Amy and I began by discussing why it’s important to set up a meeting in advance. She said it’s frustrating when someone asks for a meeting but then cancels at the last minute.
She mentioned that she doesn’t like driving, even though she has had her license for over 20 years. Her father told her to get a license when she was 18, so she passed the driving test in China and got it. But she admitted she is “kind of afraid of driving” and tends to drive slowly. She joked that maybe it’s because she wants to “save a life.”
During our talk, my phone rang with a bugle alarm. I explained that it was the same sound used at a racetrack to start horse races, and Amy compared it to a military signal to assemble soldiers.
She said driving is a normal part of life in her country and shared that her father taught her to drive. She also taught her older daughter, but it didn’t go well because the daughter refused to follow instructions—probably because she was a rebellious teenager at the time. Amy commented that this daughter still doesn’t call her very often, whereas Amy calls her own father every week.
Amy grew up on a small island, and her father would often call her early in the morning while walking along the seaside. He liked to share his thoughts and feelings, and she enjoyed listening. She often asks him for advice about work because he was a team leader and always gives useful suggestions.
We switched topics to Thanksgiving. I mentioned turkey, but Amy said it’s too big for just two people. She prefers duck and sometimes buys roasted duck from the Chinese supermarket because “it’s delicious and convenient.” She said goose is also tasty but too large. I explained that in England, roast goose is a Christmas tradition.
We also talked about roast beef, especially “standing rib roast” for Christmas, and how it’s cooked with onions and carrots. Amy likes beef with sauce, especially pepper sauce. She said last night she and her husband ate about 500 grams of beef at 10 p.m., which is unusual for them. We both laughed about late-night ice cream snacks and how they’re “very bad” for weight control.
The conversation moved to fried chicken. Amy loves it but admits it’s high in calories. She usually eats it once a month, preferring to buy it rather than cook it because frying at home is messy and smoky. She likes meat without bones, but chicken wings are an exception.
We compared rice and noodles. Amy prefers rice because she grew up in southern China. When she lived in Beijing, she had to eat more noodles, which she didn’t enjoy as much. She also likes potatoes with chicken or eggs.
I showed her a Cuban dish with rice and black beans. Amy explained that beans take a long time to cook unless you soak them overnight. She noted that in some countries, poor families eat only rice and beans because they can’t afford meat. I mentioned U.S. “government cheese,” which is given free to low-income families. She understood that cheese adds protein and helps people feel full longer.
We discussed avocado, which is cheap in Florida but expensive in Beijing. Amy said in China it’s often used in salads for “ladies’ lunches” when women want to lose weight. She described a simple salad with avocado, red pepper, vinegar, and oil.
Amy said she enjoys many international foods: pizza, Spanish seafood paella, French bread (“long, hard, and crusty”), French fries, fish, yellow rice with saffron, mussels, and soups made with rice noodles.
At the end of class, Amy thanked me for being patient. She said she tries to learn new things and practice listening and repeating, but she still lacks confidence and worries about making mistakes. I reminded her that no one in class is going to judge her, and mistakes are a natural part of learning. She said her parents were very strict, so she still feels pressure not to make errors.
Advanced Vocabulary from the Lesson
Frustrating (FRUS-tray-ting) – making you feel annoyed or upset
Rebellious (re-BEL-yus) – resisting rules or authority
Convenient (con-VEE-nyent) – easy to use or do
Tradition (tra-DI-shun) – a long-established custom or belief
Roast (ROAST) – to cook with dry heat in an oven
Calorie (CAL-or-ee) – a unit of energy from food
Messy (MES-see) – dirty or untidy
Soak (SOHK) – to put in liquid for a time
Protein (PRO-teen) – a nutrient important for muscles and health
Confident (CON-fi-dent) – sure of yourself; not afraid
