Though it was joint event with KALAKASAN from Kawasaki, suprisingly, we had 105 participants all, which was biggest-ever number of participants.

さて、いちご狩りは、1150円で、30分食べ放題です。某テレビで、80個食べないと元は取れないというのを見ました。みんな頑張りましたが、なんせこの気候でビニールハウスの中ですから、皆、暑さで(苺もぬるい、ホットな苺となっています）例年のギネス級(200個台）ほど食べた強者はいなかったようです。

We could pick and eat strawberry as much as we like for 30 minitues for 1,150 yen. According to one TV. program, we will lose money if we cannot eat more than 80 pieces of strawberry. We tried hard to eat a lot but it was so hot in a plastic greenhouse that no one could eat Guinness-worthy 200 pieces of strawberry last year.

いちご狩りの後は、これも恒例の津久井浜の海岸での海遊び。フィリピンの海ほど美しくはなくとも、海は、海！！楽しみました。特に子どもたちは、泳ぐにはまだまだ寒いものの、全身砂まみれ、びしょぬれになってエキサイトしていました。

After picking and eating strawberry, we enjoyed eating lunch and playing on the Tsukuihama beach. The beach and sea were not so beautiful as in the Philippines, especially most of children were wet being excited to play on the beach even though it was still a little bit cold to swim.

そして、恒例のゲーム、パン食い競争ならぬ、菓子食い競争を砂浜でして盛り上がりました。

We also enjoyed playing game, eating snaks on the beach.

そもそもGWにいちご狩りイベントを企画したのは、なかなかレジャーに行くチャンスがない母子家庭に、せっかくのGWに、なにか思い出に残る楽しいことをということで始まったこのいちご狩りですが、でも、やはり、お金がなくて、家族分の交通費、いちご狩り代が工面できず、参加をあきらめた家族がいたことは、私達にとってもとてもつらいことでした。

The reason why we annually plan to have strawberry picking event during golden week is because most of single mothers families does not have chance to enjoy travelling and their leisure time during golden week because of their financial problem and thier job. We just want them to have good memories with their children, families, and friends. However, sad to say, some members could not come because of their financial problems.

例年、可能な範囲で、非公式にスポンサーを集めたりもしていますが、なかなか難しいのが現実です。やはり今後は、助成金などをとって全母子が負担少なく参加できるようにするのも今後の課題に感じています。

We try to ask donation for them so that all of families which want to join us, but it is very hard to collect funds for all of them. We have to find any means so that every one can join our event without their burden.

さて今回も、ユースが何人か参加してくれました。
ユース同士の交流を、ビールを飲みながら（「こらー！！」、いや、いいんですよ、飲んだって、全然）楽しんでくれていたようです。

Now, some youth JFC members also joined us. They enjoyed drinking beer, eating “pulutan” and enjoyed having a talk each other. (※ok lang iyon, kahit uminom kayo eh basta, nakakaingit lang)

帰り際に、聞かれました。
「次のイベントはいつですか？子どもの国ですか？！！！」

They asked us, “Kailan ba ang susunod na event? Sa Kodomonokuni ba tayo?!”

一緒に、ビール飲んで（「こらー！！」、しつこい。単にうらやましかっただけです）タガログで話をする、そんな機会があるのもいいなと思った次第です。

It is also very good opportunity for them to have chance to drink beer each other and having a talk together with Tagalog. (※pasensya kayo, ha, makulit kami, ok lang iyon kahit umiinom kayo eh basta ingit lang).

それでは、みなさま、次のイベントまで仕事に勉強に、頑張りましょう！　またみんなに会えるのを楽しみにしています♪

Let’s try hard to work and study until we can see again by the next event. We are looking forward to seeing you again!