めぐりあい

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２００２年１月、一介のエンジニアとして初めて極寒のベルリンの地に降り立った。

それ以来、多くのドイツ人と交流、日本人とドイツ人のギャップに葛藤する日々が続いた。気がつくと延べ２０回も訪独、ドイツ通算滞在日数は３００日以上にも

達していた。そんな中、２０１０年に治療方法のない難病を発症、２０１２年夏に入院を余儀なくされる。これが人生の転機となり、サラリーマン生活に終止符を打つ決意をする。

突然、ドイツで出逢ったたくさんの人々の笑顔や思い出が走馬灯のように頭を駆け抜けた。改めて、自分の人生に大きな影響を与えたドイツという国で過ごした時間の意味を知りたくなった。そして、かつて社用で訪れたドイツの街々を、初めて自費で巡った。

見慣れたドイツの風景が、遥かなる「記憶」となる。

その時「過去との決別」と「新たな出逢い」が交差した瞬間を感じた。

 

Once-in-a-lifetime chance

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In 2002 Jan., I landed in the place of frigid Berlin for the first time as mere engineer.

Since then, I contacted with a lot of German people, and frequently faced a conflict the gap between Germany and Japanese due to the deferent culture.

I was noticed that the visiting frequency was 20 times, and the total length of stay in Germany was more than 300 days.

Meanwhile, I contracted an incurable disease in 2010 and had to have hospitalization in the summer of 2012.

This becomes a turning point in my life, and I determined to choose early retirement.

I suddenly recalled the smiling face of a lot that I met in this country; memories in the past were flashed back in rapid succession. I wants to know country of Germany that had a big impact on my life, the meaning of the time spent in this country. Therefore I visited the towns of Germany which came at the company’s expense for first time by my own expense.

The familiar landscape of Germany became long as “my memory”.

I felt the moment that new encounter was crossed with parting at that time.