Welcome to Marco Polo Projects!

Hi, everyone! Welcome to Marco Polo Projects!!!

This is a very exciting day for me, since I am starting my first English blog (Gasp!). I actually had a Japanese blog about two years ago. I think it lasted about a month, then I gave up on it, since I really do not have any spare time to write, what with my extra hectic job, my ex-girlfriend, and being a mom to a 10 year old.

Well, this time I am determined to be persistent. Stay tuned.

So, first things first. Let me tell you about Marco Polo Project and what it means to me.

Marco Polo, as many people may probably know, was a trader and explorer from the Venetian Republic in the 13th century. He was one of the first westerners to travel the Silk Road to China.

As a child, I heard the stories of Marco Polo, which made a strong impression on me. To me, Marco Polo symbolized freedom, adventures, and romance of losing and finding oneself in a foreign land. Someday, I vowed to myself, I will travel the whole world like Marco Polo.

Thirty-some years later, I find myself in Los Angeles, California. I have lived my dream of losing and finding myself in a foreign land (quite literally). I have been to England, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and China. Not quite the whole world, however I would like to think I have not done too badly.

Marco Polo, in his time, facilitated trades of goods between East and West. I facilitate an idea exchange between East and West. Marco Polo Projects is a forum for the like-minded. I will blog about what I find odd, fascinating and cool about Japan, my home country. I would love to hear what you find odd, fascinating, cool and captivating about Japan too!