肉牛さんへ「Ｄear Ｂeef Ｃattle Ｆrom Ｎana」
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第８回岡山県高校生英語レターコンテストにおいて､園芸科学科１年大古田奈々さんが､堂々の第２位“優秀賞”
を獲得しました。
９月に旭東地区の予選審査会があり､大古田さんと岡山白陵高生の計２作文が､旭東地区から選出されました｡
そして県内各地区から選ばれた作品が、岡山県審査会により審査され、大古田さんは１年生でありながら、見事
第２位を獲得しました。 昨年は園芸科学科３年の松田竜児君（卒業生）が、 スイカ栽培を題材にした 「ほお晴れ
ＢＪ」で“入賞”となりましたが、大古田さんは先輩の順位を上回りました。
高校生英語レターコンテストは、 自分の思いを英語で手紙にしたためるコンテストです。 大古田さんの手紙は、
『肉牛さんへ』で始まります。 きっかけは、１９９８年、小学生の時、津山市の祖父母宅近くにあるノースヴィレッジ
で飼われていた「元気くん」という牛を見に行き、その牛の綺麗な目に感動したのが、牛との最初の出合いだそう
です。
当時発生した大型台風によって河川が氾濫し大洪水となり､多くの牛が川に流され､何キロも下流にある河口で
発見され生き残ったのが、この元気くんだけだったそうです。その時、命の美しさを実感したそうです。
中学生になり、家の手伝いとして家族に夕食を作った時、牛肉としての牛を意識し始めました。そして瀬戸南高
校に入学し､農場で毎朝出会う牛を見て､牛は将来食べられるという自分の運命を知っているのだろうか。自分は
その牛を食べているのに、 それに見合う生き方ができているのかを自問自答するようになったと手紙に書きまし
た。
審査員によれば､農業高校生ならではの“日々命と向き合う”､オリジナリティのある手紙だったと評されました｡
入賞おめでとう。次は、優勝目指してまたチャレンジしてください。
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平成２５年１１月２７日（水）
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左から、山村教頭、私、大古田さん、そして小西、大森、権代、浮田の英語担当教員
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表彰状と副賞
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手 紙 の 原 文
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Dear Beef Cattle,
From Nana
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岡山県立瀬戸南高等学校
１年 大古田 奈々
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Dear beef cattle,
Hello! How are you doing? I'm writing to you now because I would like to express my gratitude
to you.
When I first met one of your “living” friends, I was an elementary school student. On that day,
my grandparents took me to a park where you lived. I remember you,“Genki-kun”. In October,
1998, Okayama was hit by Typhoon No.10. About 20 calves at a ranch in Tsuyama City were
carried away to the Seto Inland Sea by a terrible flood. Genki-kun, you were the only one that
made a miraculous return. Then you became famous as a“miracle calf”. Do you know how much
we were moved and encouraged by your return? I think that your big clear eyes have taught me
the beauty of life.
When I was a junior high school student, I started to think about you, beef cattle. Ｉ became
interested in cooking and often made dinner for my family. Through those cooking experiences,
I began to recognize you as a “food” this time. Everyone loves you, delicious beef ! As beef,
you have changed in appearance beyond all recognition. You used to be a big, strong and
beautiful cow like “Genki-kun”. Now, I realize that you have two faces, right? As an animal,
you are so charming that many people love you. On the other hand, we also love to eat you as
food. It is very ironic, isn’t it? What do you think about your destiny?
Now, I am an agricultural high school student and meet you every day at school. I have more
opportunities to think about you. When our eyes meet at the school stables, I often feel
embarrassed. Can you read my mind? I sometimes feel as if you were asking me questions
such as “Do you human beings take care of us just because you want to fatten us and eat us
in the end?” and “Are you just pretending to be our friend?”. I’m afraid that I can’t answer
those questions well enough. I wonder how you feel about human beings.
We must realize and appreciate that you have sacrificed yourself in order to give us life. It is
true that we depend on you. I have asked myself many times if I’m worth the price you paid
for me. Do you think that I deserve your sacrifice? It is necessary for me to thank you from
the bottom of my heart. Life is like a relay race, isn’t it? I took the baton you passed me and
have kept running with all my might. Your life that I ate one day has become a part of me.
Yes! You are still in my insides and cheering me up. I will never forget meeting you at the cow
barn in Setominami High School . You have taught me the splendor of life.
Thank you very much.
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Yours sincerely,
Nana
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