"Do you have plans for tomorrow? If you'd like, let's go to the botanical garden!" Last night Aya invited me like that, and the plan was decided on short notice. I was simply really happy that she asked me. It seemed to be very close to the hostel, within walking distance.
Departing after being complimented by Kany
Just before leaving, Kany at reception noticed my camera and complimented it.
"Your perfume smells nice!" she also said, which made me strangely happy. I thought there's no one who dislikes being complimented.
Her heart, more beautiful than the flowers
On the way there I listened to stories about Kyrgyz views on love and marriage. She told of an acquaintance who married at 18 and has four children but was having an affair. We talked about Kyrgyzstan's current situation, population, and number of children. They were all fascinating stories.
Aya is especially outdoorsy and loves mountains and nature. Last night she apparently watched videos of Altyn Arashan with Vova, and videos of Serbia and Belarus. She loves travel and adventure so much that I thought, "She's just like me!"
While we were talking we arrived at the botanical garden. There were all kinds of trees and flowers, giving the feeling of having wandered into a different world. Banana trees, bamboo.
Aya looked at each of them and seemed to be enjoying them deeply from the heart. Just watching her, I felt myself becoming purer.
When you're with someone whose heart is pure, you too are influenced and become purer. But conversely, if you're with negative or malicious people, you get dragged down that way as well. Communicating well is important, but there are times when just being together is painful. So I thought it's important to quickly distance yourself from negative people, complainers, malicious people, or those who don't show their emotions.
It's not good to always compare with Japan, but the people here honestly seem to complain less. There are overwhelmingly fewer people with troubles in relationships, and I feel it's less likely for such problems to arise while staying here. No matter how low the income, if you have connections with people and are blessed with good relationships, you can have a happy life. I was reminded again that it's not just about money.
Being with Aya truly makes me happy. She's open and generous, feels each thing deeply, and speaks it out as it is. That very act felt incredibly beautiful. Her heart is beautiful, pure, without a trace of malice. Such a heart. Honestly, I felt that Aya's heart was far purer than the plants in the botanical garden—so much so that it became an object of observation.
I feel it's almost impossible for Japanese people to live while keeping such a beautiful heart, perhaps because many around them carry malice or spite. That's precisely why you shouldn't place yourself in that environment. Put yourself somewhere else. I thought this is what's truly important: where you place yourself. I think that's the most important thing.
We spent time taking various photos and talking in the botanical garden.
Partway through, a caretaker came and we had to pay the entrance fee. Aya paid for my share. Thank you. I know her salary is small, yet she paid without hesitation and didn't ask for thanks. I think that kind of consideration is wonderful.
In Japan, even if someone pays for you, they might give off an air of "I paid for you, you know." If you say, "Then I'll pay," here you'll get a satisfied "No, it's fine! Really!" in return.
I think that's ultimately because their self-esteem isn't fulfilled. But in Aya's case, her self-esteem is fulfilled, so she doesn't even care about that kind of gratitude. She just wore the expression of having done something ordinary.
Seeing Aya off to work
After enjoying time at the botanical garden, she returned to the hostel because her work was about to start. If it were Japan, she'd probably be more frantic to prepare, to get herself together, or need mental preparation. But here, views on work look completely different.
Japan feels like people live life to work. But in Kyrgyzstan, work is a part of life; people don't live life for work. At least for me, this feeling fits better.
That doesn't mean I intend to try to change Japanese values. Rather, it's important for me to become happy first. For that, change the environment. Put some distance from Japan.
The manti party that started in the kitchen
When I arrived at the hostel, a manti party began immediately. In the kitchen, hostel members and Ashley, whom I met yesterday, were making manti. While filming, I made manti myself too. Ashley taught me various ways to make them.
Kany was hosting, and B, who came from another branch, was participating too.
When the manti were ready, everyone ate together. It was a lot of fun.
They also bought traditional Kyrgyz drinks and we did a tasting. There were about five kinds in total. Each had a strange taste, which felt so Kyrgyz to me. Trying drinks from abroad is fun after all.
Members who usually don't talk much joined in, and we all enjoyed the meal together.
If it were a normal hostel, there'd probably be a participation fee of XX yen and only those who signed up on a posted flyer could join. But this place is different. It's more like being invited in passing with "We're making manti tonight, want to join?" The juice money wasn't collected from us but came out of the hostel's funds. It was really special that the receptionist had that level of discretion.
This hostel is definitely the best I've ever stayed at in my life. I've stayed at over 100 hostels, but this one is by far the best and a place where I could feel safe. This hostel might account for 90% of my Kyrgyz trip. If you factor it down, it's 'people.' Life is people, and life is inevitably determined by who you meet. Your daily mood is also influenced by people.
Just being asked "Good morning, how are you feeling?" makes you feel "It's okay for me to be here." You can feel that you are a member of this place. That alone makes you happy. Even though everyone's position, job, and life are different, they accept you. There are such open-hearted people in this hostel. They clasp hands in greeting as they pass by and ask how you're feeling. Each person has a different personality, but each has kindness and warmth. I sense that keenly.
I thought this is the best place to be. Of course, it won't last forever. Members come and go. But I think if the hostel's belief doesn't change, it will continue to be a warm place. I believe that among Kyrgyz people, that won't change. There is no one with a purer, more beautiful heart than the Kyrgyz. I felt again what a wonderful country it is.
Tomorrow to Sary-Chelek (Sary-Chelek)
After making manti, I hurried to prepare for tomorrow. Tomorrow is finally the day to go to Sary-Chelek. It's a 3-day, 2-night tour, and I'm very nervous. Will I be able to make friends? Will there be someone I can talk to properly? Are my preparations okay? There's no use overthinking, so for now I prepare.
Then I went back to the kitchen to have Ashley write a message. I'd talked with her for about two hours and we shared many things with each other. That's why I wanted her to write a message.
She also had her own notebook, so I wrote a message in it too. When I wrote a lot in Japanese, she was surprised. Liza reacted strongly too and even asked, "Can I take a photo of this?"
I hugged Ashley and said bye-bye. She was going to gradually make her way toward Lake Issyk-Kul from tomorrow. It seems she's going on a real adventure, and I thought that was really amazing.
