Roommates
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JJ
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Todd
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Todd: So JJ, I hear you've got a good living arrangement?
JJ: I love it. Of course you know like any person, I was a little bit leery about living with roommates but at the same time I thought living in a foreign country I didn't want to isolate myself completely especially since I don't speak the language.
I first met Jessica at the airport and when we were close to tears from laughing so hard on the train ride from the airport to Matsudo Station and realized this is going to be a good living arrangement.
We got here and the Brits had taken one half of the apartment and so we Americans moved into the other half and have gotten along brilliantly. Even the little squabbles that tend to come up seem to be solved fairly quickly, maturely and I love it. This is the best living arrangement I've ever had. At the same time, I think it's kind of something that can be expected when you come to teach abroad. It takes a certain kind of person to decide to leave everything familiar behind and meet new people, have new experiences. You're not taping any of this are you.
Todd: No, I am actually. Thanks a lot, JJ.
living arrangement
This is the best living arrangement I've ever had.
Your 'living arrangement' is the place that you live and the people you live with. Notice the following:
- The living arrangement in the dorms is very difficult
for some
people.
- They have a very difficult living arrangement right now.
(a little bit) leery
I was a little bit leery about living with roommates, but I
also
didn't want to live alone.
If you feel 'leery' about doing something you are unsure or nervous about it. Notice the following:
- She always feels a bit leery about doing new things.
- Are you leery about moving away?
close to tears
We were close to tears from laughing so hard on the train.
If you are 'close to tears' you are almost to the point of crying. In the example, it refers to crying from laughing so hard. Notice the following:
- She was so frustrated that she was close to tears.
- The team was close to tears when they lost the game.
squabbles
The little squabbles that tend to come up seem to be solved
fairly
quickly.
'Squabbles' are small arguments that naturally happen when you live with someone. Notice the following:
- Little squabbles tend to come up all the time in life.
- My sister and I squabble all the time.
leave (everything familiar) behind
It's what's to be expected when you leave everything
familiar behind
and have new experiences.
If you 'leave everything behind' you move to a new place and away from friends and family. Notice the following:
- Would you be scared to move to a new place and leave
everything
you know behind?
- When you go to college you leave your childhood life
behind.
Vocabulary Quiz
squabble • come up • left behind
