2015.05.08
スーザンに想う1
Susan’s impression 1
Kentaro Sato

 この数か月、母が危篤状態になり、その上仲間が集まるゴールデンウィークなので、私はとても忙しい毎日を送っていた。

しかし、私は３人目のウファーを受入れることにした。予定では、イタリアの２２歳の女性であった。良く解らないが、彼女は帰国してしまった。そこに、６２歳のアメリカ人女性が希望してこられた。　

 ウファーはいつも到着するまでは分からない、というのが私の実感である。到着予定日

の午后７時半、暗くなってきたが彼女の所在は依然不明であった。村の方から私に、外国人が来ているという電話があった。それは私のところですと、すぐに迎えに行った。

日本語がよく話せないのに、よくぞ一人でそんな時間に来られるものだと誰もが思う。アメリカでは、身の危険を感じるであろう。それだけ、日本は安全なところなのかもしれない。

 彼女は日本がほとんどできない。話せるのは、「ありがとう」と「おはよう」。まるで、私がギリシャに行き、ギリシャ語が話せないように。唯一、私が何とか英語が解る存在であった。彼女は、アメリカ人に話すように英語で話す。半分解る程度であるが、時に繰り返し聞き直す。日頃私は英会話の努力はしているが、私にとっては英語のヒアリングの練習の様だ。

　連休は仲間と共に作業して、食事をして、日本の生活をして楽しんでいると、彼女の英文から解りました。

In April 2015 I traveled to Japan for three months. I wanted to see rural Japan so I signed up for Wwoof Japan. My first Wwoofing was in Gifu prefecture and I stayed there for ten days.

 My second Wwoofing Japan was with Kentaro Sato in the Tohoku area of the Niigato Prefecture. Online the Sato farm was described as a rice farm, Nature guide, school, mini hotel, farm restaurant, café and gallery. That is in fact exactly what it is. It is located in a tiny village in an area with breath taking mountains reflected off the Agano river, which is ever present no matter where you are. Photographs do not do this area justice. It really is beyond description.

 The night I arrived it was late and I was certain I had gotten off at the wrong station. The area was dark and every business was closed. I noticed a woman closing her shop and I was able to get her attention, within minutes she was able to locate Kentaro Sato for me. He took me to his home where I met his wife Makiko. She had prepared a lovely meal and in spite of our language problems we managed to communicate quite well (Kentaro does very well with English). After dinner Makiko drove me to a mountain bath that had been prepared for us. I can only describe it as our own private onsen, and it turned out to be one of the most enjoyable parts of my stay. After the bath I slept in a traditional Tatami room on a futon surro

unded by down and a buckwheat pillow. My room was located in Kentaros art gallery just a few houses from the Sato home. That type of privacy is rare in the Wwoofing program. I loved the little village and the Satos were wonderful to me.

 I arrived at the Sato farm during Golden week, a popular vacation time for Japanese families. During this time approximately twelve friends came to stay and help on the farm. During the day Makiko and several others would stay at the cafe and prepare wonderful meals while everyone else went out and together took care of whatever needed to be done. The work was not hard for my part, mostly farm type maintenance. I really enjoyed it. I was treated so nicely by everyone, never left out or made to feel I didn’t belong. Even though Kentaro was the only other person who spoke English I was able to laugh and enjoy the warmth and kindness put forward by everyone. It was an honor to be surrounded by such joyous people in this country so far away from my home.