Jeff: Do you think... would you recommend this type of lifestyle to someone else?

Transcription

1 Suitcase Jonathan talks about what it is like to live out of a suitcase all year round. 1 Jeff: So were you always able to live with only a few possessions? Jonathan: Oh, certainly not. The first trip I ever did to South America I had the most massive backpack you could imagine. I mean I had to get it from a sort of military surplus store because I needed to have the kind of volume that a World War Two soldier would have had to carry things, all of his survival gear. When I travelled to Africa in my early twenties, I brought along things like, for example, a jungle hammock, you know because I was convinced that I was going to be stringing up the ropes of this, and sleeping above the ground because I was worried about some sort of dangerous animals that might come after me. When, then later, you find out the reality is, that you're always able to find some sort of accommodation even if it's very budget type and wasn't a problem. Jeff: Do you think... would you recommend this type of lifestyle to someone else? Jonathan: I don't know if my lifestyles very suitable for other people because they have more roots than I do. They've settled down in some way. They have a regular job that they have to go to. Myself, usually only working perhaps four months a year, I don't have the same responsibilities that other people do and I'm not married. I don't have kids. I have no need to decorate a room in any way. Jeff: Well, tomorrow, I'm getting rid of my house, all my possessions and saying goodbye to my girlfriend and buying suitcase. Jonathan: OK. As long as you don't try to live out of mine. There isn't enough room for you as well.

2 Comprehension Page 2 A) Main Points: Answer the following questions about the interview. 1) What is true about his first backpack? 3) How does he describe his lifestyle? a) It was very large. b) He got it from a soldier. c) It was new and sleek. a) Exciting b) Unusual c) Rooted 2) Where did he sleep in Africa? 4) What does Jonathan tell Jeff? a) On a hammock b) In budget accommodation c) On the ground a) Stay at home b) Get his own suitcase c) Quit his job B) Phrase Match: Match the phrases on the left with the example on the right. 1) suitable equipment 2) roots acceptable 3) gear connections 4) stringing up calm 5) settled down hanging C) Unscramble: Put the mixed up sentences in the correct order. 1) few things a with just to live always able were you? 2) did you what bring to Africa with you? 3) type of lifestyle this recommend would you? 4) how is possible it for maintain you to your lifestyle? How would Jonathan respond to the questions? And You?

3 3 Bits and Pieces Put the PHRASES in the spaces I was worried about than I do I was convinced and I m not you could imagine as long as when I travelled even if Jeff: So were you always able to live with only a few possessions? Jonathan: I don't know if my lifestyle is very suitable for other people because they have more roots. They've settled down in some way. They have a regular job that they have to go to. Myself, usually only working perhaps four months a year, I don't have the same responsibilities that other people do married. I don't have kids. I have no need to decorate a room in any way. Jeff: Well, tomorrow, I'm getting rid of my house, all my possessions and saying goodbye to my girlfriend and buying suitcase. Jonathan: OK. you don't try to live out of mine. There isn't enough room for you as well. Jonathan: Oh, certainly not. The first trip I ever did to South America I had the most massive backpack. I mean I had to get it from a sort of military surplus store because I needed to have the kind of volume that a World War Two soldier would have had to carry things, all of his survival gear. to Africa in my early twenties, I brought along things like, for example, a jungle hammock, you know because that I was going to be stringing up the ropes of this, and sleeping above the ground because some sort of dangerous animals that might come after me. When, then later, you find out the reality is, that you're always able to find some sort of accommodation it's very budget type and wasn't a problem. Jeff: Do you think... would you recommend this type of lifestyle to someone else?

4 What do you think? 4 Discussion 1. Do you think that you have more possessions than your friends? 2. Which continent would you most like to travel to (Asia, Africa, Europe, N. America, S. America, Oceania, Antarctica)? Why? 3. Have you ever slept on a hammock? On the ground? In a tent? On a futon? In the bathtub? How was it? 4. What roots would prevent you from living out of a suitcase? 5. How do you decorate your room? Write the number of the question being answered in the box Camille - France It would be very hard for me to live like Jonathan. My friends and family are so important to me that I would find it very difficult to leave them. Someone who travels all the time can only have short-term friends. I think that it s better to have more continuity in relationships so they can develop and become deeper over the years. Atsedu - Ethiopia I am extremely picky about how I decorate my house so actually I don t have many things. I feel like the art that you put up in your represents your character so I am reluctant to put up a picture that I don t think is perfect. I suppose having no pictures up is also a symbol of my character. Maybe it means that I am a person that can t make a decision. Amad - Indonesia I have moved many times in my life so I think that I have much less stuff than my friends who haven t moved very much. Every time you move, you always have to lighten your load and get rid of things. If you don t move, you usually just find a place to store things that you never use and it s harder to throw them away. Arturo - Chile I don t think most people would answer South America to this question but personally I think it s the best place to travel. I m biased of course because I am from South America but there is an incredible amount of history, culture, and diversity in South America and everyone I know who has come here has left happy. Write about one of the discussion questions:

5 Comprehension Page 5 A) Main Points: Answer the following questions about the interview. 1) What is true about his first backpack? 3) How does he describe his lifestyle? a) It was very large. b) He got it from a soldier. c) It was new and sleek. a) Exciting b) Unusual c) Rooted 2) Where did he sleep in Africa? 4) What does Jonathan tell Jeff? a) On a hammock b) In budget accommodation c) On the ground a) Stay at home b) Get his own suitcase c) Quit his job B) Phrase Match: Match the phrases on the left with the example on the right. 1) suitable 3 equipment 2) roots 1 acceptable 3) gear 2 connections 4) stringing up 5 calm 5) settled down 4 hanging C) Unscramble: Put the mixed up sentences in the correct order. 1) Were you always able to live with just a few things? few things a with just to live always able were you? 2) What did you bring with you to Africa? did you what bring to Africa with you? 3) Would you recommend this type of lifestyle? type of lifestyle this recommend would you? 4) How is it possible for you to maintain your lifestyle? how is possible it for maintain you to your lifestyle? How would Jonathan respond to the questions? And You?

6 6 Bits and Pieces Put the PHRASES in the spaces I was worried about than I do I was convinced and I m not you could imagine as long as when I travelled even if Jeff: So were you always able to live with only a few possessions? Jonathan: I don't know if my lifestyle is very suitable for other people because they have more roots than I do. They've settled down in some way. They have a regular job that they have to go to. Myself, usually only working perhaps four months a year, I don't have the same responsibilities that other people do and I'm not married. I don't have kids. I have no need to decorate a room in any way. Jeff: Well, tomorrow, I'm getting rid of my house, all my possessions and saying goodbye to my girlfriend and buying suitcase. Jonathan: OK. As long as you don't try to live out of mine. There isn't enough room for you as well. Jonathan: Oh, certainly not. The first trip I ever did to South America I had the most massive backpack you could imagine. I mean I had to get it from a sort of military surplus store because I needed to have the kind of volume that a World War Two soldier would have had to carry things, all of his survival gear. When I travelled to Africa in my early twenties, I brought along things like, for example, a jungle hammock, you know because I was convinced that I was going to be stringing up the ropes of this, and sleeping above the ground because I was worried about some sort of dangerous animals that might come after me. When, then later, you find out the reality is, that you're always able to find some sort of accommodation even if it's very budget type and wasn't a problem. Jeff: Do you think... would you recommend this type of lifestyle to someone else?