I : Is malaria a serious problem in Mali?
M : Yes, I myself caught malaria. It was the first rainy
season after I arrived in Mali. A young man I knew
took me to the hospital 27 km away on his moped. A
cold, strong wind was blowing. He was quite worried
about my health because I had a high fever and was
very weak. Later I found out that he himself had
malaria at that time!
I : That's a very touching story.
M : Yes, I'll never forget his kindness. And I learned an
important lesson ---- as human beings, we are all the
same. We all have similar feelings. I found myself
encouraged by this experience. After that, I really
wanted to continue my work in Mali.
I : What other activities do you organize these days?
M : After some time, I realized the importance of
entertainment as well. We now organize soccer games
for the children. Soccer is very popular in Mali.
I love to see the happy faces of the children arriving
at the soccer field. Some of them come in carts pulled
by donkeys.
After the game, eating rice together is also a big treat
for them because they rarely get to eat rice.
I : What has been most difficult for you?
M : The most difficult thing for me was to adjust my
standards to their standards. Take sewing, for instance.
I usually measure every part of a dress ---- such
as the sleeve length ---- for a perfect fit, but most women
in Mali don't care if the sleeves fit perfectly or not.
I : Could you tell us something you've learned through
your activities in Mali?
M : I've learned to interact with everyone in an honest
manner. When I have to scold someone, I often shout
at them, but on sad occasions, I cry with them, and on
happy occasions, I share great joy with them.
I : You've had a lot of unique experiences. Would you
like to say something to Japanese high school students?
M : Please don't believe you live in the center of the world.
Learn a lot about different countries. Then, you'll be
able to understand Japan and other countries much
better. Lastly, I would like to say it's important that
you always have a dream to follow.
