Looking for a Wonderful Encounter in a Globalized Society!

Before coming into contact with another culture, we tend to be anxious and sometimes have preconceived notions about it.
However, when we are exposed to a foreign culture, we are often anxious and sometimes have preconceived notions about it. and you feel the joy of having gained knowledge of a different culture.
It is important to seek encounters in order to be exposed to different cultures with different values, traditions, and customs, and to respect each other, and to be blown by such a refreshing breeze.

Japan is known as a globalized society.
If I recall, I am one of the foreigners who have lived in Japan for a long time.
When I first came to Japan, I could only speak a few words of Japanese, and I always felt uneasy and doubtful.
I am still not fluent in Japanese, but I secretly hope that I will have a wonderful encounter to broaden my world view.

First of all, please listen to my story of a wonderful encounter.

One Monday morning in the fall of the year before last, in a slightly cool breeze, I rode the elevator at the station with an old man.
In the elevator, I was struck by the old man's hat, which he was wearing with all kinds of colorful badges. It was a brilliantly bright hat with all sorts of colorful badges on it.
A few days later, when I met the old man still in the same elevator, I said to him, "That's a nice hat.
With a big smile on his face, he showed me his family crest badge, one of his favorite five major Japanese crests.
He also showed me the design of each of the five major crests.
For a year since then, I have met my grandfather every Monday and Thursday at the elevator without fail.
He showed me the front page of the newspaper, which had a report on the blooming of the plum trees, which he had made himself, and his calligraphy works. All of his works are wonderful.
He talked to us in an interesting way about his hobbies, weather, economics, politics, and many other things.
We became "elevator best friends" after about two minutes of standing around talking after getting on and off the elevator.

A year later, my work hours suddenly shifted and I could no longer see my grandfather.
I will never forget the way he said to me, "Don't run, I'll be waiting for you," as he kept pushing the elevator's open button while I was constantly running to see him back then.
What I gained from this elevator encounter enriched my heart.

From now on, I hope to see that old man again, and I hope to have many wonderful encounters with him.