Oh Dean,

Dec.24.2010


Spending one night on a ferry to Azerbaijan from Aktau, Kazakhstan, I arrived the capital city Baku. My schedule in this country was super tight, but some origami appointments were waiting for me. Since one of my appointments was at the international journalism at Western University, I was so exited to communicate about international affairs with students there. However, I couldn't even make even an origami with them because the Dean of the department kicked me out.


"We've never done such a thing" this is what she kept saying. "I will teach them my own culture, and we will discuss about journalism. This is the international journalism, isn't it!!" I explained the purpose of this attempt, result we would be able to get, and what's in it for them, but what she replied to my argument was only some Russian phrases and NO. Yet giving up what I decided to do shouldn't happen in my life. I re-visited her office and showed a proposal paper of my travel in Russian writing. How she reacted to this approach was that she called two guard men, and I was literally thrown away from the school.


So, I waited for the class's ending, and asked some students who had a time to make origami and some discussions with me. It's really sad that adults take an opportunity for kids because of adults' comfortableness. Kids should be given whatever opportunity that might stimulate their future. What the students said later was that the lady is always like that. I still regret that I didn't go back again and punch her so we didn't have to miss the great opportunity..."It's cool!! Let's do that!!" This answer was what I was waiting for from her. In the next and my last destination, Istanbul, so many friends and colleagues are waiting for my arrival and origamis to be finished.


"Oh, he was such a super student? I didn't know that..." I will make the dean say like this!!

Go for it!! Chuji,

Yamada

Dec.25.2010


"Are you from Yapon (Japan)? Do you know Honda?" I can't remember how many times I have been asked this question by local kids. "I know Mr.Soichiro Honda. He is my hiro." Although I knew the one they are asking was not this Honda, but I say like that way.


"No, the one plays soccer in Russia!!" And I say "Oh maybe, I think I remember him. Did Japanese national soccer team go to the World cup last time?" I even went to a public view during the last world cup to support my team, but I somehow lie when conversations went to about him. Yes, the soccer player, Honda, is from the same country and prefecture, and same age with me...


Today, I arrived in my final destination, Istanbul. When I was in the deserts in the Central Asian, I thought maybe my world map is fake, and I wouldn't be able to arrive there. Yet I'm finally in this city now!! Compared to passed cities in this travel, Istanbul looks much comfortable to stay and walk around, but I will try not to forget seeing the local society and people. I'm not here to have a relaxing moment as others do. And what I have to do is not make myself satisfied with efforts I have made, but make other people satisfied with results I have made.


"Do you know Yamada from Japan?" 10 years from now, people in the world would say Yamada instead of Honda...Tonight is Christmas. I will introduce my name, Yamada, to as many girls as possible. Yamada, Yamada, Yamada. Not Honda.

Go for it!! Chuji,

My home town in Kazakhstan,

Dec. 19. 2010


As I wrote before, I've been staying with a family at a travel agency where I accidentally jumped in to get a ferry ticket. Employees here are so nicely treating me. Thank you!! My bed is much more gorgeous than mine in Japan. Thanks!!


Since this is my home in Aktau, Kazakhstan, I have made lots of friends such as a lady selling snacks on the street, a guy at a Turkish restaurant, folks at a mobile phone store, and kids at a local school. They say "Hey Chu, kahk dyeh-LAH?? (How are you in Russian)" so friendly. I, of course, smile back to them, and I even showed my moon-walk today. Whenever I greeted and talk with them, the time to say good by gets closer. Tonight, a ferry to Azerbaijan decided to leave, I was in a very hurry to pack my stuff... "Chu, don't be so hurry. I still haven't introduced good foods to you yet." My Kazakh dad said. This is the only moment I hate in this travel.


I could only look up a five-star hotel in this time here, but I will invite this family to here when I came back with more successes. I will feed you guys expensive sushi, and I will present women at my Kazakh house Shiseido's cosmetics.

I wrote before that I would make Aktau the most memorable city in my travel when I had no information about this town. Now, I want to call it as my home town in Kazakhstan.


Good bye Aktau.


Go for it!! Chuji,

Over the Caspian sea,

Dec. 18. 2010


I arrived in Aktau in Kazakhstan. This town faces to the Caspian sea. I finally feel that my final destination, Istanbul, is getting close because of this ocean. Folks who can't imagine how far from Xian to Istanbul, just Google map the way, and you will see even Google can't find a way. My origami project looks good too. I didn't have any connection in this town, but already two schools are getting ready to welcome me.


I have been staying at a hotel since I arrived here two days ago, and today, I was offered a place to sleep by a local family. I was at a travel agency to purchase a ferry ticket, and the owner of this store offered the deal me. "We have a place to sleep and foods for you."　His wife said that I am the very picture of her second sun who is studying in Beijing, and his bed will be mine. Good job, second boy. Aktau was the most unclear town because of limited information, but it doesn't even matter to the lucky boy.


But I had terrible experiences to here from the last departure, Bukhara. I didn't understand why people's characteristic change that much in different locations. First of all right before my departure at Bukhara, my stupid bank in the US closed my checking account because they found my money had been withdrawn in so many countries. "Isn't what you always annoyingly saying INTERNATIONAL means? Open my account right now. This is all my money!!" Taxi driver said "Are you passing the board between here (Uzbekistan) and Kazakhstan? Sure thing, I'm an international taxi driver!!" He kicked me out from his car right in front of the boarder.　Since I was 100% right, I quarreled with the driver, but I certainly became quiet and decided to find another driver over the boarder because I noticed muzzles of huge guns handed by soldiers were pointing at my head. I hate to lie for even a penny, but I shouldn't die in such a middle of desert. I hitchhiked in Kazakhstan, and the driver left me in front of only one small restaurant in a village ...I think we miss-communicated... The lady at the restaurant was such a unfriendly!! "Do you want me to write a map to a closest station? **Tenge (Local currency)." "Do you want to make a call from here? **Tenge." "Do you want this piece of bred? **Tenge" She asks me to pay money even for a piece of bred...(But I stole some pieces of bred and cheese to survive!!! BTW, they were not their business. They are their snack.) "Can I use your bathroom?" I asked, and the toilet tissue was somehow free, so I used it much much more than I needed. Time was almost 5pm, and it meant that it had passed 24h since I left Bukhara. "I gave up. I will wait for a car by sleeping here." At the moment when I was about to be ready to sleep on the road, I found a local guy. He looked busy but I could resolve all problems I had such as ATM, foods, and transportation to Aktau because of his help.


"All about money." This is what I learned from today. That was sad to have such experiences, but this is true, and even I was sticking with some small money. So, this is my fault.


"You have to be cooler guy." I've kept saying this to me in these days.


Over the Caspian Sea, Istanbul is almost there.


Gor for it!! Chuji,

Wonderful time of life,

Dec. 17. 2010


In Bukhara, Uzbekistan, I'm visiting a junior high school today. I don't understand their Russian, but looks like they are studying science. It's always fun and tiring to see kids. Some kids are carefully listening to their teacher, some are rising their hands a lot, some are textinn under tables, some are playing with chess (They are inviting me to play together.)... Diverse characteristics entertain me!! 



And now, I'm remembering when I was like them. I was only exited by PE and music classes. Other than that, school was where I create something funny. Oh I think I had a girlfriend. Friends in this time of my life are still best friends, and we gather to laugh forever whenever I got back to Japan. And also, I now know that the teacher in front of this class room has a lot of wonder and harshness in her life even now. Adults are not so mature and stable as much as kids think.



"Aging doesn't mean you understand everything. We struggle forever, and even adults don't know what happens in the next second. But there are more fun than tough things if you tried to see so. Dreams and happiness are in your charge. What you have to do now is study a little, play with your friends a lot, have a nice girl friend or boyfriend, listen to your parents and teachers, and ignore them. I envy your age guys!!"

I hope they will remember me and my saying at some points in their lives...



 Go for it!! Chuji,

History,

Dec. 14. 2010



 I arrived in Tashkent in the last night, and met a French girl. She and I've met twice before in Urumqi and Kashgar in China. Passing through Kyrgyzstan, we finally met again. What a wonderful experiences we had!! This beautiful woman is also traveling the Silk Road to west from east. I will take a north Silk Road, and she will take a south Silk Road from where we are now, Uzbekistan. Moreover, we were talking that we might be able to see each other again in Istanbul. She worked in China for a couple of years, and how she gets back to her country is where people used to took long time ago. I hope she enjoys her travel back to her home and we will cross each other soon. 

Uzbekistan is the third country in this travel. In the passed countries and culture, I prepared some small conversations in local languages such as thank you, I'm from Japan, and you are beautiful. Recently my note was finished, and got a new one. Not so much time has passed, but reviewing the previous note is very fun and nostalgic. Writing conversation with a Chinese lady in Beijing when I got lost on my way to my friend's house. (I thought conversation in our common character would be very easy, but not at all!!) Chinese phrases I learned from a guy at a restaurant in Xian. (He was almost upset because of my bad learning.) Tibetan I learned from a student in Lhasa, Tibet. (She actually was Chinese, and most of her Tibetan was wrong... Also, I hope someday Tibetan people can govern their own country and culture by themselves.) I listed visa information of countries I plan to go when I was staying in Kashgar. (I've already noticed that these info on Google is not useful at all.) Kyrgyz and Russian filled out my note recently. (Kyrgyzstan was incredible cool country.) There is a lot of history. I can't wait what words will show up on my note.


History is not only on my note, but also in my relationship like the French girl.


I will move to a city called Bukhara. I heard this city is the most historical city in this country. 


History. What wonderful to see it, and what wonderful to make it.


I will make a new history of Chuji with local people.


Go for it!! Chuji,