DAILY ROUTINE AND LIFESTYLE

1. How do you start your day on weekdays?

a) On weekdays I get up at six. First I go into the bathroom and have a shower. I dry myself with a
towel, comb my hair and get dressed. Then I go into the kitchen and I make tea or coffee and prepare
and sandwich. I usually check my Facebook account while I'm having breakfast. After breakfast I go
and brush my teeth. I leave for school at about quarter past seven. My mother takes me by car
because the school is on her way to work, but sometimes I go by bus with my friends.

b) I’m always in a hurry in the mornings. It's always very difficult for me to get up because I like to
sleep as much as possible. I start in the bathroom and then I get dressed and put on my make-up. I
usually spend about 20 minutes deciding what to wear. After that I go to the kitchen I don't usually
have time for a proper breakfast but I always drink a cup of strong coffee. I know it's not good for me
but I cannot change this. Unfortunately, we live a bit far from work, so I really have to hurry to catch
the bus and get to work on time.

2. Do you sleep until late at the weekend?

a) Yes, I do. I like sleeping and I enjoy that I don't have to go anywhere but can spend the day at
home. I usually get up at around 10. My week is so tiring and busy with school and training sessions
that I need to sleep a lot at the weekend. Of course, when I am doing something with my family or
friends at the weekend, I get up earlier.

b) No, I don't because I have a dog and I take him for a short walk every morning. It only rarely
happens that I ask my brother to take the dog to the park nearby. So I get up at 7 at latest even at
the weekend but it's not a real problem for me. I am a light sleeper and I wake up somewhere
between half past six and seven even if the alarm on my mobile is not set.

3. How is your morning different at the weekend?

First of all, I get up later, that is, at around nine. Then I don't have to hurry in the bathroom as on
weekdays because my sister always gets up much earlier than I do. After that I go into the kitchen
where the whole family has breakfast together. On the table there are rolls and bread, butter and
margarine, cheese, cold cuts, honey, jam and sometimes boiled eggs. We often eat vegetables too,
for example, tomatoes, green peppers, cucumber, radishes and spring onions. My parents drink
coffee, my sister drinks tea and I drink cocoa. Sometimes my mother prepares scrambled eggs or
eggy bread, which I like very much. It's always me who clears the table after breakfast at the
weekend.

4. What do you usually have for lunch?

a) On weekdays I eat in the school canteen, and at the weekend my parents cook lunch together.
My classmates don't like the food at school very much, but I think it is usually quite tasty. We can
choose from to set meals. There's always soup and then some meat with rice or potatoes. Two or
three times a week we get some dessert too. Both of my parents are good at cooking, so everything
that they cook at home is always delicious. My favourites are pea soup, and grilled chicken with
French fries and tomato salad.

b) The canteen at work is always crowded and I don't really like the food they serve there either, so
I take some sandwiches, an apple or a pear, and some fruit juice with me. After getting home from
work at around three, I eat something simple, for example, instant soup or some pasta. I sometimes
order a pizza or Chinese food. At the weekend I visit my parents and have lunch with them. My
mother always prepares my favourite things for me, for example, chicken soup, and pork stew with
boiled potatoes.
5. When do you finish in the afternoon?
a) I finish school at around two but I don't go home immediately. On Mondays I have a violin lesson,
so I arrive home at 3:30. On Tuesdays and Fridays I have volleyball training. It starts at 2:15 and
finishes at 4. On the other two days I have extra history classes after lunch because I'm preparing for
my school leaving exam.

b) I am a trainee in a bank and I usually finish at five. I do some overtime once or twice a week if I
have to hand in a report or compile a chart. We have a departmental meeting every Monday
afternoon at three o’clock where we discuss important and urgent issues. This meeting normally lasts
for about an hour but sometimes only finish at around six.

6. What do you do in the afternoon on weekdays?

After arriving home from school, at around 2:30, I have I have a rest, check my emails and watch TV.
Then I do my homework and twice a week I visit a private teacher. I spend the evening either with my
family or with my friends. I usually help my mother to prepare the dinner and while we are working
together we talk about what has happened during the day. My friends and I often go often go to the
nearest shopping centre to do window-shopping, have a pizza, or watch a good film in the cinema.
We like sitting and chatting in the university club too. It is a popular place among young people.

7. How do you spend your evenings on weekdays?

a) When I have lots of homework or we are taking a test and the next day, I stay at home and study
hard. I like to have some music in the background, so I switch on a TV music channel because it
relaxes me. If it's cold or rainy and I don't feel like going out, I play a computer game, chat with my
friends online, or watch TV. I like talent shows and comedies best. Otherwise I meet my friends and
we go to the cinema, hang out at the shopping centre, or just sit and talk in a fast-food restaurant.

b) I usually arrive home from work quite tired. I spend at least an hour in the kitchen preparing
dinner for my family. After dinner I clear the table and load the dishes into the dishwasher. When I’ve
finished in the kitchen, I help my children with their homework. At half past seven I always watch the
news because I like to know what's going on in Hungary and in the world. I can rarely find a film I
want to watch on TV, so I usually read a good book in bed instead.

8. How is your weekend different from your weekdays?

My weekends are much better than my weekdays. At the weekend I can sleep longer so I only get up
at around nine. I can spend more time with my family and friends too. We can do a lot of things
together, like shopping, going to the cinema, holding barbecues in our garden, or going to handball
matches to support or favourite team. I always do my homework on Friday afternoon, which means
that I can relax the whole weekend. Once a month we spend Sunday with my grandparents in their
house at Lake Tisza. I'm very happy when my cousins go there are too because this is the only time
when we meet.

9. Is there any activity that you do every day?

Yes, of course, there are several. I like jogging. I jog in the park near our house every morning. My
best friend sometimes joins me too. I got a smart phone for my birthday, so using mobile Internet
has also become one of my regular activities. I visit my Facebook account dozens of times every day,
and when I am looking for some information I always check the internet first. We have a dog and
taking him for a walk is another daily activity for me.

10. How much time do you spend studying on weekdays and at the weekend?
On weekdays I usually spend two or two and a half hours doing my homework, but it depends on the
amount I have been given. I can concentrate best in the afternoons before my family arrives home
because the house is quiet then. If we are taking a test the next day, I read the material again before
going to bed. I rarely study at the weekend because I do my homework for Monday on the previous
Friday. I have time to read the set texts only at the weekend.

11. Do you take any work home for the weekend?

I try not to take any work home for the weekend, but sometimes I have to finish documents or
presentations that I didn't have time for when I was in the office. There are some tasks that I prefer
doing at home, for example, compiling big charts or checking figures. I share my office with three
colleagues. The phones are always ringing, and there are urgent emails to answer immediately so I
cannot concentrate fully or I have to stop and start again several times.

12. What do you do at the weekend?

a) At the weekend I often hang out with my friends or visit relatives with my parents. When the
weather is fine, I like walking in the nearby forest with my dogs. When it's rainy, I stay at home and
sit in front of the computer all weekend playing games. On Friday or Saturday night I sometimes go
to the disco with my classmates and friends but I don't like it very much because the music is too
loud and there’s always a big crowd.

b) I live in a small village where there isn't much to do, so I often find weekends boring. If I want to
have some fun, I have to go to the nearby town by bus but they don't run very often. Sometimes I
stay overnight with one of my friends who lives there and then we go to the pub or the cinema, or
just walk in the town centre and meet our classmates and friends.

13. What housework do you regularly do?

I make my bed and water the plants in my room every morning, and it is my job to do the washing up
after meals too. On Saturdays I tidy my room, dust the shelves in the living room and vacuum the
whole flat. When I don't have too much homework, I help my mother in the kitchen, for example, I
peel and wash the vegetables when she's cooking.

14. What housework do you like doing?

I wouldn't say that I like household chores, but I don't like things to be untidy either. I don't mind
emptying the bin because it only takes two-minutes. Hanging the washing or loading and starting the
dishwasher does not take up too much of my time either. What I like most is baking and I often
invent new recipes. When I am in the mood, I enjoy ironing, which my friends find surprising, but I
don't mind it at all if some music is on.

15. What housework do you hate?

a) I don't like doing the washing up, especially scrubbing big pots and pans, or washing glasses that
break easily. Cleaning the oven is not my favourite household chore either. What I really hate is
emptying the bin and cleaning it out afterwards. The rubbish container next to the house is
extremely dirty and smelly. I’m also not so happy then I have to clean the bath and I have to pull the
hair out of the plughole.

b) My least favourite chore is dusting. Not because it is hard, but because it is so useless. You do the
dusting in the morning and a new layer has fallen by lunch. I would much rather do chores that have
immediately visible results like folding the clothes, cutting the grass, or doing the washing up. I hate
washing the windows, too, and I do it only three times a year: before Easter, in the summer and in
the autumn.

16. Which is your busiest day during the week?

a) It's Tuesday because I have a long and difficult day at school. School finishes at about two and I
also have volleyball training in the afternoon. What’s more, I have to study a lot for Wednesday,
when we have double maths. I have difficulties with this subject so I have a private lesson every
Tuesday evening too.

b) For me, the hardest day is Monday because I usually have long meetings at work. I work as a
personal assistant and my responsibilities include scheduling meetings for my boss, screening
incoming calls and messages, and setting appointments. Monday is the most demanding day because
this is when we discuss all the urgent matters for the whole week ahead during long meetings with
the departmental heads. I always have to take the minutes and concentrate for hours on end.

17. How much time do you spend with your parents and what do you do together?
Unfortunately we don't spend much time together on weekdays. My parents work long hours and
they are very tired in the evenings. I like weekends very much because we can do all kinds of things
together. We like playing board games and cards. If the weather is sunny, we go out into the garden
and play with our dog and two cats. I enjoy playing badminton or table tennis with my father too. At
the weekend I often bake cakes with my mother. I like long weekend most of all because then we
usually travel somewhere. We visit historical places, try local specialities and enjoy being together.

18. How much time do you spend with your friends and what do you do together?
Most of my friends are my classmates too, so we meet at school every day. At the weekend we often
go to water polo matches because we like this sport very much and we support our local team. We
also like cycling in the park next to the school or on the banks of the river Maros. We go to the
cinema twice or three times a month too.

19. What sports do you do regularly?

a) Although I often say that I’m too busy and don't have any time for sport, it isn't true.
Unfortunately, I’m rather lazy and don't do any sport regularly. I sometimes go to the swimming pool
with my best friend but I think swimming is very boring and monotonous. I prefer staying at home
sitting in front of the computer. I like playing games or just chatting. I do sport only in PE lessons.

b) I go to the gym to work out at least twice a week. I start on the treadmill and run for about half
an hour and then I lift weights because I'd like to be stronger and have toned muscles. A lot of people
say that working out is boring but I enjoy it, and I usually listen to some music while I'm running. In
the summer I go rowing or canoeing. Most of my friends like playing football so if I have some free
time, I join them.

20. How do you relax when you are really tired?

When I’m very tired, the first thing I do is take a long, warm bath. I usually put some dried herbs like
lavender or chamomile into the water, or I add some relaxing oil or bath gel. I also like some scented
or herbal candles and put relaxing music on. After my bath, I curl up with a good book and drink
herbal tea, or watch a romantic film. Another relaxing routine for me is to have a walk in the park
near our house.

21. Do you have any bad habits that you would like to change?
Yes, unfortunately, I bite my nails and I eat a lot of crisps and peanuts when I watch TV. The other
problem is that I like chatting with my friends online for hours on end, and my parents don't like it at
all. They keep saying that I shouldn't spend so much time in front of the computer. I agree with them
but I simply can't change. If I can't log into my Facebook account regularly, I feel like I’m missing
something.

22. What don't you have enough time for?

a) I'd like to have more time for my hobbies, that is, for knitting and decorating our home with
handmade ornaments. If I had more free time, I'd also do more exercise and try out some fitness
activities like Zumba or other dance workouts. It's also one of my dreams to learn something new, for
example, graphology, astrology, or flower arranging. Unfortunately, I never have enough time for the
garden either, although I like flowers very much.

b) Unfortunately, I never have as much time for my family as I would like. One of our favourite
activities is hiking, but we can rarely do it because I often work, even at the weekend. If I had more
time, I'd travel abroad with my family, and learn more about faraway places and cultures. Maybe, I'd
also start a piano course because it was my dream even in my childhood.

23. What would be an ideal daily routine for you?

a) Ideally I would only get up at around eight and only start work at half past nine. The best thing
would be if I could work from home because then I could plan and organize my day much better. I
work best in the afternoon and I’m not productive at all before noon. I would finish work at around
six. Two or three times a week I would do some sport in the evening, and on the other days I would
meet my friends.

b) I would sleep at least eight hours and have enough time to prepare in the morning. I would never
skip breakfast, which often happens nowadays because I'm always in a hurry in the morning. After
school, at about two, I would always have a rest before starting to prepare for the next day. I would
finish my homework by six at the latest and then I would have some free time to spend with my
friends.

24. Would you like to change your lifestyle?

Yes, I'd like to live a much healthier life. First of all, I would exercise regularly because in this way you
can keep fit and feel better about yourself. Doing some physical exercise relieves stress and leads to
better mental well-being. I would also like to change my approach to work. I'd like to focus on one
task at a time because I think it is more effective than dealing with several tasks simultaneously.
What’s more, I would take work home only if it was absolutely necessary. When I have to work at
home I usually feel more stressed and tired at the end of the day, and I can't sleep well either.

25. How did your daily routine change after you finished primary school?
When I attended primary school, my parents played a more influential role in my life. My mother
woke me up every morning, she prepared breakfast for me, and she drove me to school. After school
I went to my grandmother’s to have lunch, and she even helped me to do my homework. My mother
took me home after work. I spent the evening with my family and I went out with my friends very
rarely. Nowadays, as a secondary school student, I'm much more independent and I can mostly
organize my daily routine myself.

26. How did your daily routine change after you finished secondary school?
After secondary school, I continued my studies at a university and moved from home. I live in a
dormitory, which means that my daily routine has changed a lot. I don't have lessons from eight
every morning, so I don't have to get up early every day. What's more, most of the lectures are not
compulsory, so I sometimes skip them. I'm almost never alone and I sometimes find it really
annoying. We often go to parties and stay up late, so I often feel tired. I go home only twice a month
and I spend much less time with my family than earlier.

27. How did you life change after you left home?
Nowadays I have more responsibilities, for example, because I have my own flat, I have to keep it tidy
and pay the bills. I try to find a balance between work and leisure, but it's not an easy task. I always
get up early because I live far from my workplace, and I arrive home late. In the evenings I usually
feel too tired to go out, so I only meet my friends rarely. My weekends are a bit better but I'm always
busy cleaning, cooking, and washing.
28. Compare the lives of students who live at home and those who live in dormitory.
There are lot of differences between living at home and in a dormitory and these differences
determine a person's daily routine too. A student who lives at home doesn't have to worry about
food or money, and can get up and go to bed when they want to. Whenever feeling down, a student
living at home can get emotional support from the family. In a dormitory, students share rooms and
have to learn how to adapt to the new environment and how to tolerate the behaviour of others.
There might be stricter rules about, for example, when they can listen to music or watch TV. Shared
appliances, like the fridge and oven, may also cause problems that make people feel uncomfortable.

29. How did your life change after you got married?
Of course life before marriage is a little bit more independent. Maybe the biggest change in my life is
that I’ve become more responsible. I share everything with my wife, I have to think about us and not
only me, and we have to put up with each other's habits too. For example, I like watching football on
TV with my friends but my wife isn't a football fan, so she usually spends these evenings with her
friends. We make important decisions together and discuss how to spend our money.

30. Compare the daily routines of children and adults.

Children get up later than adults and have a fixed timetable at school. They don't have a lot of
responsibilities, but only have to learn well. After getting home from school they have some free time
and don't have to worry about getting the dinner ready and doing household chores. Children have
more time for their hobbies and can spend more time with their friends than adults are able to. The
life of adults may be more stressful because they often worry about their work even at home, and
they have many problems that children don't know about.