📘 Part 3: Adventures and activities

This episode's vocabulary

To take your life in your hands (idiom) - to do something that is very dangerous, especially where you risk death.

Geocaching (noun) - the activity of using GPS to search for small hidden prizes.

To bond (verb) - to develop a close connection or strong relationship with someone, or to make someone do this.

To boast (verb) - to speak too proudly or happily about what you have done or what you own.

Outlet (noun) - a method by which emotions, energy, or abilities can be expressed.

Pent-up (adj.) - pent-up feelings are not allowed to be expressed or released.

Whitewater rafting (noun) - the activity of being moved quickly in a raft (= small boat filled with air) along rivers where the current is very strong.

Venture (noun) - a new activity, usually in business, that involves risk or uncertainty.

Novelty (noun) - something that has not been experienced before and so is interesting.

Active (adj.) - busy with a particular activity.

Questions and Answers

M: Could you give me some examples of adventurous or risky activities?

R: Oh, where to start really? Cage diving with Great Whites is like taking your life into your hands for fairly obvious reasons. I don't think many people die going skydiving, but the risk is still obvious as well. In terms of adventures, lots of people go or do geocaching, which is like going on an adventure because you have to follow a map and find things.

M: Why do some young people like adventurous activities?

R: Well, they have that youthful energy about them. And they want to expand that by doing mad things. It's nice for them to have a shared experience so they can bond with their friends too. And even if their friends don't go, they can boast about it afterwards when they tell them about it.

M: Do older people like adventurous activities?

R: I imagine so, though they'll be a different sort because older people have probably already had some of the experiences youngsters have had. They might go on holiday together to a new place and explore the culture, for example. Rather than build a tree house.

M: How do adventurous activities help people to relieve stress?

R: Well, you're generally more focused on staying alive, so it might distract you from wider concerns. Or give you an outlet for pent-up energy and frustration. If you do it right, then it might also give you some perspective to appreciate the issues that other people have too and how your problems really aren't so bad.

M: What skills do people need to take part in adventurous activities?

R: I have absolutely no idea. That will depend on the adventure, won't it? If you go whitewater rafting, then being able to swim and handle a boat would be useful. But those are unique to that experience. I don't know if there are any that individual ventures would have in common.

M: But anything generally? Like for any risky activity you need to be this and that.

R: I can't think of a skill that is required universally for adventurous activities. Surely part of an adventurer is that it's unpredictable, or has things that are unique to it. So I can't tell you that. I don't think there are any.

M: Why do young people like doing exciting things?

R: Well, because just being alive is exciting for young people. Everything is new and they want to get out in the world and experience that novelty as much as possible.

M: How does friendship affect people's overall well-being?

R: I'd say it's pretty crucial. There was a report out recently that said being lonely is worse for you than smoking a pack of cigarettes every day. So it keeps you mentally and physically healthy and active.

M: Right. Thank you Rory for your answers!