オヤジギャグばかり言っています！
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私は今までに色々な仕事をしてきましたが、その一つに群馬の山奥で農家の手伝いがあります。今日はその仕事を紹介します。
Throughout my life, I’ve taken on various jobs, and one of them was assisting at a farm in the remote mountains of Gunma, Japan. Today, I would like to share my experience working there.
そんなに長くやっていた訳ではないですが、自分の働いていたのは、エノキ茸の栽培、収穫などの仕事になります。これは朝が早く5時50分には冷蔵庫前に集合し体操をした後、仕事が開始します。
Although it wasn’t a long-term commitment, my work primarily involved cultivating and harvesting enoki mushrooms. Our day began early, gathering in front of the refrigerator at 5:50 a.m. We would perform warm-up exercises before starting our tasks.
エノキ茸は２～３度の冷蔵庫の中で育ちます。だから、自分達の作業もその冷蔵庫の中での作業になるのですが、冬場などはその冷蔵庫の中が暖かく感じるくらい周りが寒いんです。自分がいたのは群馬の山奥での作業だったので、11月くらいになると10センチ以上雪が積もります。
Enoki mushrooms thrive in temperatures ranging from 2 to 3 degrees Celsius, so our work took place inside a refrigerated facility. Surprisingly, during the winter, the warehouse felt warmer compared to the chilling temperatures outside. Since I was situated in the remote mountains of Gunma, by November, we would often have over 10 centimeters of snowfall.
自分が住んでいたのは、隙間のたくさん開いてるプレハブハウスだったので、本当に寒かった。寝てる間は一日中、暖房をつけておくのですが、暖房も灯油で自分で灯油を補給させるのでそれが無くなれば当然に暖房が消えてしまいます。寝てる間に灯油がなくなれば最悪です。
The prefabricated house I resided in had numerous gaps, which made it incredibly cold. Even though I kept the heater on throughout the night, there were times when we had to refill the fuel ourselves. If the oil ran out, the heater would naturally shut off, making for an uncomfortable and chilly experience during sleep.
朝方、寒くて本当に布団から出れません。そんな中での作業ですが、基本的に体を動かしているので作業中はあまり寒さは感じません。ただ、少し休むと汗が冷えて凄く寒さを感じます。
Mornings were particularly challenging as it was hard to leave the warmth of the futon. However, once we began working and kept our bodies in motion, we didn’t feel the cold as much. Nonetheless, taking a break would cause the sweat on our bodies to cool rapidly, leading to a severe sense of coldness.
コンビニは車で20分、駅までは車で40分の場所にあるのですが、冬場は路面も凍っているために慣れるまでは絶対に車は運転できません。スタットレスを履いていても慣れていても本当に危ない。しょっちゅうハンドルが効かなくなって、車で山道を転げ落ちる人がいるようです。
Convenience stores were a 20-minute drive away, while the nearest train station was a 40-minute drive. During winter, with icy road conditions, driving was an absolute no-go until one became accustomed to it. Even with studded tires and experience, it remained perilous. I heard stories of cars losing control and tumbling down the mountain due to steering failure.
それだけの条件の中で仕事をしようなんていう変わり者はそうはいません。大抵が何らかの事情があって逃げてきたり事情を抱えている人がほとんどです。自分がいた時には特にそうだったのかもしれません。刑務所出、少年院出、会社を倒産させた人、借金で逃げた人そして自分の５人です。
Undoubtedly, it takes a certain type of individual to willingly work under such conditions. Most people who ended up in these circumstances had some kind of personal issue or reason that led them to escape or seek refuge. During my time there, it seemed to be the case for many. I met individuals who had been released from prison, juvenile detention centers, those who had bankrupted companies, escaped from debt, and the five of us in the crew.
私は、その当時はまだ脳出血の後遺症のために精神的にも弱っていたので、自然に囲まれたところでの生活と（とても失礼な事を言いますが）駄目な奴と思える人間もいて、いいリハビリになったかもしれません。ただ、始めのうちは良い感じに生活をしていたのですが、色々な事がおこり出したので辞めました。
At that time, I was still mentally weakened due to the aftereffects of a cerebral hemorrhage. Living in a place surrounded by nature and being in the company of what some may consider “less successful” individuals might have served as a positive form of rehabilitation for me, despite my frank assessment. However, as various issues began to arise, I eventually decided to quit.
そんな生活でも週１回の休みの日には片道二時間以上かけて前橋などの少し栄えた街へ出て、温泉に入ったり、駅前のスナックで近所の方と話したりで、そこそこ楽しいと思える事もありました。
Even in such a lifestyle, on our weekly day off, we would make a journey of over two hours to slightly more prosperous towns like Maebashi. There, we would indulge in hot springs and engage in conversations with locals at snack bars near the train station. These moments added a touch of enjoyment to our lives.
