もう2ヶ月も前の話になりますが、4月の終わりにアクラに上がりJICA関係者の前で1年報告会を行いました。この1年活動や生活で経験したことや今後の計画について10分間発表したのですが、10分が短く感じるくらいとても充実した1年を過ごしていたことを改めて感じさせられました。この報告会で半年ぶりに同期3人で集まれて嬉しかったです。二人が頑張っていると思うだけで私も頑張ろうと思えます。
This story is two months old, but near the end of April I had
my one-year presentation in front of JICA-related staff in Accra. I presented
for 10 minutes about my experiences during the past year in my work and
otherwise, but the 10 minutes felt too short to say everything. It made me
realize what an eventful year I had spent. I was really happy to reunite with
my other two colleagues. It had been about half a year since we last gathered,
but their presence and the thought that they are working hard in their respective
towns have always helped me through difficult times.
「3人」って不思議とバランスがとれていいですよね。私は兄が2人いて3人兄弟として育ったので余計そう感じるのかもしれませんが、奇数特有の雰囲気は好きです。3人の内2人が対立していても、3人目の存在のおかげでまた仲良くなったりする。3人がそれぞれ違う方向を向いていても、どこかでつながっている。2人だと「線」でも3人だと「面」になる、と母に言われたことがありますが本当にそのとおりだと思います。
Three is a strangely balanced number when it comes to
people, don’t you think? I have two older brothers so we are 3 siblings, which
may be a factor in my feeling this way, but I like the atmosphere created by
odd numbers of people. Even if 2 people fight within the 3, the third person
can help bring the two back together. Even if the three are facing different
directions, they are still somewhat tied together. My mother told me before
that 2 people make a “line” but 3 people make a “face”, and I really agree with
her.
さて、3人と言えば。報告会が終わった頃に友人が二人遊びに来てくれて、今度は3人旅行を楽しみました！性格がかなり違う3人ですが、3人とも好奇心旺盛の冒険好き。この二人なら多少無理なスケジュールでも頑張ってくれるだろう・・・と短い時間にガーナ中を連れまわしました。
Anyways, speaking of 3s, two of my friends visited me after
my one year presentation was over, so we went on a “three women trip”. The
three of us have really different personalities, but we share curiosity and a
love for adventure. I knew that I could count on these two to follow even the
craziest of schedules… so I dragged them all around Ghana in a short time!
ガーナは正直に言うと「観光名所」には乏しいです。アフリカと聞いて多くの人が連想するライオンやキリンなどの動物はいないですし、観光地とされるところはちゃんと整備されていなくてただそこにあるだけ、ということも多いです。建物も小さな違いはありますが、大体の町の作りはどこに行っても同じなのでよく見ないとその小さい違いは見過ごしてしまいます。旅行に派手さを求める人には少し物足りないかもしれません。
ただ、私や二人の友人の様に小さな発見を楽しむタイプの旅行者にとって、ガーナは見どころがたくさんあります。特に、友人の言葉を借りると「ガーナは人が一番面白い！」
Ghana is honestly not the most exciting tourist destination.
We don’t have the lions and giraffes that most people envision when they hear “Africa”,
and most places that are designated as tourist attractions are undermanaged.
There are some differences in architecture here and there, but in general most
towns are built in similar structures around the town so you will miss the
differences unless you look very closely. Therefore, Ghana might be a bit
boring for those who want flashy experiences from their trips.
But, for people like me and my two friends who came along,
Ghana has a lot to offer for the traveler that enjoys the small discoveries. As
my friend puts it, “The most interesting thing about Ghana is the people!”
各地域から人が集まってきていてタクシーの値段交渉にいつも疲れる「グレーな都会」アクラ。
各地域から人が集まってきていてタクシーの値段交渉にいつも疲れる「グレーな都会」アクラ。
“The Grey City” Accra, where people from all over the country have gathered, and where you will always get tired from negotiating taxi prices…
声を張り上げて、時には腕も掴んで何が何でも売ろうとする西アフリカ最大の市場、「商売の街」クマシ。
“The City of Trade” Kumasi, where people will raise their voice and at times grab your arm and do whatever they can to sell in the biggest market in West Africa
“The Historical Seaport” Elmina, where you will find a castle that carries the tragic past of slavery in its walls and floors, while sellers next door call you from a distance because they know tourists don’t like being hassled
西アフリカで一番高い滝まで文句は言うけれど連れて行ってくれる根は優しい人がたくさんいる「自然の町」ホホエ
“Nature Town” Hohoe, where there are many people are nicer than they sound, and will guide you to West Africa’s tallest waterfall despite small complaints
途中で現地のハンディクラフトも体験してきましたよ。アシャンティ州のジャチでは少々複雑な折り機を使ってケンテ布を織ってみて・・・
In addition, we also stopped by to experience some local handicrafts. We practiced weaving kente cloth in Jachie (Ashanti Region) using slightly complicated looms...
そしてイースタン州のオドゥマセ-クロボでガラスを砕いてビーズを作りました。
and pounded glass to make beads in Odumase-Krobo (Eastern Region).
たくさん回って本当に面白かったけれど、それでも私はやっぱりアッパーウェスト州、特に自分の任地のワが好きなのだ、と思い、大好きな友達二人にワを見せることができて嬉しかったです。
因みに、ワはやっぱり「和の町」、かな。
It was really fun to go around and see the small differences
in the various regions of Ghana, but I realized that in the end I like the
Upper West Region, especially my town, Wa, and was really happy that I was able
to show Wa to my friends.
By the way, my name for Wa would be “The Peaceful Town”
because “Wa” in Japanese means harmony!
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| ワの我が家に入るところ Entering my house in Wa |
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| 配属先オフィスにて At the office of my NGO |
そうそう、ブログのタイトルの「三角旅行」ですが・・・もちろん、三角関係ではないですよ！笑
3人で作る面は三角だから。そして、今回行った町を地図でつなげると最終的に三角になるから。ちょっとひねってみました。＾＾
It’s because a three-point shape is a triangle, and… if you map out the places we went to on this trip, it’s shaped like a triangle!
Wanted to try at something slightly clever J
Special thanks and much love to my two friends who came all the way to see me!!
こんな遠いところまで会いに来てくれた二人に感謝の気持ちとたっくさんの愛を送ります！！
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| ありがとう！！ Thank you!! |
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