ウガンダの印象 -First Impression in Uganda-

こんにちは！ウガンダに来て約10日間が過ぎました!!

現在はウガンダの首都、カンパラで研修を受けています。
研修はどんなことをしてるかというと、ウガンダの文化や歴史、健康管理、それからルガンダ語という現地の言葉も勉強しています。先日は、現地の日本大使館、外務省、財務省を訪問しました。自分の場合は赴任先が病院になりますので、これから保健省にも訪問予定です。

ウガンダは、本当に興味深い国です。想像通り黒人がほとんどを締め、走っている車のほとんどが日本製です。日本語表記がそのまま残っている車もよく見ます。〇川急便とか、〇〇スポーツとか。
その割には自分たちの姿を見つけると、「ニーハオ」と言って中国語で挨拶してきます。「俺は日本人だ！」というと、「ゴメンごめん」と謝ってきます。人懐っこい性格をしていますが、礼儀も正しい、そんな印象です。

それから、オシャレな人が多いです。ウガンダはほぼ赤道沿いに位置しますので、雨季と乾季しか存在ぜず、今は暑い日々が続いています。しかし、Tシャツとサンダルなんて人はあまり見掛けません。ほとんどの男性が襟付きのシャツを着ていて、革靴。女性は美しい色の布を纏った民族衣装を着ています。

黒い肌とオシャレな衣装、そして道に広がる赤い土に色が映えていて美しい景観です。

一番気にしていた水や食べ物は、今のところ問題ありません。小さな濾過器を持ってきましたが、お店でミネラルウォーターを購入すれば問題なく飲めますし、滞在先の寮は、シャワーも毎日普通に浴びれます。停電は頻繁に起き、電気が使えないことはありますが、ほとんど問題ありません。
ウガンダはアフリカの内陸ですが、ビクトリア湖が存在するために自然も豊かです。昨年滞在していたフィリピンと同じような果物を食べることができ、もちろん、魚や肉、野菜も食べることができます。主食は芋と米です。また徐々に紹介していきます。

2月に入ったら研修を終えて、いよいよ赴任先での生活が始まります。赴任先は、首都カンパラから約140km南西に移動した、マサカという地域に行きます。
現在とまた環境が変化して行きますが、臨機応変に、生きがいを感じられるように、有意義な時間を過ごしたいと思います。

Ichimasa

Almost 10 days has been passed since I arrived in Uganda!!
Nowadays, I'm receiving intensive training in capital of Uganda, Kampala.
I'm studing about Uganda's culture, history, how to manage my health condition, and local language, Luganda.

I visited to the Embassy of Japan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Finance in order to greet each important persons.
Since I'll work in a hospital as a medical instruments engineer, I'm going to visit the Ministry of Health, too.

Uganda is a very interesting country for me.
Most of the people has a black skin, there are so many Japanese cars. It's just how I'd pictured them!
I usually see a lot of cars which had Japanese characters on their body such as 〇〇company, 〇〇Sports.

However, when I met Ugandan people, they always said to me "Nihao!" so I said, "I'm Japanese" then, they apologized to me about their fault. Not only are they very friendly, but also I think they have good manners.

In addition, they have a good sense of fashion. Uganda is located right on the equator, so it is a very hot weather area.There are two kinds of seasons, the rainy and dry, but almost nobody is wearing T-shirts and sandal.
Most of men are wearing a shirt with collar and leather shoes. And most of women are wearing a brightly colored clothe like ethnic costume. Black skin, fashionable costume, and red sand around the road. They are wonderful scenery.

The first in my thought, water and food. There is no problem at all. I brought a filter of water before I came to here, but always I can get a bottle of water. I can take a shower whenever I want in the dormitory where I live. But, I suffered from power outage frequently, so I sometimes wasn't able to be power supply.

Even though Uganda is a inland, there is a lake Victoria in the southern part of Uganda.
Therefore, there are abundant nature as the Philippines which I stayed last year.
Of course I can eat fish, meat and vegetables. The principal foods are potato and rice. I'll introduce them other chance.I'll have many kinds of delicious food for next 2 years.

In february, I'm going to my work place after finished my training. I'll start my new life.
About 140 kilometers outside from Kampala to my work place which is Masaka district.
Even though my life will change little by little, I'll be depending on the circumstances and have a profitable time with people around me.

I'm really excited about it.
See you again.

Ichimasa