Meeting Pamuk

Okay, totally admitting that I also have a "bule complex" now.

What I meant by "bule complex" is the feeling of bubbly excitement, sheer joy, and the "norak"ness of wanting to speak or have a Caucasians autograph and picture, one of the glorious heritage from having been colonized for hundred of years by the West. Hehehe...

Though of course, I cannot myself escaped from the paradox, of writing my entry in english--the tool of modern colonization, some would say--in most of the time.

But whatever... I don't care what this emotion is properly called, after all the definition of "bule" itself can be a different debate of identity for Turkish people, with their problem of being part Asian in culture and space, aka continent wise, but wanting to join the EU, etc.

But... HUAAAAA... I can still cry because of excitement! I really, with my own two eyes, with my own mouth, saw and talked to Orhan Pamuk. THE NOBEL PRIZE WINNER for LITERATURE: ORHAN PAMUK!!!!

Of course, I already bought two of his book (My Name is Red and Snow), and shamefully admit that I haven't finished reading both, just started actually... And when I said I talked to Pamuk, I meant was by saying "It was really a nice talk" to him and got his smile as a reply. But who cares, right?!? I got his picture and autograph in one of my books...

Anyway, the talk didn't only revolved around his books, but went into other more vast discussion about politic and humanity. One of the touching moment for me was when he said:

"Globalization does made our way of thinking similar in some ways, and this made us struggling for identity, for roots in our own country/culture. But if we're not careful we will be trap in our own bordered consciousness... about how this thing is Turkish and how that thing is Japanese, and so on... we must go back to the general humanity, the notion of all of us being from the same race: human being, with the same pain and joy. Because that is what we are."

...not exactly that of course, more or less, with much emphasize on the less perhaps, cause that's all my level of understanding could gave me

Bottom line, once again so very felt blessed by being here in Tokyo at this moment. ROCK ONN!!