イギリスと日本のハーフの子（English and Japanese version）

The English version can be found below.

今回は、私が留学中に出会った、イギリスと日本のハーフの子について書こうと思う。
まず、イギリスに到着してから、初めて会話したのが（駅員さんとか学校の関係者とか除く）その子だった。部屋に到着して、ロンドンの街並みが見える景色の壮大さに一通り一人で声をあげて驚いた後、歯磨き粉を買いに行くために外に出た。エレベーターを廊下で待ってたら、部屋があるfloorの方のドアが開いて、日本人離れした子が出てきた。その当時は、挨拶の仕方とかよくわかんなかったから、どうしようどうしようと心で思ってた。そして、初めて同年代の外国の子と英語で話すかもと身構えたのを今でも覚えてる。

お互い様子見でHi~と言い合った。
そこで、その子が様子見ながら、流暢な英語でAre you Japanese?と聞いてきたから、I amと答えると、私日本人とイギリス人のハーフ！って日本語で話し始めたもんだから、そこから緊張が一気にほぐれたのを覚えてる。

そこから、その子と隣の部屋だったこともあり、キッチンも共同で使用してるもんだから関わりが増えていった。

その子は何といっても、まっすぐだった。なんていうか、ズバッと言い切る。例え、言いにくいことでも、空気が悪くなっても。
空気を読めないとかそういうんじゃなくて、問題とか会話の本質を捉えるために、取り繕わず、言い切るという子だった。

他にも、自分の譲れない点をわかってる子だった。そしてその通りに行動する子だった。譲れない点ってさ、ときどき、特定の人にとって感じが悪い言葉にもなり得たりするんだけど、それでも、自分が思う正しさを発信してそれに常に基づいて行動してたなと思う。

相手、そのときの空気、社会が求めることを言おうとしたり、インダイレクトによく会話を進める傾向がある自分は、何度も、驚かされたというか、学ばなきゃなって思わされた。

そして愛に溢れた人だった。UK出身の母の基で育ったからかどうかはわからないけど、すっっごい家族、友達想いだった。友達が困っていたら助けるという精神が常にあって、すごい世話を焼いてくれた。

今となっては、よく夕食終わりごろに、その子が私のドアをノックして、みさねえ～余ったんだけどこれ食べる～？って伝えに来てくれた日々が本当に恋しい。

今は、その子すごい頑張ってるみたいで、陰ながら、その子を思いつつ自分も頑張らなきゃなと思ってる。

English ver.
I would like to write about my friend who is half of Japanese and British that I met in the UK. The first person that I've met in the UK was her except of staffs at train stations and university. After being suprised by picturesque view of London city outside the window in my small room for a while, I went out of my room to buy a tooth paste.

I was waiting the lift to come up in the corridor while the door to the floor where our each room is located suddenly opened and she came in.  
I remember that I was so nervous that I might talk in English for the first time with not Japanese but a girl who is probably the same age as me and from different countries. At that time, I did not really know how to greet in English, I mean I did not know what is the appropriate way and mannar so I was quite upset haha.

Judging from her face, I thought she wasn't Japanese and I said Hi~ to her. She also said Hi~ and then she said that "Are you Japanese?" I am, I replied. Then she started talking that I am half Japanese and half British in Japanese.  
I remember how the tension suddenly melted away from that point on.

Since our rooms were next to each other and we shared the kitchen, we often hanged out with each other.

She is ,above all, straightforward. It's hard to put into words but she said things directly. Even if it was something difficult to say or even if the atmosphere turn awkward. It wasn't about not understanding social cues. Ruther, she would express her thoughts without pretense in order to grasp the essence of issues and conversations.

Also, She would know her non-negotiable points and what is the most important and necessary to her.  And she takes actions in accordance with them.  Sometimes, remarks based on non-negotiable points might come across as off-putting to certain people, yet, she always refreshingly communicated what she believes was right and acted based on that.  

Seeing how I often tried to navigate the conversation by considering what others think, societal expectation and the atmosphere, I was repeatedly surprised or I should say, I felt compelled to learn from her.

And she is the person who is full of love. Perhaps, it is because of the influence of her British-born and raised mother, but she is incredibly family and friends-oriented. I remember she has always the sprit of helping out friends in need and actually took great care of her friends including me.

Looking back now, I truly miss those days when she would knock my door, saying, "Hey, I've got some leftovers, do you want to have some?"  

At present, it seems like she is doing really well and I find myself thinking about her in my mind, while also feeling motivated to work on my things.