MEGURO Tatsuyuki

再会と新たな出会い

目黒達之

カンザスシティ市（以下、KC市）の青空の下、7名の団員と共に生涯の思い出を作ることができました。私自身11年前に生活体験団員としてKC市を訪問し、素晴らしい経験をさせていただきました。団長として、自分を育ててくれた両市の姉妹都市交流の発展に貢献したいと考えました。団員が素晴らしい時間を過ごせるように、自分の経験も活かしながら全力でサポートする決意で事前研修から取り組みました。

11年前の訪問で、ホストファミリーをはじめとするKC市の人々の温かさに触れました。そこから、アメリカ合衆国の歴史や文化に関心を持つようになり、大学時代もニューヨーク州に留学をしました。11年前に出会ったホストファミリーや中部日米協会の方々とは今でも連絡を取り合っています。11年前のKC市訪問から始まり、今回が7度目の渡米となりました。KC市での出会いや経験は、今の自分を語る上で欠かすことができません。大切な思い出の地に団長として戻ることを嬉しく思うと同時に身が引き締まりました。今回の訪問では、11年前のホストファミリーとの再会も果たすことができました。中部日米協会の皆さまも私の再訪を喜んでくださいました。姉妹都市交流は、人と人との草の根交流を基礎に発展していくものだと実感しました。

新たな出会いや学びにも恵まれました。ホームステイでは、国立第一次世界大戦記念博物館、トルーマン大統領図書館、陸軍基地など、米国の歴史と地元の歴史が交差した跡を訪れることができました。ホストファミリーの友人の方々とも交流をさせていただき、遠く離れた地に暮らす人々が、両市の姉妹都市関係を通して出会い、絆を深めていくことの美しさを改めて感じました。

団員にとって慣れない地での生活は、戸惑うことや不安なこともあったと思います。しかし、充実感に満ちた笑顔でお別れパーティーに戻ってきた姿は頼もしく誇りに思いました。現地の方々や団員たちとの交流を通して、KC市でファミリーが増えたような気持ちになりました。私たちの訪問を支えてくださった皆さまに感謝いたします。今回のご縁を大切に、団としても交流を続けていきます。

Full Circle Moment in Kansas City

We had a wonderful time in Kansas City blessed with new culture and amazing people. It has been an honor and privilege of my lifetime to serve this exchange program as a chaperon. It has been eleven years since I first visited Kansas City in 2014 as a high school student. Touched by a lot of kindness and warmness of people back then, I have developed my interest in American history and culture. I wanted to know more about the people and their background. That passion took me to New York where I studied American History and Politics for two semesters in university. Then COVID hit hard the US, and I had to go back to Japan. Not knowing how long it would last and when I could go back to the country I love, it was very tough time to go through for me. I have stayed in touch with people I met on my last visit even during that hard time. Therefore, going back to Kansas City this year was very special to me, and it felt like everything had come full circle. During my homestay program, I met people from the last visit and enjoyed getting to know new friends and families. It was such a wholesome moment to see my former host families and catch up with life updates. Seeing my host brothers grown up made me realize how cool it is that we all are still in touch after a long time. With my new host families, I visited a local church, the National WW1. Museum and Memorial, Truman Presidential Library, and Fort Leavenworth, places I can fully appreciate its historical significance now but maybe not 11 years ago. I really enjoyed talking with my new host family and meeting their friends as well. 

 During my homestay program, I met people from the last visit and enjoyed getting to know new friends and families. It was such a wholesome moment to see my former host families and catch up with life updates. Seeing my host brothers grown up made me realize how cool it is that we all are still in touch after a long time. With my new host families, I visited a local church, the National WW1. Museum and Memorial, Truman Presidential Library, and Fort Leavenworth, places I can fully appreciate its historical significance now but maybe not 11 years ago. I really enjoyed talking with my new host family and meeting their friends as well. 

Knowing first-hand how challenging it could be to live abroad for high school students, I was determined to do whatever it takes to help my students as a chaperon. They might have found themselves in unfamiliar difficulties, yet they came back to the farewell party with a big happy smile. I cannot be prouder of them. It seemed like they had just found themselves a new place to call home. We all are so thankful to everyone for helping us feel right at home in Kansas City. This is not the end of the program. Rather it is the beginning of new chapter in the program. We would love to stay in touch with our family in Kansas City.