[music] [music] Hello everyone [music] and welcome back to Mr English channel where learning English is easy and fun. I'm Emily. >> Hello Emily.
And a big hello to all our amazing listeners around the world. I am so happy to be here with you today. It is wonderful to see you Paul.
You look very energetic today. >> Do I? Well, I am feeling good.
I had a very large coffee this morning. >> Ah, coffee. The magic drink.
We always talk about coffee. >> We do. But today, Emily, the coffee is part of our story.
>> Oh, is it? >> Yes. Today we have a very exciting topic.
It is fast, it is loud, and it is busy. >> Ooh, I think I know what it is. Are we talking about the city?
>> Yes, exactly. Today we are talking about daily routine in a big city. >> That is a great topic.
Many of our listeners live in big cities >> and big cities are very different from small towns. The life is faster. >> Much faster.
We will talk about commuting, traffic, crowds, and some special city words. >> It sounds like fun. But Emily, before we jump into the busy city life, >> Yes, Paul.
>> We have a small favor to ask our friends listening. >> Oh, yes. Please, everyone, if you enjoy learning English with us, click the like button.
>> It is a small click for you, but a big help for us. >> And please subscribe to Mr English channel. We want to help you every week.
and share this episode with your friends. Maybe they want to learn about city life, too. >> Yes.
Thank you so much. Okay, Paul, let's start. >> Let's go.
So, Emily, imagine the big city. New York, London, Tokyo, Sao Paulo. >> Okay, I am imagining it.
Tall buildings, lots of cars. >> Yes. And how does the day start in a big city?
>> Well, for me it starts with an alarm clock. A very loud alarm clock. >> Yes.
In the city, we often wake up very early. >> We have to because we have a commute. >> Ah, that is a good word.
Commute. Can you explain it, Emily? >> Sure.
Your commute is your journey to work. It is the travel from your house to your office. >> Yes.
And in a big city, the commute can be an adventure. >> An adventure or a nightmare? [laughter] >> Sometimes a nightmare.
How do you commute, Emily? Do you drive a car? >> No.
No. Drving in the city is too difficult. The traffic is terrible.
>> I agree. So, you take public transport? >> Yes, I take the subway.
>> The subway, the train under the ground. >> Exactly. In London, they call it the tube.
In other places, the metro, but here we say subway. >> I take the subway, too, but I have a lovehate relationship with it. [laughter] >> Why?
What do you hate? the crowds in the morning at 8:00 a. m.
It is rush hour. >> Oh, rush hour. That is an important phrase.
>> Yes, rush hour is the time when everyone is traveling to work. >> It is very busy. There are people everywhere.
>> Everywhere. On the platform, on the stairs, >> and inside the train. Sometimes you cannot sit down.
Sit down, [laughter] Emily. I never sit down in rush hour. I always stand.
>> Me, too. You stand and you hold the handle and you are very close to other people. >> Very close.
Sometimes too close. [laughter] >> Yes, we are packed like sardines. >> Packed like sardines.
That is a funny expression. It means we are very tight together like fish in a can. >> It is not comfortable.
But the subway is fast. >> That is true. It is faster than a bus.
>> Do you ever take the bus, Paul? >> Sometimes if I am not in a hurry. I like the bus because I can see the city.
>> That is nice. On the subway, you only see the dark tunnel. [laughter] >> Yes.
On the bus, you can look out the window. You can see the shops and the people. >> But the bus has a problem.
>> What is the problem? >> Traffic jams. >> Traffic jams.
I hate traffic jams. >> When there are too many cars and they stop moving, >> it is frustrating. You just sit there.
Beep beep. Everyone is honking. >> Honking.
That is the sound of the car horn beep. >> The city is a very noisy place, isn't it? >> It is very loud.
Cars honking, sirens from police cars, people talking. >> Construction. There is always construction in a big city.
>> Always. Someone is always fixing the road or building a new skyscraper. >> Skyscraper.
I love that word. >> It is a good word. A skyscraper is a very, very tall building.
It touches the sky. >> When I look up at skyscrapers, I feel very small. >> Me too.
But they are beautiful at night when the lights are on. >> Yes. Very beautiful.
Okay. So, we survive the commute. We arrive at the office.
We drink our coffee. >> Of course, the second coffee of the day >> and then we work. But Paul, what about lunch?
>> Ah, lunch in the city. There are so many choices. >> Too many choices.
It is hard to decide. >> Do you bring your lunch from home? >> Sometimes to save money, like we talked about in our money episode.
Good job, Emily. You are budgeting. [laughter] >> Yes, but sometimes I like to buy lunch.
>> Me, too. In the city, we have food trucks. >> I love food trucks.
They are like small kitchens on wheels. >> They park on the street. You can buy tacos, burgers, sandwiches, >> and it is usually delicious and fast.
Yes, speed is important in the city. Everyone is in a hurry. >> That is true.
Have you noticed that everyone walks very fast? >> Yes. If you walk slowly, people get angry.
[laughter] >> They say, "Excuse me, move, please. " >> It is the hustle and bustle. >> Oh, that is a nice phrase.
Hustle and bustle. It means the busy activity and noise of a place. The city has a lot of hustle and bustle.
>> It does. It has a special energy. >> It makes me feel awake but also a little tired.
>> Yes. So after work, the commute again. >> Yes.
The journey home. Everyone is tired. >> The subway is quiet.
People are looking at their phones >> or reading books or sleeping. [laughter] >> I have seen people sleep standing up on the subway. >> It is a talent.
>> So Paul, we are home but the city does not sleep. >> No, they say the city that never sleeps. >> That is a famous expression about New York, but it is true for many big cities.
>> There is always something to do. restaurants, cinemas, theaters, >> shopping malls that are open late. >> Do you go out a lot in the evening, Paul?
[snorts] >> H on Friday. Yes. During the week, I like my sofa.
>> I understand. But sometimes it is nice to meet friends for dinner. >> It is.
And in the city, you can find food from every country. >> Yes. Italian, Chinese, Indian, Mexican.
>> It is wonderful. You can travel the world just by eating dinner. >> That is my favorite part of the city, the diversity.
>> Me too. Different people, different languages, different food. >> But Paul, sometimes the city is too much.
>> Too much noise, too much concrete. Yes. Sometimes I need nature.
>> Ah, green space. >> Yes. Where do you go when you need nature in the city?
>> I go to the park. Every big city has a big park. >> Like Central Park in New York or Hyde Park in London.
>> Exactly. It is like an oasis. >> An oasis.
A quiet place in the middle of the noise. >> I like to sit on a bench. I watch the birds.
I eat a sandwich. >> And you forget about the traffic. >> Yes, for 1 hour it is peaceful.
>> That is important to find balance. >> Balance is the key. The city is exciting, but you need to relax too.
>> Paul, do you think you could live in a small town? >> H, that is a difficult question. A quiet town with no subway, no skyscrapers.
>> Maybe when I'm older, but right now I like the energy of the city. >> You like the hustle and bustle. >> I do.
What about you, Emily? >> I think the same. I complain about the rush hour.
>> We all do. >> But I love the convenience. Everything is near.
>> The shops are near. The doctors are near. The entertainment is near.
>> Yes. If I want a cookie at midnight, I can buy a cookie. [laughter] >> That is very important.
Emergency [snorts] cookies. >> Exactly. >> You know, Emily, there is another thing about the city routine.
>> What is that? >> The fashion. >> Oh, yes.
People dress very nicely in the city, >> especially in the business areas. Men in suits, women in smart dresses. It is like a fashion show every morning, >> but also people wear strange clothes and nobody cares.
[laughter] >> That is true. You can wear anything you want. >> You can wear a funny hat.
You can wear bright colors. >> The city is very accepting. >> I like that.
You can be yourself. >> So, Paul, let's review some of our city words today. >> Good idea.
We have commute, the trip to work. >> We have rush hour, the busy time in the morning and evening. >> We have subway and traffic jam.
>> And skyscraper, the very tall building >> and hustle and bustle, the busy energy. >> These are great words for our listeners. Yes.
If you visit a big city, you will hear these words >> and you will see the crowds. [laughter] >> Don't get lost in the crowd. >> Oh, I have a tip for that.
>> A tip for not getting lost. >> Yes. If you are lost in a big city, look for a map on your phone.
[laughter] Emily, that is a very modern tip. >> It works. Or ask someone.
>> Excuse me, where is the subway station? >> Excuse me, where is the best coffee shop? [laughter] >> Priorities.
Coffee first. >> Always coffee first. >> Well, talking about the city makes me want to go out.
>> Really? Where do you want to go? >> I want to walk in the park and maybe buy a pretzel from a food truck.
>> That sounds like a perfect afternoon. >> It does, but sadly our time is almost finished. >> Oh no, the time goes so fast in the city and on the podcast.
>> It really does. But this was a great conversation. I enjoyed it very much.
I hope our listeners enjoyed it too. >> Me too. We want to know about you listeners.
>> Yes. We have a question for you today. >> Do you live in a big city or do you live in a small town?
>> And what is your favorite part of your city or town? >> Maybe you like the quiet. Maybe you like the noise.
Tell us in the comments. We love to read your stories. >> Yes, please write to us.
It is great practice for your English writing. [music] >> And before you go, please don't forget >> subscribe to Mr English channel. >> Click that like button if you learned a new [music] word today >> and share this episode with your friends.
Maybe your friend who takes the subway. [laughter] Yes. Thank you so much for listening everyone.
>> You are all fantastic. [music] Have a wonderful day in your city or your town. >> Bye for now.
See you next time. >> Goodbye.
