📘 Part 3: Leisure activities

This episode's vocabulary

To chirp (verb) - (especially of a bird) to make a short high sound or sounds.

Chaotic (adj.) - in a state of total confusion with no order.

To unwind (verb) - to relax and allow your mind to be free from worry after a period of work or some other activity that has made you worried.

Treacherous (adj.) - if the ground or sea is treacherous, it is extremely dangerous, especially because of bad weather conditions.

Cliche (noun) - a saying or remark that is very often made and is therefore not original and not interesting.

Paddle (noun) - a short pole with a wide, flat part at one end or both ends, used for moving a small boat or canoe through the water.

Inland (adj.) - in the middle of a country, away from the sea.

Sunbathing (noun) - the activity of sitting or lying in the sun to make your skin darker.

Wound (noun) - a damaged area of the body, such as a cut or hole in the skin or flesh made by a weapon.

Limb (noun) - an arm or leg of a person or animal.

Distressing (adj.) - upsetting or worrying.

Vigilant (adj.) - always being careful to notice things, especially possible danger.

Enterprise (noun) - an organization, especially a business, or a difficult and important plan, especially one that will earn money.

Yachting (noun) - the sport or activity of sailing yachts.

Waterskiing (noun) - a sport in which you are pulled along the surface of the water by a boat, while balancing on a pair of skis.

Kitesurfing (noun) - a sport in which you move across water by standing on a board and holding onto the strings of a large kite (= a piece of cloth on a frame, that is moved by the wind).

Sedate (adj.) - avoiding excitement or great activity and usually calm and relaxed.

Uninhabitable (adj.) - not habitable (= suitable to live in).

Wasteland (noun) - a large area of land that has not been developed, usually because it cannot be easily used.

To exploit (verb) - to use something in a way that helps you.

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Questions and Answers

M: Do people relax when they see nature?

R: Well, I want to know depends on the kind of nature you're experiencing, doesn't it? If you're lying on the grass, like sort of listening to chirping of cicadas looking at the trees, and the clouds, and the sky, then you'll be relaxed, because you're almost at one with nature. But if you see a cloud of mosquitoes overhead that are about to eat you alive, then that will be decidedly less relaxing, because you're associated with discomfort.

M: What kind of people like to rest by the sea?

R: I suppose that's contingent on what they're doing near the sea, or what the sea is doing to them. Like, for example, if the water is calm, and you perhaps have a chaotic life, then you're looking to unwind and chill.

M: Why do people like spending time by the sea?

R: Well, it's fun and relaxing and equal measures. Assuming the water and the weather isn't treacherous. You can go swimming, fishing, sailing, and all the other things that allow you to enjoy the openness and freedom that the sea offers.

M: Do you think that more people go to the sea now than they used to?

R: Um, well, there are more people in general. So yes.

M: Why?

R: Well, for the reasons that I mentioned. The number of people's changed, but the reasons for going to the sea haven't.

M: What activities do people usually do by the sea?

R: Well, I mentioned the main ones just there. But there's always this sort of cliche of long walks by the beach and having picnics and going paddling. So like things that require minimal movement and maximum relaxation.

M: Is it popular to go to the seaside in your country?

R: Oh, yeah. Well, I mean, in fact, most of our population is located on the coast. Not many people live inland. And it's almost like they're sort of drawn to the sea and water. Especially in the summer when they can go paddling and sunbathing.

M: What are the advantages and disadvantages of spending time by the sea?

R: Oh, it's definitely relaxing and restorative for almost everyone. Though, there's this sort of ever-present danger of drowning or having an accident. I remember hearing about an illness that you can get when microbes infect open wounds and your limbs can fall off. That's quite distressing. But I should stress that's only a minority of cases. But it's worth keeping in mind.

M: Why do children like the sea better than adults?

R: Well, I'm not sure they do, actually. I think they just express their emotions about how pleased they are with the whole thing more openly. I mean, it's possible that adults have greater awareness of the dangers involved, so they have to be more vigilant, but that's reaching a bit, isn't it?

M: What types of jobs are connected with the sea?

R: Well, you could probably argue that all of our jobs are connected to the sea since we needed to live and trade and so on. I guess the more direct connections can be seen in fishing enterprises, naval construction, and warfare, and leisure activities like yachting.

M: What's the difference between the activities that young people and old people do by the sea?

R: Well, this might be generalizing a bit, but I suppose young people prefer more energetic activities like waterskiing and kitesurfing, while older people engage in more sedate activities like sunbathing.

M: What about the future? Do you think that our attitude towards going to the sea will change?

R: Well, it might if we continue to pollute it at the rate that we are. Some parts might become less attractive for visitation than others.

M: Could it be less sea in the future?

R: Well, there might be but it seems like there's going to be more sea if the ice caps melt.

M: And do you think that companies will invest more money into sea resorts attracting tourists to the coast?

R: Well, that's a good question that will depend on the quality of the area of coast that we're talking about. I mean, if it's an uninhabitable wasteland, then you know, what's the point. But if it's a nice place to go, then yeah, they should exploit that. It's logical for them.

M: Thank you, Rory, for your expert answers.

R: A sea of vocabulary.

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