Introduction

Toy Dreams and Responsibilities

The journey to writing this origami book began in my childhood. I first saw the origami rocket in Brooklyn, New York, in the 1990s. I was already passionate about owning toys.

Once a year, my parents got me any toy I asked for. The year before, I asked for and received a wooden train and track set. After playing with it, for a weekend, I was ready for more experiences. My mind held on to a vivid dream where I held a toy limousine in my hand. Waking up to empty hands made me want that toy more. That summer, before I saw the origami rocket, my car dream came true.

My parents moved the family into a two-family house. Our neighbors were hard-working siblings. The brother had a collection of vintage die-cast toy cars. The cars’ details reminded me of the limousine from my dream. I begged him for any of his cars.

Before gifting me a toy car, my neighbor explained that the cars were models. He added that he took good care of his models, and he wouldn’t give me another car If I lost it. I enjoyed the model car for a few hours and lost it, the same day. I returned to my neighbor, and begged him for another model. He explained to me that losing the car proved, I was not responsible enough to own a model car. This truth upset me as much as I understood it.

Toy Planes and Day Dreams

Shortly before seeing the origami rocket, I fell in love with model toy planes. In the first grade, I was transferred to a challenging class. My mother advocated this after realizing how easy my homework was. This move made me sad for a main reason. The less-challenging class used a reward system where stickers earned students’ toys from a box. I saw a large toy commercial jetliner in the toy bucket. My desire to earn it, motivated me to be a top student in that class. After transferring classes, I never saw that toy plane again. I secretly desired a toy plane.

I remember getting good grades in school. I also remember day-dreaming without understanding what my mind was doing. The habit made my imagination strong. At the same time, I was forgetful and disorganized. Some children in my new class made fun of my disorganized appearance. I rarely responded to them. My day dreaming was so strong that their jokes seemed less important. One day, some students from my old class joined my new class, because their teacher was absent. In their hands I saw an origami rocket made out of loose leaf (filler) paper.

Learning from Students and Siblings

These old classmates taught me how to make the origami rocket. By the time I got home, I forgot how to make the rocket. Soon after, I lost that paper rocket along with the steps on how to make one.

Two years later, my older brother came home with the same rocket. He showed and guided me in unfolding and refolding the origami rocket step by step. The process helped me learn every stage of making the rocket. Later that evening, I witnessed my brother change how he folded the rocket to make new types of origami. Some looked like speed boats and others like futuristic spacecraft. We made so many styles that night, I forgot about many cool models. 

Since then, I have created new versions of the origami rocket until creating the model jet and spacecraft. The hobby has kept me passionate and curious about steering and controlling different vehicles. Folding and playing with these models kept me interested in cars, boats and planes until I could experience driving and flying vehicles in video games.

Model Memories

Three memories about the origami jets stay with me. I visited Haiti, as a young adult in 2009. My experience working at afterschool’s and summer camps made me comfortable engaging with children. One day, I found spare paper and tape. I surprised the children in the community, with paper planes for them to play. Some didn’t seem impressed so, I also taped together two pieces of paper to make a large, model jet. I was able to make as many planes as needed that day. When a plane fell in water or got torn, I made another. 

Later when I became a father, I met an origami instructor at a community event. I showed her how I learned the origami rocket and how to make two types of aircraft. As I folded the jet, I recall the excited look in her eyes.  She asked if she could keep a copy of the jet to share with others. This made me realize I should share these methods with other people. 

The last memory is when I taught my son the origami rocket. He was about the same age I was when I first learned to make it. He struggled to learn, but now he comes home from school with paper planes in his pocket. He tells me that he teaches his friends who want to learn how to make them. The best part is that he has his own folding style which makes his jet slightly different than the jet in this book. I am amazed to watch the origami evolve over time.

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Acknowledgements

Many thanks to the many people who helped make this book possible. They include my parents, my elder brother for reminding me how to fold the rocket. My son for learning how to fold my jet and for teaching his friends.

To Kara for helping me edit this book. To my other sister and brothers for accepting me as I am and criticizing my flaws. To my Godfather who supported me since before birth until the creation of this book.

Lastly but not least, to P.S. 135 (Sheldon A Brookner School), where in the first grade, visiting students taught me the origami rocket. The east entrance of the school is on the cover.

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