📙 Part 2: Describe an activity you did with another person

This episode's vocabulary

Wild swimming (noun) - swimming for enjoyment in rivers, lakes, the sea, etc. , rather than in swimming pools.

To take a dip (phrase) - to go for a short swim.

Bonding (noun) - the process by which a close emotional relationship is developed.

Wander (verb) - to walk around slowly in a relaxed way or without any clear purpose or direction.

Far-flung (adj.) - used to refer to places that are a great distance away, or something that is spread over a very large area.

To denigrate (verb) - to say that someone or something is not good or important.

To get/find your bearings (phrase) - to succeed in becoming familiar with a new situation.

Aftermath (noun) - the period that follows an unpleasant event or accident, and the effects that it causes.

Questions and Answers

M: Fire away.

R: I can think of a few things that I do with other people. But one of the more fun ones that stands out would be going wild swimming with my friends. That's just when you take a dip in an open body of water. And the cold is meant to be good for you. In addition to the, I don't know, the bonding experience. I went with one friend, but I became friends with the other people there. So that was a nice sort of side effect of the whole thing. They did it in the river just outside my home, which is rather convenient. Since I don't like going far to do these things, especially in the autumn or the winter months. It's absolutely freezing. So if you're wandering around, like in far-flung places, and you can't really get yourself warmed up again, by going home. It's not very pleasant. It was all rather ironic, actually. Because I'd previously been denigrating the whole thing when my friend Francis convinced me to come along and try it out. It wasn't so bad actually, once I got over the initial shock of the cold. I'm pretty good at these things once I get my bearings and focus a little. And do lots and lots and lots of controlled breathing. Like I said, it was a fun thing to do with a new friend and a good way of making more new friends. So I just went for it. If I hadn't done it, probably I'd have been warmer and drier. But I'd have fewer friends and had a less entertaining experience all around that particular weekend. I'm looking forward to going again soon. Although the weather keeps getting in the way. We had some storms recently that prevented us from repeating the experience. However, hopefully, one day it will... At least one day soon it will be possible. Until then I'm just gearing up for the next deep freeze. I think I'd better take a wet suit. And some longer shorts with me next time because it's going to be a cold one for sure.

M: And what about your friends? Did they enjoy this activity?

R: I think they enjoyed the aftermath rather than the actual doing of the activity.

Discussion

M: Hey! What a story, Rory story! And what a topic! So an activity you did with another person. So it was all in the past and finished. And what activity can we talk about here? Usually what do we do with another person?

R: Well, I talked about wild swimming, which is becoming increasingly popular in my country. And perhaps in other countries, there are other sports that are becoming just as popular. But common ones could include doing any kind of sport together. Or going for a walk. What other things do people do with their friends? Watching a film series maybe? Or a TV series?

M: Yeah, watching a film or cooking something with your friend. Go shopping with your friend. Visit a place with your friend, like go travelling, or go to a museum, to an art gallery. It's your choice, dear listener but choose something you can talk about. Okay? Because some students get too excited. And they choose a topic... Something like a difficult topic, like, oh, we did this, but I don't know how to call it. We did this and I don't know what I can say about this. I don't know the name for this. But then we went... I don't remember where. No, no, no, this is not good. Rory, you started off with, I can think of a few things that I do with other people. So I can think of... Think of what? A couple of things. Some things I do with other people.

R: And I can.

M: But one of the more fun ones... So one thing which is more fun, not funny, fun. So one of the more fun ones that stands out. So this particular activity stands out. Well, I'm going to tell you about one activity which stands out. And I'm going to tell you about wild swimming with my friends. And what is wild? Wild, like wild animals. What is wild swimming?

R: It's when you go out into the water of a river or a lake. Maybe the sea for some people. And swim around. It's supposed to be good for you, like the health benefits include... I think it's reduced brown fat. Oh no, maybe it's increased brown fat. Anyway, there's some sort of health benefit that helps you regulate your body functions more effectively.

M: Wow. And there is this website wildswimming.cold.uk. So in the UK, it's a pretty common activity - to go wild swimming. And sometimes it's called open water swimming. Kind of you go and swim in outdoor bodies of water. So oceans, lakes, rivers. There are some competitions, like open water competitions or wild swimming competitions.

R: But I don't think we did it competitively. I think we just did it for the suicidal experience of being in the water.

M: So Rory went wild swimming with his friends. Or he went open water swimming.

R: And then posted about it on Instagram. Like any good influencer would.

M: Yeah.

R: You saw the pictures.

M: Yeah, those were the pictures where Rory, half-naked, just like came out of the ocean. Yes, dear listener? If you want some pictures, go to Rory's Instagram. They were there, our Rory, swimming in the open water.

R: Freezing to death.

M: So, and then Rory told us what wild swimming is. So this is just when you take a dip in an open body of water. So you plunge, you jump into an open body of water.

R: Or if you're me, you casually stroll in and regret every step that you're taking.

M: So take a deep. Like when you kind of swim, you take a deep. Like... An open body of water, a body of water is a river, an ocean, a lake. What is the bonding experience?

R: The bonding experience is just something that you get when you have a shared experience with people and it brings you closer together, usually it's friends.

M: Yes, dear listener, because you did this activity with your friends or with someone. So you kind of bonded, you connected with this person more. And this added to the bonding experience. This was a nice bonding experience. So when you describe the activity, make sure you mention that, oh, we did it together, it was nice to share our emotions, it was a true bonding experience. I went there with my friend. But I became friends with the other people.

R: Yeah.

M: So people saw you swimming and kind of they came up to you to say, oh, wow, this is nice what you're doing.

R: Well, we were all in it together. And me being me, I did it without a wetsuit. So I had no protection whatsoever. And people were like, oh, wow, that's really cool. And I was like cool? It's freezing.

M: Ah, okay, so some people brought some suits.

R: Some people were sensible. Yeah.

M: Oh, and you just went like Rory style. Freezing cold. Yeah, yeah. I'm too hard.

R: I'm glad I did it. I'm glad I did it. But I would not recommend other people do this because it is really cold. And I was shaking for about 40 minutes afterwards.

M: Jesus...

R: So it was fine. It's just not something that I was expecting to happen.

M: And then you give details about the activity like we did it in the river. Just... Oh, I thought it was the ocean. It was a river. Oh, wow. Okay.

R: Yeah. There is a big river though. So it's easy to mistake and we're at the mouth of the river. So that's where it connects to the sea. So it's kind of close to this.

M: Oh, we did it in the river, which is convenient. Since, because I don't like going far from my house to do things. You see? My friend convinced me to come along. So I did it with my friend. So he kind of convinced me, he told me why it would be good to do this, and I believed him. So he convinced me to come along. So come along? Like come with me and do it. He convinced me to try it out. So when I try things out, I do it. I usually do something new. So Rory went swimming in freezing cold water in a river. Okay? He went wild and crazy. Scottish style. Rory, did you do like... This like...

R: Actually, I was surprised with how calm I was about the whole thing. I was having fun swimming around and stuff. It was very cold. But it was actually good fun. And I felt better for having done it. And after having done it.

M: I've done that a couple of times when the water was really cold. And I was like oh... I was like... Screaming the hell out of myself.

R: I think it's quite common in Russia for people to do this. Yeah?

M: Yeah, it's common. Yeah, but it's not common for me. So... Rory told us that it wasn't so bad once I got over the initial shock. So when Rory started walking into freezing cold water, he felt the initial shock. Oh, my god. It's cold. The shock of the cold. Okay, dear listener? And then he got over it. And it wasn't so bad, which I don't believe. Because yeah, because Rory put his body under massive stress. And after that, he was shivering for about 40 minutes. So our body is under massive stress if we go in cold water. And then Rory said that I'm pretty good at these things. Yeah. You know, I'm pretty good at controlling myself. Like, once I get my bearings.

R: Yes. That's the important thing. When you get your bearings, means once you understand the situation, where you are, and how everything functions, this is the important part. It's not like I walked in and immediately knew what to do. I don't think anybody does this. So you have to have the experience and learn from it. And then you get your bearings and understand what to do.

M: So get your bearings, like to succeed in becoming familiar with a new situation. So you do something new, and like, okay, it takes some time to get your bearings when you start a new job. Okay? Once I got my bearings, I was fine. So a nice phrase. Like I said. Like I said it's okay, I've already told you about this at the beginning of the talk.

R: And now I'm gonna tell you it again.

M: Again. Yeah, like, like I said, it was fun. Like, it was a fun thing to do. A fun thing to do. Mind the article. It was fun. But it was a fun thing to do with my new friend. It's a good way of making friends. Oh, yeah, a perfect way of making friends. Oh, let's make friends. Let's go swim wildly in a river in freezing cold. Yay. So you can say that it was an entertaining experience. Right? Entertaining? Like, okay, exciting. We had fun. It was a fun thing to do. And Rory told us that he wants to do this again. I'm looking forward to going again soon. Rory... So I am looking forward like I am impatient. I am waiting to do this again. Or you can say I'm not looking forward to doing it again. Careful, dear listener, we use -ing. So I am looking forward to doing it, to swimming, to cooking. Okay? What did you mean, when you said I'm just gearing up for the next deep dive?

R: Well, gearing up is like preparing yourself, usually mentally. But it can also mean you're gearing up in terms of the equipment that you'll have.

M: So for example, when you start a podcast you need to gear up, you need to get a microphone, some technical stuff, software, a laptop. You know? Yeah, a person who will edit all the episodes for you. So I'm just gearing up for the next deep freeze. So for the next deep, you mean like for the next dive? Like when you dive into freezing cold water.

R: Yeah, I'm going to do it again. It's like a club, you can go and it's free. And it's good for you allegedly. Right, dear listener.

M: Thank you so much for listening! Choose your activity wisely. And we'll get back to you in speaking part three about adventures and activities. Bye!

R: Bye!

Make sure to subscribe to our social media to see some of the “behind the scenes” stuff:

Our Instagram: bit.ly/instagramswi

Our Telegram: bit.ly/telegramswi