Secretary: Mr. Swan, Maki's here to see you.

Mr. Swan: Ok, go ahead and send her in. Thank you.

(Maki enters the room and the boss stands as she enters the office. As he greets Maki, he bows a few times while he speaks.)

Mr. Swan: Hello Maki, please have a seat. How are you doing? How have you been lately? Are you doing ok? Good, good. Everything going well with the company? Good, good. (Maki responds to his questions with an "aha" affirmative answer, as the boss gives her a reply always of "good, good." After each bow of the boss, Maki responds back with a bow for him. However, each time Maki bows, the boss feels impelled to bow again as if to be returning her bow. Finally they both sit down.) Thanks for coming Maki. I'm sorry I had to cancel the last two appointments that I had set up with you. I had some things come up. I had a meeting with an associate the first time. The second time, the managers from another store needed my assistance, so I had to go to that store and help them. I'm sorry about that, but I'm very glad that we're able to make this meeting finally. I'm not sure if you know, but this is for your evaluation. (As the boss explains the frequency of the evaluation process, he waves his hands around to emphasize the process. He speaks a lot with his hands, and always keeps his eyes directly on Maki so as to be giving her his full attention. During the entire conversation, Maki looks at the desk of her boss and nods frequently while he is talking.) Every six months for the first year, you are going to be evaluated. All of our new employees get evaluated twice within their first year with the company. After your first year, you will then be evaluated on a yearly basis. So it's a yearly process once you have been with us for a while. I want to let you know that the managers at Skippy's Kids Store are very, very please with your performance this past six months. We're very happy with your achievements. You've done a fantastic job on the floor, and have worked very well with your co-workers, and you've helped us show tremendous growth with your department for the past six months and we are very pleased. The managers and I have been motivated by your performance to encourage you to work even harder and I'll talk more about that later. Also, we've actually nominated you for our employee of the month for next month. So you will be the employee of the month for next month. What that entails is having your name and picture, so we'll take a photo of you at some point this week, into the employee newsletter. (He begins to glance around his office, looking for a copy of the employee newsletter. He does not see one.) I don't think I have a copy here laying around, but you've seen the newsletters that come out every month. They go out to every employee within the company located in Japan. It doesn't matter what department or which store you are located, you will receive a copy of the same newsletter that all of our employees in Japan receive. So, everyone will have a chance to see that and will be very proud of you for your achievements.

Maki: Oh no please, you must be joking. That's too much for me.

Mr. Swan: Joking? Oh no, no, no. Don't think that's too much. You've done a fantastic job. You deserve this award. You've earned it. I mean, I know you're a new employee and you're still learning a few things, but you've done a tremendous job here at Skippy's Kids Store, Maki. You've worked very hard and we want to recognize you for that, so we're very proud of you. You've done a great job. You deserve this award, so congratulations. (Again, as the boss is talking with Maki, she nods her head repeatedly while still looking at the desk.)