Free Announcer Aika Kanda Manatee and Himty Summer Vacation Travel Diary 3

A staggeringly huge body.

“Manatee!!” I couldn’t articulate the words since I had my snorkel in my mouth, but I was so surprised that I shouted out loud. It was so close. It dove right beneath me, almost touching my stomach. I instinctively raised both palms next to my face, thinking, Absolutely do not touch it! For a few seconds, I endured as the manatee blocked my view with its back, completely still.

As the manatee swam past and everyone followed, I stood there in a daze, overwhelmed by its size. I had thought it would be about the same size as my husband, but it was easily five times larger. While I was still in shock, I suddenly realized my feet were touching the bottom. (Huh!?) The water was only just over one meter deep. (With this shallowness, the manatee and I were up and down?! No wonder it felt so close!)

In the distance, I could see my friends chasing after the manatee. One person turned toward me and took off their goggles. It was my husband. He was likely worried that I wasn’t following. He sent me a “Good!” sign, and when I nodded, he resumed swimming with the manatee. I suddenly thought, My husband is surprisingly petite. Maybe it was because I had just seen the manatee. I usually felt like he was quite hefty, but maybe that wasn’t the case after all.

When we returned to the boat, my husband looked very satisfied. I no longer felt any lingering regret about not being able to go to the ballpark. When I smiled and said, “That was fun!” he responded with bright, boyish eyes, asking, “Where are we going next year!?” As I replied, “Where should we go?” I thought to myself, Life is indeed enjoyable with this person! under the clear blue sky of Florida.

His first book, “Where are you going on the road called Royal Road? is now on sale!

Aika Kanda, born in 1980 in Kanagawa Prefecture, graduated from the Faculty of Science, Department of Mathematics at Gakushuin University. She joined NHK as an announcer in 2003 and left the network in 2012 to become a freelance announcer. Since then, she has been active primarily in variety programs and is currently a regular main MC on the daytime show “Pokapoka” (Fuji Television Network).

From the October 18-25, 2024 issue of “FRIDAY