Last night, a long-lost acquaintance from my past, T.M., appeared in my dream.
I can't even recall how long it has been since I last saw him. Perhaps already long enough for him to have forgotten about me?
Well, even if he has, I will always hold him and his warm heart dearly in my memories.
The shattered expectations
As someone who has self-taught Japanese, having someone willing to help me practice means a great deal to me.
That's why I decided to pursue an internship at a Japanese company during my college years, hoping for an opportunity to improve my Japanese language skills.
However, I soon realized I couldn't have been more mistaken.
No one in that company showed interest in conversing with me in Japanese, as it was clear to them that I had only recently started learning the language and my proficiency was far from perfect.
Instead, they chose to communicate with me in English.
In hindsight, I understand their perspective. In a professional setting, time is valuable, and miscommunication can be costly.
It became evident that the company was not an ideal environment for language practice, a realization that dawned on me after I joined as an intern.
At that point, I started to regret my decision until T.M. entered the picture.
His kind-heartedness brightened my day every day
As a graduate of Waseda University in Japan, T.M. had an excellent command of English.
Given the renowned reputation of Waseda University graduates for their strong English proficiency, it came as no surprise to me that T.M. could speak English fluently with minimal accent.
Although he wasn't obligated to speak Japanese with me, he willingly did so.
The sense of joy and gratitude I experienced during those moments was indescribable.
As he wasn't my direct supervisor, our conversations were limited to daily interactions.
However, that was more than enough for me because he was the only person willing to engage in Japanese conversation with me, despite my flawed grammar and limited vocabulary.
Each time he returned from Japan, he would bring gifts for everyone, and he never failed to remember me as well.
Being remembered was always heartwarming, especially for someone like me who was often overlooked.
The kindness that stayed the same
I knew that after completing my internship, I would no longer have the opportunity to see him in person.
So, on the final day of my internship at that company, I mustered the courage to ask for his email address.
In the evening, I sent him an email expressing my heartfelt gratitude for taking care of me during my time there.
Despite my somewhat shaky proficiency, I wrote the email in Japanese. And to my surprise, the next day I received a reply from him, also written in Japanese!
It was my first-ever email I received written in Japanese!
Even now, when I remember that day, I can't help but smile like a fool.
From that moment onward, we began exchanging emails in Japanese. Our discussion covered a range of topics, and I learned many new things from him.
T.M. seemed to possess a wealth of knowledge about life and often gave me valuable advice when I asked for it.
He sometimes also graciously corrected my Japanese and provided better-written sentences, a kindness I think I would never see from someone unless they were a sensei.
An unexpected incident
One day, shortly after our last email exchange, my email was hacked, and I lost access to it.
Unfortunately, I couldn't retrieve the emails that contained his corrections, which I had intended to cherish.
I deeply regretted this loss, knowing there was nothing I could do to recover them.
I informed him about the email hacking using a new email address, and we continued exchanging emails again like usual.
However, as time went on, our correspondence gradually faded as both of us became preoccupied with our own busy lives.
Eventually, we stopped corresponding with each other at some point.
He has changed my view on the world
It has been a while since then, and I'm uncertain if the email address I received from him is still active.
Should I try reaching out to him again?
Hmmm... perhaps it would be better if I meet him directly one day.
I want to express my gratitude in person and let him know that because of his kindness, I can now speak Japanese reasonably well and enjoy reading my favorite manga or other Japanese materials and watching anime with greater ease.
I want him to know that he has truly changed my life and my perspective on the world by showing me that there are still kind-hearted people like him out there.
I sincerely hope for the opportunity to make a similar positive impact on others who deserve it.
People like T.M. are truly rare to come by. Most of the people I've encountered so far are those who look down on those without social status or wealth, only engaging with you when they need something.
I've grown accustomed to being overlooked and looked down upon, but I am determined not to treat others the same way when I reach the top one day.
Not only do I understand how it feels to be treated in such a manner, but above all else, I don't want to become like those whom I despise so much.
If only there were more people like T.M., the world would certainly be a better place to live in.
I bet he really had no idea how his sincere kindness transformed my entire world, did he?
Anyway, it’s a beautiful dream after all. I wish to see him again in my other dreams.