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45
steak-and-kidney pies on weekdays, all over Europe. The main aim of the
Englishman abroad is to meet people, I mean, of course, nice English peo-
ple from next door or from the next street. It is possible, however, that the
mania for travelling is coming to an end. A Roman friend of mine told me:
“I no longer travel at all. I stay here because I want to meet my
friends from all over the world.” “What exactly do you mean?” I asked. “It
is simple,” he explained. “Whenever I go to London my friend Smith is in
Tokyo and Brown is in Sicily. If I go to Paris my friends are either in Lon-
don or in Spain. But if I stay in Rome all my friends, I’m sure, will turn up
at one time or another. The world means people for me. I stay here because
I want to see the world. Besides, staying at home broadens the mind.”
(How to avoid travelling. G. Mikes)
2
I believe that journeys are things in themselves, each one an individ-
ual and no two alike. I think that people don’t take trips – trips take people.
Some journeys are over and dead before the traveller returns. The opposite
is also true: many trips continue long after movement in time and space has
stopped. I remember a man who in his middle years travelled to Honolulu
and back, and that journey continued for the rest of his life. We could see
him in his rocking-chair on his front porch, his eyes half closed, endlessly
travelling to Honolulu.
My own journey started long before I left, and was over before I re-
turned. I knew exactly where and when it was over. Near Arlington at 4
o’clock on a windy afternoon my journey went away. The road became
endless, the people simply moving figures with heads and no faces. All the
food along the way tasted like soup, even the soup. There was no night, no
day, no distance.
(After J. Steinbeck)
3
When you decide to go on leave, the usual luggage question arises.
The best way is to make a list of things before packing. I taught my friends
how to make that list; I learned it myself many years ago from my Uncle
Rodger.
“Always before you begin to pack” my uncle usually said, “make a
list.”
46
He was a methodical man.
“Take a piece of paper,” he always said, “put down on it everything
you want to have with you; then read it. Imagine yourself in bed: what do
you wear? Very well, put it down, together with a change. Then you get up:
what do you do? - Wash yourself. What do you wash yourself with? –
Soap; put down soap. Go on till you finish. Then take your clothes. Begin
at your feet: what do you wear on your feet? – Boots, shoes, socks; put
them down. Go on till you go to your head. What else do you want besides
clothes? – A little brandy; put it down. A corkscrew; put it down. Put down
everything, then you don’t forget anything.”
That is the plan he used to follow himself. When the list was made,
he usually looked it through carefully, to see that he did not forget any-
thing. Then he looked it through again, and stroke out everything he could
do without.
Then he usually lost the list.
(After J.K. Jerome)
2. Now listen to the anecdotes and in small groups try to reconstruct them
taking turns. Discuss the questions.
1. Do you think Mrs. Wilson invented a smart solution to the problem
many of us often find ourselves in? What do you usually do in a situation
like that?
2. The lifeguard was able to cheat the salesman easily, because the
salesman behaved stupidly when he asked the lifeguard whether he could
take some water. Have you or your acquaintances ever found yourself /
themselves in a funny or stupid situation like that?
TIME TO SING
If you feel like singing, here are some songs for you.
At Travel Agency
John Linn comes from San Fran-
cisco, California. His grandparents
came to California from China
many years ago. John has always
wanted to visit China. Now he fi-
nally has a chance to take a trip
Greetings from Italy
It’s summer time and Nel is spend-
ing his vacation by the sea in South
Italy. He’s going swimming and
diving and he has a nice tan. But he
has a little problem, too. So he’s
sending this postcard to his sister
steak-and-kidney pies on weekdays, all over Europe. The main aim of the He was a methodical man. Englishman abroad is to meet people, I mean, of course, nice English peo- “Take a piece of paper,” he always said, “put down on it everything ple from next door or from the next street. It is possible, however, that the you want to have with you; then read it. Imagine yourself in bed: what do mania for travelling is coming to an end. A Roman friend of mine told me: you wear? Very well, put it down, together with a change. Then you get up: “I no longer travel at all. I stay here because I want to meet my what do you do? - Wash yourself. What do you wash yourself with? – friends from all over the world.” “What exactly do you mean?” I asked. “It Soap; put down soap. Go on till you finish. Then take your clothes. Begin is simple,” he explained. “Whenever I go to London my friend Smith is in at your feet: what do you wear on your feet? – Boots, shoes, socks; put Tokyo and Brown is in Sicily. If I go to Paris my friends are either in Lon- them down. Go on till you go to your head. What else do you want besides don or in Spain. But if I stay in Rome all my friends, I’m sure, will turn up clothes? – A little brandy; put it down. A corkscrew; put it down. Put down at one time or another. The world means people for me. I stay here because everything, then you don’t forget anything.” I want to see the world. Besides, staying at home broadens the mind.” That is the plan he used to follow himself. When the list was made, (How to avoid travelling. G. Mikes) he usually looked it through carefully, to see that he did not forget any- thing. Then he looked it through again, and stroke out everything he could 2 do without. Then he usually lost the list. I believe that journeys are things in themselves, each one an individ- (After J.K. Jerome) ual and no two alike. I think that people don’t take trips – trips take people. Some journeys are over and dead before the traveller returns. The opposite 2. Now listen to the anecdotes and in small groups try to reconstruct them is also true: many trips continue long after movement in time and space has taking turns. Discuss the questions. stopped. I remember a man who in his middle years travelled to Honolulu and back, and that journey continued for the rest of his life. We could see 1. Do you think Mrs. Wilson invented a smart solution to the problem him in his rocking-chair on his front porch, his eyes half closed, endlessly many of us often find ourselves in? What do you usually do in a situation travelling to Honolulu. like that? My own journey started long before I left, and was over before I re- 2. The lifeguard was able to cheat the salesman easily, because the turned. I knew exactly where and when it was over. Near Arlington at 4 salesman behaved stupidly when he asked the lifeguard whether he could o’clock on a windy afternoon my journey went away. The road became take some water. Have you or your acquaintances ever found yourself / endless, the people simply moving figures with heads and no faces. All the themselves in a funny or stupid situation like that? food along the way tasted like soup, even the soup. There was no night, no day, no distance. TIME TO SING (After J. Steinbeck) If you feel like singing, here are some songs for you. 3 At Travel Agency Greetings from Italy When you decide to go on leave, the usual luggage question arises. John Linn comes from San Fran- It’s summer time and Nel is spend- The best way is to make a list of things before packing. I taught my friends cisco, California. His grandparents ing his vacation by the sea in South how to make that list; I learned it myself many years ago from my Uncle came to California from China Italy. He’s going swimming and Rodger. many years ago. John has always diving and he has a nice tan. But he “Always before you begin to pack” my uncle usually said, “make a wanted to visit China. Now he fi- has a little problem, too. So he’s list.” nally has a chance to take a trip sending this postcard to his sister 45 46
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