多賀あさひや

２月１９日（土曜日）２０２２

　２年半振りに米国に来ています。滋賀の田舎でほぼいつもと変わらず暮らしていた私ですが日本出国の際にコロナ禍で激変した現実を目の当たりにして愕然としました。

　先ず東京駅から成田へ向かう格安バスはいつもなら人が並んですぐに乗車が難しいのが出発したバスの中は３人。成田空港では航空会社のカウンターの多くが閉鎖されターミナル内は人がまばらで土産物やレストランのある２階もほとんどがシャッターを下ろして閑散とした状態。予め送っておいたスーツケースを取りに宅配サービスカウンターへ行くと、係の人がこの状態がもう２年も続いていて今日はまだ人がいるほうだと話してました。都心に近い羽田空港はこれ程酷くないでしょうが…。乗った飛行機も乗務員のほうが多そうなほど乗客が少なく、乗務員の皆さんがファーストクラス並みに丁寧に接客して下さるのでこちらが恐縮してしまうほど。聞けば乗務する方たちも仕事の機会が激減して別の会社などに出向することが多いとのこと。この日は本来の乗務に戻って水を得た魚のような心境だったのでしょう。疲弊した日本経済を目の当たりにしました。

　一方、途中寄港したホノルル空港は平常に戻っているとは言えないにしても人が多く活気もあり、乗り継いだ米国内の飛行機は８割から９割にちかい乗客数で皆がマスクをしている以外は以前と変わらない様子でした。

　さて早朝の空から見たボストンは雪景色で数時間前にいたホノルルとは全く違う世界。ー１０℃ぐらいの市内の川や近くの池はコチコチだったけど、今はそこまで寒くなく一安心。起きていても眠気があるのは１４時間の時差のせいでしょう。

    I am in the US for the first time in two years since I left. I have been living calmly almost the same as before the corona matter in the countryside, Shiga, and was very surprised to face the reality of the corona restrictions when I left.

    First, the bus which is from Tokyo Station to Narita Airport had only three people including me whereas usually people are lining up to get on the bus. At Narita Airport, most of the counters were closed and very few people were in the terminal. When I went up to the second floor where shops and restaurants were located, most of them were closed and the scenes were not lively at all and made me very sad. At the delivery counter where I needed to receive my suitcase which I sent to the airport beforehand, the person in charge said that the vacancy had been continuing for two years since covid-19 matter happened. After boarding the airplane, I knew that only a couple of people were in the cabin, which might have been less than crew members. Although I received very good service during the flight from every cabin attendant, I sympathize with them as it is now a rare opportunity for them to have their duties as flight attendants. I was also very concerned about this economic prostration in Japan due to the Covid-19.

    On the other hand, at Honolulu airport where I made a transfer, I saw many people walking lively there, although I guess it was not the same as usual. In the airplane which I transferred to Boston, nearly 80 % of the seats were filled, which seemed the same as before Covid-19 except everyone was wearing their masks.

    Well, I am now in Boston. When I arrived at Logan airport four days ago, the temperature and weather were very different from Honolulu. It was covered with snow and the temperature was −10℃. Even though I am transitioning into a normal life, I am still sleepy, maybe because of jet lag.