500 English Sentences
Scott sat looking out the window, watching a group of boys playing baseball in the school yard. Poor kids, he thought, they are the real losers in all of this. He looked down at a copy of 500 English Sentences and the endorsement letter on his desk. He glanced at the clock and realized that he had to have an answer for Mr. Honda within the hour.
He was feeling very frustrated and stressed from the events of the past 10 days. He decided that he would go to the karate school after work, something that always made him feel better. He sighed as he thought about what he had to do next
Scott
Scott was 26 years old and had been living in Japan for 18 months. He was born in
Auburn, Massachusetts, and had spent most of his life in the United States. Scott’s father was a successful entrepreneur who believed that hard work and good old-fashioned principles were the ingredients to success. He always taught his children to stand up for what they believed in and to never sacrifice their values in order to get ahead. Scott’s mother was a housewife who took care of the family home and the children. She loved to travel and encouraged Scott’s father to take the family abroad every year so that their children would have a better understanding of the world around them.
Scott was a very disciplined student. He was an English major and had been on the dean’s honor role for every semester throughout his four years at college. During his senior year, Scott worked as a teaching assistant, grading papers and tutoring students.
Scott started studying karate when he was a junior in high school. He enjoyed the physical workout and the disciplinary aspect of the sport and continued to train throughout his undergraduate years. By the time he was ready to graduate, Scott had earned a third-degree black belt.
It was through karate that I first became interested in Japan. I thought it would be enlightening to experience Japanese culture and