ESL Podcast 671 - Vacationing on an Island
island - an area of land surrounded by water
When did the Hawaiian Islands become part of the United States?
island fever - cabin fever; a feeling of anxiousness when one cannot move around freely, often because of geographic limitations
I enjoyed the first few days of our vacation, but once we had seen everything there, we started to get island fever and I couldn't wait to go back home.
to give (something) a chance - to delay one's evaluation that something is bad, instead waiting long enough to find out whether it is good or bad; to experience something fully before concluding whether one does or does not like it
Yes, higher-level math such as trigonometry can be confusing at first, but give it a chance. It will probably get easier.
pace of life - the speed at which things are done in a particular lifestyle or culture, especially related to the amount of stress and the sense of urgency people have
When Walter moved from New York City to Wyoming, it took him a while to get used to the slower pace of life.
isolated - far away from other people and cities; with a great distance between oneself and areas with people, without communication with other people or places
Dangerous prisoners are sometimes isolated from the other prisoners.
living soul - a human being; a person who is alive
This cemetery wouldn't be so scary if there were other living souls around us.
secluded - being used by only one or a few people, without other people nearby
Jacob looked for a secluded place where he would be able to propose to his girlfriend without having other people see and hear them speaking.
privacy - the ability to keep things secret, especially related to one's confidential information or personal thoughts and actions
Adult children living with their parents may not have as much privacy as they'd like.
serenity - tranquility; calm; a feeling of peace and relaxation, without worry
If we want to have more serenity in our lives, maybe we should consider meditation.
creature comforts - things that are not really necessary, but make one feel good and relaxed, such as hot water and favorite foods
Lynn doesn't like to go camping, because she misses her creature comforts, like taking a long, hot bath while listening to her favorite music.
Internet access - the ability to go online to find information, read emails, participate in chat rooms, etc.; the ability to access the World Wide Web
We don't have Internet access at home, so I have to go to the library to read my email.
cell phone service - the area where one can use a cell phone; an area where one's mobile phone can send and receive signals
We don't have very good cell phone service up in the mountains.
to rough it - to go camping or otherwise spend time outdoors, without many of the things that one relies on for comfort and ease at home; to live for a period of time without certain technologies and other things that make life more comfortable.
Amanda thinks she's roughing it if she doesn't have a hair dryer and a curling iron to do her hair each morning, so she would never want to go camping with us.
to unwind - to relax and become calmer, especially after a period when one has experienced a lot of stress.
Do you think it's a good idea to use alcohol to unwind?
whole point - the main idea or objective; the most important reason why someone is doing something
The whole point of going out to dinner is so that we don't have to cook or wash dishes.
to be cut off from civilization - to be separated from one's normal life in a city or town, without communication with other people or interaction with technologies
If you were cut off from civilization for one week, how would you survive?
stressful - filled with feelings of anxiousness and worry, often caused by needing to do too many things in a short period of time
Many people feel that the holidays are stressful, because they have to spend a lot of time shopping, wrapping presents, buying special foods, and going to parties and other events.