Globetrotter Jonathan talks about all the places he has lived. 1 Jeff: So, Jonathan, what is home for you? Where is home for you? Jonathan: Where is home for me? Actually, I would have to say that I'm homeless. Jeff: Homeless! What do you mean homeless? Jonathan: Well, I don't call one particular place home. I pretty much live out of a suitcase. I don't have roots holding me to one particular place. I was born and raised in Toronto but from a very young age I was traveling for different purposes: some for the work that I was doing, some for just pleasure travel and even now when I go back to Toronto, it doesn't really feel like home. In fact people comment about my accent, and they say, "Oh, that's an interesting accent. Where you are from?" and I say, "Well, I'm from here." Jeff: So where do you split most of the majority of your time? Where's your base? Jonathan: Well, I don't really have a base. That's the thing. I spend about four, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less, months in Japan and I usually visit my parents for about a month a year, sometimes in Canada where they spend spring, summer and early autumn, and sometimes in this small little town in Mexico that they like to go to avoid the harsh winter in Canada. Jeff: So, you and... in between those times, in between Mexico, in between Canada, in between Japan, where are you? Jonathan: Wherever I sort of feel like going. Now I don't draw the kind of salary that allows me to live a glamourous lifestyle and travel around the world with the jet set, but I can certainly go and spend several months a year in different destinations, living a very basic existence but having enough time to be able to travel around and stay in simple accomodation, go out and hit the bars at night, talk to the people I meet in those different areas. At different times, I have different interests. Jeff: So that sounds like a pretty exciting, pretty fun life. Do you ever get tired of it? Jonathan: I think that it's the kind of life that doesn't appeal to everyone and some people think I have this wonderful, fantastic life all the time. Sometimes, I would like to work a little bit more. Sometimes, I think, "Oh, no! I have nothing to do for the next three months." Jeff: Except for travel. Jonathan: Yes. And as of now, this work that I'm about to do finishes in a couple of days and people have asked me, where am I going afterwards and my honest answer is I don't know. I literally have no idea where I'm going to be four or five days from now, and I have no idea what I'll be doing for the next three months until I need to be back in Japan for work three months from now. Jeff: Well, good luck on your next trip.
Comprehension Page 2 A) Main Points: Answer the following questions about the interview. 1) What place does Jonathan call home? 3) How does he describe his life? a) Toronto b) All of Canada c) Nowhere a) The Jet Set b) A basic existence c) Wild and crazy 2) Why does Jonathan go to Mexico? 4) Where is he going next? a) To avoid winter. b) To visit family. c) For work. a) Back to Canada b) To start a new job c) He is still unsure B) Phrase Match: Match the phrases on the left with the example on the right. 1) born and raised a place to call home 2) a base difficult; rough; extreme 3) harsh make a lot of money 4) simple accomodation cheap hotel 5) draw a big salary the place where someone grew up C) Unscramble: Put the mixed up sentences in the correct order. 1) is you home for where? 2) of your time most do you spend where? 3) ever of tired traveling do you get? 4) are go where to next you going? How would Jonathan respond to the questions? And You?
3 Bits and Pieces Put the PHRASES in the spaces live out of a small little town spend several months doesn t appeal to five days from now have to say doesn t really feel sort of feel like hit the bars a couple of days Jeff: So, Jonathan, what is home for you? Where is home for you? Jonathan: Where is home for me? Actually, I would that I'm homeless. Jeff: Homeless! What do you mean homeless? Jonathan: Well, I don't call one particular place home. I pretty much suitcase. I don't have roots holding me to one particular place. I was born and raised in Toronto but from a very young age I was traveling for different purposes: some for the work that I was doing, some for just pleasure travel and even now when I go back to Toronto, it like home. In fact people comment about my accent, and they say, "Oh, that's an interesting accent. Where you are from?" and I say, "Well, I'm from here." Jeff: So where do you split most of the majority of your time? Where's your base? Jonathan: Well, I don't really have a base. That's the thing. I spend about four, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less, months in Japan and I usually visit my parents for about a month a year, sometimes in Canada where they spend spring, summer and early autumn, and sometimes in this in Mexico that they like to go to avoid the harsh winter in Canada. Jeff: So, you and... in between those times, in between Mexico, in between Canada, in between Japan, where are you? Jonathan: Wherever I going. Now I don't draw the kind of salary that allows me to live a glamourous lifestyle and travel around the world with the jet set, but I can certainly go and a year in different destinations, living a very basic existence but having enough time to be able to travel around and stay in simple accomodation, go out and at night, talk to the people I meet in those different areas. At different times, I have different interests. Jeff: So that sounds like a pretty exciting, pretty fun life. Do you ever get tired of it? Jonathan: I think that it's the kind of life that everyone and some people think I have this wonderful, fantastic life all the time. Sometimes, I would like to work a little bit more. Sometimes, I think, "Oh, no! I have nothing to do for the next three months." Jeff: Except for travel. Jonathan: Yes. And as of now, this work that I'm about to do finishes in and people have asked me, where am I going afterwards and my honest answer is I don't know. I literally have no idea where I'm going to be four or, and I have no idea what I'll be doing for the next three months until I need to be back in Japan for work three months from now. Jeff: Well, good luck on your next trip.
What do you think? 4 Discussion 1. What city feels most like your home? 2. Does a life of traveling appeal to you? 3. Do you think that you could live out of a suitcase like Jonathan? 4. Would you rather save up and spend a lot of money on a short vacation or take a longer, simpler trip? 5. Do you think that you would ever get tired of traveling? Write the number of the question being answered in the box Ron - USA I spent about 10 years living and traveling in different parts of the world and in some ways I am not interested in traveling anymore. Living in a different country still appeals to me but going on short trips just to do sightseeing seems superficial to me. I would much rather live and work in a new place than just visit and go shopping there. Carlos - Venezuela I maintain a tight budget so that when I take a trip I can really enjoy myself. Every month I save about $300 so that at the end of the year I can stay at a nice hotel and eat at the best restaurants. When I take a trip, I don t want to feel like I have to restrain myself. I also bring back one peice of fine art so that I have a lasting memory of my trip. Ravi - India I currently work Dubai but I definitely don t feel like this is my home base. Even though there are many Indians here and I can eat Indian food and shop at Indian stores, it s just doesn t give me the same feeling that I get when I m in my hometown. I won t be going back anytime soon because I can make more money here though. Jamie - Australia I have moved so many times in my life that I don t really have that much stuff. I m surprised when I go over to friends houses and their basements and garages are completely full of things that they never use. I can survive with just a few pairs of clothes, a computer, and stuff to cook with. That s all I need. Write about one of the discussion questions:
Comprehension Page 5 A) Main Points: Answer the following questions about the interview. 1) What place does Jonathan call home? 3) How does he describe his life? a) Toronto b) All of Canada c) Nowhere a) The Jet Set b) A basic existence c) Wild and crazy 2) Why does Jonathan go to Mexico? 4) Where is he going next? a) To avoid winter. b) To visit family. c) For work. a) Back to Canada b) To start a new job c) He is still unsure B) Phrase Match: Match the phrases on the left with the example on the right. 1) born and raised 2 a place to call home 2) a base 3 difficult; rough; extreme 3) harsh 5 make a lot of money 4) simple accomodation 4 cheap hotel 5) draw a big salary 1 the place where someone grew up C) Unscramble: Put the mixed up sentences in the correct order. 1) Where is home for you? is you home for where? 2) Where do you spend most of your time? of your time most do you spend where? 3) Do you ever get tired of traveling? ever of tired traveling do you get? 4) Where are you going to go next? are go where to next you going? How would Jonathan respond to the questions? And You?
6 Bits and Pieces Put the PHRASES in the spaces live out of a small little town spend several months doesn t appeal to five days from now have to say doesn t really feel sort of feel like hit the bars a couple of days Jeff: So, Jonathan, what is home for you? Where is home for you? Jonathan: Where is home for me? Actually, I would have to say that I'm homeless. Jeff: Homeless! What do you mean homeless? Jonathan: Well, I don't call one particular place home. I pretty much live out of a suitcase. I don't have roots holding me to one particular place. I was born and raised in Toronto but from a very young age I was traveling for different purposes: some for the work that I was doing, some for just pleasure travel and even now when I go back to Toronto, it doesn't really feel like home. In fact people comment about my accent, and they say, "Oh, that's an interesting accent. Where you are from?" and I say, "Well, I'm from here." Jeff: So where do you split most of the majority of your time? Where's your base? Jonathan: Well, I don't really have a base. That's the thing. I spend about four, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less, months in Japan and I usually visit my parents for about a month a year, sometimes in Canada where they spend spring, summer and early autumn, and sometimes in this small little town in Mexico that they like to go to avoid the harsh winter in Canada. Jeff: So, you and... in between those times, in between Mexico, in between Canada, in between Japan, where are you? Jonathan: Wherever I sort of feel like going. Now I don't draw the kind of salary that allows me to live a glamourous lifestyle and travel around the world with the jet set, but I can certainly go and spend several months a year in different destinations, living a very basic existence but having enough time to be able to travel around and stay in simple accomodation, go out and hit the bars at night, talk to the people I meet in those different areas. At different times, I have different interests. Jeff: So that sounds like a pretty exciting, pretty fun life. Do you ever get tired of it? Jonathan: I think that it's the kind of life that doesn't appeal to everyone and some people think I have this wonderful, fantastic life all the time. Sometimes, I would like to work a little bit more. Sometimes, I think, "Oh, no! I have nothing to do for the next three months." Jeff: Except for travel. Jonathan: Yes. And as of now, this work that I'm about to do finishes in a couple of days and people have asked me, where am I going afterwards and my honest answer is I don't know. I literally have no idea where I'm going to be four or five days from now, and I have no idea what I'll be doing for the next three months until I need to be back in Japan for work three months from now. Jeff: Well, good luck on your next trip. Jonathan: Thank you.