PARK/GARDENS

Do you like parks?

-Yes, I like parks because they are great places to relax. If you live in a city, a park is often the
only place where you can escape from/get away from the noise and the traffic.
-Yes, I like parks because they are great places to relax (and unwind). I think all cities need
green areas.
-Yes, I like parks because they're great places to relax or go for a walk/stroll. I think every city
needs some green space where people can escape from the crowds.

Do you like going to parks and/ or public gardens?

-As a nature lover, I love/ adore/ fascinate all kinds of parks and gardens. That is why I often go
to the park and public garden near my house to enjoy myself/ have a good time. Filled
with/Interspersed with greenery, they offer a place where I can be at one with nature. I also
love going there because scientific research has shown that being close to nature can actually
boost our immune systems and promote our overall health/well-being, both physically and
mentally. For this reason, I think that more gardens or parks should be
constructed/erected/built so that the overall welfare of citizens can go up.
- Yes. I enjoy relaxing outdoors in nature. I like taking walks/strolls in what is supposed to be a
safe area. If the weather is nice/handsome/pleasant, I enjoy sitting under a tree/the shade of a
tree with a book or playing an instrument softly (if there aren't many people around - I'm no
professional).

-Well, with my busy/hectic schedule, I find it tremendously difficult to have time for myself/

have some me-time. However, once in a blue moon, I thoroughly enjoy strolling /
visiting / going for a walk around the park and immersing myself in the nature.

How often do you visit parks?

-There's a park very close to where I live, so I probably go there once or twice a week if the
weather's nice.
- I visit parks very often. I go to a park near my home, for morning walk. It is a very nice
park with lots of trees and greenery.

When was the last time you went to a park?

Probably a couple of months ago. I went to the Reunification park near my house with my best
friend, Ami and had a whale of a time wandering aimlessly around the park and
enjoyed incredibly fresh air there.
Should people go to parks often?
Yes, people should find time to pay a visit to parks on a regular basis, at least once a week, to
be in the lap of nature= hòa mình với thiên nhiên and breathe some fresh air.

Did you often visit the park when you were young?
-Yes, my parents usually took me there once or twice a month. Our local park was only a 10-
minute walk away from my house and it offered a wide range of/an array of attractions for
children, from swings and slides to carousels and climbing frames. There was also a sandbox
for us to become completely absorbed in our imagined mini-worlds. I always had a whale of a
time/had a blast whenever I went there; talking about that/by the way/on that note, I wish I
could go back in time to experience these carefree moments again. (glass-half-full -> have a
positive outlook on life >< glass-half-empty)
-Of course. As an adult, parks aren’t places that I frequent anymore, but they were a huge part
of my childhood. My parents used to/would take me to parks and the zoo almost every week.
The park that I often went to had an arcade where I would while away= kill time the whole
morning. I also especially loved going to parks because without fail my parents would buy me
new toys every time we went. Those were the good old days.

Why don’t you visit there now?

I don't visit parks as often as I would like to, mainly because of my hectic/jam-packed schedule
= busy schedule as I work full time. I think if they were within walking distance, I'd go there a
couple of times a week.  There is one park nearby though, but it's rundown and unkept. 

Why are parks an important part of many towns and cities?

-Parks are like an oasis where people get away from the hustle and bustle of city life/escape
from the crowds. They are where people go to have lunch, to take some exercise, or to forget
about work for a while.
-Parks act as lungs of the community. They are very important. As it is, we are living in
concrete jungles.= khu rừng xi măng

What are the benefits of having parks in a city?

In my opinion/from my observation/from my viewpoint/from my point of view/as far as I’m
concerned, parks are among the most integral urban infrastructures. As pollution has reached
alarming levels in cities, parks are more needed now than ever to provide fresh air. On top of
that/what’s more, given the scarcity of land in overpopulated/populous/densely populated
cities, parks give people the much-needed space for recreational activities. If nothing else/At
least, I believe parks significantly improve the appeal of a city. They help balance the concrete
jungle in metropolises.
Do we need big parks or small parks in the city?
We need small parks at regular intervals= ở khoảng cách thường xuyên so that people can
enjoy these parks near
their homes.
Eg: at five-year intervals

Are there a lot of public gardens and parks in your city?

-Hn actually only has a handful of public gardens and parks, but honestly, they all leave a little
to be desired (><leave little to be desired vs. leave a lot to be desired). The facilities are fairly
run-of-the-mill (ordinary), and the flora (vs. fauna) doesn’t have that great of a variety. On top
of that, some even charge for admission, which I think is just outrageous.= tức giận
-I would consider my city/ hometown to be a concrete jungle. What I mean by that is it is
surrounded by construction work= công trình xây dựng and many buildings. There seems to
be a lack of nature. There’re only a few parks in Hanoi that I know such as: The
Reunification Park or the Botanical Garden.

Would you like to see some more parks and gardens in your hometown?
Very much so/ Sure! I mean, I certainly understand the importance/significance of parks in our
life. They are places for the community to come together, for families to talk in and for children
to play in. You know, green spaces help make people active. Beyond that, it certainly
has tremendously improved the aesthetic value for our city as well. 

PETS

What is your favorite animal?

My favorite animal is the dog. I love dogs because they’re a lot of fun, very playful, but also
seem to have a bit of character. So, it’s always quite amusing to try to play with your dog.
Cat’s slave/ dog|cat person

Why do you think some people like keeping pets?

I would suspect it’s mainly for the company, so that they don’t feel alone when they come
home in the evening and they have someone waiting for them. I don’t have any pets, though I
used to when I was a kid.
What do people keep pets at home for?
I think there are a number of reasons for people to domesticate animals. It could be that they
want their house to be guarded. In fact, lots of families in Vietnam keep scary-looking dogs at
home to scare away burglars/ chase away thieves. Another reason could be that people want
to pet animals. It’d be nice to come home to a fluffy= mềm mại, bồng bềnh, bông xù dog or cat
and they just roll up into a ball on your lap= cuộn tròn thành một quả bóng. Finally, I think
some people, especially the elderly, keep a pet around because they want some company. As
people get older, they certainly get lonelier, so having an animate creature in the house helps
to cope with not having their children around.
What kinds of animals do you like?
Hmm, let me think about this for a second. I wouldn’t say that I care deeply about animals, so
this question is kind of putting me on the spot. I guess I’m a dog person. I mean, they are man’s
best friends, they’re loyal, and they’re just so adorable. I used to be terrified of dogs as a kid,
especially when they barked, but slowly they grew on me, and now, I can’t think of having
another animal as a pet.
WEATHER

1) Do you like rain? Why / why not?

No, not at all. It rains far too often in Manchester, where I live, and I'm fed up of it; I wish we
had more sun!
2) Do you think that rain affects people's mood?
Yes, definitely. I think rainy days and grey skies can be a bit sad and depressing. Where I live,
people are much more cheerful when the sun comes out.

Do you think the seasons still influence people's behaviour?

(direct answer) Yes, I do think the seasons still affect how we behave. (explain how) We still
wear different clothes depending on the weather, and clothes shops change what they sell
according to the season. We also adapt our habits and daily routines according to the time of
year. (example) For example, people in my country like to eat outside in their gardens in the
summer, but we can't do that during the other seasons. (opposite) On the other hand, I don't
think we notice the change in seasons when it comes to food; the big supermarkets import
food from around the world, so most people don't buy seasonal fruit and vegetables any more.

3) Does it often rain where you live?

Yes, unfortunately it does. As I said, Manchester is known for being a rainy place; you can't
trust the weather here, because it can cloud over and start raining at any moment.
4) Have you ever been caught in the rain without a coat or umbrella?
Yes, many times. Just last week I went out without an umbrella and got soaked; I did have a
coat on, but it didn't really help.
What is the weather in your country like?
As you already know, Vn is a tropical country, so it’s hot year-round. In Hn, we used to have
four distinct seasons, but it’s getting hotter every year. Spring and Autumn in Hn are okay, but
summers in Hn can get unbearably/intolerably hot, so much so that sometimes it’s fatal/life-
threatening. I’m not kidding: there’ve been reports of people becoming dehydrated and dying
in the 40-degree heat. Winters used to be quite cold, but have become milder in recent years
because of global warming.
What kind of weather do Vietnamese people like?
Well, you know, VN is a tropical country, so it’s pretty much hot and humid year-round. In
summery months, especially when the sun is in full swing, it can get really sweltering, so much
so that sometimes it’s fatal. So as far as I know/as far as I’m concerned/from my
observation/from my experience, most vnese yearn for/long for cool weather, like in autumn.
The weather is lovely and mild, and for me, I love the crisp mornings at the end of fall. Besides,
it’s the perfect transitional weather that allows you to dress well. The city also just transforms
in autumn time. In the Old Quarter, when the trees shed their leaves, it’s quite a sight to
behold/stunning/magnificent/fascinating.
What is your favorite season of the year?
Hands down/Definitely, autumn. The weather is lovely and mild, and it’s the perfect
transitional weather that allows you to dress well. The city also just transforms in autumn time.
In the Old Quarter, when the trees shed their leaves, it’s quite as sight to behold.