(Reading Practice (Improve your pronunciation in English

English Language Academy
24 May 202126:51

Summary

TLDRThe script presents a series of personal anecdotes and experiences, ranging from adjusting to new living environments, overcoming fears, and dealing with various life situations. It touches on themes of enjoying nature, city pollution solutions, travel mishaps, and interpersonal relationships. The narrative offers insights into personal growth, cultural observations, and the pursuit of a balanced and fulfilling life.

Takeaways

  • ๐Ÿก The speaker moved to a countryside house seeking a more nature-oriented lifestyle, but struggles with physical activity due to being out of shape.
  • ๐Ÿšดโ€โ™‚๏ธ The city implemented measures to reduce air pollution, such as special bicycle lanes, carpool rules, and pollution-free electric buses.
  • โœˆ๏ธ The speaker's initial fear of flying was alleviated by understanding the engineering principles that keep airplanes aloft.
  • ๐Ÿ  Neighbors' children playing baseball in the speaker's yard resulted in property damage, with the parents showing no responsibility for the incident.
  • ๐ŸŠโ€โ™€๏ธ Overcoming a childhood fear of water through swimming lessons led to a newfound love for water activities and beaches.
  • ๐Ÿ—‚ The speaker's shift from collecting baseball cards to stamps reflects a desire for collecting beautiful items akin to art.
  • ๐Ÿ’ผ Frequent business travel can be lonely, but the speaker finds comfort in a hotel with healthy food options and friendly staff, despite some drawbacks.
  • ๐Ÿš— A disappointing trip to the lake was marred by poor hotel accommodations and service, highlighting the importance of advance reservations.
  • ๐ŸŽ‰ A spring break trip to the beach was less than ideal due to a family-oriented hotel and slow service, but the room's size and view were redeeming qualities.
  • โ„๏ธ A snowstorm delay led to an overnight hotel stay with expensive dining options, but the speaker appreciated the attentive staff and luxurious room amenities.
  • ๐Ÿ A childhood encounter with a snake instilled a lasting fear in the speaker, who remains unable to touch or interact with snakes.
  • ๐Ÿค The speaker values a roommate with a good sense of humor and intelligence, but wishes for more social interaction and study-friendly habits.

Q & A

  • What was the main reason the speaker moved to a house in the country?

    -The speaker moved to enjoy nature and spend their free time outside, as opposed to their previous lifestyle which involved sitting in cafes and surfing the internet.

  • What is the speaker's concern about engaging in outdoor activities?

    -The speaker is not in very good shape and does not like doing sports or activities that involve a lot of exercise. They also had a negative experience with hiking which resulted in an injury.

  • How did the city attempt to reduce air pollution?

    -The city implemented special bicycle lanes, a rule requiring at least two people in a car to drive downtown during the week, and introduced pollution-free electric buses.

  • What was the speaker's initial fear about flying?

    -The speaker was terrified of flying and couldn't understand how a heavy airplane could stay up in the air.

  • How did the speaker overcome their fear of flying?

    -The speaker spoke to an airplane engineer who explained how airplanes stay in the air, which helped them understand and eventually love flying.

  • What problem did the speaker have with their next-door neighbors?

    -The speaker's next-door neighbors' children played baseball in the speaker's yard, accidentally breaking a window, and the parents did not offer to pay for the damages.

  • What change in attitude did the speaker experience after learning to swim?

    -After learning to swim in high school, the speaker went from being afraid of water to loving it and feeling safe, especially at the beach.

  • Why did the speaker start collecting stamps instead of baseball cards?

    -The speaker felt that baseball card collectors were only interested in money, and they wanted to collect something beautiful, like paintings, which led them to start collecting stamps.

  • What is the speaker's complaint about the hotel they are staying at during their job trips?

    -The speaker's complaint is about the room; the bed is very hard, and they suggest the hotel should buy a softer mattress.

  • What was the main issue during the speaker's trip to the lake?

    -The main issue was the lack of proper accommodation arrangements. The hotel's restaurant only served small snacks, the room was dirty and tiny, and the kids had to share a bed.

  • What was the speaker's experience with their roommate?

    -The speaker found their roommate to be neat, humorous, and smart, but wished the roommate would take more time off to make friends and be more social.

Outlines

00:00

๐Ÿก Embracing Nature and Overcoming Fears

The narrator moved to a quaint country house and desires to enjoy nature but is not physically fit for sports or strenuous activities. They recount a hiking mishap and express a love for the outdoors, despite their limitations. They also discuss city air pollution solutions, such as bicycle lanes and pollution-free buses, and share an experience of overcoming fear of flying through understanding airplane mechanics. Additionally, they mention dealing with inconsiderate neighbors and a newfound passion for stamp collecting, appreciating its beauty akin to a mini art museum.

05:01

๐Ÿจ Hotel Experiences: Disappointments and Comforts

This paragraph details various hotel stays with mixed experiences. The narrator recounts a disappointing trip to a lake with an unprepared husband, leading to poor accommodation choices and a disorganized hotel stay. They also describe a spring break trip marred by family-oriented hotels and slow service but highlight a room with a great beach view. Another experience involves a snowstorm delay leading to a luxurious hotel stay, albeit with expensive restaurants. The narrator also shares roommate anecdotes, from a studious and humorous roommate to others causing disturbances or being difficult to live with.

10:03

๐ŸŒ Travel Tales and Cultural Encounters

The narrator shares a series of travel stories, including a memorable encounter with a generous family in Korea, a theft experience during a crowded bus trip in Italy, and a bout with the flu in Australia that limited sightseeing but was softened by a cousin's kindness. They also express excitement about upcoming social events, such as parties and soccer matches, and the joy of making new friends during their travels.

15:04

๐Ÿ˜ Life in Different Living Spaces

This section covers the narrator's experiences living in various types of accommodations, from suburban homes with quiet weekends to apartments with nosy neighbors and cheaper rent. They discuss the advantages and disadvantages of suburban living, the challenges of adjusting to apartment life, and the delight of living in a well-located, albeit expensive, apartment. The narrator also shares their design business's ups and downs and the comfort of having a spacious home for their family.

20:05

๐ŸŽ‰ Cultural Celebrations and Personal Reflections

The narrator describes their experience of the Day of the Dead in Guatemala, appreciating the festive atmosphere and the way it embraces both life and death. They contrast this with the somber American approach to cemeteries and express a preference for the Guatemalan celebration. They also reflect on their plans for a relaxing weekend at home after a busy week of physical activities and social engagements.

25:05

๐Ÿค Greetings and Social Interactions

This paragraph explores different cultural practices of greeting, from formal handshakes to casual hellos, hugs, and even the Thai tradition of placing hands together with a bow. The narrator discusses personal preferences and variations in greetings among friends and in formal situations, highlighting the importance of context and cultural norms in social interactions.

๐Ÿš— A Tale of Misjudgment and Loss

The final paragraph tells a story of Carlos, who, after purchasing an expensive blue car, tries to impress a girl on a bicycle. Despite his attempts to invite her to dinner, she proposes a deal for his car in exchange for a surprise. Carlos agrees, only to be left with a kiss on the cheek as the girl drives away with his car, leaving him with the bicycle and a lesson in not being too trusting.

Mindmap

Keywords

๐Ÿ’กNature

Nature refers to the natural world, encompassing all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth. In the video's context, it is central to the theme of seeking a peaceful and outdoor lifestyle. For instance, the speaker mentions wanting to spend free time outside enjoying nature, indicating a desire for a tranquil and simple life away from the hustle of urban areas.

๐Ÿ’กAir Pollution

Air pollution is the presence of harmful substances in the air, which can have adverse effects on human health and the environment. The script discusses the government's efforts to reduce air pollution by introducing bicycle lanes, carpooling rules, and pollution-free buses, showcasing a societal shift towards more sustainable and eco-friendly practices.

๐Ÿ’กFear

Fear is an emotional response to perceived threats or dangers. The script mentions several instances of fear, such as the fear of flying due to a lack of understanding of how planes stay aloft, and the fear of water leading to an avoidance of swimming. Overcoming these fears is a recurring theme, as seen with the person who learns to swim and then gains a love for the water.

๐Ÿ’กCollecting

Collecting is the hobby of gathering and storing items of interest. The script mentions a shift from collecting baseball cards, which are associated with monetary value, to collecting stamps, which are appreciated for their beauty and artistic qualities. This reflects a personal preference for aesthetic and cultural value over financial gain.

๐Ÿ’กTravel

Travel involves going to different places, often for leisure or work. The script describes various travel experiences, both positive and negative, such as the enjoyment of flying, the disappointment of a hotel without proper dining options, and the frustration of a delayed flight. These examples highlight the diverse experiences one can have while traveling.

๐Ÿ’กAccommodation

Accommodation refers to a place where one can stay, such as hotels or apartments. The script provides multiple perspectives on accommodations, including the comfort and amenities of a hotel, the inconvenience of a dirty and small room, and the appreciation for a spacious apartment with a great view. These examples illustrate the importance of a comfortable living space during travel or residence.

๐Ÿ’กCultural Experience

A cultural experience involves engaging with the customs, traditions, and social behaviors of a different culture. The script recounts a positive cultural experience in Guatemala during the Day of the Dead, where the speaker appreciates the festive atmosphere and the way death is acknowledged and celebrated, contrasting with the more somber approach in the United States.

๐Ÿ’กSocial Interaction

Social interaction is the process of communicating and engaging with others. The script describes various forms of greeting, such as handshakes, hugs, and traditional gestures like the Thai 'sawadi,' indicating the importance of social customs in different cultures and contexts.

๐Ÿ’กLifestyle

Lifestyle refers to the interests, opinions, and behaviors that characterize an individual's way of living. The script explores different lifestyles, such as the preference for a quiet life in nature, the challenges of living in an apartment building, and the joys of suburban living despite its inconveniences. These examples reflect the diversity of lifestyles and personal preferences.

๐Ÿ’กAdaptation

Adaptation is the process of adjusting to new conditions or environments. The script mentions adaptation in various contexts, such as adjusting to living with neighbors in an apartment building, getting used to a roommate's habits, or learning to swim and overcoming a fear of water. These instances demonstrate the human capacity to adapt to different situations.

๐Ÿ’กCommunity

Community refers to a group of people living in the same place or sharing common interests. The script discusses the sense of community in a small town, where the speaker enjoys the cafes, restaurants, and the ease of getting to know people. This highlights the importance of community in fostering social connections and a sense of belonging.

Highlights

Relocation to a country house led to a newfound appreciation for nature and desire for outdoor activities despite initial physical limitations.

Government initiatives to reduce air pollution included special bicycle lanes, carpool rules, and pollution-free buses.

Overcoming the fear of flying by understanding the engineering principles that keep airplanes aloft.

Dealing with inconsiderate neighbors who allowed their children to cause damage on one's property.

Learning to swim in high school transformed a childhood fear of water into a love for swimming and the beach.

A shift from collecting baseball cards to collecting stamps for their beauty and artistic value.

The benefits of staying in a hotel with healthy food options and friendly staff, despite some drawbacks like a hard bed.

A disappointing trip to the lake due to lack of planning, poor hotel service, and unmet expectations.

The contrast between a hotel's suitability for families and the narrator's preference for an adult-only environment during spring break.

A positive experience staying in a hotel with luxurious amenities, despite expensive dining options.

Childhood fear of snakes transformed into a lasting terror after a close encounter during a hike.

Appreciation for a roommate with a good sense of humor and intelligence, but a desire for more social interaction.

Challenges of living with a roommate who loves to party and the impact on study habits.

Difficulties of living with a roommate who has strong opinions, is inactive, and has a quick temper.

The benefits of sharing a room with someone considerate, quiet, and academically supportive.

A memorable encounter with a generous family in Korea that led to a lasting friendship.

The experience of theft during a crowded bus trip in Italy and its impact on a vacation.

A bout of flu during a vacation in Australia and the kindness of a cousin that made the trip memorable.

A busy upcoming weekend with work, a party, writing a paper, and a movie night with friends.

A weekend plan that includes attending a birthday dinner and looking forward to catching up with a friend.

The pros and cons of suburban living, including the inconvenience of distance and the peace of quiet weekends.

Adjusting to apartment living with neighbors and appreciating the cheaper rent despite the challenges.

The enjoyment of friendly neighbors and great parties, despite the desire for more personal space.

The drawbacks of an apartment's poor maintenance despite its convenient location for shopping.

The desire to stay in a perfect apartment with a beautiful view and convenient location, if not for the high rent.

The growth of a small design company and the optimism for business improvement in the coming year.

Living in a spacious, old house that requires maintenance and updating of appliances.

Contentment with having two children despite a spouse's desire for a larger family.

Enjoying the small-town atmosphere with its pretty downtown area, cafes, restaurants, and approachable community.

The unique Guatemalan celebration of the Day of the Dead, embracing both remembrance and celebration of life.

A relaxing weekend planned after a busy previous weekend, focusing on reading and enjoying solitude.

Excitement for a weekend filled with soccer finals, beach time with friends, and a favorite restaurant dinner.

Planning a road trip to Los Angeles with friends, anticipating beach time, a fire, and singing songs.

The importance of context in greeting etiquette, from formal handshakes to casual hugs and cultural variations.

A humorous tale of a man who loses his car and only gains a kiss on the cheek after offering it to a beautiful stranger.

Transcripts

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listen

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and practice

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a few months ago i moved to this cute

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little house out in the country

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before i moved all i did was sit in

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cafes and read or surf the internet

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boring now i want to spend all my free

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time outside

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enjoying nature the only problem is i'm

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not in very good

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shape so i don't like doing any sports

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or anything that involves a lot of

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exercise

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i tried hiking once but i fell down a

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hill and hurt my leg

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don't get me wrong i love the outdoors

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but what i

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really want is something i can do

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quietly in nature

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listen and practice

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air pollution in our city was a huge

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problem

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and we really needed to lower it i guess

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that's why the government started

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putting special bicycle lanes on the

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streets downtown

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that way people can ride their bikes to

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work instead of using their stinky cars

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they also made a rule that says there

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must be at least two people in your car

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if you want to drive downtown during the

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week they also ordered these amazing new

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pollution-free buses

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they use electricity so they don't put

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anything bad into the air

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listen and practice

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the first time i got on an airplane i

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was

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terrified i just couldn't understand how

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a big heavy thing like a plane could

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stay up in the air

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after we were in the air for a while i

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spoke to the man next to me

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he was an airplane engineer and

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explained how airplanes stay in the air

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that really helped because i understand

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how planes work

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i was still a little nervous on the next

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few flights but now

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i really love flying

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listen and practice

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i bought this house last year and i love

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it

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my next-door neighbors are the only

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problem they have two young boys who

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like to play baseball in my yard

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last month they accidentally broke my

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window the boys apologized

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but their parents didn't even offer to

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pay for the damages can you believe that

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listen and practice

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i was always afraid of the water as a

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kid i would never go into the pool or

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swim at the beach

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i was sure i would drown then i took

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swimming lessons in high school

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once i learned how to swim i felt

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different now i love the water and

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especially the beach

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i feel totally safe because now i know

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how to take care of myself in the water

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listen and practice

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i like collecting things i collected

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baseball cards when i was a kid

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but i don't anymore these days baseball

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card collectors are only interested in

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money

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i wanted to collect things that are

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really beautiful

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so that's why i started collecting

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stamps

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some of the stamps i have are really

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really beautiful

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i think they're like paintings what i

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like best

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is looking at my collection it's like

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walking through a tiny museum

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full of wonderful paintings

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listen and practice

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i travel a lot for my job too much i

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think

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sometimes i'm away from home for three

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weeks or more

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it can be pretty lonely that's why i'm

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so happy about the hotel where i'm

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staying now

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first of all the restaurant serves light

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healthy food that gives me a lot of

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energy

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for my work then there's the staff

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they're very friendly to me

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my only complaint is with the room the

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bed is very hard

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they should buy a softer mattress and

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the rates are expensive

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but the company pays for it so i don't

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mind

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listen and practice

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our trip to the lake has been pretty

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disappointing so far

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it takes two days to drive there so of

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course we have to stay in a hotel for

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one night on the way

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my husband forgot to make a reservation

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though

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we found a hotel but the restaurant was

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only serving small snacks

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when i complained about it to the hotel

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manager he just laughed at me

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they should get a new manager the room

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is dirty

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and tiny it's really bad the kids have

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to share a bed

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and they're unhappy about that of course

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the rates are very cheap

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so that's good we'll have to be sure to

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make reservations from now on

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listen and practice

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my friends and i flew down here to the

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beach for spring break

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of course we're really excited about

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swimming and partying and meeting other

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college students

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our hotel is full of families and little

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kids though the restaurants are terrible

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really crowded with kids and noisy

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and they're really slow too

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the hotel should have one restaurant

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that's just for adults i think

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another problem is the service

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the staff is too busy running activities

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for the little kids

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so sometimes they don't bring us new

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towels or clean the

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room one good thing is the room

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it's really big and it has a great view

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of the beach

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the price is great too i guess

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most college students don't want to stay

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here so the room rates are low

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listen and practice

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my flight was delayed by a big snowstorm

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so i had to stay overnight in this hotel

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my only complaint is the restaurants

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there are three of them

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and they are all way too expensive for

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me because the airline isn't paying for

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my dinner

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they should have at least one cheap

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casual restaurant

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the staff is so friendly though whenever

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i call the front desk to ask for

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something

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they always remember my name and they

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work so quickly

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the room is huge with a giant bathroom

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that is bigger than my whole apartment

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it's got everything a refrigerator a

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microwave

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even a flat screen tv the rates

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are very expensive i am so glad that the

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airline

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is paying for the room

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listen and practice

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i was afraid of snakes when i was a kid

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i remember going to the zoo

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and seeing them there and i thought they

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were kind of cute

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but once when i was out hiking i nearly

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stepped on one

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and he tried to bite me it was really

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ugly and i'm sure it was poisonous

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since then i've been pretty terrified of

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them

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i could never touch one now

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listen and practice

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i have a great roommate she's neat and

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she makes me laugh a lot

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she's got a wonderful sense of humor

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she's really smart too

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she studies all the time i sometimes

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wish she'd take more time off to make

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friends

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because she hardly knows anyone she

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doesn't seem to feel comfortable when

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she's around

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people

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listen and practice

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bob and i get along pretty well he keeps

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the place really clean and neat

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the only thing is he loves to party he's

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always inviting friends over and they

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sit around and talk

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really loudly until it's very late it

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makes it really hard for me to study

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i've asked him not to do it when i'm

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studying but he still does

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i guess it doesn't bother him because he

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never studies

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listen and practice

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anne is difficult to live with because

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she has very strong opinions

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she always has to be right about things

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and she just sits around

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all day watching tv she never does

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anything active the worst thing is she

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loses her temper very quickly

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i think i need to find a new roommate

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listen and practice

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i like sharing a room with greg he's

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very quiet and always asks me if it's

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okay for him to listen to the radio or

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watch tv

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he likes to keep the room nice and clean

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just like i do

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he helps me a lot with homework too he's

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really smart and is always happy to

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check over my assignments

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listen and practice

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i met this really nice family when i was

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in korea last year

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i was in a restaurant and i was having

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trouble understanding the menu

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the wife came over and asked me what i

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wanted to eat

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and told me all about korean food

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then they asked me to join them at their

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table and they paid for my dinner

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they also invited me to their house we

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became friends

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and we keep in touch now by email

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they'll take me to a famous temple the

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next time i go back

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isn't that fabulous i can't wait to see

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that temple

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listen and practice

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once when i was in italy i took a bus

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trip from rome to florence

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the bus was very crowded and i had to

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stand most of the way

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i had a couple of small bags with me one

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was a backpack that had my wallet in it

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i kept it in front of me for the entire

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trip but when i got to florence

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i couldn't believe what had happened

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someone had

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cut a hole in my backpack put in their

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hand

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and removed my wallet then they took the

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money out

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and put the wallet back inside my

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backpack

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i never noticed a thing it really ruined

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my vacation

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because i couldn't pay to get into any

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museums

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so now i want to go back again next

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summer and see all the museums i missed

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listen and practice

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i was on vacation in australia last

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summer when i got a terrible case of the

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flu

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i had to stay in bed for four days

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i have a cousin in sydney who was really

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kind

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and spent a lot of time with me until i

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was better

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by then i only had three days of

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sightseeing left before i had to leave

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i saw the sydney opera house and that

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was about it

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the most awful thing is i didn't have

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the chance to go scuba diving

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i want to go back and scuba dive there

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they have the best coral reefs in the

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world

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listen and practice

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i have a really busy weekend ahead of me

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i have to work about 10 hours on

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saturday

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i'm really excited about saturday night

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though i'm going to my friend alex's

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party

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he always has great parties i don't have

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to go to work on sunday

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but i do have to spend all morning and

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afternoon writing a paper for my history

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class

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then on sunday night i'm going to the

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movies with some friends

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listen and practice

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i plan to study most of this weekend but

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on saturday evening

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i'm going over to my friend's house it's

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her birthday

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so she's having a few friends over for

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dinner i'm really looking forward to

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seeing her

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we haven't seen each other in two months

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i knew i wouldn't have time to go

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shopping on saturday

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so i bought her a birthday gift on

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friday i got her a sweater

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i hope she likes it

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listen and practice

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there are advantages and disadvantages

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to living out here in the suburbs

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it's not really the most convenient

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place to live

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it takes forever to get into town

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especially during rush hour

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and there aren't any good stores out

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here on the other hand

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it's nice and quiet on the weekends

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listen and practice

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i recently moved into an apartment

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building for the first time

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i've always lived in houses it takes a

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while to get used to having neighbors

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right next door i feel like they're

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always listening to me

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like they want to know everything i do

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it's annoying

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but the rent is much cheaper than my old

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place and i like that

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listen and practice

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my neighbors are fantastic they're

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really friendly

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and some of them have great parties too

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i'd like more space though

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there's hardly enough space for all my

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stuff

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i guess i should throw some of it out

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but i just can't

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listen and practice

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the apartment i rent is okay it's near a

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lot of stores

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so it's convenient for shopping the

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problem though

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is that the owner hasn't spent any money

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on the place in years

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the furniture is falling apart and the

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carpet in the living room is stained in

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places

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listen and practice

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i love my apartment i wish i could

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afford to stay here

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the location is perfect it has huge

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windows with a beautiful view

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and i love being able to step outside

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and walk to cafes and shops

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the only problem is the rent it's just

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too high now

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so i can't stay

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listen and practice

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i have a small design company we design

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menus

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calendars and things like that there are

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just

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three of us in the company last year was

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a very

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quiet year for us but it looks as if

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business is really improving this year

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listen and practice

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my place is huge it has room for all my

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stuff

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and there's a big kitchen too of course

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it's really old so it needs a coat of

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paint and some new

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appliances the refrigerator and

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dishwasher are really

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ancient and i think the stove is about a

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hundred years old

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listen and practice

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i have two children a girl and a boy

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my husband comes from a big family and

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would love to have more children

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but i think two is enough

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listen and practice

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i really enjoy living here so far

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everything has been fine

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the downtown area is really pretty and i

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love all the cafes and restaurants there

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the other thing i like is that the

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town's small so it's easy to get to know

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people

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listen and practice

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day of the dead

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i arrive in guatemala on the day of the

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dead

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november 1st i'm curious about this

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holiday

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so i go to the cemetery to see what's

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happening

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what i find is quite interesting the

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atmosphere is like a party

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there are people everywhere families are

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sitting around the graves of their

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dead ancestors they clean the graves and

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add fresh flowers

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i walk through the cemetery and admire

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the beauty of all the colorful flowers

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there's also color in the sky because

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many kids are flying kites

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some families are having a picnic next

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to the graves

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they eat drink and chat together

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people laugh and smile

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in the united states cemeteries are

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always somber

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we certainly never have festivals or

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parties next to graves

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we don't laugh or play music or fly

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kites in cemeteries either

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i find that i prefer the guatemalan

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approach i like the way they remember

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and celebrate

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those who have passed away i like that

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they acknowledge death

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instead of denying it the way americans

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do

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i like that there is life as well as

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death in their cemeteries

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guatemalans call it the day of the dead

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but it is also a day to appreciate life

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listen and practice

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i don't really have a lot going on this

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weekend i was so busy last weekend that

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i didn't want to make any big plans for

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this weekend

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i played soccer and went hiking last

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saturday then went for a long bike ride

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on sunday

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this weekend i'm just gonna stay home

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and read a book

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i'm excited about being home by myself

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and relaxing all weekend

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listen and practice

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i've been having a great time since i

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arrived

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everyone's been very helpful and i've

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made some wonderful new friends

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i still have a few more days here so i'm

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thinking of renting a car

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and driving up to the mountains

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listen and practice

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this is gonna be a great weekend i can't

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wait for sunday afternoon

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my soccer team is playing in the finals

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i hope we win

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on saturday i'm going to the beach with

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my friends

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and on saturday night we're going to

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have dinner at my favorite restaurant

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listen and practice

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my friends and i are taking a road trip

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to los angeles this weekend

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we're planning on leaving on friday

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after class

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we'll get to la around seven in the

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evening just in time for dinner

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on saturday we'll probably hang out at

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the beach during the day

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we're going to have a fire and sing

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songs all night

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it's going to be fantastic

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listen and practice

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i greet people differently depending on

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the situation

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in formal situations i usually shake

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hands

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and when i meet someone for the first

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time

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i almost always shake hands

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it's important to shake hands firmly

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when i greet casual friends i just say

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hi

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for close friends i usually give them a

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hug

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it's a little different for men though

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where i live it's not very common for

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male

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friends to hug each other they do other

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things like

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the fist bunk that's when two people

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touch

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fists sandra us

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listen and practice

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in formal situations or when i meet

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someone for the first time

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i shake hands it's important to shake

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hands

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firmly and look the other person in the

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eye when you greet them

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i always hug my friends hugging is

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perfectly acceptable

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it's okay for men to hug other men

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for men to hug women and for women to

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hug

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other women kamal turkey

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listen and practice

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in a formal situation or when i meet

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someone for the first time

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i always shake hands when i greet a male

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friend i give him a hug and a pat on the

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back

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when i greet a close female friend

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i give her a small hug and a kiss on the

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cheek

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my female friends greet each other in

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this way too

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octavio venezuela

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listen and practice

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when i meet a friend i greet them with a

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i put my hands together in front of my

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chest

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and bow slightly and say sawadi

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which means hello in formal situations

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some people still use this traditional

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thai greeting

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but these days more and more business

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people

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shake hands times are changing

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noi thailand

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listen and practice

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carlos buys a new car it's a very

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expensive car it's a huge

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blue fast car while driving down the

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street

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carlo sees a girl on a bicycle she has

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long blonde hair

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and is beautiful he yells to her what's

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up

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she ignores him he yells how's it going

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she keeps going and ignores him

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he yells hey why won't you talk to me

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i want to go to dinner with you i'll

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take you to an

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expensive restaurant

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the girl turns gets off the bike

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and looks at him she says

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i don't want to go to dinner but

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if you give me your car i will give you

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a surprise

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carlo says okay

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he jumps out of the car he gives her the

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keys and says

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here are the keys the beautiful blonde

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takes the keys

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and then kisses carlos on the cheek then

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she jumps into the car

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and drives away carlos stands on the

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sidewalk

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now he has no car and no girl

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he says that's it just a kiss on the

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cheek

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he gets on her bike and rides home

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