Trip to Mabaruma/ マバルマへの調査旅行 Part 1

I am back from Mabaruma safe and sound.

Mabaruma is absolutely beautiful, and the people are just so nice and warm. I almost did not want to come back to Georgetown. The place is really out of nowhere. I flew over miles and miles of just forest (jungle) that looks like a whole bunch of broccolis are laid out. It is so far away from the main coastal area of the country, they can’t catch any waves of Guyanese radio or TV. The supply of electricity is limited, and many people do not have a telephone at home, letting alone the access to Internet. Apart from locally produced fruits and vegetables, goods come from Georgetown by boat, which takes as long as 24 hours. Despite all these inconveniences, it's got such a charm. I especially adore the landscape. It is very green and hilly with reddish brown soil and little houses with coconuts leaf roof. The city where I come from in Japan, Kyoto, is surrounded by mountains, and it makes me feel at home to see these hills and mountains. I could just sit for hours on the balcony of the guest house where I stayed to enjoy the scenery.

I would say the research was quite successful. In total, I have visited ten schools in six villages, some of which are a bit hard to access. Roads to some villages are not paved (yet?), so we went on a really bumpy road on a minibus. It was quite a drive, and I am not sure how these minibuses can survive, driving on such bad roads. The notorious potholes in Montreal are no comparison to this! There was no transportation to one village, so we walked about forty minutes in a forest, and I really enjoyed the walk. This village particular had no electricity and no phone. Many areas around Mabaruma can be reached only by boat. Even some school kids have to paddle back home in a small wooden canoe. When I was taking pictures of canoes, one person asked me if I want to “ride” it, but I wouldn’t dare! I know they are used to it, but I think they are so brave.

The current Chairman of the union branch and the newly elected Chairman took turns to accompany me to the schools. They were very kind, and I had a great time talking with them.


マバルマから無事帰ってきました。

マバルマはとてもきれいな村で、地元の人達は親切でフレンドリーで、ジョージタウンに戻りたくなくなるほどでした。まるでブロッコリーを敷き詰めたようなジャングルの上を一時間飛行して到着。本当に回りに何もない地域です。人口が集中するジョージタウン近辺の海岸エリアからかなり離れているのでガイアナのラジオもテレビの電波も届かないし、電力の供給も限られています。自宅に電話がない人も多く、インターネットどころではありません。地元で栽培される果物や野菜を除くほとんどの物資はジョージタウンから船で２４時間かけて運送されます。不便なことも多いこの村ですが、景色の良さは特別だと思います。写真の通り、一面緑に覆われていて山が見え、赤茶色の土と椰子の木の葉っぱの屋根の家。私の実家は3方を山で囲まれた京都なので、山が見える景色には本当に癒されます。宿泊先のゲストハウスのバルコニーで何時間でも座って眺められるほどです。

調査の仕事もまずます上手くいったと言えると思います。合計で6つの村の１０の学校を訪ねることができました。いくつかの学校は交通の便が悪く、ミニバスで、舗装されていないでこぼこ道を行きました。こんなひどい道をバスが良く走れるもんだなと感心。モントリオールの穴だらけの道なんて比較にもなりません！ある村は交通手段がないので、片道40分近く森の中を歩いて辿りつきました。この村は電気も電話も通っていません。マバルマ周辺の地域は船でしか行けない所も多く、木製のカヌーを漕いで家まで帰る子供達もいます。カヌーの写真を撮っていると地元の人が乗ってみる？と聞いてくれたけど、パスしました。皆慣れているのだろうけど勇気あるなあと感心です。

教師組合の現在のChairmanと新しく選出されたChairmanがかわりがわりで私を学校へ連れて行ってくれました。二人ともすごく良い人達で色々な話ができました。

To be continued....