4:45
今日の早起きはランニングでも漕ぎに行くためでもなく、フライトのため。トレーニングウェアでなく、カリフォルニアに来た時と同じフーディとレギンスに着替えて、最後の荷物をまとめるころ、Andreaが見送りのために起きてきてくれました。
前日の夜にMarkが用意してくれていたコーヒーを飲み、迎えにきてくれるAdamを待つ間、昨晩書いた手紙を渡し、最後まで気遣ってくれるAndreaの優しさにふれながら過ごしました。
This morning, I woke up early not to go for a run or cycling, but for my flight. I changed into the same hoodie and leggings I wore when I first came to California, rather than my workout clothes. As I was finishing packing my last items, Andrea got up to see me off. While waiting for Adam, who would pick me up, I drank the coffee that Mark had prepared the night before, handed Andrea the letter I had written last night, and spent the time appreciating Andrea's kindness, who continued to show such care until the very end.
5:45
約束の時間通りにAdamが迎えにきて、荷物をトラックに積み込み、Andreaにハグをしてお別れをし、5日間お世話になったあったかいお家を後に。
At the agreed time, Adam arrived to pick me up. We loaded my luggage into the truck, I gave Andrea a hug and said goodbye, and then I left the warm home where I had stayed for the past five days.
国内線は行きのLos Angeles AirportではなくLong Beach Airportから。家からは車で20分。朝日が昇る頃、空港に到着しました。預け荷物の手続きを手伝ってもらい、スーツケースに無理やり縛りつけたインフレータブルボードのお陰で超過料金を取られるも、パドルはスキー用具として無料で預けられることに。最初から最後までありがとう、Adam
The domestic flight was from Long Beach Airport, not Los Angeles Airport like the arrival. It’s a 20-minute drive from home. I arrived at the airport around sunrise. Adam helped me with the check-in process, and although I was charged an overweight fee for the inflatable board that I had awkwardly strapped to my suitcase, the paddle was allowed to be checked in for free as ski equipment. Thank you, Adam, for everything from start to finish 🙏🏾.
12月にまた日本に来るとはわかっていても涙が出るお別れをして、保安検査へ。
Even though I knew I would be coming back to Japan in December, I couldn’t help but cry as we said goodbye, and then I headed to security.
日本を出国する時は見逃してもらえた浮力体のボンベを没収されたけど、無事に飛行機に乗れました。小さな空港で搭乗口も少ない。 When leaving Japan, the buoyancy tank that I was allowed to keep was confiscated, but I was able to board the plane without any issues. It was a small airport with only a few boarding gates.
Southwest Airを使いましたが、席の予約がなく、搭乗した順に席を決められるという面白いシステム。前日にオンラインでチェックインを済ませていたので、早くに乗り込み、席を確保。座ってすぐ眠ってしまい、着陸の衝撃で目が覚めて、Austinに到着。
I flew with Southwest Air, which has an interesting system where there are no reserved seats, and you get assigned a seat based on the order in which you board. Since I checked in online the day before, I boarded early and secured a seat. I fell asleep as soon as I sat down and woke up from the jolt of landing, arriving in Austin.
Austinから目的地のTampaの乗り継ぎも問題なく、無事Tampaに到着。
There were no issues with the layover in Austin, and I arrived safely in Tampa.
降りる直前、隣の席に座っていた女性が声をかけてくれて、自分のお兄さんが日本に住んでいるのだ、という話から、助けてあげる、レンタカーの窓口までついて行くよといってくれました。窓口の人も親切で、無事車を借りて最終関門のFedExへ。ボードは到着していることを確認できたのでそのまま向かいます。営業所は20:45まで。空港を出発したのは19:15。急いで向かいます。到着して、カウンターに追跡番号とパスポート、免許証を提示。やっと受け取れる…と思ったら
Just before getting off the plane, the woman sitting next to me struck up a conversation and told me that her brother lives in Japan. She kindly offered to help and said she would walk me to the rental car counter. The staff at the counter were also friendly, and I was able to rent the car without any issues, then headed to the final hurdle, FedEx. I confirmed that the board had arrived, so I went straight there. The office closed at 8:45 PM, and I left the airport at 7:15 PM, so I was in a hurry. When I arrived, I showed the tracking number, my passport, and driver’s license at the counter. I thought I could finally pick it up, but then...
"名前が違うから渡せない" "I can't give it to you because the name is different."
どうやら送ったカリフォルニアの営業所で名前の入力に誤りがあったとのこと。荷物を受け取るのに適切な人物かどうかの証明ができなければ渡せない。もう営業所は閉まるから、また明日来てくれ。と。
なんとか自分の耳とスマホの翻訳機能で聞き取ったけれど、自分が今持っているパスポートや免許証以外に送ったのは自分だと証明できるものは何もない。明日の朝行くにしても、受け取れるかどうかわからない。どうしよう。
Apparently, there was an error with the name input at the California office where it was sent. They said they can't give me the package unless I can prove that I’m the right person to receive it. Since the office is about to close, they told me to come back tomorrow.
I managed to understand this with the help of my ears and my phone's translation feature, but there’s nothing other than my passport and driver’s license that can prove I’m the one who sent it. Even if I go tomorrow morning, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to pick it up. What should I do?
Adamに助けてほしいとメッセージし、担当者と直接電話で話してもらいましたが、名前が違うから無理。と一点張り。終業前にやってきた言葉の通じない、身元が確かではない客。同情と苛立ちがまじった視線が刺さります。責任者の女性に繋いでもらって、例外的に受取人として適切だという証明をしてもらい、やっとボードを受け取れました。
I messaged Adam asking for help, and he spoke directly with the person in charge over the phone, but they insisted it couldn’t be done because the name didn’t match. I was just another customer who came in right before closing, unable to communicate and with questionable identity. The mixed look of sympathy and frustration from the staff was piercing. After speaking with the female supervisor, she made an exception and confirmed that I was indeed the correct recipient, and finally, I was able to pick up the board.
ありがたくて、なんだか情けなくて、安心して、涙が出そうになりました。
I felt grateful, a bit pitiful, relieved, and almost moved to tears.
空港にはNariたちが待っている。久しぶりのボードとの対面を喜ぶ間も無く、急いでボードを積んで空港に戻り、今回一緒に行動するなり、やえ、じんと合流。宿へ。
Nari and the others were waiting at the airport. There was no time to enjoy the reunion with my board; I hurriedly loaded it into the car and returned to the airport, where I met up with Nari, Yae, and Jin. Then, we headed to the accommodation.
宿は空港から1時間ちょっと車を走らせた、会場からは10分ほどの場所。
The accommodation was about an hour's drive from the airport, and it was only about 10 minutes from the venue.
広々とした1棟貸で、とっても清潔で使いやすい、素敵なおうち。こどもたちはまだ時差ボケを感じないのか、楽しそうに各々持ってきたあり合わせの食材で夕食を済ませていました。
It was a spacious, well-kept, and very clean house, perfect for renting as a whole. The kids didn’t seem to feel any jet lag, and they happily made dinner with whatever ingredients they had brought with them.
"人は乗り越えられるだけの試練しか与えられない"
"People are only given challenges they can overcome."
その言葉の意味を今回実感できました。
I was able to truly feel the meaning of those words this time.
出国時、ボードを持って行っても配送できないかもしれなかった。その時は車にボードを積んでひとりでアメリカを横断し、フロリダへ行くという可能性もありました。でも、実際は自分でボードを飛行機に乗せるミッションのみ。そして現地についてからはAdamのサポートでボードを無事配送し、受け取ることができました。きっと、英語を話すのも聞くのもままない今のわたしには、フロリダまで自走するという試練は身の丈に合わなかったのだと思います。だからこそ、今回AdamとAdamの家族のサポートがあった。逆を言えば、もっとわたしが成長すればさらに大きな試練が待っているということで、試練と成長のレベルは比例している。乗り越えられる試練しか与えられないなら、それは困難ではなく、試練はギフトそのものなのだと思いました。
When leaving the country, there was a possibility that I wouldn’t be able to ship the board even if I brought it with me. At that point, I considered the option of driving across the United States alone with the board and heading to Florida. However, in reality, my mission was simply to get the board on the plane. Once I arrived, with Adam’s support, I was able to successfully ship and receive the board. I think that, for me, at this moment—when I struggle with speaking and understanding English—the challenge of driving to Florida on my own was beyond my current abilities. That’s why I had the support of Adam and his family this time. In other words, as I grow, even bigger challenges will likely await me, and the level of trials and growth are proportional. If we’re only given challenges that we can overcome, then they aren’t obstacles—they are gifts in themselves.
少しゆっくり寝て起きたら、いよいよ会場の下見に行ってきます。
After sleeping in a bit and waking up, I’m finally going to check out the venue.
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