About half a year ago, I was asked to work for a few days from a municipality operating hospital on a small island located to the south of Kyushu. That island, Tanegashima, is badly off for doctors, and they wanted me to stay at the hospital for four days in July. They'll offer transportation expenses except my salary. The best thing was that I was able to see one of my old friends living on this island. I decided to accept this offer promptly and I was looking forward to the day.
Hearing the name of the island, average Japanese people recall the rocket launching site and guns. Tanegashima has two images of cutting-edge technologies and its glorious history. I'll write about my two weeks' trip to Tanegashima, which is called the closest island to the universe.
半年ほど前、九州の南に浮かぶ小さな島の病院から救援依頼が来た。元々医師の少ない島であるが、医師不足のため7月の半ばに4日ほど勤務して欲しいという。その島は種子島。給料をもらい、往復の運賃も支給される。そしてこの島には研修医時代に苦楽を共にした仲間がいる。彼らにも会いたい。即断した。そしてその日がやって来た。
種子島と聞いて平均的な日本人なら、ロケットと鉄砲を思い浮かべるだろう。最先端技術と古い歴史の同居する島。観光もしてみたい。しばらく、宇宙に一番近い島と言われる種子島の旅行記を綴っていく。
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