「日出ずる国でのミレニアム体験」 エリセオ　B　ピタス 　高知県での研修は、私の人生においてある種の成功をもたらしてくれました。そして、ベンゲット州と友好提携を結んで25周年を迎え、長年私を魅了してきた高知県を訪れる機会や、本で読んだり、元研修生から聴いていた高知や日本を直接見たり感じたりする機会も与えてくれました。それゆえに、世紀末に初めて祖国を離れることや、愛する家族や友人と離れる寂しさがあったにもかかわらず、「日出る国」として常に記憶していた国での新しい経験全てを楽しみにしていました。 　1999年6月2日に関西国際空港に到着した時から、この国の秩序だったところ、清潔さ、教育が浸透している点にずっと畏敬の念を覚えています。それ以上に驚いたのは、高知のきれいな空気とどこまでも広がる緑の風景です。制度と自然が混ざり合って独特な風景生み出しています。 　高知県内の様々な場所で、高知県の内面の美しさを見ることができました。山、川、海岸線、人々の心の温かさ。先の世代のために自然が保護されていることも実感しました。高知県は実に住みやすい所です。 　高知に来た当初は、私を全くの外国人にし、ホームシックを悪化させた日本語の不自由さのために、生活は困難でした。しかし、懇切丁寧な日本語の先生のおかげで、もっと勉強したいと思う美しい言語、日本語を理解し、少し話せるようになりました。その上、他の研修生や日本語の先生の協力、温かく親切な日本人の友達、県職員の皆さんの配慮が私の気持ちを楽にし、研修を続ける上での自信をつけさせてくれました。高知県農業技術センターでの研修で得た野菜の害虫や病気に関する知識や、高知県内外への旅行、観光地や史跡・美術館・工場訪問、よさこい祭りや大綱祭りへの参加、日本人家庭でのホームステイなど実り多い時間を過ごすことができました。この高知や日本での素晴らしい経験は決して忘れることがないでしょう。 　ベンゲット州を代表して、研修生を受け入れてくれました橋本大二郎高知県知事、心温まる支援をしてくれました高知県国際交流協会、高知県ベンゲット州姉妹交流推進会議、高知県民の皆様に心より感謝申し上げます。高知に来られたことは、千年期で一番の経験です。 Millennium Experience in the Land of the Rising Sun by　Eliseo B. Pitas 　　　Being one of the three Benguet trainees sent for technical training in Kochi this year, has indeed brought me a sense of fulfillment. Aside from furthering my technical capability, it is also proffered an opportunity to visit Japan, a country which has fascinated me for long and Kochi prefecture which has been the sister province of Benguet for almost 25 years. This rare chance, probably once in my lifetime, allowed me to personally see and feel the things I used to read in books or hear from former trainees who have spoken well about Kochi and Japan in general. Thus, despite leaving my homeland for the first time and the pain of missing my love ones, family and friends in a pessimistic year brought about by the millennium scare, I was looking forward for a whole new experience in a country which I always remember as the “Land of the Rising Sun”. 　　　Ever since I arrived at Kansai airport on the eve of June 2, 1999, I was awed by itﾕs orderliness, cleanliness and discipline pervading in the surroundings. And much more when I arrived in Kochi, where I was amazed with the fresh air and the panorama of green scenery. The blending of infrastructures and nature has somewhat created a unique landscape. Moreover, in this length of time that I had been here and have had the chance of going around in various locations within the prefecture, I have seen the inner beauty of Kochi; itﾕs mountains, rivers, coastal areas and the warmth of itﾕs people. I realized then that itﾕs environmental biodiversity is maintained and sustained which future generations could probably still enjoy. With the peaceful, disciplined and warmhearted people, Kochi is indeed a nice place to live in. 　　　My early days of stay in Kochi though was rather difficult due to my deficiency in speaking Nihongo which made me a total stranger and aggravated my homesickness. However, with the patience and teaching skill of our language senseisﾕ, I was able to understand and speak a little Nihongo, a very beautiful language which I want to learn more. Furthermore, the comradary with my co-trainees and senseisﾕ, the warmth and hospitality of Japanese friends and the accommodation and guidance of prefectural staff and officials has given me comfort in my stay and confidence to carry on with my training. Together with the knowledge gained in my on-going technical training on Pest and Disease Control for vegetable crops at the Kochi Agricultural Research Center; tours to various places in Kochi and Japan; the visit to tourist spots, historical sites, museums and factories, joining various festivals such as the “yosakoi” and “Otuna” matsuri; and the homestays with Japanese families, has provided me new insights on the future performance of my profession; as well as wholesome and beautiful experiences of Kochi and Japan as a whole which I wish to treasure and keep in my memories forever.In behalf of the Province of Benguet, it is a great honor and privilege to extend the profoundest of gratitude to the Kochi Prefectural Government through Governor Daijiro Hashimoto for accepting us as trainees, the Kochi International Association, the Kochi-Benguet Sisterhood Group, and to the people of Kochi for warm accommodation and assistance. 　　　Indeed, coming to Kochi, is my best experience of the millenium!

←BACK