I went to Kyoto with Hippo yesterday.
We met Hippo's friend who had played rugby with Hippo in high school's club and his wife.
I met them for the first time. They live in Kyoto. But They are leaving for Gunma soon.
We talked a lot of things.
I have a episode which is the most interesting for me in our talking.
That is I wrote on the title,
"What is the best foreign assistance?"
Acctually,I read a book that is wrote by Aki Nakamura.
The title is "Morning of impara".
This is one of the most favorite books for me.
She traveled around Eurasia and Africa alone.
When she stayed in Africa, she talked with local people.
She said, in the book,
She thinks it's so difficult to promote the development of these countries.
Because it's not nessesary for them that peaple in Japan think we have to send some
money for something.
The something has a lot of meanings.
For example, for poor peaple, for children who can't study in school, for business,
for growth of economy.......
Some local people don't want to have help from foreign countries like Japan.
They feel comfortable about their life.
They dont want to change.
Of course, it's not all.
When I read this book, I was shocked.
I didnt know they have that idea.
In Japan, some associations are acting for them. Not only associations but also companies.
They are thinking about business to employ local people who cant get a job.
How many people do they know these things?
I didnt think many people know that.
And then, Hippo's friend talked to us like that.
He went to Cambodia many times. He talked with local people.
He said that like Aki Nakamura.
When you bought something in convenience store, you throw in money into collection box on the counter?
If you throw in money into collection box, do you know the goal of money?
He said "Local people who really want to do something couldnt get these money."
Some place got something,for example a well, and made them happy.
But it's not right assistance.
In this case, just got. Of course, good thing for them.
But if the well is broken, they won't try to repair the well.
Why?
It's just got.
If they thought hard the way to make the well in theier villege, and really really want to make that,
when that is broken they definitely try to repair.
I thought it's really important point.
It's so hard to me about explain this episode.
But we spent really interesting time.