Kazakhstan Poverty Research - Sunday, Sep. 17 (Day Eighteen)

Sunday 17 September

Back to Almaty
On the way to Airport to catch the plane to Almaty, we found a very high tower near the Airport. Bacchan explained that it was established to commemorate the Japanese prisoners who were building the bridge between the Airport and Kyzylorda. We dropped by and took a photo. That was the second traces of Japanese some of whom were forced or others voluntarily to come to this country far away from their home. In the war, they could be good guys and bad guys but they could be all victims of the history. They are all losers to the war. I paid homage to those losers.

Meeting with Taniguchi
At the Airport, our driver Arik and one lady, who is living in the apartment of Prof., Ishida were waiting for us. Arik’s jeep Uaz looked different also. It gave me an impression that I was sitting on the Mercedez.

Strange Pastor from New York
At night we had a dinner with Taniguchi and Lailya. Almost we finished our dinner, there was one Korean guy coming to us and asked a help. He looked in his sixties, and introduced himself a pastor from New York. And he told us that he lost his way duing the walk since it was his first day in Almaty. The taxi driver was with him and he was looking for a help. The only thing he knew was the name of the street where his rented apartment was. Of course he could not communicate with that driver. We asked that driver to go to that street since he told us that he would know if he was near that street. I told him to come back again if he could not find the apartment. And about 20 minutes, he came back again. This time it was a bit strange. When I went out of the restaurant to meet him he was talking with the girl sitting behind the seat. Having a suspicion about him, I asked the situation in English. He told us that he came from New York and lived there more than 30 years and it could be one test to prove the credibility of this story. He could not communicate with me and Miyuki properly. I gave money to Taxi driver and called Arik to take him to his apartment. He refused to go with us. I urged to get on the car and he got on but he strongly insist on getting off the car. He got off in the middle of the road and disappeared. I don’t know what was his purpose to approach me but Arik told me that he was coming out of the Casino near the restaurant just before going into the restaurant where we had a dinner and hanging around near the Casino before.