As some of my friends had imagined already, local people's here in Europe getting excited for Christmas days. Most of them spend the time with their families, having fun with friends and partying... Me, from 24th till 4th of January, thankfully got 12 days off, on the 2nd day of 8 days trip to Slovenia and Italy.
As if often the case for staying in dormitory, we just got socialized with 2 Portuguese students who are majoring computer science. They are also tripping mainly in Eastern and Southern Europe in Christmas and New Year's holiday. Currently they are studying in Romania as Erasmus exchange student.
The idea of Erasmus educational program is basically like; All the university students in Europe, no matter what studies they are taking, have to spend at least one semester in another country so as to get the degree. It happens all the schools in countries which belong to European Union. Having spent 7 month in Europe, I have seen Erasmus group of guys more than 5 times(Budapest, Poland, Bosnia... they are everywhere).
That's why i was not surprised when one of them said "We know we've experienced good times. It is really important to get to know the difference in other countries, about cultures, studies, business mind or life styles" answering to my question as "What made you motivated to spend half a year in Romania?".
I also asked them whether they possibly get willing to study in another country in case there's no such programs like Erasmus. Then both of them shook their heads.
How do you imagine about students who's studying computer science? Do you think they would say they are interested in other cultures and actually do study abroad? i could hardly believe before coming here. But here in Europe, such students are easily findable everywhere in AIESEC or in Erasmus. Here, let me stress once more that all the students in European Union has to spend at least one semester in other countries. I just do not know how much Japanese students in faculty of computer science are open-minded toward for being global, however apparently Educational programs like Erasmus are at least valuable for making European youngsters to be so.
Over the table filled up with Slovenian specialties, we have talked with more than this topic. I can say I love traveling, simply because some good guys appears every time rather than because of mere sightseeing stuff. We will check out in 1 hour and go see lake bled. After that, I alone head for Venice and Milan by night train. Alone, but hope to meet to another accidental encounters.
I don't know why I wrote down so long entry, being so careless for readers. For those who do not want to read through, please check my pictures at least. You can find the Flickr flash slide at the middle of this post. 50 pictures are included with descriptions(in order to read it, please click information icon).
To write down about the travel, it is always required so much time, but i believe it is deserved. Bosnia and Herzegovina is such a beautiful country. Feel free to leave some comments.
When Romeo, a Rumanian friend of mine, asked me if I would like to attend in an AIESEC national conference in Sarajevo, I was thrilled a bit with expectation for getting to know about one of the most uncommon countries. By hearing the name of Sarajevo, I could not identify which country the city is in. I only assumed it should be somewhere around southern Europe, might be between Greece and Hungary, and could be lied in former Yugoslavian countries, but it sounded really familiar for me. Sarajevo. I have heard the name probably in some video games, maybe in Dragon Quest 5.
Therefore at the time I saw the national flag of Bosnia/Herzegovina for the first time through Romeo’s blog, I seriously thought this should be the one for a football club, not for a nation. I know nothing about the country. That is why I was excited, especially for talking with local people. I took 2 days off and spent 4 days there in total.
Saturday morning, I woke up at 7AM and hopped in international railway. Having used international lines for 2 times so far, in both case something occurred to me. Something bad, something disgusting, something saddens me.
As I anticipated, it happened when train stopped at Croatian/Bosnian border for passport checking. As is often the case for passport controllers, 2 rugged armed men came closer to me, and instructed to show the passport. I did. After that, they asked if I had cigarette or alcohol stuff, and asked me to show them. Actually I brought one bottle of sake and a package of Mild Seven (Japanese tobacco) as souvenirs to AIESEC members there.
So I did show them. Then, yes, they asked me to give the stuff to them. I didn’t, saying “No, sir, sorry, No sir. This is something I must give to a friend of mine. Sorry”. They were still saying something in different language which I cannot understand, but finally left with my passport to stamp on it. I could save my stuff but was afraid and doubting the risk they got mad against me not to give me the stamp.
Around 5 minutes later, they came back to my compartment and returned the passport with small black stamp. Once I got it, they again started asking me to give the Japanese specialities. I suggested that they may take 1 or 2 pieces of tobacco if they are going to smoke right at that time, but they declined my offer with compromise saying “I am interested in this package, I want to keep it, give me the whole one”. Though I know I need not care that much, I didn’t give it. I might think such attitude would be the revenge against former station officers whom I have ever met in Europe.
One of them showed up again. I was totally convinced and got ready for giving it to them. But he was lightly smiling and saying something different. Apparently, he was informing me the presence of another Japanese girl in same wagon and urging me to say hello to her. Then I did, without any hesitation. I found one Japanese lady and one Canadian guy were playing card game together. Having got tired of reading, I said hello to them and moved in their compartment.
Yoko, the Japanese lady looked more or less 5 years older than me, wearing deep pink jeans and tight black jacket, had been traveling over Europe more than 10 month. Jason, the Canadian guy who had just turned to be 18 years old carrying huge and vivid backpack, was also limitless traveler and said would keep hanging around until the money runs out. He said he had been traveling for 3 month at that time. I joined the card game. It was 21:30 when we had arrived to Sarajevo, 12 hours ride.
Sarajevo was iced, and it was snowing. Actually I was supposed to call Romeo to check the place of AIESEC conference as soon as i arrived to the station, but at this moment my motivation for appearing was disappeared in frozen air in Sarajevo. I decided to team up with Yoko and Jason. We 3 people luckily found relatively cheap hostel to stay. Looking back, this decision is the starting of random encountering.
As soon as we arrived to the hostel, a group of Finnish people were getting ready for going out for drinking. After small talk, they turned out to be students from educational program named Erasmus learning in Budapest for one semester. What a coincidence. Jason and I joined them and had great time together over local beer called Sajaevoska. We promised to hang out together with them and got tight sleep.
The next day I noticed Karly. She is also another AIESEC trainee in Hungary from Hong Kong, and we were supposed to meet up in Sarajevo, but actually we have not seen with each other. Even worse, because of less contact, we finally at this moment accidentally happened to meet up. To my surprise, she stayed in a same hostel. At the same time we have also met with 2 other Canadian guys stayed in same room. At the breakfast, once I started to introduce myself to them saying “I’m Japanese or something”, suddenly a small Asian girl asked me in British accent “Do you know a Japanese guy named Seko perhaps? He’s from student organization named AIESEC.” Then I told her the guy you had looked for was me. Possibly we have met before in Budapest, but simply we could not identify our faces with names.
Sonia, a Swiss female student who's also traveling Europe for 1 month together, stayed in a same dormitory. So we (Jason, 9 Finnish guys, Karly, Sonia, and me) made a group and hanged around the Sarajevo.
After finishing the sightseeing, we have encountered with Romeo. He finished the sightseeing and on the way to grab something to eat, with 2 of his friends: Natalia, a Polish girl studying and doing AIESEC in Rome. Also Mesut, a Turkish guy from AIESEC.
Before long, the 2 Canadians and one Bengali British guy also joined us. Another guy from Tunisia, actually he’s the President of member committee in Bosnia/Herzegovina and also the only trainee in this country, got together for a drink. We went out to a bar. Then 2 French and 2 more Finnish guys from Erasmus, and 3 or 4 local AIESEC members also showed up. If I am not mistaken, yes, that’s all. I was alone when I hopped in a train right exactly the day before. Then suddenly we were more than 30 people.
Yes, at this point, I can see the cultural difference. In Japan, it requires much time to be titled to show up parties. Speaking to which, in most cases no one is allowed to be accompanied with strangers because it is atmosphere that counts for a party. A kind of, let's say concerned, or united atmosphere. Among Japanese people, maybe it is because of,,, i don't know but possibly difference of distance. Distance between one and the other one. Here in Europe, that is close enough to join in every party no matter how stranger I am, and enough to kiss with each other in public areas or just in front of girlfriend's mom. Japanese requires so much time to get invitation for party, and seldom, if ever will be able to kiss in front of their parents.
Next day, we lazy non-planning old people (Romeo, Sonia, Natalie and me) followed the idea proposed from enthusiastic young Canadian(Jason), the guy answered me it was Lonely Planet in Europe when I asked what his religion is. According to his bible, we woke up at 6:00 and took the train starts at 7:00. We headed for Mostar. I just had no idea about the area, even did not know that whether it is Bosnia or Herzegovina. But indeed, I have to appreciate him for suggesting us such a great plan. Go for the slide show if you wanna see the details in Mostar.
Japanese National flag printed on the bus.
On the train, it happened. We met one old lady, and It was disaster because she; begged and took my 5 mark (2.5EUR) without saying thanks, suddenly kissed me, always been with us not only on train but also in Moster as well, guided us to Bosnian local restaurant, invite us to her friend's house to have a party, introduced us another student from Singapore (this is the only stuff for which I said honestly thanks to her), gave me a piece of warm cheese, scold me for not eating the cheese, made taxi driver mad , coughing all the time....
I was so fed up, but to my serious surprise we had been together with her more than half of our time in Mostar. But I know I have to appreciate her for that she amazingly introduced one Singaporean student, one Japanese jeweler, one Korean student, and one of her relative to us. How ? She just suddenly and fiercely said "Hello my friend, come! you come with me! I have good plan!! Mostar is nice city !! Party !! Party at my friend's house !! Come !!" as soon as she saw foreigners on a street.
Party at her friend's house. How come she and her firend opened the door to completely strange foreigners just 5 or 6 hours back they met?
I always think like, compared with Japan, honestly speaking I have so many things to complain about Hungarian/European society. There is one thing, however, which reminds me of how good to live in this areas. To socialize with others is very much as easy as to taking breath in and out.
Most of European people are so open, never care about small stuff, just are keen to talk with others, and are always trying to meet with new people. Speaking about human relationship, looking back this rapid fire meeting with new people only and actually in 2 days, as an Asian guy living in Europe for his first time, for me at least, I think so. I just think this is something completely different from that of Japanese, and probably we have to face up to.
Yes, Japanese government is spending more than 130 billion US dollars per one year (data it up to 2006)just for ODA(Overseas Development Assistance) so as to provide every kind of support toward so called developing countries. For almost 50 years, our tax have been used for the same purpose, for the countries where there are poorest people are living.
And what did we get in return? Isn't it good for Japanese that to remain closed, or not being interested in other cultures. There are millions of social problems in Japan. Evey year, more than 10,000 people died from Karoshi and more than 30,000 people died by committing suicide. Just Imagine 90 people killed themselves today.
There are no countries being with no problems. It does not matter whether they are succeeded financially or not. If people in Mostar solve their problems with financial aid from Japan, then why we cannot solve our problem with some kind of aid from people in Mostar? We should think about how Mostar assist Japan, if we really want to built real cooperation ship. It is out of question to regard ourselves should be looked up to by Mostar, that's nothing with cooperation.
By the way, "Cooperation" is written as "協力" in Japanese. Maybe you know that Japanese character has each meanings on each characters. "協力(cooperation)" is made from one "+" on the left, and one big "力" and three small "力". Can you see ? I know you know what "+" means.... it is "Plus", even in Japanese, of course.
And "力" means "Power". So "協力"(cooperation)" is a word of combination means like "Put the power together". You know ?
Then, What I learned from Bosnia/Herzegovina? I hardly understand. I just saw a lot of graves, damaged building, beautiful natures. I just talked with local people. Just still trying figure out.
“A Year Without Made in China” is a true life story of Sara Bongiomi and her family. One day, in the morning after the Christmas party, gazing piles of Christmas presents on a table and indications saying as “Made in China” tagged most of the items, she slightly and wonderingly suggested her husband to stop bringing any more Chinese stuffs to their house. From the next New Year’s Day 1 year onwards, they basically accomplished the promise.
Strictly speaking, however, readers would easily realize that their real life and one year experiment is not regarded as successful. After all, she is rule book itself. She had changed the rule several times and struggled until the end of the year. Closer the Christmas season comes, especially, harder and harder to survive without Chinese purchases. Toys, shoes and glasses are closest Chinese friends as I estimated from her experience.
Although I might have said they just have obtained superficial success, the point is not whether being successful or not, but is being gradually started to pay attention toward their attitude for consumption. They stopped boycotting after survived for 1 year, because that had completely changed their own life. Still they settled more flexible rules again for trying to avoid Chinese products as much as they can, imagining Chinese workers behind the product, believing that is the good way for workers both in China and in other countries.
Standing on such viewpoint, this book would poke readers in their shoulder, those who does not have brave for China boycotting like she did, and give training opportunities so as to be good consumers.
The funniest part is when they bought monopoly, the board game. She turned it over and checked it is written as “Made in U.S” at the bottom of the box. After they got home they opened it, and found a small plastic package of pieces printed as “Made in China”. They gave it back to the store and that made their kids wondered and being sad a bit. I bet in all likelihood readers can easily be lured by the story, and to regard themselves in the end how careless when they pick something from the shelves in a store.
John WOOD , “Leaving Microsoft to Change the World”
As far as I checked online, Best Seller Book Store is the most familiar place among foreigners than any other shops in Budapest. Despite the reputation of the shop, however, it has none of those which I had longed for ages. Therefore, I ordered the shop master to ship 4 books from U.K. which I estimated to be able to finish them up within 3 month. It is always hard to try on English book, patience and so much time would be required. Since I have a habit to read 7 or 8 kinds of books at the same time, I had no clue how long would it take to cover them all. Books arrived 1 month later, and I have just accomplished over this as first one.
“Leaving Microsoft to Change the World” is a self biography written by one former Microsoft director of China and Asia Pacific area who made up his mind to quit the post and decided to establish his own organization named “Room to Read” so as to give educational opportunities toward uneducated children all over the world. According to the website, already 5,900 libraries were built since 2000 to present and 1.8 million children obtained the chance to go to school.
His one time holiday trip for Nepal changed whole his life drastically. There, by accident, he visited local primary schools lacking something supposed to be with; Library. After the struggling of leaving huge amount of salary and life with his girl, finally he decided to start up the NGO.
Before long, John met with 17-year-old boy named Vu in Vietnam. His family cannot afford him to go to high school. He is working at hostel reception for 12 hours 7 days long in a week, both in daytime and night time. After the job, he changes his cloth, takes shower, and starts to study computer and language. Because of this he can speak good English although he has only graduated from junior high school. He says he even wants to study other 3 languages at least:French, German and Japanese. Usually he cannot take a sleep longer than 4 hours, sleeping at the storage of the hostel, lying on the card box and wearing thin blanket. There, John succeeded to pass the scholarship for his first time. And his idea and activities would start expanding…
I had been in charge of Development traineeship at the times when I was in AIESEC. So I have checked so many organizations’ websites for searching suitable NGO as my 1st traineeship, also for 2-weeks-NGO visiting tour in Philippine. But I hardly know any other such simple, well informed, and business like website than that of Room to Read. Full of information. Author also says it is the key to collect the donation that opening as much information as possible and trying to let sponsors easily understand the results. Portfolio, graph, exact number of educated children by John…. I, at least want readers to visit its home page. In this point, I can say this is not just about the history of one NGO, but also about how-to-think-efficiently or how-to-build-creative-business-mind stuff.
John’s business methods, his passion, local children’s desire for education, the enthusiasm of adults in developing country who are keen to give the chance to their children…. All these are included. Unlike my anxiety, this book gave so much fun enough to finish this up faster than I expected.
Tabi, the tight plastic ankle high shoes especially used by farmers or constructors. Toe is divided into 2 piece. Although Tabi had been Japanese traditional socks until 19th century, nowadays only available in farmer's shop, for 1,000-3,000Yen (10-30USD).
Date: 22th – 26th. October (3 nights/5 days) Location: Krakow, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Warsaw, a small train station in Czech Republic. Polish team members: Carmen, Charley, Raquel, Seko
October 23rd is a Hungarian national holiday. Good thing was that it was on Thursday in this year. Why good? Since Friday (next day) also changes Holiday. And because of that, we could obtain 4 days weekend at the end of October (In such case basically the Saturday on the last week will be work days, however our boss is kind enough not to order us to come to office on Saturday).
3 Spanish drunkers and I teamed up for going to Poland, having hoped to visit some of former Polish trainees who already had gone back. Here comes 4 things which I want to blog about our Polish Travel. Who’s gonna read through this post? Enjoy Pictures!!
(1)To be beaten by Homeless at a small train station in Czech Republic. The journey had already begun since when we visited East station in Budapest. We were stupid enough not to buy any train tickets until 5 day before the departure. We tried to buy the direct ticket from Budapest to Krakow, but all of them were sold out. Even worse, there is no train to Warsaw as well. No wonder. it was national holiday. The day every Hungarian had been waiting for. We went to ticket office 2 times (Friday and Sunday), and asked persistently all the possibilities to get to Krakow, but could not make it. It was when we almost despaired that one station man showed another option.
It was Katowice, a small city close to Krakow. According to him there is a night train from Budapest to Katowice. The guy unwillingly explained 30 minutes bus ride will take us to Krakow from Katowice. On hearing that, we relieved temporary before he started to give next words. As he mentioned in Hungarian accented English, we had to change trains in some station on the way. We asked which station should we get off, but he told us to ask a conductor as he did not know. We fairly persisted him believing that he must have known the exact spot, but he just kept shaking his head. Finally we gave up and went home.
On the day of departure, we arrived to the station earlier so as to ask conductor about where exactly we should get off and for occupying 4 seats as we had not reservation. After secured our place to sleep, Carmen and I went out for searching him. As soon as we found him and started to ask in English, he turned around as if saying “no questions are available”.
Then we turned to other workers, and asked, but all of them just refused and went away. Even ticket checker s could not comprehend English. They just flattered us and went away. The train was about to depart. We sadly returned to our seats and got prepared to rest. We were so unease but it could not be helped anyway. After small talk, and played Charley’s NINTENDO DS, we totally got to sleep.
Ours were not reclining seats. It was not easy to sleep comfortably. Having repeated sleeping and waking up, one roly-poly station guy approached to me with annoying big snort, and asked me to show the ticket. I did. And I did not forget to ask the station which we were supposed to get off, but he did not understand, as I expected. After a while, the train stopped at a small station. Then he came to me again then tried to explain something in loud voice enough to wake up surroundings, with disgusting shouting.
I really was sleepy but doubted here might be the changing spot. Desperately, we asked the guy if here is the place or not in very simple English word by showing our tickets:”Katowice, change?” ”Here is the station?” He nodded, though did not say even yes or no, just kept nodding. He got off and shouted to us something very roughly, but of course we did not understand. Being afraid of we had stopped the train for more than 3 minutes, we finally followed him. The train had gone as soon as we got off. We got rapidly unease as he still kept saying something .Without knowing anything, he was getting upset and angry. Eventually he poked me in my forehead strongly and disappeared leaving his nasty scoff. It was 2:30AM. It was Czech Republic. It was chilly, windy, and scary.
I have to appreciate another female station lady at ticket office for being English available. She kindly, but a bit laughingly told the next train would start at 6:30, which means we were forced to wait in the station until next morning. We headed for lobby and found relatively warm place where there are 8 or 9 benched which were already occupied by homeless people. We had no choice but to sleep on extremely ice cold floor. I could not take any sleep at all. Having given up and hanged around the precinct for almost 1 hour, cursing my inability of my Hungarian, I was thinking about at least train officers working for international line should speak English, or some trivial stuff like that. It was raining outside.
By the sound of the lady yelling to homeless to get out, I a bit happily went back to the place which 3 Spanish friends were sleeping, and found all of the homeless totally eliminated. I dashed into one bench and tried my best to get asleep. I guess the temperature was around zero Celsius, but I succeeded, at shortest for 5 minutes. When I was woken up by angry homeless beating me in my ass, I found all of them had just returned their warm home again. She was useless. And his punch was not that light one. Feeling upset though, I pretended to be fast asleep and could gained 30 minutes sleep on poor wood bench in extremely cold building.
We arrived to Krakow at 10 AM. After leaving our luggage off at hostel, we cheerfully went out for sightseeing. The dormitory was cheap.6 EUR for one night each, includes coffee and sandwich for breakfast. The place was big enough, clean and comfortable. After settled down on each bed, we have started to talk with roommates: an American guy named Ricky and Bulgarian girl studying at Ukraine. Ricky is 26 years old and now traveling around the world. He had stayed in the hostel more than 2 weeks and was writing about his C.V. for his coming job interview. He gave me the direction of Krakow, his impression of Auschwitz, impression of memorial museum of Cambodian massacre and other stories from his trip.
hummmm,,, i do not have so much beautiful pictures of Krakow, but with your own eyes talks more.
I also met with one Japanese girl who also quitted her job and currently traveling around the world. She said she was 29 years old. She does not speak English. Actually, I have met with this type of backpackers before in Budapest, Prague and Bosnia/Herzegovina, but she looked same as others. Shipwreck. My friend Shiki called them so. “They looked shipwreck. “ I can agree with what he said. She said she has already quitted 2 times, one time was for traveling Asia, and another time is for traveling Europe.
(3)To visit Auschwitz-Birkenau This is the main reason to visit Poland. I guess a lot of people would think Auschwitz was the place millions of people we killed, but actually it was the nearest prison called Birkenau which had been used as massive killing industry. Both remains are now exposed to all the visitors around the world as free museum. We spent one day to visit there. Unfortunately the most impressive and probably the saddest part of exhibition were not allowed to be pictured. Since I am not confident to explain what I felt there, here I will drop as many pictures as I took.
Just imagine. Thousands of glasses, tooth brushes, baby shoes, empty bag, clothes, women’s hair, artificial legs, lugs or carpets made from women’s hair, number tattoos on arms, instruments for live human experiments…….Non-private toilet, standing prison (cannot even lay down even after 12 hours work), corn soup like washed-rice-water, 3mm thickness barrack extremely cold wind always goes through, the sound of opening the door which commanded prisoners to work like a dog for full day, 365 days….
tried to imagine... what were people thinking about... looking at same sunset, same sunrise, same work, sleeping at same place, seeing other prisoners had been killed.... I imagined, but trying to imagine itself is painful....
The memorial statue says more than 1.5 million people were killed in Auschwitz. Some people say more, some people say less. And of course more and more innocent people were killed by Nazis in this kind of concentration camps everywhere in Europe. I do not recommend visiting there alone, since I felt so lucky for being with 3 Spanish guys. Without them, I would have serious depression.
(4)To meet our friends in Warsaw Mart !! was former trainee stayed 3 month in Budapest, and we spent so much time together. One of the closest friends of mine. I did not expect but she had studied hard and got prepared for guiding us, not only picking service at train station or providing place to sleep (her brother’s flat).
Not everyone says Warsaw is beautiful, but for me it is completely lovely, historical, and vast city. This was maybe because of Mart’s intension and hard work. Compared with Budapest, Krakow, or Prague, however, Warsaw looked racking of its integration by group of skyscrapers. Maybe Tokyo in developing days also looked like that, no clue though. But I do not want Warsaw to be another Tokyo. I want this city to stop building extremely unnaturally high buildings. Looks odd. At least, the repaired old town district after the complete consumption from long time war should be preserved.
