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1. When was the last time you bumped into someone from your past? Who were they and how and when did you first know them? Where were you when you bumped into them? What were you doing? Did you talk to that person? If yes, about what? If no, why not?
2. Are you married or in a relationship? If yes, how did you meet your partner? Who approached who? What did you say? If you are not married or not in a relationship, tell us about how you started a new friendship (either recently or as a child)?
3. Tell us about a time when you saw a famous person? What happened? If you have never seen a famous person, who would you most like to share an elevator with? Why? Would you have the courage to say anything? What would you say?
4. Are you are student or do you have a job? If you are a student, what do you study? If you have or have had a job, what do/did you do? If you are a student, how did you find your college/school/course? If you are/were in a job, how did you find it? Are you glad you took that job or chose that school? Why?
5. Tell us about a small coincidence, happening or happenstance that has changed your life in unexpected ways (other than meeting your partner, choosing your college or finding your old or current job).
6. Do you believe in fate? Why?

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Question 1

I saw one of my old drinking friends in Saidaiji Station a few weeks ago. We originally met in the gym near the station back in 2009 or 2010. We were happy to see one another, but we were both in a hurry because our trains were coming. So, we didn't talk much.

Question 2

I am married. We have been married over ten years and we dated for about five years before the wedding. We were introduced by a mutual friend. The friend invited us both over to her house for dinner. She had to do that three times before I finally got the hint and asked Chitose on a date.

Question 3

I once met Bob 'The Beast' Sapp. He was the special guest at a spicy nabe party being hosted by a pro wrestling friend of mine, in Kobe. The Beast was a VERY nice man. He spoke to, signed autographs for, and posed for pictures with everyone at the party - and also every member of the kitchen staff - before he sat down to eat. After he finished eating, he spoke to me for a long time about weight lifting and training. I have met a number of famous wrestlers and fighters since moving to Japan, including Bob Sapp, Masa Chono, Atsushi Onita, and Akira Hokuto. Without exception, they were very kind and friendly to me.

Question 4

I have a job here at English-Please! I found out about this job on facebook.

Question 5

The second time we came to Japan, my wife booked a hotel in Nara because we wanted to go to Uji City and hotels in Uji are too expensive. By accident, she booked the Super Hotel near Shin Omiya station instead of the one near JR Nara Station. That night, we went out to an izakaya near the hotel and had a very good time. Later, when we were deciding where to live in Japan, I suggested that the Shin Omiya area in Nara might be a good place to live. We have now been living in Nara for over ten years.

Question 6

I am never entirely sure whether I believe in fate or luck... I prefer to believe that we have freedom of choice and some degree of agency in our own life... but on the other hand, I think that I have always been very lucky and some things in my life certainly feel like they were meant to happen. Maybe life works through some kind of combination of fate, luck, and choice.

Tough Vocabulary

- English -	- Japanese -
mutual friend	共通の友人