A: 私の名前はアキコ。29歳。実は６年間勤めた会社を辞めたばっかり。みんなには何で？　って聞かれるけど…、何て言ったらいいんだろう。うまく言えないな。何か新しいことにチャレンジしてみたい、っていうのが今の気持ちかな。

それで、３ヶ月の間、ホームステイ留学をすることにしました。学生の頃にも留学したことあるんだけど、今回は何と、アイルランドに行くことに決めました。初めてなんだよね、すごく楽しみ。アイルランドはヨーロッパからの留学生も多いから、いろいろな国の人の英語が聞けるっているし、英語に磨きをかけるにはいいと思うな。前の留学先は日本人が多くて、みんなで怠けちゃったりしたけど、アイルランドは日本人は少ないって言うし、その心配はなさそう。それにダブリンには友達のパトリックもいるんだよね。会えるの楽しみだな。

さて、あと一週間でいよいよ出発。ちゃんと準備始めなきゃ。ええっと、パスポートはどこに置いたんだっけ…。あ、あった。ガイドブックも…。

P: （PHONE FROM DUBLIN）Hello there, Miss Dublin-san.

A: Oh, Patrick, I can't be a Dublin girl yet – I am still in Tokyo!

P: One more week...

A: Yes, one more week...

P: What's the matter – you sound a bit down...

A: No, no, I'm fine.（うーん、本当は少しナーバスなんだけど）

P: Listen, you don't have to worry about a thing, seriously. Everyone is real open and friendly here.

A: I, I know. It's just a big step...but I'm looking forward to it, really.

P: Well, I was just telling my friend Cashell about you.

A: Is that the songwriter you told me about?

P: Yup, we were having the craic in the pub last night...I was telling him about you.

A: Uh-oh – what did you explain? And what's the craic?

P: You'll find out all about the craic when you get here – but don't worry, it's a good thing!

A: So, what did you tell Cashell?

P: I said you were really sound, and easy to talk to.

A: Oh! Patrick, that's really nice of you to say.

P: Well, it's true. Now, I'm planning to take you to Temple Bar Weekend Market.

A: Oh, that's great, I really love natural food. I just read in the guidebook about St. James' Gate – I heard there's free beer at the end.

P: Yeah, it's at the highest point in Dublin too...I think you'll like it, it's pretty romantic at sunset.

A: Oh, that sounds like fun!

P: And then I'll take you a little bit outside of the city to Wicklow. It's really scenic and beautiful. It's near a tiny Mt. Fuji called the Sugarloaf.

A: Oh, I saw a picture of it in my guidebook.

P: And we've got to take the Viking Tour.

A: The Viking Tour?

P: Yes, it's Dublin by land and sea, and I'll tell you no more.

A: Oh, now I really can't wait to go.

P: Brilliant – oh, listen, the other phone's ringing, gotta run. I'll see you at the airport next week.

A: Okay. See you next week. Bye.

P: （answers phone）Hiya Cashell.

C: （PHONE IN DUBLIN）How's it going Patrick?

P: Just talked to Akiko – she was getting a bit nervous.

C: Ah, sure, she'll love it when she gets here. When's she getting in?

P: I'm collecting her at the airport on the twenty-third.

C: Hang on a second, isn't that the same night as the ceili?

P: Oh no, I forgot all about that – okay, let me call her back and find out if she's up for coming.

（BACK IN TOKYO）

A: Hi Patrick, is everything okay?

P: Yeah, grand. I just wanted to check 2 things: you're definitely staying with the O'Briens, right?

A: Yes, the retired couple - they will be my host family. Mr. O'Brien is a friend of yours right? Is anything wrong?（あれ、何かあったのかな。この間電話で話した感じでは優しそうないい人たちだったけど…）

P: Don't worry! Nothing's wrong, I just wanted to check. Now, one last question – I want to take you to a ceili, it's a kind of traditional dancing session. It's really easy to learn and it's a lot of fun. Think you'll be up for it? Mr. O'Brien will pick you up from the dance and take you to your new home.

A: Oh! Oh...well, of course, I'll be glad to go.（ケーリーか。長いフライトの後で疲れていると思うけど、すごい面白そう。うん、やっぱり楽しまなきゃ。そのためにアイルランドに行くんだし）