You can hear the voice recording for the diary.
出張先から新幹線の駅まで、お世話になった先生のクルマに同乗させてもらった。荷物を持っていくので、それに便乗させてもらったかたち。
I accepted his offer for a ride from the city at the project site to the nearest terminal station. I jumped at the chance since he planned to go to the station to retrieve his belongings.
昨夜の飲み会からあまり時間が経っておらず、先生が離れてしまうのがウソのようだが、後部座席に乗せられたたくさんの荷物を見ると、それは幻なんだと実感する。
Even though only 5 hours had passed since we parted ways after the party last night, it was hard to believe that today would be our last day together. However, seeing his personal belongings in the backseat served as a stark reminder that it was indeed true.
帰りのクルマの中では、あえてその話題に触れないようにしてきたけど、新幹線に乗って、朝ごはんに買った駅弁を食べながら景色を眺めていると、より実感してくる。
During the car ride to the station, I tried to avoid discussing our departure from the city. However, reality sank in as I ate a station lunchbox for breakfast on the shinkansen back home.
先生もそうだけど、わたしもあの街を離れてしまうんだと。でもこのような気持ちになるのは、この先もずっと続くと思う。
Both of us will be leaving the city. I expect I’ll experience similar feelings in the future when faced with similar situations.
国境なき医師団のメンバーとして、海外に派遣され現地で活動後に離れることになるときにも思うだろう。その時、現地でお世話になった医師や患者さんだけでなく、今回の先生との帰りをいっしょに思い出して、飛行機からの眺めを涙で濡らすんだなと思う。将来、先生と再会したときに、胸を張って話ができるように今できることを続けていきたい。
As a member of Doctors Without Borders, I experience the same emotions when leaving a site after our activities. At those times, memories of the doctors, patients, and the friend’s teacher flood my mind, and the view from the airplane becomes blurred by my tears. I’ll do what I can now to prepare for future conversations with the teacher with confidence.
To be continued.
