Just do it,

I am writing about a story from my Silk Road journey. Today's story is about my understanding of Chinese society in the end of Nov, 2010... Kyrgyzstan is almost there...



Tomorrow, I finally leave for Kyrgyzstan from Kashgar, China. I will drive a car for a whole day to cross the board, and I also need to a half more day to reach the capital city of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek from the board. As you already know, China lies on almost 50% of the Silk Road, I have been seriously keep opening my eyes to see people's lives rather than super boring sightseeing which many visitors love to do. Since I'm finally leaving this country after spending more than a month, I would like to write about my understanding of China although I haven't understood this country even 1% yet.


I titled this country as "a country without adverb".


Chinese people's ability to achieve a goal is really outstanding at least compared to Japanese people. We, in Japan, tend to focus on how you do a thing like "friendly do", "beautifully do", or "politely do", but how Chinese people is "just do it". We, Japanese, might not achieve a goal because of the second reason such as how nicely do this or how friendly behave that... but again, Chinese just do it no matter how it looks like.


For example at bath room, there is less concern about how they nicely leave the public space. Just do it and leave here. Baby's pants are split so that they can just do it whenever it came.


At public transportation... I thought people, who were getting off from the bus or whatever, were priority rather than the one getting on, but the just do it spirit didn't allow my expectation to happen. Just get a seat or at least get on the bus. Actually you won't be able to get your home in China if you behaved as nice as other countries because of the number of people.  "Guys... If you politely follow the line, you would be able to get your home 30mins earlier..." that's what I was thinking whenever I got in the bus-war.


But, this culture is not always bad. Their decision making was incredibly fast, and this culture helped my origami project a lot. I could make appointments to visit schools in China right after introducing my self to people in front of me. "This is good! Okay, come in and do it!!" They were super nice.


I think Chinese people are sometime regarded as a trouble maker in the world, but I have never met such powerful and nice people. They are very strong folks once both parties understood each other, and they understand you as long as you express what you like and dislike. They are so open mind.


I would like to say thanks China for treating me so nicely, and now I'm so happy to know how Chinese people are cool.


"Just do it"


This is my definition of Chinese society.

Next one is Kyrgyzstan. I can't wait to see the new world!!




Go for it!! Chuji,

I am a Japanese.

HOSTEL...This is a relatively new accommodation system for youths who travel the world with huge backpacks. There is no services as much as hotels do, but all information for backpackers are set, the Internet connection many times help the youths, and the best deal is the price. Since I have been traveling a long time, I have met someone who I had already met in another city, and these experiences strengthen our relationships...


The Silk Road... this is not where only Chuji is traveling, but also many youths try to see the world through the historical road. And I think I'm getting famous between these exiting people in the spread communities on the Silk Road. When I arrived my hostel in Kashgar today, I had already met some of them, and they have explained about myself, origami, and my project to other residences. In my next destination Kyrgyzstan too, I already have many "friends' friends". Many of them are Western people, but I have met some Japanese, Korean, and East Asians.


Between the well experienced survivors, what we always talk about is next destinations, past routes, and the visa issues. Especially visa issues are always headache for us, and the visa stories differs depending on the nationality. I proudly keep speaking about my visa stories because I think the Japanese passport is the most reliable one in the world as far as I know. Chinese, Europeans, USA... no passport is comparable with mine!!


For example in Kyrgyzstan which is a post USSR country, it's understandable that Cuba, Russia and some other socialism nations are visa wavers, but somehow my country Japan doesn't need a passport. Taiwanese, Chinese, and Europeans, they die before get visas. Actually, a Taiwanese guy were waiting for his visa from Kyrgyzstan for more than two weeks!! In Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan too usually travelers visas are issued around a week, but Japan and some others are issued in a couple of days.


Instead of saying "Oh thankfully my Japanese passport is convenient to travel with", I say "Well, my country is international trusted. It's totally different from others"　I boast of my passport.


Since Japanese politicians are as funny as kindergarten kinds, and Japanese media creates news to gain money from their advertisements, we sometime feel our country is ending. But looks like our country is very trusted and has big influences on the all over the world. That's why I just decided to travel by representing my country.


When I lost a bus because of rode people in China, I say "F**k!! Get out of my way!!" But When I helped an elder woman to bring heavy stuff, left a chair on the train for a pregnant lady, did something good for others, I say like this with lots of smiles...

Yea, I am a Japanese!!






Go for it!! Chuji,