📙 Part 2: Describe a special day out that cost you little money/did not cost you much

This episode's vocabulary

So-called (adj.) - used to show that you think a word that is used to describe someone or something is not suitable or not correct.

To hang out (phrasal verb) - to spend a lot of time in a place or with someone.

Lend itself to something - if something lends itself to something else, it is suitable for that thing or can be considered in that way.

Memorable (adj.) - likely to be remembered or worth remembering.

Regardless (adverb) - despite; not being affected by something.

-

Questions and Answers

M: Hello-hello, dear premium listener. Are you happy to be the super-premium listener? You should be. Because now it's speaking part two and Rory here, the super duper educated native speaker, is going to describe a special day out that cost him little money. So a day out that cost Rory not really much. He's going to say when the day was, where he went, how much he spent, and he's going to explain how he felt about the day.

R: It's not terribly exciting, but I remember a time we had time off in 2021, early 2021, actually, when I lived in Russia. And I went out with my friend John. It was a national holiday and it was only for a short period. So there wasn't much to do in terms of big plans. We agreed that we would meet near the south of a place that roughly translates as the Silver Forest. So it's so-called because of the bark of the trees there. And we walked through it towards where I lived at the time, which is a district called Strogino. That's in the north of Moscow. I think we spent next to nothing aside from the cost of the monthly transport card, but that was paid for by our company and was relatively inexpensive, so it was basically for free. Other than that, we only paid for lunch at the end of the whole thing in a small café just next to my apartment. It was a good day. Not just because we spent so little, but because it wasn't common for us to enjoy the fresh air and each other's company. Since we started working in the place that we were at at the time. It's not stopped because it was a bad place to work, but just whenever we hung out there, it was usually indoors with lots of alcohol. So not exactly an environment that lends itself to deep conversation. The most memorable part, aside from the fact we were walking around, was taking our lives into our hands while crossing this frozen lake. It was a bit risky, but definitely not something you'd forget any time soon. My heart rate still hasn't forgiven me for the experience, actually, because I kept worrying that I would fall into the water. And you really don't want that to happen, when it's cold in Russia, for sure. Regardless, I'm still glad that we had the chance to do it. It was a nice change of pace and probably healthier in the long run. If we hadn't done it, we wouldn't have had such pleasant surroundings and it would have just been another typical day indoors, which isn't really good for you, although I suppose we might have been warmer.

M: And what about your friend? Did he enjoy it?

R: Well, I certainly hope so.

M: Thank you, Rory, for your story!

-