Free time in the

middle of nowhere

Mike, Stella and Juan don’t live in ordinary

places. They’ve all got very different jobs, but
what do they do in their free time?

Mike
The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has got five research
stations in Antarctica. I work as a chef at the Rothera
research station. There are one hundred biologists,
engineers, doctors and chefs here in the summer, but only
twenty-two of us in the winter. I like my job, but cooking isn’t
my hobby! I’m interested in art, and I enjoy drawing and
painting pictures of Antarctica. We also play football on the
ice at the research station. In the evening, I play computer
games.

insight Elementary Student’s Book Unit 2 pp.24–25   © Oxford University Press 2014 1
 Stella
I live in Findhorn ecovillage. It’s a community of 300 people
in Scotland. We all live and work together. We have our
own bank and money! I work on the community farm.
I’m interested in singing and dancing, and I go to a dance
class every week at the dance studio in the village. At the
weekend, I often go skateboarding when the weather’s
good. When it rains, I love meeting my friends at home.

Juan
I’m an engineer and I work at the Paranal Observatory in
the Atacama desert, Chile. The desert environment is perfect
for the Observatory’s telescopes. In my free time, I love
sport, but it’s difficult here because the Atacama desert is
2,400 metres above sea level. Sometimes I go cycling in the
desert, but we also have a swimming pool, a gym and a
music studio at the Observatory. I play the drums and I go
swimming. I’m also into rock climbing in the gym.
A001998

insight Elementary Student’s Book Unit 2 pp.24–25   © Oxford University Press 2014 2