Describe a person whom you were surprised to meet
You should say:
- Who this person was
- Where and when you unexpectedly met them
- What you talked about or did together
- and explain why this meeting was surprising to you.
Sample Answer
One person I was truly surprised to meet was my high school English teacher, Mr. John. It had been nearly ten years since I last saw him, so our unexpected encounter felt almost unreal.
I met him last year while I was on a business trip to Hanoi. After arriving, I decided to stop by a cozy café near Hoan Kiem Lake to relax for a bit. As I was ordering my coffee, I noticed a familiar figure sitting in the corner, deeply engrossed in a book. At first, I hesitated, unsure if it was really him, but the moment he spoke to the barista, I instantly recognized his voice.
Curious and excited, I approached him and introduced myself. To my surprise, he remembered me right away! We ended up having a long and meaningful conversation, reminiscing about my school days and catching up on life. He asked about my career, and I shared my journey into software development. In return, he told me he had recently retired and was now enjoying traveling and writing. We also talked about how education had changed over the years, especially with the rise of technology.
What made this meeting so surprising was that I had always imagined him staying in my hometown, continuing his life as a dedicated teacher. Seeing him in a completely different setting, pursuing new passions, and embracing change so openly was truly eye-opening. It reminded me how life is full of unexpected twists, and how people continue to grow and evolve in ways we might never anticipate.
Highlighted Vocabulary:
- Truly surprised – really unexpected or shocking
- Encounter – an unexpected meeting
- Cozy café – a small and comfortable coffee shop
- Engrossed in – deeply focused on something
- Hesitated – paused before making a decision
- Reminiscing – talking about past memories
- Catching up on – updating each other on recent events
- Pursuing – following or working toward something
- Embracing change – accepting new experiences positively
- Eye-opening – surprising in a way that changes your perspective
