2017.0804
ウーファーのWuさん
佐藤賢太郎 

33歳のウーファが台湾から我が家にやって来た。オーガニックな生活や日本の文化、日本の自然に触れてみたい、そんな動機から日本に来られたようでした。台湾人はみんな日本が好きで、ビールは特に人気があるらしいです。

私は今までのウーファー中で、一番話しをしただろうと思います。何故我が家を選んだのかと聞きますと、彼は少し困惑したようです。 

 彼は、私の生き方に関心を持ったようです。

幸せとは何ですかと、私は彼に問いかけました。また夜になって、「70にして心の欲するところに従いて矩をこえず」という孔子の言葉を持ち出しました。その意味は、したいようにするが、大自然の摂理に従って、調和して節度をもって生きるということであります。まさに私はそのようだと、彼は言っているようです。

私はウーファーを多く受け入れています。難しいところもありますが、感動があるから家内も受けられるのであります。十分な英語力がないながら、電子辞書を片手に会話しています。言葉の違い、習慣の違い、毎日が違うことだらけです。

しかし違いを超えてつきあえることは、日本人同士でも大切なのではないかと思った。まして世界の人々にとっても、大切なことである。それは難しいと言えばそれまでですが、そうすることで戦争も起こらないのではないでしょうか。

 ウーファーは20歳代より30歳代の方が面白い。それは、それだけ人生を歩いているからです。人生は一度きりです。何があなたにとって大切なのか、それを考えることができるからです。

こうして私は、Wuさんのような違う人間、外国人ウーファーを通して毎日学んでいます。


 

I Come To Here To Meet You

 

Wu Chien Wei

Aug. 2017

 

When I arrived Kentaro-san & Makiko -san`s home, they gave me a question—why do you choose our place?

 This question confused me couple of days, because I didn`t have a specific answer for them, something like I want to know organic farming or learn Japanese traditional cooks, I couldn`t answer them easily, but I tried to find it.

 I stayed with them only one week, it was a short time, but I did know them day by day. Kentaro-san was born in Toyomi, a small mountain village I stayed, but worked as a school teacher near to Tokyo in 9 years, then he changed his life became an artist.

 10 years ago he and his wife Makiko-san decided to come back Toyomi, but his homeland was totally different…empty. But Kentaro-san found his playing partner of childhood and changed their homeland`s destiny. They renewed broken houses, dressed walls, created many art creatures in every corner of the village.

 It`s totally different when I came Toyomi, now here has café, restaurant, inns and performance stage!!! I was lucky that I just met their musical festival in my second date, traditional music, Japanese pop, rap etc., I was very impressed, so much energy here!

 Even Kentaro-san has already left from teacher career, but he & his wife are still teaching. I said that, because 6 junior high school students from Tokyo has come to their house to experience rural life during my staying period. I could see these youths have be changed, and I thought I have been changed by them, too.

 Kentaro-san used his life story to teach me--“the life could be happy but doesn`t mean easy”, I totally agree especially after I tried his daily works, it was definitely not simple; I think that Makiko-san is a brave women, she could fallowed his husband`s changing and supported him. The artist`s life is difficult and without much money, but her positive and strong mind taught me--“the life could be busy and hard but doesn`t mean unhappy”, I will always remember her advice when I meet the difficult time in the future.

 I did wwoof with them, they not only gave me room and meal, but also gave me countless life wisdom. So why did I choose their place for wwoofing? I found the answer is--- I come to here for to meet them.