antwerp Maarten (30) from Aartselaar and Maud (22) from Mortsel, belgium, since september, back from their big trip Down The Road on One. Together with Dieter Coppens and companion Saar they went with four other young adults with Down syndrome to South Africa. We speak with the two in Maud&Co, the cohousingproject where Maud is staying. It is immediately evident that there is between the two a strong bond is created: Maarten and Maud fill each other’s sentences. Also, the mom’s are involved, but which are to be sent. “We can do that for yourself, hear”, winks Maud. Day martin and Maud, what was the best part of the trip?
In unison: “Everything!”
Maud: “The most important thing is the friendship we have now.”
Maarten: “Yes, also with the team, the crew and everyone around it, my ‘staff’. They have the second season of Down The Road for us, so actually that is my staff, hey. But that can all become friends.”
it Is not weird to have yourself on tv now?
Maud: “No, I think that not at all weird, but very fun!”
Maarten: “I also not that is good for my image.”
You say that the friendship is most important is that of the journey, you see each other?
Maarten: “We have on our smartphone a Whatsappgroep Down The Road, and there, items we sometimes. Charlotte was, for example, on skireis, and when she has lots of pictures sent. But we send all photos, videos, voice messages, texts, etc.”
Maud: “I only send something if I have time to, for example, ” How’s it going?’, or ‘What are you doing?’
Maarten: And there are already two trips have been with the group. So, we are with z’n all at the cook eat during the trip for us was boiling, I put three burgers eaten.”
Maud: “Yes, that could well cook!”
Maarten: “And soon we go to Mechelen with our plusmama, Saar. We call her the plusmama, and the ‘didi’, Dieter, that is our pluspapa.”
I already have fans in Austria, the Netherlands, Colombia, and also in my municipality of Aartselaar
Maarten
