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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 went to the Thai festival at Osaka-Jo Koen. I bumped into a guy from San Franciso named Jim. He has been in Japan for 20 years. The last time that I met him was at a Hanshin Tigers game at Koshien Stadium. He didn't remember me at first, but we eventually remembered meeting before. This is very common for gaijin in Japan because there are so few of us, and we often go to the same places.

Question 2

Yes, I am married. My wife's name is Chihiro. She is from Osaka. She was studying photography in Boston when we met. It was totally by happenstance! We met at the supermarket at around 2:00 A.M. I was a bartender in Boston, so I often shopped in the early A.M. My wife asked me if I could reach something high on the shelf at the supermarket. I did, she was a little shy, but she asked me if I could tell her where she could buy Japanese products in Boston. My apartment was next to a Japanese/Korean market. The next day we met there and started hanging out, and shopping, cooking and going to concerts together. If this one moment didn't happen, I would never be living in Japan today!

Question 3

I have met many famous people. When I was bartending in the lower East of Manhattan I would see a famous person almost every weekend. The most surprising was Tom Cruise. He always portrays a strong character in his movies like "Mission Impossible", but he is a very short unassuming person. He is handsome, but you would never have guessed that he was a movie star!

Question 4

I'm an educator as you all know. I found this job on gaijinpot.com

Question 5

I've had many small coincidences good and bad. I think meeting my wife and getting married is by far the most pivotal.

Question 6

I do believe in fate. I have always let my life sort of happen, instead of trying to make big life decisions. If you let things happen, fate will take over

Tough Vocabulary

- English -	- Japanese -
pivotal	極めて重要
portrays	描写
shelf	棚
unassuming	控えめな