EY Y04 L26 Self-Sufficiency

  1. Do you have a garden? If yes, what do you grow in your garden? Do you grow any fruits or vegetables? If no, what would you grow in your garden if you had one?
  2. Can you cook? If yes, are you a good cook? What dishes can you make? If no, would you like to learn how to cook?
  3. When you damage your clothes, such as tearing a shirt or getting a hole in a sock, are you able to repair the damage yourself? Or do you usually throw away the item of clothing and buy a new one?
  4. Have you ever done any DIY projects around the house? If yes, tell me about one of these projects. If no, are you interested in DIY?
  5. If you were to move house, would you prefer to box everything up and transfer the items yourself or would you rather pay a moving company to do all that for you? Why?
  6. If you had the time and the money to acquire a new skill, what would you like to learn to do? How would you put this skill to use?

Question 1

I had a garden for a few years when I lived in Hyogo prefecture. I had many kinds of flowers each season and enjoyed growing a few kinds of vegetables. My favorites to grow were onions, green peppers, and paprika. I hope to have a garden again someday. It's hard work, but so fulfilling.

Question 2

I can cook, but I'm far from chef material. I like to make simple dishes like curry, stir fry, or pasta. I really do enjoy eating what I make. I just need to learn how to make more dishes.

Question 3

I take really good care of my things, including my clothes. When they get worn out I wear them until the damage is easily noticable, then I throw them away. I tried learning how to sew, but it was difficult. Since my clothing is not expensive I don't mind replacing it because I always wear things for a very long time.

Question 4

When I lived in Osaka I was in a very old house. The owner didn't really care about repairing it, so after waiting for months for the repair company to come I decided to redo the caulking in the shower myself since it was leaking and causing damage. I did a very good job for a beginner. If it's necessary, I can do a few DIY projects.

Question 5

I prefer to box things up myself and even move them myself. I am quite attached to my belongings and I worry about things being broken, so I like to be in charge of everything. I also like to move things at my own pace. Slow and steady.

Question 6

I would really like to learn more about gardening, really. I would study the different types of plants and how to take care of them and keep the soil conditioned nicely. I could use this skill later on when I live in the countryside and have my own garden again on a larger scale.

Tough Vocabulary