災害ボラ2日目　Disaster Relief Volunteer Day 2

活動初日。8時過ぎに拠点を出発し、いわき市内にあるボランティアセンターへ移動。ここでどの家で活動をするかの指示を受け、必要な機材を借りた。
My first day taking part in volunteer activities. At a little past 8 we departed from the PBV base to go to the volunteer center in Iwaki City where we were given our assignment and we borrowed the necessary equipment.

リフォーム完成間際に被災してしまった家で今日は作業。このエリアではかなり高い位置まで水が上がってきて、多くの家の1階が浸水した。浸水してしまった床下をきれいにするために今日は床板を剥がす作業を行った。
We were assigned to a house that was in its last stages of renovation when the typhoon struck. The water levels rose quite high and many of the first floors of houses in this area were completely submerged in water. In order to remove damages caused by water inside the house, our mission was to remove the floorboards from this home.

慣れない道具での作業に最初は戸惑ったが、経験者のボランティアさんがやり方を優しく教えてくれた。作業し続けるとちょっとずつコツがつかめた。と同時に腕と腰の疲労でなかなか体が言うことを聞いてくれなくなってくる。
At first I felt clumsy using these unusual tools for the first time but an experienced volunteer showed me the ropes. After continuing for a while I started to get the hang of things. But at the same time my arms and back started to get sore and the repetitive work became a but of a challenge to continue.

30分作業をするごとに10分の休憩を取り、12月にも関わらず、いい汗をかきながら作業し続けた。休憩中に近隣の様子を見に行った。浸水した後がシミのようにビルの壁に残っている。その高さは2m以上。
We worked in 30 minute chunks and then took 10 minute breaks in between. Despite the fact that its mid December I worked up a sweat. During one of the breaks I went to look around the neighborhood. I could see water stains that were up to 2m high on the walls of some buildings.

想像してみた。家の1階がどんどん水に浸たっていく。別の場所に避難すべきか、自宅2階でしのぐのか。平家だとそれができない。この自然の脅威を感じさせる傷痕は近所の至る所で読み取れた。
I tried to imagine it. The first floor of my home is slowly flooding with water. Should I try to flee to a different area or should I try to wait it out on the 2nd floor? What if there is only one floor? I saw the overwhelming power of the typhoon in different parts of the neighborhood.

休憩中に家主さんがお茶をくださった。私たちがお手伝いをしに行っているのに、逆にエネルギーと勇気をたくさんいただいた。全力で作業をした後に晴天下で飲む冷たいお茶とおにぎりは最高に美味しかった。
The owner of the house we worked in brought us tea during our break. I came to volunteer because I wanted to help people in need, but instead I received lots of kindness and inspiration. There’s nothing like enjoying cold tea and lunch under the blue sky after working hard.

まだまだ作業が続くこのお家。そしていわき市内に他にも作業が必要な家たち。それに応えたいという想いで、いろんな背景を持つボランティアが集い、力を合わせて作業をする被災地。今日は色んなことを学び、見て、考えさせられた。明日はどんな1日になるのだろう。
There is still lots of work that needs to be done in this house. And in other houses and places. And there are also lots of people who come from different walks of life who are willing to donate their time to help get this work done. In just one day I learned and saw so much, and have lots to think about. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.