ibunka TB_U4

1 Billy , Canadian, accounts manager, lives in Japan Yes. It is very common. In fact, when I was growing up, it wasn’t uncommon for my friends to be over at my parents’ house, when I wasn’t there! I sometimes returned home from my part-time job to find friends in my basement playing video games with my brothers.

TRUE FALSE

→ In the culture Billy grew up in, most people don’t usually socialize in their homes.

☑

□

2 Bob , American, professor, lives in Japan I am American and I have a fairly open attitude towards socializing at home. I enjoy inviting people over casually, for a drink or coffee, for example. But for my Japanese wife, there is no such thing as a "casual" visit from a guest. For her, the house is reserved almost exclusively for visits from family.

TRUE FALSE

→ Bob and his wife have very similar views about inviting people to their house.

☑

□

3 Maya , Spanish, photographer, has lived in the UK I don’t mind meeting people at restaurants, but all my friends have come to my place and had dinner together many times. I can open up and show my true self that way. If someone had never visited my home, I would feel strange about calling that person a friend.

TRUE FALSE

→ Maya believes that showing someone your living space is an important part of friendship.

☑

□

Answers to COMPREHENSION 2 (textbook p.30)

4 Jeremy, American, cook, has lived in Italy Sure, I do. I want them to be able to really relax . Once I’ve shown them around most of the rooms and where everything is, my guests are free to help themselves to any food or drink, and then they don’t need me to guide them. In this way, they can truly feel at home. 5 Isabelle , French, consultant, has lived in the US No. When I was a teenager I used to bring friends to my bedroom so we could chat in private. But now that I’m an adult and I have my own place, nobody comes to my bedroom. I would never think of showing that space to people now, even my close friends. We just hang out in the living room or the kitchen.

66

UNIT 4 | COMPREHENSION