フランス人と山椒の収獲作業

今年も山村留学してきました。
知りあいの山椒農家さんの家に1泊。

日本一の山椒の生産量を誇る有田川町。

ヤギがいて、猟犬がいるおしゃれな木造コテージでちょっとハイジのような世界観に浸れる素敵なおうちに宿泊する。

メインの目的は山椒の収獲。

今回はフランス人のカップル２人とおしゃべりしながら作業。

いつも行く前は、こんなに暑い夏の昼間の作業。
「熱中症になるんじゃないか？」と思うけど、そこは山奥。
緑の風が爽やかで、日陰にいる分には意外と涼しく作業がしやすい。
腰に巻いたかごに、収穫した山椒をどんどんいれていく。

今回、左手にけがをしていて行くかどうか迷ったけど、右手が使えたらなんとかなった。

夜はみんなで一緒にご飯を作り、語りあい、みんなで片付けて、朝食を食べてまた収獲する。毎年思うけど、出会ったばかりの人達と暮らすのは、結構楽しい。それが外国の人であっても、他府県の人であっても、普段と違う世界に触れられて幸福感が広がっていく。

採り手の不足している山椒。猫の手も借りたいシーズン。

少しでも役に立てたら嬉しいし、何よらりも、自然の中で生きる力をもらえる気がする。

来年の夏も楽しみです。

I helped with the Sansho harvest again this year. I stayed one night at the house of an acquaintance who is a sansho (Japanese pepper) farmer in Aridagawa Town, known for its highest production of sansho in Japan.

The house is a stylish wooden cottage with a goat and a hunting dog, offering a charming world reminiscent of Heidi.

The main purpose was to harvest sansho. This time, I worked while chatting with a French couple.

Before going, I always think, "Won't I get heatstroke working in the hot summer midday?" But being deep in the mountains, the green breeze is refreshing, and staying in the shade makes the work surprisingly cool and manageable. I kept putting the harvested sansho into the basket tied around my waist.

I injured my left hand before going and was unsure whether to go, but I managed with just my right hand.

At night, we all cooked dinner together, chatted, cleaned up, had breakfast in the morning, and then harvested again. Every year I think it's quite fun living with people I've just met. Whether they are from other countries or other prefectures, experiencing a different world expands my sense of happiness.

There's a shortage of sansho harvesters; it's a season where even a cat's help would be welcomed.

I'm happy if I can be of any help, and more than anything, I feel like I gain the strength to live within nature.

I'm looking forward to next summer too.

さてと、今日の英単語です。
simmer down
落ち着く
After the argument, it took a while for everyone to simmer down and talk calmly.

boil down to
結局～である。つまるところ〜である。
When it comes to successful relationships, it often boils down to mutual respect and understanding.

consolidate
〜を強化する、確固たるものとする
We need to consolidate our position in the market.

3つを使って英作文。

The hunting dog was very excited at first, but he gradually simmered down.

Communication boils down to hospitality.

Planting new sansho trees will consolidate the future revenue for the farmer.

また明日！