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Views #588 | Intermeidate 5

Dinner Debate

Marion and Todd discuss dinner.

Todd: So, Marion, what are you going to do for dinner tonight?

Marion: I think I'll go home, see what's in my fridge and in my cupboard and cook something up. I'm not sure what yet.

Todd: Ah, you're gonna cook?

Marion: Yeah, of course.

Todd: Actually, I almost never cook. I cook maybe once or twice a year.

Marion: Really? (Yeah) Well, what do you do then? What do you eat?

Todd: Oh, I always eat out. I buy my dinner every night. I think it's just better.

Marion: Oh, my God! Every night?

Todd: Every night.

Marion: How is it better, Todd? I don't understand.

Todd: Well, I mean, I know it's a waste of money, but it, I look at it, it just saves me a lot of time (Right, OK) so I don't have to go buy the food, store the food, and prepare the food, and cook the food, then clean up afterwards.

Marion: Yeah, I don't like that part so much.

Todd: Right. When you just eat out, you know, it's quick and easy. It saves you time.

Marion: Yeah, hmm, I think though, I can see what you're saying about the time factor but for me sometimes cooking is a way of almost relieving stress, you know, or if I'm thinking about the day that's gone by and maybe something has stressed me out, I'll just go to the kitchen, and as long as I'm on my own, cause I like to cook on my own, I don't have to talk to anybody, and I can think about things that are going on and while I'm shopping the onions, you know, or opening tins or whatever I'm doing, it's just a time for me where I don't have to think about anything else, really apart from the food I'm preparing and then if something floats into my mind, I can kind of deal with it at the same time. I find it quite relaxing.

Todd: Actually, I can see that. Actually, I run every night (Oh, yeah) you know, I love jogging and I usually jog for about an hour, and so when I come home, I'm sweaty, I need to take a shower, and I just don't have time them to use more time to cook cause I get home late from work so I just buy my food on the way home from my run to save time.

Marion: That surprises me actually because I know you, you run so you're really into your fitness but do you not consider the health factor about buying food all the time because it's always processed food, you know.

Todd: Yeah, that's true. Well, I try to go to the deli in the supermarket (Oh, OK) and you know, they always have nice people behind the counter, often some sweet old lady or something and she's made some nice salad, or some dish, and I always figure, she can make it better than me.
Marion: Right, probably.

Todd: And when I buy it I'm providing a job for somebody else, right, so there's a lot of good benefits by doing this system. Plus it's very social, right, because I live alone so I talk to the person at the counter, and I get variety every night.

Marion: Yeah, that's true though but if you went to the kitchen, and the place where you stay and you cook that would be very social as well, don't you think?

Todd: Yeah, but I live alone. Who would I talk to?

Marion: The other people in your communal kitchen. Don't you have a big communal kitchen?

Todd: No, no, no. I live alone. (Ah) I used to, I used to share a kitchen, but now I live alone.

Marion: OK, so then, I can understand the social aspect. I really enjoy going out for dinner actually with my friends. I really enjoy that part, but if it's just me, I kind of feel, I think in Japan it's easy to go into a restaurant on your own, but in Ireland I would feel very strange and awkward if I went to a restaurant on my own. I'd feel like people are looking at me and saying, "Oh, she's got no friends."

Todd: Ah, man, I do it all the time. (Yeah) and I have no friends.

Marion: That's not true.

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

clean up afterward

Prepare the food, and cook the food, then clean up afterward.

To 'clean up afterward' when making a meal is to wash all the dishes, clean the cooking area and put any extra food away.  Notice the following:

  1. I love to paint, but I hate cleaning up my materials afterward.
  2. You can use the kitchen, but please clean up afterward.

time factor

I can see what you're saying about the time factor.

The 'time factor' is the amount of time it takes to prepare or do something.  Notice the following:

  1. Whenever we meet to talk he always has a time factor and a reason to leave early.
  2. I want to exercise, but the time factor makes it difficult during the week.

float into my mind

If something floats into my mind, I can kind of deal with it at the same time.

If something 'floats into your mind' you think of it unexpectedly or without a reason.  Notice the following:

  1. Sometimes I wonder why these horrible things float into your head.
  2. I was sitting at my desk when the idea to call you just floated into my mind.

processed food

Do you not consider the health factor about buying food all the time because it's always processed food.

Food that contains a lot of salt and preservatives is considered 'processed food.'  It can usually last for a long time without going bad, but it is not very healthy or natural.  Notice the following:

  1. The house was full of processed food and drinks.
  2. She never eats processed food because it has too much salt.

behind the counter

They always have nice people behind the counter.

'People behind the counter' are the employees of a store or a business.  Notice the following:

  1. The woman behind the counter was trying to be friendly, but her solutions were not very good.
  2. Have you ever worked behind the counter in a clothing store?

Vocabulary Quiz

afterward • factor • float
processed • counter
  1. It makes me sick to eat too much food.
  2. I prefer to go into the store to ask questions, because then I can see the person behind the .
  3. All of these ideas just kind of into my mind when I'm sleeping.
  4. My daughter is very interested in taking dance classes, but I'm worried about the time . She is already involved in a lot
  5. It doesn't take long to make the meal, but it will take you some time to clean up .
Answer these questions about the interview.

 

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